# verses

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-- that we have built for ourselves an altar to turn from following Jehovah, and if it is to offer up burnt-offering and oblation on it, and if to offer peace-offerings thereon, let Jehovah himself require it <n>[from us]</n>;


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and if we have not done it from fear of this thing, saying, In future your children will speak to our children, saying, What have ye to do with Jehovah the God of Israel?


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Jehovah hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad, ye have no portion in Jehovah! And so shall your children make our children cease from fearing Jehovah.


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but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we might do service to Jehovah before him with our burnt-offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings; that your children may not say to our children in future, Ye have no portion in Jehovah.


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And we said, If it shall be that in future they so say to us and to our generations, we will say, Behold the pattern of the altar of Jehovah which our fathers made, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice, but as a witness between us and you.


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Far be it from us that we should rebel against Jehovah, and turn this day from following Jehovah, in building an altar for burnt-offering, for oblation, and for sacrifice, besides the altar of Jehovah our God that is before his tabernacle.


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And when Phinehas the priest and the princes of the assembly and the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it was good in their sight.


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And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that Jehovah is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against Jehovah now have ye delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of Jehovah.


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And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.


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And the thing was good in the sight of the children of Israel, and the children of Israel blessed God, and no more said that they would go up in warfare against them, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad dwelt.


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And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad gave a name to the altar; for it is a witness between us that Jehovah is God.


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And it came to pass a long time after that Jehovah had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua had become old, advanced in age,


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that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am become old, advanced in age;


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and ye have seen all that Jehovah your God hath done to all these nations because of you. For Jehovah your God is he that hath fought for you.


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Behold, I have divided unto you by lot for an inheritance, according to your tribes, these nations that remain, from the Jordan, as well as all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the great sea toward the sun-setting.


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And Jehovah your God, he will expel them from before you, and dispossess them from out of your sight; and ye shall take possession of their land, as Jehovah your God hath said unto you.


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And be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;


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that ye enter not among these nations, these that remain among you; and ye shall make no mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear <n>[by them]</n>, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them;


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For Jehovah hath dispossessed from before you great and strong nations; and as to you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.


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One man of you chaseth a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath said unto you.


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For if ye in any wise go back, and cleave unto the residue of these nations, these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and come in unto them and they unto you


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know for a certainty that Jehovah your God will no more dispossess these nations from before you, and they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you.


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And behold, I am going this day the way of all the earth; and ye know in all your heart, and in all your soul, that not one thing hath failed of all the good words that Jehovah your God hath spoken concerning you all are come to pass unto you -- not one thing hath failed thereof.


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But it shall come to pass, that as every good word hath been fulfilled to you, that Jehovah your God spoke to you, so will Jehovah bring upon you every evil word, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you;


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when ye transgress the covenant of Jehovah your God which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow yourselves unto them, so that the anger of Jehovah shall be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.


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And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.


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And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel Your fathers dwelt of old on the other side of the river, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods.


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And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the river, and led him throughout the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed and gave him Isaac.


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And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau; and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; and Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt.


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And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them; and afterwards I brought you out.


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And I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.


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Then they cried to Jehovah, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt; and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long time.


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And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who dwelt beyond the Jordan, and they fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and ye took possession of their land, and I destroyed them from before you.


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And Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;


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but I would not hearken unto Balaam, and he blessed you expressly, and I delivered you out of his hand.


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And ye went over the Jordan, and came unto Jericho, and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.


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And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, <n>[as]</n> the two kings of the Amorites; not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.


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And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.


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And now fear Jehovah and serve him in perfectness and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river, and in Egypt; and serve Jehovah.


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And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods whom your fathers that were on the other side of the river served, or the gods of the Amorite, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.


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And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;


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for Jehovah our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs before our eyes, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed!


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And Jehovah drove out from before us all the peoples, and the Amorites the inhabitants of the land so therefore we will serve Jehovah, for he is our God.


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And Joshua said to the people, Ye cannot serve Jehovah, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous щGod; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.


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If ye forsake Jehovah, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.


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And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you Jehovah, to serve him. And they said, <n>[We are]</n> witnesses.


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Now therefore put away the strange gods that are among you, and incline your heart unto Jehovah the God of Israel.


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So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.


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And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Jehovah.


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And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us, for it hath heard all the words of Jehovah which he spoke unto us; and it shall be a witness against you, lest ye deny your God.


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And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, a hundred and ten years old.


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And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the mountain of Gaash.


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And Israel served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders whose days were prolonged after Joshua, and who had known all the works of Jehovah, which he had done for Israel.


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And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem in the portion of the field which Jacob had bought of the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred kesitahs; and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.


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And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in mount Ephraim.


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And it came to pass after the death of Joshua that the children of Israel asked Jehovah, saying, Which of us shall go up against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?


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And Judah said to Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, and let us fight against the Canaanites, and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot; and Simeon went with him.


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And Judah went up; and Jehovah delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they smote them in Bezek, ten thousand men.


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And they found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and fought against him, and they smote the Canaanites and the Perizzites.


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And Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.


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And Adoni-Bezek said, Seventy kings, with their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gleaned under my table as I have done, so God has requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.


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And the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.


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And afterwards the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the hill-country, and in the south, and in the lowland.


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And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron -- the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-Arba; and they slew Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.


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And from there he went against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher.


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And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.


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And it came to pass as she came, that she urged him to ask of her father the field; and she sprang down from the ass. And Caleb said to her, What wouldest thou?


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And she said to him, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a southern land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.


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And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, had gone up out of the city of palm-trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt with the people.


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And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it; and they called the name of the city Hormah.


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And Jehovah was with Judah; and he took possession of the hill-country, for he did not dispossess the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.


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And they gave to Caleb Hebron, as Moses had said; and he dispossessed from thence the three sons of Anak.


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And the children of Benjamin did not dispossess the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.


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And the guards saw a man come forth out of the city, and said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, how <n>[we]</n> may enter into the city, and we will shew thee kindness.


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And he shewed them how to enter into the city. And they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.


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And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.


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And Manasseh did not dispossess Beth-shean and its dependent villages, nor Taanach and its dependent villages, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its dependent villages, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its dependent villages, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its dependent villages; and the Canaanites would dwell in that land.


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And it came to pass when Israel became strong, that they made the Canaanites tributary; but they did not utterly dispossess them.


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And Ephraim did not dispossess the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt among them in Gezer.


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Zebulun did not dispossess the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.


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Asher did not dispossess the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor Ahlab, nor Achzib, nor Helbah, nor Aphik, nor Rehob;


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and the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not dispossess them.


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Naphtali did not dispossess the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; and he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries to them.


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And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill-country, for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley.


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And the Amorites would dwell on mount Heres, in Ajalon and in Shaalbim; but the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, and they became tributaries.


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And the Angel of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you; and as for you,


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ye shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars but ye have not hearkened unto my voice. Why have ye done this?


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Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be <n>[scourges]</n> in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.


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And it came to pass, when the Angel of Jehovah spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice and wept.


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And Joshua dismissed the people, and the children of Israel went every man to his inheritance to possess the land.


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And the people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders whose days were prolonged after Joshua, who had seen all the great works of Jehovah, which he had done for Israel.


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And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-Heres, in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the mountain of Gaash.


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And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them, which knew not Jehovah, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.


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And they forsook Jehovah the God of their fathers, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and bowed themselves to them, and provoked Jehovah to anger.


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And the anger of Jehovah was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about; and they could not any longer stand before their enemies.


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Whithersoever they went out the hand of Jehovah was against them for evil, as Jehovah had said, and as Jehovah had sworn unto them; and they were greatly distressed.


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But they did not even hearken to their judges, for they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves to them; they turned quickly out of the way that their fathers had walked in, obeying the commandments of Jehovah; they did not so.


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And when Jehovah raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it repented Jehovah because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and crushed them.


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And it came to pass when the judge died, that they turned back and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.


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And the anger of Jehovah was hot against Israel; and he said, Because this nation hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and hath not hearkened unto my voice,


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I also will not henceforth dispossess from before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died;


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that through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Jehovah to walk therein, as their fathers did keep <n>[it]</n>, or not.


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Therefore Jehovah left those nations, without dispossessing them hastily, neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.


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And these are the nations that Jehovah left, to prove Israel by them, all that had not known all the wars of Canaan;


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only that the generations of the children of Israel might know war by learning it, at the least those who before had known nothing thereof


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five lord ships of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwell on mount Lebanon; from mount Baal-Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.


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And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of Jehovah, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.


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And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites Hittites and Amorites and Perizzites and Hivites and Jebusites;


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and they took their daughters as wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.


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And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Jehovah, and forgot Jehovah their God, and served the Baals and the Asherahs.


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And the anger of Jehovah was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years.


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And the children of Israel cried to Jehovah; and Jehovah raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.


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And the Spirit of Jehovah was upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Jehovah gave Chushan-rishathaim king of Syria into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.


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And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they did evil in the sight of Jehovah.


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And he gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek and went and smote Israel, and they took possession of the city of palm-trees.


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And the children of Israel cried to Jehovah, and Jehovah raised them up a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a man left-handed. And by him the children of Israel sent a gift to Eglon king of Moab.


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And Ehud made him a sword having two edges, it was of a cubit length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right hip.


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And it came to pass when he had ended offering the gift, he sent away the people that had borne the gift.


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But he turned from the graven images that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret word unto thee, O king. And he said, Be silent! And all that stood by him went out from him.


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And Ehud came to him; now he was sitting in the cool upper-chamber, which was for him alone. And Ehud said, I have a word from God unto thee. And he arose from the seat.


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Then Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right hip, and thrust it into his belly;


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and the haft also went in after the blade, and the fat closed upon the blade; for he did not draw the sword out of his belly, and it came out between the legs.


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And Ehud went out into the portico, and shut the doors of the upper-chamber upon him, and bolted them.


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And when he was gone out, the servants of the <n>[king]</n> came and saw, and behold, the doors of the upper-chamber were bolted. And they said, Surely he is covering his feet in the summer chamber.


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And they waited till they were ashamed; and behold, he opened not the doors of the upper-chamber, and they took the key, and opened <n>[them]</n>, and behold, their lord lay dead on the earth.


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And Ehud had escaped while they lingered, and passed beyond the graven images, and escaped to Seirah.


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And it came to pass when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the hill-country of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill-country, and he before them.


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And he said to them, Follow after me, for Jehovah has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan toward Moab, and suffered no one to pass over.


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And they slew the Moabites at that time, about ten thousand men, all fat, and all men of valour, and not a man escaped.


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And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath; and he smote the Philistines, six hundred men, with an ox-goad. And he also delivered Israel.


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And Jehovah sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the captain of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth-Goim.


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And the children of Israel cried to Jehovah; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he mightily oppressed the children of Israel twenty years.


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And she dwelt under the palm-tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.


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And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-Naphtali, and said to him, Hath not Jehovah the God of Israel commanded? Go and draw towards mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun,


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and I will draw unto thee, to the torrent Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, and his chariots and his multitude, and I will give him into thy hand.


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And Barak said to her, If thou goest with me, then I will go, but if thou goest not with me, I will not go.


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And she said, I will by all means go with thee, only that it will not be to thine honour upon the way which thou goest, for Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.


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And Barak called together Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and there went up at his feet ten thousand men; and Deborah went up with him.


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(Now Heber the Kenite had severed himself from the Kenites, from the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak of Zaannaim, which is by Kedesh.)


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Then Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth-Goim to the torrent Kishon.


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And Deborah said to Barak, Up; for this is the day in which Jehovah hath given Sisera into thy hand! Is not Jehovah gone out before thee? And Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.


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And Jehovah discomfited Sisera, and all the chariots, and all the army, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera got down from <n>[his]</n> chariot, and fled on foot.


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And Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the army, to Harosheth-Goim; and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not one was left.


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And Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.


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And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And he turned in to her, into the tent, and she covered him with the quilt.


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And he said to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink, for I am thirsty. And she opened the flask of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.


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And he said to her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be if any one come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.


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And Jael Heber's wife took a tent-pin, and took the hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and smote the pin into his temples, and it penetrated into the ground; for he had fallen into a deep sleep and was faint; and he died.


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And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael went out to meet him, and said to him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And he went into her <n>[tent]</n>, and behold, Sisera lay dead, and the pin was in his temples.


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And the hand of the children of Israel ever advanced, and prevailed against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had cut off Jabin king of Canaan.


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Hear, ye kings; give ear, ye princes, I, <n>[even]</n> I, will sing to Jehovah; I will hymn to Jehovah the God of Israel.


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Jehovah, when thou wentest forth from Seir, When thou marchedst out of the fields of Edom, The earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water.


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In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, The roads were unused, and the travellers on highways went by crooked paths.


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They chose new gods; then was war in the gates Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?


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My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless Jehovah!


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Because of the voice of those who divide <n>[the spoil]</n> in the midst of the places of drawing water; There they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, His righteous acts toward his villages in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates.


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Awake, awake, Deborah! awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead captive thy captives, thou son of Abinoam!


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Then come down, thou, the remnant of nobles, <n>[as his]</n> people; Jehovah! come down with me in the midst of the mighty ones.


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Out of Ephraim <n>[came]</n> those whose root was in Amalek; After thee was Benjamin among thy peoples. Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handled the staff of the ruler.


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And the princes in Issachar were with Deborah; And Issachar, like Barak; They were sent into the valley at his feet. In the divisions of Reuben there were great resolves of heart!


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Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the bleating of the flocks? In the divisions of Reuben there were great deliberations of heart!


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Gilead abode beyond Jordan; And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat on the sea-shore, And abode in his creeks.


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Zebulun is a people <n>[that]</n> jeoparded their lives unto death, Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.


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Kings came, -- they fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan; At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoil of silver.


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The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. My soul, thou hast trodden down strength!


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Curse Meroz, saith the Angel of Jehovah; Curse, curse the inhabitants thereof; For they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah among the mighty.


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She put her hand to the tent-pin, And her right hand to the workmen's hammer; And she smote Sisera, she struck through his head, Shattered and pierced through his temples.


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Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell, overcome.


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Them other of Sisera looketh out at the window, And crieth through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the trampings of his chariots?


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Have they not found, divided the booty, A damsel, two damsels, to each? A booty of dyed stuffs for Sisera, A booty of dyed stuffs of embroidery, Dyed stuff of double embroidery for the neck of a spoiler?


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So let all thine enemies perish, Jehovah! But let them that love him be as the rising of the sun in its might. And the land had rest forty years.


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And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.


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And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites the children of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.


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And it came to pass when Israel sowed, that Midian came up, and Amalek, and the children of the east, and came up against them.


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And they encamped against them, and destroyed the produce of the land, until thou come to Gazah, and they left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.


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For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number; and they entered into the land to destroy it.


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that Jehovah sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;


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and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land,


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and I said to you, I am Jehovah your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But ye have not hearkened to my voice.


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And an angel of Jehovah came and sat under the terebinth that was in Ophrah, that <n>[belonged]</n> to Joash the Abi-ezrite. And his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, to secure <n>[it]</n> from the Midianites.


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And the Angel of Jehovah appeared to him, and said to him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.


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And Gideon said to him, Ah my Lord, if Jehovah be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his miracles that our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? And now Jehovah hath cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.


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And Jehovah looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have not I sent thee?


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And he said to him, Ah Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my thousand is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.


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And he said to him, If now I have found favour in thine eyes, shew me a sign that it is thou who talkest with me.


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Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.


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And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid of the goats, and an ephah of flour in unleavened cakes the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the terebinth, and presented it.


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And the Angel of God said to him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.


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And the Angel of Jehovah put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. And the Angel of Jehovah departed out of his sight.


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And Gideon perceived that he was an angel of Jehovah; and Gideon said, Alas, Lord Jehovah! for because I have seen an angel of Jehovah face to face ...


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And Gideon built there an altar to Jehovah, and called it Jehovah-shalom. To this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.


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And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said to him, Take the young bullock, which thy father hath, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it;


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and build an altar to Jehovah thy God upon the top of this strong place in the ordered manner, and take the second bullock, and offer up a burnt-offering with the wood of the Asherah that thou shalt cut down.


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And Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had said to him. And it came to pass, because he feared his father's house, and the men of the city, if he did it by day, that he did it by night.


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And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered up upon the altar that was built.


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And they said one to another, Who has done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.


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And the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.


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And Joash said to all that stood near him, Will *ye* contend for Baal? or will *ye* save him? he that contends for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning. If he be a god, let him plead for himself, because they have broken down his altar.


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And on that day they called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead with him, because he has broken down his altar.


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And all Midian and Amalek and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.


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And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Gideon, and he blew the trumpet, and the Abi-ezrites were gathered after him.


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And he sent messengers throughout Manasseh, and they also were gathered after him; and he sent messengers to Asher, and to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.


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behold, I put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor; if dew shall be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the ground, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said.


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And it was so. And when he rose up early on the morrow, he pressed the fleece together, and wrung dew out of the fleece, a bowl-full of water.


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And Gideon said to God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once! Let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it, I pray thee, be dry upon the fleece only, and upon all the ground let there be dew.


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And God did so that night, and it was dry upon the fleece only, but on all the ground there was dew.


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And Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, arose early, and all the people that were with him, and they encamped beside the spring Harod; and he had the camp of Midian on the north by the hill of Moreh in the valley.


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And Jehovah said to Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give Midian into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.


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And now proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever is timid and afraid, let him go back and turn from mount Gilead. And there went back of the people twenty-two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.


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And Jehovah said to Gideon, Still the people are many; bring them down to the water, and I will try them for thee there, and it shall be, that of whom I shall say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I shall say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.


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And he brought down the people to the water; and Jehovah said to Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down on his knees to drink.


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And the number of them that lapped, with their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men; and all the rest of the people bowed down on their knees to drink water.


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And Jehovah said to Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and give Midian into thy hand; and let all the people go every man to his place.


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And they took the victuals of the people in their hand, and their trumpets; and all the men of Israel he sent away, every man to his tent, but retained the three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley.


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And it came to pass in that night, that Jehovah said to him, Arise, go down to the camp; for I have given it into thy hand.


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and thou shalt hear what they say; and afterwards shall thy hand be strengthened, and thou shalt go down unto the camp. And he went down with Phurah his servant to the outside of the armed men that were in the camp.


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And Midian and Amalek and all the children of the east lay along in the valley as locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand upon the sea-shore for multitude.


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And Gideon came, and behold, a man was telling a dream to his fellow; and he said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and lo, a cake of barley-bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came to the tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it; and the tent lay along.


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And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, the man of Israel God hath given into his hand Midian and all the host.


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And it came to pass when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshipped. And he returned into the camp of Israel, and said, Arise; for Jehovah hath given into your hand the camp of Midian.


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And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, and empty pitchers, and torches within the pitchers.


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And he said to them, Look on me, and do likewise; behold, when I come to the extremity of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.


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And when I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, ye also shall blow the trumpets around the whole camp, and shall say, For Jehovah and for Gideon!


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And Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came to the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch; and they blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers that were in their hands.


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And the three companies blew the trumpets, and broke in pieces the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hand, and the trumpets in their right hand for blowing, and cried, The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon!


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And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried out, and fled.


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And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and Jehovah set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout the camp. And the host fled to Beth-shittah towards Zererah, to the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.


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And the men of Israel were called together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian.


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And Gideon sent messengers throughout mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against Midian, and take before them the waters unto Beth-barah, and the Jordan. And all the men of Ephraim were called together, and took the waters unto Beth-barah, and the Jordan.


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And they took two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb; and they pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.


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And the men of Ephraim said to him, What is this thing thou hast done to us, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they disputed with him sharply.


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And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?


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Into your hands hath God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their spirit was appeased toward him, when he said that word.


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And Gideon came to the Jordan, <n>[and]</n> passed over, he and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing.


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And he said to the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread to the people that follow me, for they are faint; and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.


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And the chief men of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy hand, that we should give bread to thine army?


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And Gideon said, Therefore when Jehovah delivers Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will thresh your flesh with thorns of the wilderness and with briars.


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And he went up thence to Penuel, and spoke to them in like manner. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.


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And he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.


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Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their camp with them, about fifteen thousand <n>[men]</n>, all that were left of the whole camp of the children of the east; for there had fallen a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.


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And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the camp; for the camp was at its ease.


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And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued after them, and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the camp.


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And he caught a youth of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him; and he wrote down for him the chief men of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy-seven men.


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And he came to the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy hand, that we should give bread to thy men that are weary?


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And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briars, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.


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Then said he to Zebah and Zalmunna, What sort of men were they that ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the sons of a king.


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And he said, They were my brethren, the sons of my mother. <n>[As]</n> Jehovah liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.


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And he said to Jether his firstborn, Arise, slay them! But the youth drew not his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.


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Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall on us; for as is the man, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna; and he took the moons that were on their camels' necks.


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And the men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also; for thou hast saved us from the hand of Midian.


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And Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you Jehovah will rule over you.


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And Gideon said to them, I would desire a request of you give me every man the earrings of his booty; for they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.


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And they said, We will willingly give <n>[them]</n>. And they spread a garment, and cast therein every man the earrings of his booty.


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And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand seven hundred <n>[shekels]</n> of gold; besides the moons, and eardrops, and the purple garments that were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.


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And Gideon made an ephod of them, and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel went thither a whoring after it; and it became a snare to Gideon, and to his house.


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And Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.


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And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he gave him the name of Abimelech.


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And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.


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And it came to pass when Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after the Baals, and set up Baal-Berith as their god.


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And the children of Israel remembered not Jehovah their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side.


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And they shewed no kindness to the house of Jerubbaal-Gideon, according to all the good that he had done to Israel.


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And Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brethren, and spoke to them, and to all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,


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Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, Which is better for you, that seventy persons, all sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? And remember that I am your bone and your flesh.


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And his mother's brethren spoke of him in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem all these words. And their heart inclined after Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.


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And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hired with them vain and wanton men, and they followed him.


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And he came to his father's house, to Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy persons upon one stone; but there remained Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal; for he had hid himself.


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And all the citizens of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the memorial-oak that is in Shechem.


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And they told it to Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Hearken to me, ye citizens of Shechem, that God may hearken to you.


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The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign over us.


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And the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to wave over the trees?


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But the fig-tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?


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And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave over the trees?


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And the thorn-bush said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, come, put confidence in my shadow; but if not, fire shall come out of the thorn-bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.


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Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and sincerely in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and if ye have done to him according to the deserving of his hands;


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-- for my father fought for you, and endangered his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;


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but ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your brother;


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-- if ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;


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but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the citizens of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.


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And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem; and the citizens of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,


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that the violence <n>[done]</n> to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who had strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.


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And the citizens of Shechem set liers in wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them. And it was told Abimelech.


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And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem; and the citizens of Shechem put confidence in him.


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And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode <n>[the grapes]</n>, and made rejoicings, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.


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And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is he not the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his overseer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem! and why should *we* serve him?


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Oh! would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.


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and he sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem, and behold, they shut up the city against thee;


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And it shall be in the morning when the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and fall upon the city; and behold, he and the people that is with him shall come out against thee, and thou shalt do with him as thou shalt find occasion.


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And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four companies.


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And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, out of the ambush.


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And Gaal saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as men.


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And Gaal spoke again, and said, Behold, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and one company is coming along by the way of the Magician's oak.


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Then said Zebul to him, Where is now thy mouth, thou that saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight against them.


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And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, as far as the entrance of the gate.


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And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah. And Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they might not dwell in Shechem.


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And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.


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And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and lay in ambush in the field. And he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city; and he rose up against them and smote them.


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And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and two of the companies ran upon all that were in the fields, and slew them.


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And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were in it, and broke down the city, and sowed it with salt.


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And all the men of the tower of Shechem heard <n>[that]</n>, and they entered into the stronghold of the house of the щgod Berith.


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Then Abimelech went up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder, and said to the people that was with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, do as I have done.


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And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and they followed Abimelech, and put <n>[them]</n> to the hold, and burned the hold with fire upon them. And all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.


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But there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, and thither fled all the men and women, all the citizens of the city; and they shut it behind them, and went up to the roof of the tower.


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And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and he drew near to the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire;


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Then he called hastily to the young man that carried his armour, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that they say not of me, A woman killed him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.


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And God rendered back the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in slaying his seventy brethren.


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And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render back upon their heads; and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.


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And after Abimelech, there rose up to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir on mount Ephraim.


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And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty ass colts; and they had thirty cities, which are called the villages of Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.


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And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baals, and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Jehovah, and served him not.


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And the anger of Jehovah was hot against Israel, and he sold him into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.


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And they oppressed and crushed the children of Israel in that year; eighteen years <n>[they oppressed]</n> all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.


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And the children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; and Israel was greatly distressed.


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And the children of Israel cried to Jehovah, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served the Baals.


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And Jehovah said to the children of Israel, Did I not <n>[save you]</n> from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?


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The Zidonians also, and Amalek and Maon oppressed you, and ye cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.


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And the children of Israel said to Jehovah, We have sinned. Do thou unto us according to all that is good in thy sight; only deliver us, we pray thee, this day.


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And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served Jehovah; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.


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And the children of Ammon were called together and encamped in Gilead; and the children of Israel gathered together and encamped in Mizpeh.


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And the people, the chief men of Gilead, said one to another, Who is the man that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.


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Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead had begotten Jephthah.


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And Gilead's wife bore him sons; and when his wife's sons were grown, they expelled Jephthah, and said to him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of another woman.


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Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob. And vain men were gathered to Jephthah, and they made expeditions with him.


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And when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob.


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And they said to Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight against the children of Ammon.


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And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come to me now when ye are in trouble?


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And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Therefore we have returned to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be head over all of us the inhabitants of Gilead.


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And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If ye take me back to fight against the children of Ammon, and Jehovah give them up before me, shall I be your head?


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And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Jehovah be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words!


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Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them; and Jephthah uttered all his words before Jehovah in Mizpah.


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And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight against my land?


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And the king of the children of Ammon said to the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even unto the Jabbok and unto the Jordan; and now restore it peaceably.


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and said to him, Thus saith Jephthah Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon.


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But when they came up from Egypt, then Israel walked through the wilderness as far as the Red sea, and came to Kadesh.


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And Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land; but the king of Edom would not hearken. And they also sent to the king of Moab; and he would not. And Israel abode in Kadesh.


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And they walked through the wilderness, and went round the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came by the east of the land of Moab, and encamped beyond the Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab, for the Arnon is the border of Moab.


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And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land unto my place.


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But Sihon trusted not Israel, to let him pass through his border, and Sihon gathered all his people, and they encamped in Jahzah; and he fought with Israel.


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And Jehovah the God of Israel gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them; and Israel took possession of the whole land of the Amorites, who dwelt in that country.


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And they possessed all the borders of the Amorites, from the Arnon unto the Jabbok, and from the wilderness unto the Jordan.


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And now Jehovah the God of Israel has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou take possession of it?


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Dost not thou possess what Chemosh thy god puts thee in possession of? and whatever Jehovah our God has dispossessed before us, that will we possess.


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And now art thou indeed better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive with Israel? did he ever fight against them?


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While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its dependent villages, and in Aroer and its dependent villages, and in all the cities that are along the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years -- why did ye not recover <n>[them]</n> within that time?


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So I have not sinned against thee, but it is thou who doest me wrong in making war against me. Jehovah, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon!


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Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed to Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.


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And Jephthah vowed a vow to Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt without fail give the children of Ammon into my hand,


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then shall that which cometh forth from the door of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, be Jehovah's, and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering.


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And Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Jehovah gave them into his hand.


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And he smote them from Aroer until thou come to Minnith, twenty cities, even unto Abel-Cheramim, with a very great slaughter; and the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.


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And Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambours and with dances; and she was an only child besides her he had neither son nor daughter.


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And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his garments, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Jehovah, and I cannot go back.


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And she said to him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth to Jehovah, do to me according to that which has proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as Jehovah has taken vengeance for thee upon thine enemies, upon the children of Ammon.


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And she said to her father, Let this thing be done for me leave me alone two months, that I may go and descend to the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.


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And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months. And she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.


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And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, and he performed on her the vow that he had vowed; and she had known no man. And it became a fixed custom in Israel,


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that from year to year the daughters of Israel go to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.


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And the men of Ephraim were called together, and passed over northwards, and said to Jephthah, Why didst thou pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? We will burn thy house upon thee with fire.


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And Jephthah said to them, I was at great strife, I and my people, with the children of Ammon; and I called you, but ye saved me not out of their hand.


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And when I saw that ye would not save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Jehovah gave them into my hand. Why then are ye come up to me this day, to fight against me?


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And Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye, Gilead, ye are fugitives of Ephraim in the midst of Ephraim, <n>[and]</n> in the midst of Manasseh.


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And Gilead took the fords of the Jordan before Ephraim; and it came to pass that when the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me go over, the men of Gilead said to him, Art thou an Ephraimite? and he said, No.


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Then they said to him, Say now Shibboleth! and he said, Sibboleth, and did not manage to pronounce <n>[it]</n> rightly. Then they took him, and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim forty-two thousand.


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And Jephthah judged Israel six years. And Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in <n>[one of]</n> the cities of Gilead.


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And he had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent out of the house, and thirty daughters he took in from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.


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And he had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy ass colts. And he judged Israel eight years.


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And Abdon the son of Hillel, the Pirathonite, died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill-country of the Amalekites.


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And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah gave them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.


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And there was a certain man of Zoreah, of the family of the Danites, and his name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and did not bear.


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And the Angel of Jehovah appeared to the woman, and said to her, Behold now, thou art barren and bearest not; but thou shalt conceive and bear a son.


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For lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son, and no razor shall come on his head; for the boy shall be a Nazarite of God from the womb; and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.


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And the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of an angel of God, very terrible; but I did not ask him whence he was, neither did he tell me his name.


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And he said to me, Behold, thou shalt conceive and bear a son; and now drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not anything unclean; for the boy shall be a Nazarite of God from the womb to the day of his death.


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Then Manoah prayed to Jehovah, and said, Ah Lord! let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, I pray thee, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.


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And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the Angel of God came again to the woman whilst she sat in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her.


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Then the woman hasted and ran, and informed her husband, and said to him, Behold, the man has appeared to me, that came to me that day.


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And Manoah rose up and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, Art thou the man that didst speak to the woman? And he said, I am.


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she shall not eat of anything that cometh of the vine, neither shall she drink wine or strong drink, nor eat anything unclean all that I commanded her shall she observe.


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And Manoah said to the Angel of Jehovah, I pray thee, let us detain thee, and we will make ready a kid of the goats for thee.


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And the Angel of Jehovah said to Manoah, Though thou shouldest detain me, I will not eat of thy bread; and if thou wilt offer a burnt-offering, thou shalt offer it up to Jehovah. For Manoah knew not that he was the Angel of Jehovah.


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And Manoah said to the Angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that when thy word cometh to pass we may do thee honour?


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And the Angel of Jehovah said to him, How is it that thou askest after my name, seeing it is wonderful?


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Then Manoah took the kid and the oblation, and offered it up to Jehovah upon the rock. And he did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on.


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And it came to pass, as the flame went up from off the altar towards the heavens, that the Angel of Jehovah ascended in the flame of the altar; and Manoah and his wife looked on, and fell on their faces to the ground.


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And the Angel of Jehovah appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that it was the Angel of Jehovah.


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But his wife said to him, If Jehovah were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and an oblation at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would he at this time have told us <n>[such things]</n> as these.


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And Samson went down to Timnathah, and saw a woman in Timnathah of the daughters of the Philistines.


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And he went up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnathah of the daughters of the Philistines; and now take her for me as wife.


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And his father and his mother said to him, Is there no woman among the daughters of thy brethren, and among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the Philistines, the uncircumcised? And Samson said to his father, Take her for me, for she pleases me well.


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And his father and his mother did not know that it was of Jehovah, that he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.


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And Samson went down, and his father and his mother, to Timnathah; and they came to the vineyards of Timnathah. And behold, a young lion roared against him;


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and the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he rent it as one rends a kid, and nothing was in his hand. And he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.


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And he returned after a time to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion; and behold, <n>[there was]</n> a swarm of bees in the carcase of the lion, and honey;


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and he took it out in his hands, and went on, and ate as he went. And he came to his father and to his mother, and gave them, and they ate; but he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.


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And his father went down to the woman, and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.


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And Samson said to them, Let me now propound a riddle to you; if ye clearly explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find <n>[it]</n> out, then I will give you thirty shirts, and thirty changes of garments.


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But if ye cannot explain <n>[it]</n> to me, then shall ye give me thirty shirts, and thirty changes of garments. And they said to him, Propound thy riddle, that we may hear it.


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And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth food, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days explain the riddle.


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And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said to Samson's wife, Persuade thy husband, that he may explain to us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire. Have ye invited us to impoverish us, -- is it not <n>[so]</n>?


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And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not. Thou hast propounded the riddle to the children of my people, and hast not explained it to me. And he said to her, Behold, I have not explained it to my father nor my mother, and shall I explain it to thee?


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And she wept before him the seven days, while they had the feast. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that he explained it to her, for she pressed him. And she explained the riddle to the children of her people.


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And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey, And what stronger than a lion? And he said to them, If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle.


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And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew of them thirty men, and took their spoil, and gave the changes of garments unto them that explained the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.


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And it came to pass after a time, in the days of the wheat-harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid of the goats. And he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber; but her father would not suffer him to go in.


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And her father said, I verily thought that thou didst utterly hate her; therefore I gave her to thy companion. Is not her younger sister fairer than she? Let her, I pray thee, be thine instead of her.


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And Samson went and caught three hundred jackals, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put a torch in the midst between the two tails.


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And he set the torches on fire, and let <n>[them]</n> run into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, and the olive gardens.


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And the Philistines said, Who has done this? And they answered, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burned her and her father with fire.


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And Samson said to them, If ye act thus, for a certainty I will avenge myself on you, and then I will cease.


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And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter. And he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the cliff Etam.


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And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they said, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he has done to us.


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Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the cliff Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines rule over us? And what is this that thou hast done to us? And he said to them, As they did to me, so have I done to them.


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And they said to him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may give thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said to them, Swear to me that ye will not fall on me yourselves.


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And they spoke to him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand; but we certainly shall not put thee to death. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the cliff.


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When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him. And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and the cords that were on his arms became as threads of flax that are burned with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.


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And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand and took it, and slew with it a thousand men.


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And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, a heap, two heaps, With the jawbone of an ass have I slain a thousand men.


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And it came to pass when he had ended speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-Lehi.


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And he was very thirsty, and called on Jehovah, and said, Thou hast given by the hand of thy servant this great deliverance, and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?


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And God clave the hallow rock which was in Lehi, and water came out of it. And he drank, and his spirit came again, and he revived. Therefore its name was called En-hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.


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<n>[And it was told]</n> the Gazathites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they surrounded <n>[him]</n>, and laid wait for him all night at the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning light we will kill him.


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And Samson lay till midnight; and he arose at midnight, and seized the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and tore them up with the bar, and put <n>[them]</n> upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.


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And it came to pass afterwards that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.


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And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, Persuade him, and see in what his great strength is, and with what we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to overpower him; and we will each give thee eleven hundred silver-pieces.


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Then Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, in what is thy great strength, and with what thou mightest be bound to overpower thee.


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And Samson said to her, If they should bind me with seven fresh cords which have not been dried, then should I be weak, and be as another man.


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Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.


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Now she had liers in wait abiding in the chamber; and she said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson! And he broke the cords, as a thread of tow is broken when it touches the fire; and his strength was not known.


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And Delilah said to Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me and told me lies. Now tell me, I pray thee, with what thou mightest be bound.


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And he said to her, If they should bind me fast with new ropes, with which no work has been done, then should I be weak, and be as another man.


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And Delilah took new ropes, and bound him with them, and said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson! Now there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he broke them from off his arms like a thread.


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And Delilah said to Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me and told me lies. Tell me with what thou mightest be bound. And he said to her, If thou shouldest weave the seven locks of my head with the web.


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And she fastened it with the pin, and said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson! And he awoke out of his sleep, and tore out the pin of the beam, and the web.


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Then she said to him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? these three times hast thou mocked me, and hast not told me in what is thy great strength.


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And it came to pass when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was vexed unto death;


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and he told her all his heart, and said to her, There has not come a razor upon my head; for I am a Nazarite of God from my mother's womb; if I should be shaven, then my strength would go from me, and I should be weak, and be like all mankind.


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And Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, and she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this time, for he has told me all his heart. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought the money in their hand.


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And she made him sleep upon her knees, and called a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to overpower him, and his strength went from him.


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And she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson! And he awoke out of his sleep, and thought, I will go out as at other times before, and disengage myself. And he knew not that Jehovah had departed from him.


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And the Philistines seized him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gazah, and bound him with fetters of bronze; and he had to grind in the prison-house.


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Then the lords of the Philistines gathered together to sacrifice a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands.


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And when the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, Our god has given into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, even him who multiplied our slain.


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And it came to pass when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house, and he played before them; and they set him between the pillars.


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And Samson said to the lad that held him by the hand, Let loose of me, and suffer me to feel the pillars upon which the house stands, that I may lean upon them.


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Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and upon the roof there were about three thousand men and women, who looked on while Samson made sport.


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And Samson called to Jehovah, and said, Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may take one vengeance upon the Philistines for my two eyes.


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And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood (and he supported himself upon them), the one with his right hand and the other with his left.


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And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines! And he bowed himself with might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than those whom he had slain in his life.


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And his brethren came down, and all the house of his father, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zoreah and Eshtaol in the sepulchre of Manoah his father. And he had judged Israel twenty years.


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And he said to his mother, The eleven hundred silver-pieces that were taken from thee, and about which thou didst curse and speak of in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be my son of Jehovah!


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And he restored the eleven hundred silver-pieces to his mother; and his mother said, I had dedicated the silver to Jehovah from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image; and now I will restore it to thee.


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Now he restored the silver to his mother; and his mother took two hundred silver-pieces and gave them to the founder, and he made of them a graven image and a molten image; and they were in the house of Micah.


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And the man Micah had a house of gods, and made an ephod and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.


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And there was a young man out of Bethlehem-Judah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.


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And the man departed from the city, from Bethlehem-Judah, to sojourn where he might find <n>[a place]</n>. And as he journeyed, he came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah.


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And Micah said to him, Whence comest thou? And he said to him, I am a Levite of Bethlehem-Judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find <n>[a place]</n>.


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And Micah said to him, Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give thee yearly ten silver-pieces, and a suit of garments, and thy victuals. And the Levite went in.


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And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.


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In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought for themselves an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day <n>[their lot]</n> had not fallen to them for inheritance among the tribes of Israel.


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And the children of Dan sent of their family five men of their whole number, men of valour, from Zoreah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to examine it; and they said to them, Go, examine the land. And they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.


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When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man, the Levite; and they turned in thither, and said to him, Who brought thee hither? and what doest thou in this <n>[place]</n>? and what hast thou here?


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And they said to him, Inquire, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way on which we go shall be prosperous.


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And the five men departed, and came to Laish; and they saw the people that were therein, dwelling securely, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and no one was in the land who possessed authority, that might put <n>[them]</n> to shame in anything; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had nothing to do with <n>[any]</n> man.


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-- And they came to their brethren at Zoreah and Eshtaol. And their brethren said to them, What <n>[say]</n> ye?


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And they said, Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good; and ye are still! Be not slothful to go, to enter to take possession of the land.


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When ye go in, ye shall come to a people secure, and the land is spacious in every direction; for God has given it into your hands; <n>[it is]</n> a place where there is no want of anything that is on the earth.


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And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zoreah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girded with weapons of war.


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And they went up and encamped in Kirjath-jearim, in Judah; therefore they call that place Mahaneh-Dan to this day behold, it is behind Kirjath-jearim.


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Then the five men that had gone to spy out the country of Laish spoke and said to their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? And now ye know what to do.


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And they turned thither, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, the house of Micah, and inquired after his welfare.


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And the six hundred men of the children of Dan, girded with their weapons of war, stood at the entrance of the gate.


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And the five men that had gone to spy out the land went up, entered in thither, <n>[and]</n> took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men that were girded with weapons of war.


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And these came into Micah's house, and took the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. And the priest said to them, What do ye?


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And they said to him, Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for thee to be a priest for the house of one man, or to be priest for a tribe and a family in Israel?


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Then the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.


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They were already far from the house of Micah, when the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.


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And they cried to the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said to Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?


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And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away; and what have I more? and what is this that ye say to me, What aileth thee?


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And the children of Dan said to him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest men of exasperated spirit run upon you, and thou lose thy life and the lives of thy household.


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And the children of Dan went their way; and Micah saw that they were too strong for him, and he turned and went back to his house.


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And they took that which Micah had made, and the priest that he had had, and came upon Laish, upon a people quiet and secure; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burned the city with fire.


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And there was no deliverer, for it was far from Zidon, and they had nothing to do with <n>[any]</n> man; and it <n>[lay]</n> in the valley that is by Beth-rehob. And they built the city and dwelt therein.


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And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel; howbeit Laish was the name of the city at the first.


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And the children of Dan set up the graven image; and Jehonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses; he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.


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And they set up for themselves Micah's graven image, which he had made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.


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And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that a certain Levite, sojourning on the further side of mount Ephraim, took him a concubine out of Bethlehem-Judah.


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And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him to her father's house to Bethlehem-Judah, and was there some time, -- four months.


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And her husband rose up and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again; and his servant was with him, and a couple of asses. And she brought him into her father's house; and when the father of the damsel saw him he rejoiced to meet him.


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And his father-in-law, the damsel's father, retained him, and he abode with him three days; and they ate and drank, and lodged there.


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And it came to pass on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart; and the damsel's father said to his son-in-law, Refresh thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterwards ye may go your way.


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And they sat down, and ate and drank, both of them together. And the damsel's father said to the man, Be content, I pray thee, and pass the night, and let thy heart be glad.


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And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; but the damsel's father said, Refresh thy heart, I pray thee. And they lingered until the afternoon, and they did eat both of them.


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And the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant; and his father-in-law, the damsel's father, said to him, Behold now, the day draws toward evening -- I pray you stay all night; behold, the day is declining, lodge here, and let thy heart be merry; and to-morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go to thy tent.


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But the man would not tarry the night; and he rose up and departed, and came opposite to Jebus, that is, Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, and his concubine was with him.


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They were near Jebus, and the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.


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But his master said to him, We will not turn aside into the city of a stranger, which is not of the children of Israel, but we will pass on to Gibeah.


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And he said to his servant, Come and let us draw near to one of these places, and lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.


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And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them <n>[when they were]</n> by Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.


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And they turned aside thither, to go in, to lodge in Gibeah. And he went in, and sat down in the open place of the city; and there was no one that received him into his house to pass the night.


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And behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even; and the man was of mount Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjaminites.


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And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the open place of the city; and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?


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And he said to him, We are travelling from Bethlehem-Judah towards the further side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I; and I went to Bethlehem-Judah, and I have to do with the house of Jehovah; and there is no man that receives me into his house.


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And we have both straw and provender for our asses; and I have bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man with thy servants there is no lack of anything.


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Then the old man said, Peace be with thee; only let all thy wants lie on me; but lodge not in the street.


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And he brought him into his house, and gave the asses provender; and they washed their feet, and ate and drank.


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They were making their hearts merry, when behold, the men of the city, sons of Belial, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know him.


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And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brethren, I pray you, do not wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this villany.


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Behold, my daughter, who is a virgin, and his concubine; let me bring them out, and humble ye them, and do to them as is good in your sight; but to this man do not so vile a thing.


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But the men would not hearken to him; and the man took his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning; and let her go when the morning-dawn arose.


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And the woman came at the dawning of the day, and fell down at the entrance of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.


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And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the door of the house, and went out to go his way, and behold, there lay the woman his concubine at the entrance of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.


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And he said to her, Up, and let us go; but no one answered. And he took her upon the ass; and the man rose up, and went to his place.


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And when he was come into his house, he took the knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, according to her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the borders of Israel.


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And it came to pass that every one that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came out of Egypt to this day. Think it over, advise, and speak.


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And all the children of Israel went forth, and the assembly gathered together as one man, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah at Mizpah.


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And the heads of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the congregation of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.


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And the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah. And the children of Israel said, Tell <n>[us]</n>, how was this wickedness?


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Then the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said, I came to Gibeah that <n>[belongs]</n> to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.


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And the citizens of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house because of me, by night; they thought to slay me, and my concubine have they humbled so that she died.


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Then I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and villany in Israel.


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And all the people rose up as one man, saying, We will not any one go to his tent, neither will we any one turn into his house.


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and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to fetch victuals for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the villany that they have wrought in Israel.


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And the tribes of Israel sent men to all the families of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that has been done among you?


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And now give up the men, the sons of Belial, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But <n>[the children of]</n> Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.


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And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities of Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.


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And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities, twenty-six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.


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Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed; all these slang stones at a hair <n>[breadth]</n>, and missed not.


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And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword all these were men of war.


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And the children of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah first.


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And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.


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And the children of Benjamin went forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty-two thousand men.


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And the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and set the battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.


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And the children of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until even, and inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And Jehovah said, Go up against him.


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And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and again destroyed to the ground of the children of Israel eighteen thousand men all these drew the sword.


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Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up and came to Bethel, and wept, and abode there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until even, and offered up burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.


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And the children of Israel inquired of Jehovah (and the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,


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and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And Jehovah said, Go up; for to-morrow I will give them into thy hand.


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And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at the other times.


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And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city, and began to smite of the people, slaying as at the former times, in the highways, of which one leads to Bethel and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.


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And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. And the children of Israel said, Let us flee, that we may draw them from the city to the highways.


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And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal-Tamar; and the ambush of Israel rushed forth out of their place, out of the meadows of Geba.


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And there came from opposite Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was severe; but they knew not that disaster was coming upon them.


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And Jehovah smote Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjaminites that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men all these drew the sword.


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And the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten. -- And the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted to the ambush that they had set against Gibeah.


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And the ambush hasted, and fell upon Gibeah; and the ambush drew along, and smote the whole city with the edge of the sword.


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Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambush, that they should make a thick column of smoke rise up out of the city.


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And when the men of Israel turned back in the battle, Benjamin began to smite, slaying of the men of Israel about thirty men; for they said, Surely they are quite routed before us as in the first battle.


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And when the burning began to rise up out of the city as a pillar of smoke, Benjamin looked behind, and behold, the whole city ascended <n>[in smoke]</n> to the heavens.


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Then the men of Israel turned back, and the men of Benjamin were amazed, for they saw that disaster was come upon them.


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And they turned before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in their midst.


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They encompassed the Benjaminites, chased them, trode them down at the resting-place over against Gibeah toward the sun-rising.


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And they turned and fled towards the wilderness to the cliff of Rimmon, and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them to Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.


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So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men that drew the sword all these, men of valour.


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And six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness to the cliff of Rimmon, and abode at the cliff of Rimmon four months.


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And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of <n>[every]</n> city as the cattle, and all that was found; even all the cities that were found did they set on fire.


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Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter to the Benjaminites as wife.


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And the people came to Bethel, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,


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and said, Jehovah, God of Israel, why is it come to pass in Israel, that there should be this day one tribe lacking in Israel?


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And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered up burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.


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And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation to Jehovah? For they had <n>[made]</n> a great oath concerning him that came not up to Jehovah to Mizpah, saying, He shall certainly be put to death.


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And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, To-day is one tribe extirpated from Israel.


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What shall we do for wives for them that remain? since we have sworn by Jehovah that we will not give them of our daughters for wives.


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And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpah to Jehovah? And behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-Gilead, to the congregation;


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for the people were numbered, and behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead there.


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And the assembly sent thither twelve thousand men of the most valiant and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the sword, and the women and the children.


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And this is the thing which ye shall do ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain with man.


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And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead four hundred young women that were virgins, who had known no man by lying with any male, and they brought them to the camp, to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.


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And the whole assembly sent to speak to the children of Benjamin that were at the cliff of Rimmon, and to proclaim peace to them.


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And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them the wives whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-Gilead; but even so they found not enough for them.


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And the people repented them for Benjamin, because Jehovah had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.


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And the elders of the assembly said, What shall we do for wives for them that remain? for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin.


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And they said, There must be a possession for those of Benjamin that have escaped, that a tribe be not blotted out of Israel.


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But we cannot give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to the Benjaminites!


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And they said, Behold, there is a feast of Jehovah from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north side of Bethel, toward the sun-rising of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.


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and see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.


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And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come to complain to us, that we will say to them, Gratify us with them, because we did not take each man his wife in the war; for ye did not give them to them, that ye should now be guilty.


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And the children of Benjamin did so, and took wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught; and they went and returned to their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them.


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And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.


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And it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man went from Bethlehem-Judah, to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.


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And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.


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And they took them Moabitish wives; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the second Ruth and they abode there about ten years.


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And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.


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And she arose, she and her daughters-in-law, and returned from the fields of Moab; for she had heard in the fields of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people to give them bread.


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Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she had been, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.


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And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mother's house. Jehovah deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead and with me.


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Jehovah grant you that ye may find rest, each in the house of her husband. And she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice and wept.


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And Naomi said, Return, my daughters why will ye go with me? Are there yet sons in my womb, that they could be your husbands?


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Return, my daughters, go; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, should I even have a husband to-night, and should I also bear sons,


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would ye wait on that account till they were grown? Would ye stay on that account from having husbands? No, my daughters, for I am in much more bitterness than you; for the hand of Jehovah is gone out against me.


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And they lifted up their voice and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave to her.


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And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back to her people and to her gods return after thy sister-in-law.


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And Ruth said, Do not intreat me to leave thee, to return from <n>[following]</n> after thee; for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God;


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where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried. Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part me and thee!


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And they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they came to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the <n>[women]</n> said, Is this Naomi?


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And she said to them, Call me not Naomi -- call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.


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I went out full, and Jehovah has brought me home again empty. Why do ye call me Naomi, seeing Jehovah has brought me low, and the Almighty has afflicted me?


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So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the fields of Moab; and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of the barley-harvest.


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And Naomi had a relation of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.


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And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me, I pray, go to the field and glean among the ears of corn after <n>[him]</n> in whose sight I shall find favour. And she said to her, Go, my daughter.


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And she went; and she came and gleaned in the fields after the reapers; and she chanced to light on an allotment of Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.


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And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem; and he said to the reapers, Jehovah be with you! And they said to him, Jehovah bless thee!


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And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish maiden who came back with Naomi out of the fields of Moab;


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and she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers. And she came, and has continued from the morning until now her sitting in the house has been little as yet.


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And Boaz said to Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from here, but keep here with my maidens.


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Let thine eyes be on the field which is being reaped, and go thou after them; have I not charged the young men not to touch thee? And when thou art athirst, go to the vessels and drink of what the young men draw.


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Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favour in thine eyes, that thou shouldest regard me, seeing I am a foreigner?


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And Boaz answered and said to her, It has fully been shewn me, all that thou hast done to thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come to a people that thou hast not known heretofore.


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Jehovah recompense thy work, and let thy reward be full from Jehovah the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.


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And she said, Let me find favour in thine eyes, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly to thy handmaid, though I am not like one of thy handmaidens.


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And Boaz said to her at mealtime, Come hither and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers; and he reached her parched corn, and she ate and was sufficed, and reserved <n>[some]</n>.


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And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and ye shall not reproach her.


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And ye shall also sometimes draw out for her <n>[some ears]</n> out of the handfuls, and leave them that she may glean, and rebuke her not.


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And she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out what she had gleaned; and it was about an ephah of barley.


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And she took <n>[it]</n> up, and came into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned; and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had reserved after she was sufficed.


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And her mother-in-law said to her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou wrought? Blessed be he that did regard thee! And she told her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz.


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And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead! And Naomi said to her, The man is near of kin to us, one of those who have the right of our redemption.


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And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said to me also, Thou shalt keep with my young men until they have ended all my harvest.


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And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.


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So she kept with the maidens of Boaz to glean, until the end of the barley-harvest and of the wheat-harvest. And she dwelt with her mother-in-law.


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And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?


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And now, is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he is winnowing barley in the threshing-floor to-night.


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Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thyself, and put thy raiment upon thee, and go down to the floor; make not thyself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.


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And it shall be, when he lies down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall have lain down, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thyself down; and he will shew thee what thou shalt do.


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And Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was merry, and he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn. Then she went softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid herself down.


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And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was startled, and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.


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And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth, thy handmaid spread thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou hast the right of redemption.


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And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter! Thou hast shewn more kindness at the end than at the first, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.


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And now, my daughter, fear not all that thou sayest will I do to thee; for all the gate of my people knows that thou art a woman of worth.


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And now, truly I am one that has the right of redemption, yet there is one that has the right of redemption who is nearer than I.


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Stay over to-night, and it shall be in the morning, if he will redeem thee, well -- let him redeem; but if he like not to redeem thee, then will I redeem thee, <n>[as]</n> Jehovah liveth. Lie down until the morning.


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And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the threshing-floor.


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And he said, Bring the cloak that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And she held it, and he measured six <n>[measures]</n> of barley, and laid <n>[it]</n> on her; and he went into the city.


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And she came to her mother-in-law; and she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.


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And she said, These six <n>[measures]</n> of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty to thy mother-in-law.


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Then she said, Be still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest until he have completed the matter this day.


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And Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there. And behold, he that had the right of redemption, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. And he said, Thou, such a one, turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down.


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And he said to him that had the right of redemption Naomi, who is come back out of the country of Moab, sells the allotment that was our brother Elimelech's.


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And I thought I would apprise thee of it and say, Buy <n>[it]</n> in the presence of the inhabitants, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem <n>[it]</n>, redeem; but if thou wilt not redeem, tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem <n>[it]</n>.


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And Boaz said, On the day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy <n>[it]</n> also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.


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And he that had the right of redemption said, I cannot redeem <n>[it]</n> for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance. Redeem thou for thyself what I should redeem, for I cannot redeem <n>[it]</n>.


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Now this <n>[was the custom]</n> in former time in Israel concerning redemption and concerning exchange, to confirm the whole matter a man drew off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbour, and this was the <n>[mode of]</n> attestation in Israel.


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And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi;


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moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his place ye are witnesses this day.


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And all the people that were in the gate and the elders said, <n>[We are]</n> witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that cometh into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel; and acquire power in Ephratah, and make thyself a name in Bethlehem;


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and let thy house become like the house of Pherez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which Jehovah shall give thee of this young woman.


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And Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and Jehovah gave her conception, and she bore a son.


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And the women said to Naomi, Blessed be Jehovah who hath not left thee this day without one that has the right of redemption, and may his name be famous in Israel!


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And he shall be to thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age; for thy daughter-in-law who loves thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, has borne him.


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And the women <n>[her]</n> neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi. And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.


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And there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.


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And he had two wives the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.


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And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of Jehovah, were there.


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And it came to pass on the day that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters portions;


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but to Hannah he used to give a double portion, for he loved Hannah; but Jehovah had shut up her womb.


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And <n>[as]</n> he did so year by year, as often as she went up to the house of Jehovah, she provoked her thus; and she wept and did not eat.


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And Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than ten sons?


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And Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk; (now Eli the priest sat upon the seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah;)


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And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man child, then I will give him to Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.


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Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; and Eli thought she was drunken.


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And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before Jehovah.


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Take not thy handmaid for a daughter of Belial for out of the abundance of my grief and provocation have I spoken hitherto.


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And Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition which thou hast asked of him.


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And she said, Let thy bondwoman find grace in thy sight. And the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more <n>[as before]</n>.


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And they rose up early in the morning and worshipped before Jehovah, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her.


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And it came to pass when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, <n>[saying,]</n> Because I have asked him of Jehovah.


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And Elkanah her husband, and all his house, went up to sacrifice to Jehovah the yearly sacrifice and his vow.


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But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, <n>[I will wait]</n> until the child is weaned; then will I bring him, that he may appear before Jehovah, and there abide for ever.


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And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what is good in thy sight abide until thou hast weaned him; only, may Jehovah fulfil his word. And the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.


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And she took him up with her when she had weaned him, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a flask of wine, and brought him to the house of Jehovah to Shiloh; and the boy was young.


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And she said, Oh my lord, <n>[as]</n> thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here to pray to Jehovah.


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And also I have lent him to Jehovah all the days that he lives, he is lent to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there.


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And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart exulteth in Jehovah, my horn is lifted up in Jehovah; my mouth is opened wide over mine enemies; for I rejoice in thy salvation.


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There is none holy as Jehovah, for there is none beside thee, neither is there any rock like our God.


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Do not multiply your words of pride, let not vain-glory come out of your mouth; For Jehovah is a щGod of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.


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They that were full have hired themselves out for bread; and the hungry are <n>[so]</n> no more Even the barren beareth seven, and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.


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He raiseth up the poor out of the dust; from the dung-hill he lifteth up the needy, To set <n>[him]</n> among nobles; and he maketh them inherit a throne of glory; For the pillars of the earth are Jehovah's, and he hath set the world upon them.


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He keepeth the feet of his saints, but the wicked are silenced in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.


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They that strive with Jehovah shall be broken to pieces; in the heavens will he thunder upon them. Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth; and he will give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.


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And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the boy ministered to Jehovah in the presence of Eli the priest.


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And the priests' custom with the people was, when any man sacrificed a sacrifice, the priest's servant came, when the flesh was cooked, with a flesh-hook of three prongs in his hand;


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and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot; the priest took of it all that the flesh-hook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites that came there.


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Even before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest, and he will not accept sodden flesh of thee, but raw.


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If the man said to him, They will immediately burn the fat entire, then take as thy soul desires; he would say <n>[to him]</n>, No, but thou shalt give <n>[it]</n> now; and if not, I will take <n>[it]</n> by force.


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And the sin of the young men was very great before Jehovah, for men despised the offering of Jehovah.


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And his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to sacrifice the yearly sacrifice.


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And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Jehovah give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to Jehovah. And they went to their own home.


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So Jehovah visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew before Jehovah.


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And Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and that they lay with the women that served at the entrance of the tent of meeting.


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If one man sin against another, God will judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall intreat for him? But they hearkened not to the voice of their father, for Jehovah was minded to slay them.


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And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, Thus saith Jehovah Did I plainly reveal myself to the house of thy father when they were in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house,


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and choose him out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear the ephod before me? and I gave unto the house of thy father all the offerings by fire of the children of Israel.


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Wherefore do ye trample upon my sacrifice and upon mine oblation which I have commanded <n>[in my]</n> habitation? And thou honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the primest of all the oblations of Israel my people.


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Wherefore Jehovah the God of Israel saith, I said indeed, Thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me for ever. But now Jehovah saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.


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Behold, days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house.


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And thou shalt see an oppressor <n>[in my]</n> habitation, amidst all the good that shall be done to Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever.


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And the man of thine <n>[whom]</n> I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to cause thine eyes to fail and to grieve thy soul; and all the increase of thy house shall die in their vigour.


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And this shall be the sign to thee, which shall come upon thy two sons, upon Hophni and Phinehas in one day they shall die, both of them.


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And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, <n>[who]</n> shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind; and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed continually.


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And it shall come to pass <n>[that]</n> every one that is left of thy house shall come to crouch to him for a small piece of silver and for a cake of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priestly offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.


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And the boy Samuel ministered to Jehovah before Eli. And the word of Jehovah was rare in those days; a vision was not frequent.


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And it came to pass at that time, when Eli lay in his place (now his eyes began to grow dim, he could not see),


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and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel lay in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God was,


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And he ran to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I did not call lie down again. And he went and lay down.


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And Jehovah called again, Samuel! And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I did not call, my son lie down again.


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And Jehovah called again the third time, Samuel! And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And Eli perceived that Jehovah was calling the boy.


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And Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Jehovah, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.


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And Jehovah came, and stood, and called as at the other times, Samuel, Samuel! And Samuel said, Speak, for thy servant heareth.


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And Jehovah said to Samuel, Behold, I do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.


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In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house; I will begin and make an end.


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For I have declared to him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he hath known because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.


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And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice or oblation for ever.


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And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel feared to declare the vision to Eli.


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And he said, What is the word that he has spoken to thee? I pray thee, keep it not back from me God do so to thee, and more also, if thou keep back anything from me of all the word that he spoke to thee.


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And Samuel told him all the words, and kept nothing back from him. And he said, It is Jehovah let him do what is good in his sight.


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And Jehovah appeared again at Shiloh; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of Jehovah.


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And what Samuel had said happened to all Israel. And Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Eben-ezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.


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And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel; and the battle spread, and Israel was routed before the Philistines; and they slew in battle array in the field about four thousand men.


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And the people came into the camp; and the elders of Israel said, Why has Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch ourselves the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.


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So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of hosts, who sitteth between the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there by the ark of the covenant of God.


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And it came to pass when the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came into the camp, that all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth shook.


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And the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, and said, What is the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of Jehovah had come into the camp.


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And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there has not been such a thing heretofore.


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Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with every plague in the wilderness.


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Shew yourselves valiant and be men, ye Philistines, that ye may not have to be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been servants to you be men, and fight.


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And the Philistines fought, and Israel was routed, and they fled every man to his tent; and there was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.


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And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the battle, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent and with earth upon his head.


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And when he came, behold, Eli was sitting upon the seat by the way-side watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And the man came to tell it in the city, and all the city cried out.


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And Eli heard the noise of the crying, and said, What is the noise of this tumult? And the man came hastily, and told Eli.


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And the man said to Eli, I am he that came out of the battle, and I have fled to-day out of the battle. And he said, What has taken place, my son?


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And the messenger answered and said, Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.


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And it came to pass, when he mentioned the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died; for the man was old, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.


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And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered; and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.


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And as she was dying, the women that stood by her said, Fear not; for thou hast borne a son. But she did not answer, neither did she take it to heart.


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And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel; because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.


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And the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.


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And when they of Ashdod arose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.


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And when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the fish-stump was left to him.


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Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any that come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.


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And the hand of Jehovah was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he laid them waste, and smote them with hemorrhoids, -- Ashdod and its borders.


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And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is severe upon us, and upon Dagon our god.


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And they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they said, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about <n>[thither]</n>.


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And it came to pass that, after they had carried it about, the hand of Jehovah was against the city with very great panic; and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and hemorrhoids broke out upon them.


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And they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, when the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people.


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And they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it kill us not, and our people. For there was deadly alarm throughout the city the hand of God was very heavy there;


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and the men that died not were smitten with the hemorrhoids; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.


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And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of Jehovah? tell us wherewith we shall send it to its place.


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And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; ye must at any rate return him a trespass-offering then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.


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Then they said, What is the trespass-offering which we shall return to him? And they said, Five golden hemorrhoids, and five golden mice, the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague is upon them all, and upon your lords.


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And ye shall make images of your hemorrhoids, and images of your mice that destroy the land, and give glory to the God of Israel perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.


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And why will ye harden your heart, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their heart? When he had wrought mightily among them, did they not let them go, and they departed?


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And now make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there has come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;


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and take the ark of Jehovah, and lay it upon the cart, and the golden jewels, which ye return him as a trespass-offering, put in the coffer by the side thereof; and send it away that it may go.


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And see, if it go up by the way of its own border to Beth-shemesh, it is he who has done us this great evil; if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that touched us; it was a chance <n>[that]</n> happened to us.


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And the men did so, and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.


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And they laid the ark of Jehovah upon the cart, and the coffer with the golden mice and the images of their sores.


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And the kine went straight forward on the way to Beth-shemesh; they went by the one high way, lowing as they went; and they turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.


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And <n>[they of]</n> Beth-shemesh were reaping the wheat-harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.


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And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemeshite, and stood there; and a great stone was there. And they clave the wood of the cart, and offered up the kine as a burnt-offering to Jehovah.


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And the Levites took down the ark of Jehovah, and the coffer that was with it, in which were the golden jewels, and put them on the great stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered up burnt-offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to Jehovah.


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And these are the golden sores which the Philistines returned as a trespass-offering to Jehovah for Ashdod one, for Gazah one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;


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and the golden mice, <n>[according to]</n> the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and villages of the peasantry; <n>[and they brought them]</n> as far as the great <n>[stone of]</n> Abel, whereon they set down the ark of Jehovah, <n>[which]</n> is to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemeshite.


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And he smote among the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Jehovah, and smote of the people seventy men; and the people lamented, because Jehovah had smitten the people with a great slaughter.


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And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?


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And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of Jehovah; come down, fetch it up to you.


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And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Jehovah, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and hallowed Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Jehovah.


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And it came to pass, from the day that the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after Jehovah.


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And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If ye return to Jehovah with all your heart, put away the strange gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and apply your hearts unto Jehovah, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.


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And they gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Jehovah, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against Jehovah. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.


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And the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah; and the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel; and the children of Israel heard <n>[it]</n>, and were afraid of the Philistines.


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And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry to Jehovah our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.


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And Samuel took a sucking-lamb, and offered it as a whole burnt-offering to Jehovah; and Samuel cried to Jehovah for Israel, and Jehovah answered him.


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And as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines advanced to battle against Israel. And Jehovah thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were routed before Israel.


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And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, as far as below Beth-car.


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And Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, and said, Hitherto Jehovah has helped us.


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And the Philistines were subdued, and came no more into the borders of Israel; and the hand of Jehovah was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.


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And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and their territory did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorite.


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And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places.


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And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house, and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar to Jehovah.


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And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba.


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And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.


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and said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations.


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And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.


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And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.


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According to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.


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And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.


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And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, on his chariot and among his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots;


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and <n>[he will take them]</n> that he may appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and that they may plough his ground, and reap his harvest, and make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots.


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And your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best, will he take and give to his servants.


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And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants.


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And he will take your bondmen, and your bondwomen, and your comeliest young men, and your asses, and use them for his work.


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And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.


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And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,


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that we also may be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our wars.


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And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye every man to his city.


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And there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjaminite, a mighty man of wealth.


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And he had a son whose name was Saul, choice and comely; and there was not among the children of Israel a comelier person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.


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And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost; and Kish said to Saul his son, Take, I pray, one of the young men with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.


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And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found <n>[them]</n> not; and they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there; and they passed through the land of Benjamin, and they found <n>[them]</n> not.


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They had come to the land of Zuph when Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come and let us return; lest my father give up the asses, and be anxious about us.


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And he said to him, Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is held in honour; all that he says comes surely to pass. Let us now go thither perhaps he will shew us the way that we should go.


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And Saul said to his servant, But if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and we have no present to give to the man of God what have we?


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And the servant answered Saul again and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.


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(In former time in Israel, when a man went to ask counsel of God, he said, Come and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was in former time called a Seer.)


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And Saul said to his servant, Well said come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.


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As they went up the ascent to the city, they met maidens going forth to draw water; and they said to them, Is the seer here?


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And they answered them and said, He is; behold, he is before thee make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.


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As soon as ye come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people eat not until he has come, because he blesses the sacrifice; afterwards they eat that are invited. And now go up; for this very day shall ye find him.


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And they went up into the city. As they were coming into the midst of the city, behold, Samuel was coming out towards them, to go up to the high place.


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To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him prince over my people Israel; and he will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.


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And as Samuel saw Saul, Jehovah answered him, Behold the man of whom I spoke to thee! this man shall rule over my people.


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And Saul drew near to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.


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And Samuel answered Saul and said, I am the seer go up before me to the high place, and ye shall eat with me to-day; and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart.


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And as for the asses that thou didst lose three days ago, set not thy heart on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel <n>[set]</n>? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?


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And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? and why dost thou speak such words to me?


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And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the chamber, and gave them a place at the head of them that were invited; and they were about thirty persons.


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And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion that I gave thee, of which I said to thee, Set it by thee.


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And the cook took up the shoulder, and what was on it, and set <n>[it]</n> before Saul. And he said, Behold that which has been reserved! set it before thee, eat; for against the set time has it been kept for thee, since I said, I will invite the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.


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And they arose early; and when it was about the dawning of the day, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, Arise, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, into the street.


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As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the servant to pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand thou still now, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.


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Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because Jehovah has anointed thee prince over his inheritance?


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When thou goest from me to-day, thou shalt meet two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to thee, The asses are found which thou wentest to seek, and behold, thy father has dismissed the matter of the asses, and is anxious about you, saying, What shall I do for my son?


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And thou shalt go on forward from thence, and shalt come to the oak of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God, to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three cakes of bread, and another carrying a flask of wine.


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And they will ask after thy welfare, and give thee two loaves, which thou shalt receive of their hands.


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After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where are the outposts of the Philistines; and it shall come to pass, when thou comest thither, into the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with lute and tambour and pipe and harp before them; and they themselves prophesying.


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And the Spirit of Jehovah will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.


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And it shall be, when these signs shall come to thee, thou shalt do as thy hand shall find; for God is with thee.


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And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to thee, to offer up burnt-offerings, <n>[and]</n> to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings seven days shalt thou wait, until I come to thee and inform thee what thou shalt do.


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And it was <n>[so]</n> that when he turned his back to go away from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.


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And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.


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And it came to pass, when all that knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?


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And a man of that place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?


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And Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were nowhere, we went to Samuel.


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And Saul said to his uncle, He told us for certain that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he told him not.


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And he said to the children of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, *I* brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you;


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but *ye* have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your troubles, and have said unto him, <n>[Nay,]</n> but a king shalt thou set over us. Now therefore present yourselves before Jehovah by your tribes, and by your thousands.


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And he caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, and the family of Matri was taken; and Saul the son of Kish was taken. And they sought him, but he was not to be found.


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Therefore they inquired of Jehovah further, Will the man yet come hither? And Jehovah answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the baggage.


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And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.


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And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom Jehovah has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted and said, May the king live.


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And Samuel told the people the right of the kingdom, and wrote it in the book, and laid it before Jehovah. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.


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But the children of Belial said, How should this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no gifts. But he was as one deaf.


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And Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh-Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.


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And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this <n>[condition]</n> will I treat with you, that I thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.


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And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Allow us seven days, and we will send messengers into all the districts of Israel; and if there be no man to deliver us, we will come out to thee.


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And the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told these words in the ears of the people. And all the people lifted up their voice and wept.


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And behold, Saul came after the oxen from the field; and Saul said, What <n>[aileth]</n> the people that they weep? And they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh.


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And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whoever comes not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen! And the fear of Jehovah fell on the people, and they came out as one man.


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And he numbered them in Bezek, and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.


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And they said to the messengers that had come, Thus shall ye say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead To-morrow ye shall have deliverance when the sun is hot. And the messengers came and informed the men of Jabesh-Gilead; and they were glad.


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And the men of Jabesh said, To-morrow we will come out to you, and ye may do with us according to all that is good in your sight.


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And it came to pass the next day that Saul set the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote Ammon until the heat of the day and it came to pass that they who remained were scattered, and not two of them were left together.


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And the people said to Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.


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But Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for to-day Jehovah has wrought deliverance in Israel.


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And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Jehovah in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed peace-offerings before Jehovah. And there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced exceedingly.


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And Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that ye said to me, and have made a king over you.


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And now behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and grey-headed; and behold, my sons are with you; and I have walked before you from my youth up to this day.


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Here I am testify against me before Jehovah, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I injured? or of whose hand have I received any ransom and blinded mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it to you.


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And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, and thou hast not injured us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand.


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And he said to them, Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand! And <n>[the people]</n> said, <n>[He is]</n> witness!


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And Samuel said to the people, <n>[It is]</n> Jehovah who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.


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And now stand still, that I may plead with you before Jehovah of all the righteous acts of Jehovah which he did to you and to your fathers.


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When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to Jehovah, then Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron, and they brought your fathers forth out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.


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And they forgot Jehovah their God, and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.


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And they cried to Jehovah and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken Jehovah, and have served the Baals and the Ashtoreths; and now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.


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And Jehovah sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies round about, so that ye dwelt in safety.


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But when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said to me, Nay, but a king shall reign over us; when Jehovah your God was your king.


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And now behold, the king whom ye have chosen, whom ye have asked for! and behold, Jehovah has set a king over you.


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If ye fear Jehovah, and serve him, and hearken to his voice, and rebel not against the commandment of Jehovah, then both ye and the king also that reigns over you shall continue following Jehovah your God.


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But if ye will not hearken to the voice of Jehovah, and if ye rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, then will the hand of Jehovah be against you, as against your fathers.


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Is it not wheat-harvest to-day? I will call unto Jehovah, and he will send thunder and rain; and ye shall perceive and see that your wickedness is great which ye have done in the sight of Jehovah in asking for yourselves a king.


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And Samuel called to Jehovah; and Jehovah sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared Jehovah and Samuel.


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And all the people said to Samuel, Pray to Jehovah thy God for thy servants, that we die not; for we have added to all our sins the wickedness to ask for ourselves a king.


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And Samuel said to the people, Fear not *ye* have done all this wickedness; yet turn not aside from following Jehovah, and serve Jehovah with all your heart;


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and turn ye not aside; for <n>[it would be]</n> after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.


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For Jehovah will not cast away his people for his great name's sake; because it has pleased Jehovah to make you his people.


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Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah in ceasing to pray for you; and I will teach you the good and right way.


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Only, fear Jehovah, and serve him in truth, with all your heart; for see how great things he has done for you.


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And Saul chose him three thousand men out of Israel there were with Saul two thousand in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.


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And Jonathan smote the outpost of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard <n>[of it]</n>. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.


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And all Israel heard say, Saul has smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and Israel also has become odious to the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.


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And the Philistines were assembled together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude; and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward from Beth-Aven.


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And the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed); and the people hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in cliffs, and in strongholds, and in pits.


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And the Hebrews went over the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. And Saul was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.


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And he waited seven days, according to the set time that Samuel <n>[had appointed]</n>; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.


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And Saul said, Bring hither to me the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings. And he offered up the burnt-offering.


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And it came to pass, as soon as he had ended offering up the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.


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And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou didst not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines were assembled at Michmash,


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I said, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to Jehovah; and I forced myself, and offered up the burnt-offering.


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And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly thou hast not kept the commandment of Jehovah thy God which he commanded thee; for now would Jehovah have established thy kingdom over Israel for ever.


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But now thy kingdom shall not continue Jehovah has sought him a man after his own heart, and Jehovah has appointed him ruler over his people; for thou hast not kept what Jehovah commanded thee.


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And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were found with him, about six hundred men.


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And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were found with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin; and the Philistines encamped in Michmash.


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And the ravagers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies one company turned the way of Ophrah, into the land of Shual;


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and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and the other company turned the way to the district that looks over the ravine of Zeboim toward the wilderness.


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Now there was no smith found throughout the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.


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And all Israel went down to the Philistines, every man to get his ploughshare, and his hoe, and his axe, and his sickle sharpened,


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when the edges of the sickles, and the hoes, and the forks, and the axes were blunted; and to set the goads.


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And it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan; but with Saul and with Jonathan his son there was found.


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Now it came to pass one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armour, Come and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison which is on the other side. But he did not tell his father.


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And Saul abode at the extreme end of Gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which <n>[was]</n> in Migron; and the people that were with him were about six hundred men.


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(And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, Jehovah's priest in Shiloh, wore the ephod.) And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone.


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Now between the passes by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines' garrison there was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side; and the name of the one <n>[was]</n> Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.


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The one crag <n>[formed]</n> a pillar on the north opposite to Michmash, and the other on the south opposite to Geba.


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And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised perhaps Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.


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And his armour-bearer said to him, Do all that is in thy heart; turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.


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If they say thus to us, Stand still until we come to you, then we will stay in our place, and will not go up to them.


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And if they say thus, Come up to us, then we will go up; for Jehovah has given them into our hand; and this shall be the sign to us.


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And both of them shewed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.


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And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armour-bearer and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you something. And Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, Come up after me; for Jehovah has delivered them into the hand of Israel.


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And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armour-bearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan; and his armour-bearer slew after him.


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And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour-bearer wrought was about twenty men, as it were on the half-furrow of an acre of land.


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And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the ravagers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked; for it was a trembling <n>[from]</n> God.


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And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on slaying one another.


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Then said Saul to the people that were with him, Muster now, and see who is gone from us. And they mustered, and behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there.


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And Saul said to Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.


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And it came to pass while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, Withdraw thy hand.


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And Saul and all the people that were with him were called together, and they came to the battle; and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, a very great confusion.


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And there were Hebrews with the Philistines before that time, who had gone up with them into the camp round about; and they also <n>[turned]</n> to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.


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And all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in mount Ephraim heard that the Philistines fled, and they also followed hard after them in the battle.


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But the men of Israel were distressed that day. Now Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food until evening, and <n>[until]</n> I am avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food.


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And the people had come into the wood, and behold, the honey flowed; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.


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But Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people; and he put forth the end of his staff which was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright.


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Then answered one of the people and said, Thy father strictly adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day; and the people are faint.


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And Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land see, I pray you, that mine eyes are bright, because I tasted a little of this honey.


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How much more, if the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for would there not now have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?


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And the people fell on the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate <n>[them]</n> with the blood.


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And they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have acted perversely roll me now a great stone.


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And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, Bring near to me every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slaughter them here, and eat; and sin not against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slaughtered <n>[them]</n> there.


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And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever is good in thy sight. Then said the priest, Let us come near hither to God.


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And Saul inquired of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou give them into the hand of Israel? But he did not answer him that day.


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And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the heads of the people; and know and see wherein this sin has been this day.


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For, <n>[as]</n> Jehovah liveth, who has saved Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall certainly die. And no one answered him among all the people.


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Then said he to all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what is good in thy sight.


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And Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, Give a perfect <n>[testimony]</n>! And Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people escaped.


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And Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him and said, With the end of the staff which is in my hand I tasted a little honey, <n>[and]</n> behold, I must die!


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And the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far be it! <n>[as]</n> Jehovah liveth, there shall not a hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought with God this day. So the people delivered Jonathan, that he died not.


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And Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; and whithersoever he turned himself, he discomfited <n>[them]</n>.


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And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of their spoilers.


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And the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Jishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.


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And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.


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And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to himself.


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And Samuel said to Saul, Jehovah sent *me* to anoint thee king over his people, over Israel now therefore hearken to the voice of the words of Jehovah.


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Thus saith Jehovah of hosts I have considered what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.


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Now go and smite Amalek, and destroy utterly all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.


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And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.


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And Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, and go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. And the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.


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And he took Agag the king of Amalek alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.


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And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and oxen, and beasts of the second bearing, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not devote them to destruction; but everything that was mean and weak, that they destroyed utterly.


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It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned away from following me, and hath not fulfilled my words. And Samuel was much grieved; and he cried to Jehovah all night.


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And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set him up a monument, and has turned about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.


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And Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, Blessed art thou of Jehovah I have fulfilled the word of Jehovah.


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And Samuel said, What <n>[means]</n> then this bleating of sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of oxen which I hear?


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And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites, because the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to Jehovah thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.


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And Samuel said to Saul, Stay, that I may tell thee what Jehovah has said to me this night. And he said to him, Say on.


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And Samuel said, Was it not when thou wast little in thine eyes that thou <n>[becamest]</n> the head of the tribes of Israel, and Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel?


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And Jehovah sent thee on a way and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.


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Why then didst thou not hearken to the voice of Jehovah, but didst fall upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of Jehovah?


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And Saul said to Samuel, I have indeed hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and have gone the way which Jehovah sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.


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But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.


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And Samuel said, Has Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, As in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, Attention than the fat of rams.


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For rebellion is <n>[as]</n> the sin of divination, And selfwill is <n>[as]</n> iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He hath also rejected thee from being king.


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And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words; for I feared the people, and hearkened to their voice.


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And Samuel said to Saul, I will not turn again with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah has rejected thee from being king over Israel.


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Then Samuel said to him, Jehovah has rent the kingdom of Israel from thee to-day, and has given it to thy neighbour, who is better than thou.


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And he said, I have sinned; honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah thy God.


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And Samuel said, Bring ye near to me Agag the king of Amalek. And Agag came to him gaily. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.


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And Samuel said, As thy sword has made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless above women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal.


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And Samuel saw Saul no more until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned over Saul; and Jehovah repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.


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And Jehovah said to Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons.


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And Samuel said, How shall I go? if Saul hear <n>[it]</n>, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah.


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And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will tell thee what thou shalt do; and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.


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And Samuel did what Jehovah said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him, and said, Dost thou come peaceably?


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And he said, Peaceably I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah. Hallow yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he hallowed Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.


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And it came to pass when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely Jehovah's anointed is before him.


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But Jehovah said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for it is not as man seeth; for man looketh upon the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh upon the heart.


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Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither has Jehovah chosen this one.


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And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, Jehovah has not chosen these.


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And Samuel said to Jesse, Are these all the young men? And he said, There is yet the youngest remaining, and behold, he is feeding the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and fetch him; for we will not sit at table till he come hither.


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And he sent and brought him in. And he was ruddy, and besides of a lovely countenance and beautiful appearance. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.


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And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren. And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.


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Let our lord now speak; thy servants are before thee they shall seek out a man, a skilful player on a harp; and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.


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And one of the young men answered and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skilled in playing, and he is a valiant man and a man of war, and skilled in speech, and of good presence, and Jehovah is with him.


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And Jesse took an ass with bread, and a flask of wine, and a kid, and sent <n>[them]</n> by David his son to Saul.


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And David came to Saul, and stood before him; and he loved him greatly; and he became his armour-bearer.


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And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he has found favour in my sight.


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And it came to pass, when the <n>[evil]</n> spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand; and Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.


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And the Philistines assembled their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.


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And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and encamped in the valley of terebinths, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.


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And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side; and the ravine was between them.


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And there went out a champion from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.


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And he had a helmet of bronze upon his head, and he was clothed with a corselet of scales; and the weight of the corselet was five thousand shekels of bronze.


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And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and the shield-bearer went before him.


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And he stood and cried to the ranks of Israel, and said to them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I the Philistine, and ye servants of Saul? choose for yourselves a man, and let him come down to me.


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If he be able to fight with me, and to smite me, then will we be your servants; but if I overcome and smite him, then shall ye be our servants and serve us.


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And the Philistine said, I have defied the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.


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And Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, and they were dismayed and greatly afraid.


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Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem-Judah whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons; and the man was old in the days of Saul, advanced <n>[in years]</n> among men.


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And the three eldest of the sons of Jesse had gone and followed Saul to the battle; and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.


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And Jesse said to David his son, Take, I pray, for thy brethren, this ephah of parched <n>[corn]</n> and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to thy brethren;


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and carry these ten cheeses to the captain of the thousand, and visit thy brethren to see how they are, and take a pledge of them.


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Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel <n>[were]</n> in the valley of terebinths, fighting against the Philistines.


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And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took his charge and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the wagon-defence; and the host which was going forth to the battle-array shouted for the fight.


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And David left the things he was carrying in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran into the ranks, and came and saluted his brethren.


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And as he talked with them, behold there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words; and David heard <n>[them]</n>.


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And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that comes up? for to defy Israel is he come up and it shall be, that the man who smites him, him will the king enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.


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And David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that smites this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?


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And Eliab, his eldest brother, heard while he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why art thou come down? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.


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And he turned from him to another, and spoke after the same manner; and the people answered him again after the former manner.


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And the words were heard which David spoke, and they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.


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And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.


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And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.


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And David said to Saul, Thy servant fed his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and also a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock.


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And I went after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I seized him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.


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Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.


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And David said, Jehovah who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and Jehovah be with thee.


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And Saul clothed David with his dress, and put a helmet of bronze upon his head, and clothed him with a corselet.


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And David girded his sword upon his dress, and endeavoured to go; for he had not yet tried <n>[it]</n>. And David said to Saul, I cannot go in these; for I have never tried <n>[them]</n>. And David put them off him.


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And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag that he had, into the pocket; and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.


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And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was a youth, and ruddy, and besides of a beautiful countenance.


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And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.


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And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the heavens and to the beasts of the field.


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And David said to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with sword, and with spear, and with javelin; but I come to thee in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.


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This day will Jehovah deliver thee up into my hand; and I will smite thee, and take thy head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the camp of the Philistines this day to the fowl of the heavens and to the wild beasts of the earth. And all the earth shall know that Israel has a God;


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and all this congregation shall know that Jehovah saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is Jehovah's, and he will give you into our hands.


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And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and advanced to meet David, that David hasted, and ran towards the ranks to meet the Philistine.


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And David put his hand into the bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, and the stone sank into his forehead; and he fell on his face to the earth.


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So David overcame the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and smote the Philistine and killed him; and there was no sword in the hand of David.


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And David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him completely, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they fled.


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And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou comest to the ravine and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down on the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath, and to Ekron.


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And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they pillaged their camps.


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And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.


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And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this young man? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.


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And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.


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And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, young man? And David said, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.


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And it came to pass, when he had ended speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.


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And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his dress, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.


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And David went forth; whithersoever Saul sent him he prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.


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And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambours, with joy, and with triangles.


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And the women answered <n>[one another]</n> as they played, and said, Saul hath smitten his thousands, And David his ten thousands.


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And Saul was very wroth, and that saying was evil in his sight; and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed the thousands; and <n>[what]</n> is there more for him but the kingdom?


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And it came to pass the next day that an evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house, but David played with his hand, as on other days; and the spear was in Saul's hand.


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And Saul cast the spear, and thought, I will smite David and the wall. But David turned away from him twice.


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And Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.


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And Saul said to David, Behold my eldest daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight Jehovah's battles. But Saul thought, My hand shall not be upon him, but the hand of the Philistines shall be upon him.


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And David said to Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, <n>[or]</n> my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?


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And it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.


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And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be upon him. And Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law a second time.


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And Saul commanded his servants, Speak with David secretly, saying, Behold, the king has delight in thee, and all his servants love thee now therefore be the king's son-in-law.


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And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Is it a light thing in your eyes to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?


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And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David The king does not desire any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.


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And his servants told David these words; and the thing was right in David's sight to be the king's son-in-law. And the days were not expired,


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when David arose and went, he and his men, and smote of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they delivered them in full to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.


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And the princes of the Philistines went forth; and it came to pass, whenever they went forth, that David succeeded better than all the servants of Saul; and his name was much esteemed.


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But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeks to kill thee; and now, I pray thee, take heed to thyself in the morning, and abide in a secret place and hide thyself;


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and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and will speak of thee with my father and see what it is, and tell thee.


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And Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against thee; for also what he did was very advantageous to thee;


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for he put his life in hand, and smote the Philistine, and Jehovah wrought a great salvation for all Israel thou didst see <n>[it]</n>, and didst rejoice; why then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, in slaying David without cause?


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And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, <n>[As]</n> Jehovah liveth, he shall not be put to death!


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Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan declared to him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as previously.


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And there was war again; and David went forth and fought with the Philistines, and smote them with a great slaughter; and they fled before him.


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And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul. And he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David played with his hand.


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And Saul sought to smite David and the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the spear into the wall. And David fled, and escaped that night.


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And Saul sent messengers to David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning; and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou wilt be put to death.


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And Michal took the image, and laid it in the bed, and put the net of goats' <n>[hair]</n> at its head, and covered it with the coverlet.


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And Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may put him to death.


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And the messengers came in, and behold, the image was in the bed, and the net of goats' <n>[hair]</n> at its head.


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Then Saul said to Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal said to Saul, He said to me, Let me go; why should I slay thee?


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And David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.


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Then Saul sent messengers to take David; and they saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as president over them; and the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.


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And it was told Saul, and he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.


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Then went he also to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Sechu; and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, at Naioth by Ramah.


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And he went thither to Naioth by Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth by Ramah.


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And he himself also stripped off his clothes, and prophesied, himself also, before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?


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And David fled from Naioth by Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity, and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeks my life?


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And he said to him, God forbid; thou shalt not die behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, and not apprise me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.


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And David swore again and again, and said, Thy father certainly knows that I have found favour in thy sight and he has thought, Jonathan shall not know this, lest he be grieved; but truly <n>[as]</n> Jehovah liveth, and <n>[as]</n> thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.


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And David said to Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow is new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.


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If thy father should actually miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.


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If he say thus, It is well, -- thy servant shall have peace; but if he be very wroth, be sure that evil is determined by him.


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Deal kindly then with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee; but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?


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And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for, if I knew with certainty that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, would I not tell it thee?


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And Jonathan said to David, Come and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.


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And Jonathan said to David, Jehovah, God of Israel, when I sound my father about this time to-morrow, <n>[or]</n> the next day, and behold, there be good toward David, and I then send not to thee, and apprise thee of it,


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Jehovah do so and much more to Jonathan. Should it please my father <n>[to do]</n> thee evil, then I will apprise thee of it, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace; and Jehovah be with thee, as he has been with my father.


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but thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever, no, not when Jehovah cuts off the enemies of David, every one from the face of the earth.


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And Jonathan made <n>[a covenant]</n> with the house of David, <n>[saying,]</n> Let Jehovah even require <n>[it]</n> at the hand of David's enemies!


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And Jonathan caused David to swear again, by the love he had for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.


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And Jonathan said to him, To-morrow is the new moon; and thou wilt be missed, for thy seat will be empty;


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but on the third day thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself on the day of the business, and abide by the stone Ezel.


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And behold, I will send the lad, <n>[saying,]</n> Go, find the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come, for there is peace for thee, and it is nothing; <n>[as]</n> Jehovah liveth.


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But if I say thus to the youth Behold, the arrows are beyond thee, -- go thy way; for Jehovah sends thee away.


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And as to the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between me and thee for ever.


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And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.


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And Saul said nothing that day; for he thought, Something has befallen <n>[him]</n>, that he is not clean surely he is not clean.


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And it came to pass the next day after the new moon, the second <n>[day of the month]</n>, as David's place was empty, that Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why has not the son of Jesse come to table, neither yesterday nor to-day?


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and said, Let me go, I pray thee; for we have a family sacrifice in the city; and my brother himself has commanded me <n>[to be there]</n>; and now, if I have found favour in thy sight, let me go away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. He has therefore not come to the king's table.


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And Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, Son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame and to the shame of thy mother's nakedness?


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For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon earth, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. And now send and fetch him to me, for he must die.


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And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, Why should he be put to death? what has he done?


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Then Saul cast the spear at him to smite him; and Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to put David to death.


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And Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no meat the second day of the new moon; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.


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And it came to pass in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field, to the place agreed on with David, and a little lad with him.


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And he said to his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. The lad ran, and he shot the arrow beyond him.


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And when the lad came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad and said, Is not the arrow away beyond thee?


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And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not! And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.


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The lad went, and David arose from the side of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times; and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.


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And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have both of us sworn in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever! And he arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.


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And David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech trembled at meeting David, and said to him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?


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And David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has commanded me a business, and has said to me, Let no man know anything of the business whereon I send thee, and what I have commanded thee; and I have directed the young men to such and such a place.


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And the priest answered David and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.


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And David answered the priest and said to him, Yes indeed, women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the <n>[bread]</n> is in a manner common, and the more so, because to-day <n>[new]</n> is hallowed in the vessels.


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And the priest gave him holy <n>[bread]</n>; for there was no bread there but the shew-loaves that were taken from before Jehovah, to put on hot bread in the day when they were taken away.


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(Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Jehovah; and his name was Doeg, the Edomite, chief of the shepherds that <n>[belonged]</n> to Saul.)


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And David said to Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, for the king's business was urgent.


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And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of terebinths, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if thou wilt take that, take it; for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that give it me.


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And the servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul has smitten his thousands, and David his ten thousands?


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And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.


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have I lack of madmen, that ye have brought this one to rave in my presence? shall this <n>[man]</n> come into my house?


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And David departed thence, and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And his brethren and all his father's house heard <n>[it]</n>, and they went down thither to him.


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And every one in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one of embittered spirit collected round him; and he became a captain over them; and there were with him about four hundred men.


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And David went thence to Mizpeh in Moab, and said to the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth amongst you, till I know what God will do for me.


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And he brought them before the king of Moab; and they abode with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.


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And the prophet Gad said to David, Abide not in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.


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And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk upon the height, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing by him.


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Then Saul said to his servants that stood by him, Hear now, ye Benjaminites will the son of Jesse give every one of you also fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,


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that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that informs me when my son has made <n>[a covenant]</n> with the son of Jesse; and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or informs me that my son has stirred up my servant as a lier-in-wait against me, as at this day?


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Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.


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And he inquired of Jehovah for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.


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Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob; and they came all of them to the king.


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And Saul said to him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me as a lier-in-wait, as at this day?


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And Ahimelech answered the king and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and has access to thy secret council, and is honourable in thy house?


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Was it to-day that I began to inquire of God for him? be it far from me let not the king charge anything to his servant, <n>[nor]</n> to all the house of my father; for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.


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And the king said to the couriers that stood about him, Turn and put the priests of Jehovah to death; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not inform me. But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hand to fall on the priests of Jehovah.


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And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall on the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and fell on the priests, and put to death that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod.


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And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the sword, both men and women, infants and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.


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And David said to Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would certainly tell Saul I am accountable for all the lives of thy father's house.


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Abide with me, fear not; for he that seeks my life seeks thy life; for with me thou art in safe keeping.


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And they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing-floors.


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And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And Jehovah said to David, Go and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.


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But David's men said to him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?


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And David inquired of Jehovah yet again. And Jehovah answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will give the Philistines into thy hand.


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And David and his men went to Keilah, and fought against the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.


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And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.


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And it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. Then Saul said, God has cast him off into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a city that has gates and bars.


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And when David knew that Saul devised mischief against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod.


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Then said David, Jehovah, God of Israel, thy servant hath heard for certain that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.


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Will the citizens of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? Jehovah, God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And Jehovah said, He will come down.


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And David said, Will the citizens of Keilah deliver up me and my men into the hand of Saul? And Jehovah said, They will deliver <n>[thee]</n> up.


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Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, and he forbore to go forth.


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And David abode in the wilderness in strongholds, and abode in the mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.


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And David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life; and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.


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And he said to him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father will not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next to thee; and that also Saul my father knows.


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And they two made a covenant before Jehovah; and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.


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And the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself with us in strongholds in the wood, on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the waste?


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And now, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and it will be for us to deliver him up into the king's hand.


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Go, I pray you, make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his track is, who has seen him there; for it is told me that he deals very subtilly.


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And see, and ascertain all the lurking-places where he hides himself, and come ye again to me with sure information, that I may go with you; and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout the thousands of Judah.


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And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of the waste.


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And Saul and his men went to seek <n>[him]</n>. And they told David; and he came down from the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul heard <n>[that]</n>, and he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.


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And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David made haste to get away from Saul; and Saul and his men sought to surround David and his men to take them.


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But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Haste thee and come; for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.


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And Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.


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And it came to pass when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.


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And Saul took three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.


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And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were abiding in the recesses of the cave.


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And David's men said to him, Behold the day of which Jehovah said to thee, Behold, I will give thine enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. And David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.


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And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Jehovah's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.


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And David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on <n>[his]</n> way.


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David also arose afterwards, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.


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Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had given thee this day into my hand in the cave; and they bade me kill thee; but <n>[mine eye]</n> spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.


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And see, my father, yes, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou liest in wait for my life to take it.


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Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.


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As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked; but my hand shall not be upon thee.


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After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a single flea.


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Jehovah therefore shall be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and do me justice <n>[in delivering me]</n> out of thy hand.


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And as soon as David had ended speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.


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And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.


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And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.


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For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that thou hast done to me this day.


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And now behold, I know that thou shalt certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.


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Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.


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And Samuel died; and all Israel were gathered together, and lamented him; and they buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.


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And there was a man at Maon, whose business was at Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats; and he was shearing his sheep at Carmel.


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And the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance; but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was a Calebite.


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Then David sent out ten young men; and David said to the young men, Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.


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And thus shall ye say Long life <n>[to thee]</n>! and peace be to thee, and peace be to thy house, and peace be to all that thou hast!


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And now I have heard that thou hast shearers; now thy shepherds who were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there aught missed by them, all the while they were in Carmel.


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Ask thy young men, and they will tell thee. Therefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes; for we come in a good day give, I pray thee, what thy hand may find to thy servants, and to thy son David.


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And David's young men came, and spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.


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And Nabal answered David's servants and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there are many servants now-a-days that break away every man from his master.


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And shall I take my bread, and my water, and my flesh which I have killed for my shearers, and give <n>[it]</n> to men whom I know not whence they are?


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And David's young men turned their way, and went back, and came and reported to him according to all those words.


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And David said to his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword; and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the baggage.


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And one of <n>[Nabal's]</n> young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our master; and he has insulted them.


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And the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we companied with them, when we were in the fields.


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And now know and consider what thou wilt do, for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household; and he is such a son of Belial, that one cannot speak to him.


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And Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two skin-bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched <n>[corn]</n>, and a hundred raisin-cakes, and two hundred fig-cakes, and laid them on asses.


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And she said to her young men, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she did not tell her husband Nabal.


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And as she was riding on the ass, and coming down by the covert of the hill, behold, David and his men came down opposite to her; and she met them.


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Now David had said, Surely, in vain have I kept all that this <n>[man]</n> had in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that was his; and he has requited me evil for good.


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So and more also do God to the enemies of David, if I leave of all that is his by the morning light any male.


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And when Abigail saw David, she hasted and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,


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and fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, <n>[upon]</n> me let the iniquity be; but let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear the words of thy handmaid.


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Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; and I thy handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.


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And now, my lord, <n>[as]</n> Jehovah liveth, and <n>[as]</n> thy soul liveth, seeing Jehovah has restrained thee from coming with bloodshed, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.


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And now this blessing which thy bondmaid has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men that follow my lord.


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I pray thee, forgive the transgression of thy handmaid for Jehovah will certainly make my lord a lasting house; because my lord fights the battles of Jehovah, and evil has not been found in thee all thy days.


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And if a man is risen up to pursue thee and to seek thy life, the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with Jehovah thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out from the hollow of the sling.


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And it shall come to pass, when Jehovah shall do to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning thee, and shall appoint thee ruler over Israel,


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that this shall be no stumbling-block to thee, nor offence of heart for my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. And when Jehovah shall deal well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.


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And David said to Abigail, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me.


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And blessed be thy discernment, and blessed be thou, who hast kept me this day from coming with bloodshed, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.


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But indeed, as Jehovah the God of Israel liveth, who has restrained me from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light any male.


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So David received of her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, Go up in peace to thy house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.


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And Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was drunken to excess; so she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.


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And it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things; and his heart died within him, and he became <n>[as]</n> a stone.


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And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be Jehovah, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil; but Jehovah has returned Nabal's evil upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her as his wife.


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And the servants of David came to Abigail to Carmel, and spoke to her, saying, David has sent us to thee, to take thee as his wife.


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And she arose and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thy handmaid be a bondwoman to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.


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And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.


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But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.


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And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, facing the waste?


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And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.


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And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which faces the waste, by the way side. And David abode in the wilderness; and when he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,


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And David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host; and Saul lay within the wagon-defence, and the people were encamped round about him.


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And David spake and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.


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And David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the wagon-defence, and his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him.


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And Abishai said to David, God has delivered thine enemy into thy hand this day; and now let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear, even to the ground once, and I will not do it the second time.


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And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his hand against Jehovah's anointed, and be guiltless?


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And David said, <n>[As]</n> Jehovah liveth, Jehovah will surely smite him; either his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and perish.


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Jehovah forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed! But now take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go.


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And David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's head; and they went away, and no man saw <n>[it]</n>, and none knew <n>[it]</n>, and none awaked, for they were all asleep; for a deep sleep from Jehovah had fallen upon them.


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And David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off; a great space <n>[being]</n> between them.


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And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?


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And David said to Abner, Art not thou a man? and who is like to thee in Israel? and why hast thou not guarded thy lord the king? for one of the people came in to destroy the king thy lord.


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This thing is not good which thou hast done. As Jehovah liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not guarded your master, Jehovah's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.


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And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.


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And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?


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And now, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If Jehovah have moved thee against me, let him accept an oblation; but if the sons of men, cursed be they before Jehovah; for they have driven me out this day from adhering to the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.


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And now, let not my blood fall to the earth far from the face of Jehovah; for the king of Israel is come out to seek a single flea, as when they hunt a partridge on the mountains.


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And Saul said, I have sinned return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day behold, I have acted foolishly, and have erred exceedingly.


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And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear, and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.


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And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for Jehovah gave thee into <n>[my]</n> hand this day, and I would not stretch forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed.


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And behold, as thy life was highly esteemed this day in mine eyes, so let my life be highly esteemed in the eyes of Jehovah, that he may deliver me out of all distress.


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And Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David thou shalt certainly do <n>[great things]</n>, and shalt certainly prevail. And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.


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And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me to seek me any more within all the limits of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.


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And David arose and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were with him, to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.


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And David abode with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household; David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jizreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.


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And David said to Achish, If now I have found favour in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some country-town, that I may abide there; for why should thy servant abide in the royal city with thee?


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And David and his men went up and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Gerzites, and the Amalekites for those were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, and as far as the land of Egypt.


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And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.


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So Achish said, Have ye not made a raid to-day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.


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And David left neither man nor woman alive, to bring <n>[them]</n> to Gath, for he said, Lest they should tell of us, saying, So did David. And such was his custom as long as he abode in the country of the Philistines.


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And Achish trusted David, saying, He has made himself utterly odious among his people Israel; and he shall be my servant for ever.


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And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered together their armies for warfare to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, Know thou assuredly that thou shalt go out with me to the camp, thou and thy men.


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And David said to Achish, Thereby thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of my person for ever.


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(Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and they had buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away the necromancers and the soothsayers out of the land.)


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And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.


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And Saul inquired of Jehovah; but Jehovah did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.


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Then said Saul to his servants, Seek me a woman that has a spirit of Python, that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a spirit of Python at En-dor.


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And Saul disguised himself, and put on other garments, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, I pray thee, divine to me by the spirit of Python, and bring me <n>[him]</n> up whom I shall name to thee.


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And the woman said to him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul has done, how he has cut off the necromancers and the soothsayers out of the land; and why layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?


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And Saul swore unto her by Jehovah, saying, <n>[As]</n> Jehovah liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.


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And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? Even thou art Saul.


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And the king said to her, Be not afraid; but what didst thou see? And the woman said to Saul, I saw a god ascending out of the earth.


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And he said to her, What is his form? And she said, An old man comes up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.


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And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul said, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets nor by dreams; therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known to me what I shall do.


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And Samuel said, Why then dost thou inquire of me, seeing Jehovah is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?


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And Jehovah has done for himself as he spoke by me; and Jehovah has rent the kingdom out of thy hand, and given it to thy neighbour, to David.


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Because thou didst not hearken to the voice of Jehovah, and didst not execute his fierce anger upon Amalek, therefore has Jehovah done this thing to thee this day.


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And Jehovah will also give Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines; and to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me; the army of Israel also will Jehovah give into the hand of the Philistines.


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And Saul fell straightway his full length on the earth, and was sore afraid because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all the day nor all the night.


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And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said to him, Behold, thy bondmaid has hearkened to thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened to thy words which thou spokest to me.


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And now, I pray thee, hearken thou also to the voice of thy bondmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength when thou goest on thy way.


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But he refused and said, I will not eat. Then his servants, and the woman also, compelled him, and he hearkened to their voice; and he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.


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And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread thereof;


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and she brought it near before Saul, and before his servants, and they ate. And they rose up and went away that night.


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And the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and Israel encamped by the spring that is in Jizreel.


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And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.


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And the princes of the Philistines said, What are these Hebrews? And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years, and I have found nothing in him since the day of his falling away <n>[to me]</n> to this day?


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But the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said to him, Make the man return, that he may go again to his place where thou hast appointed him, that he go not down with us to the battle, that in the battle he be not an adversary to us; for wherewith should this <n>[fellow]</n> reconcile himself to his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?


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Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul smote his thousands, and David his ten thousands?


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And Achish called David, and said to him, <n>[As]</n> Jehovah liveth, thou art upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the camp is acceptable to me; for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming to me to this day; but thou art not acceptable to the lords.


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And David said to Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee to this day, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?


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And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art acceptable to me, as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.


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And now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee; and rise ye early in the morning, and when ye have daylight, depart.


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And David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jizreel.


text:
And it came to pass, when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the south, and upon Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag and burned it with fire;


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and had taken the women captives that were in it; both great and small they had put none to death, but had carried them off, and went on their way.


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And David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burnt with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters were taken captives.


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Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.


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And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jizreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.


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And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him; for the soul of all the people was embittered, every man because of his sons and because of his daughters; but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.


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And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, Bring near to me, I pray thee, the ephod. And Abiathar brought the ephod near to David.


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And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he said to him, Pursue; for thou shalt assuredly overtake <n>[them]</n> and shalt certainly recover.


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So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and they came to the torrent Besor; and those that were left stayed behind.


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And David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to go over the torrent Besor.


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And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate; and they gave him water to drink,


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and gave him a piece of fig-cake and two raisin-cakes, and he ate, and his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, for three days and three nights.


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And David said to him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.


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We made a raid against the south of the Cherethites, and against what <n>[belongs]</n> to Judah, and against the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.


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And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this troop? And he said, Swear to me by God, that thou wilt neither put me to death nor deliver me up into the hand of my master, and I will bring thee down to this troop.


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And he brought him down, and behold, they were spread over the whole land, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.


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And David smote them from the twilight even to the evening of the next day; and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, who rode upon camels, and fled.


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And there was nothing missed by them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil nor anything that they had taken David brought all back.


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And David took all the flocks and the herds, <n>[which]</n> they drove before the other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.


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And David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and whom they had left behind at the torrent Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him; and David drew near to the people and saluted them.


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And all the wicked men, and <n>[men]</n> of Belial, of those that had gone with David, answered and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them <n>[aught]</n> of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead <n>[them]</n> away and depart.


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Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which Jehovah has given us, who has preserved us, and given the troop that came against us into our hand.


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And who will hearken to you in this matter? For as his share is that goes down to the battle, so shall his share be that abides by the baggage they shall share alike.


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And it was <n>[so]</n> from that day forward; and he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.


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And David came to Ziklag, and he sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of Jehovah


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and to those in Rachal, and to those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those in the cities of the Kenites,


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And the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on mount Gilboa.


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And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines smote Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.


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And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers came up with him; and he was much terrified by the archers.


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Then said Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through with it; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armour-bearer would not; for he was much afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it.


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And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on his sword, and died with him.


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And when the men of Israel that were on this side of the valley, and <n>[they]</n> that were on this side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.


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And it came to pass the next day, that the Philistines came to strip the slain, and they found Saul and his three sons fallen on mount Gilboa.


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And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent <n>[them]</n> into the land of the Philistines round about, to announce the glad tidings in the houses of their idols, and to the people.


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And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.


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all the valiant men arose and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burned them there.


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And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David abode two days in Ziklag.


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And it came to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his garments rent, and earth upon his head; and as soon as he came to David, he fell to the earth and did obeisance.


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And David said to him, Whence comest thou? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.


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And David said to him, What has taken place? I pray thee, tell me. And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and many of the people also had fallen and died, and that Saul and Jonathan his son were dead also.


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And David said to the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?


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And the young man that told him said, I happened by chance to be upon mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and behold, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.


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He said to me again, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and slay me; for anguish has seized me; for my life is yet whole in me.


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So I stood over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he would not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord.


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Then David took hold of his garments and rent them; and all the men that were with him <n>[did]</n> likewise.


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And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.


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And David said to the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.


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And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?


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Then David called one of the young men and said, Draw near, <n>[and]</n> fall on him. And he smote him that he died.


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And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.


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and he bade them teach the children of Judah <n>[the song of]</n> the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher --


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Tell <n>[it]</n> not in Gath, carry not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.


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Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, no rain upon you, nor fields of heave-offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, <n>[as]</n> not anointed with oil.


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From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.


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Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their lives, Even in their death were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.


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Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with splendour, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.


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I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan very pleasant wast thou unto me; Thy love to me was wonderful, passing women's love.


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And it came to pass after this that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah? And Jehovah said to him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.


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So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jizreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.


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And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household; and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.


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And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, It is the men of Jabesh-Gilead that have buried Saul.


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And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and said to them, Blessed be ye of Jehovah, that ye have shewn this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him!


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And now Jehovah shew kindness and faithfulness to you; and I also will requite you this good, because ye have done this thing.


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And now let your hands be strong, and be ye valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.


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And Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;


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and made him king over Gilead, and over the Asshurites, and over Jizreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.


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Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. However, the house of Judah followed David.


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And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.


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And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out. And they met together by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, these on the one side of the pool, and those on the other side of the pool.


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And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and make sport before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.


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And they arose and went over by number, twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.


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And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and <n>[thrust]</n> his sword in his fellow's side, and they fell down together. And that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is by Gibeon.


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And the battle that day was very severe; and Abner and the men of Israel were routed before the servants of David.


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And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was swift of foot, as one of the gazelles that are in the field.


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And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from behind Abner.


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And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside, to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay hold of one of the young men, and take for thyself his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.


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And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me why should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?


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But he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him in the belly, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. And it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.


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And Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner; and the sun went down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.


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And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill.


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And Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? and how long shall it be ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?


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And Joab said, <n>[As]</n> God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.


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And Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither did they fight any more.


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And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.


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And Joab returned from following Abner, and gathered all the people together; and there lacked of David's servants nineteen men, and Asahel.


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And the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, three hundred and sixty men, who had died.


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And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.


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And the war was long between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker.


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and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maachah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;


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And it came to pass while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.


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And Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And <n>[Ishbosheth]</n> said to Abner, Why hast thou gone in to my father's concubine?


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Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, I who against Judah do shew kindness this day to the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou reproachest me this day with the fault of this woman?


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to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba!


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And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying <n>[also]</n>, Make thy covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, to turn all Israel to thee.


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And he said, Well, I will make a covenant with thee; only I require one thing of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.


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And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.


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And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return. And he returned.


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Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David aforetime to be king over you;


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and now do <n>[it]</n>, for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, By my servant David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.


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And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.


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So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a repast.


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And Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy heart desires. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.


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And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from an expedition, and brought in a great spoil with them; but Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.


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And Joab and all the host that was with him came; and they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away; and he is gone in peace.


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Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came to thee; why is it <n>[that]</n> thou hast sent him away, and he is gone?


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Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.


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And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.


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And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him secretly, and smote him there in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.


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And afterwards David heard <n>[it]</n>, and he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner


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let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue, or that is a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls by the sword, or that lacks bread!


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So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.


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And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.


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


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Thy hands were not bound, Nor thy feet put into fetters; As a man falleth before wicked men, Fellest thou! And all the people wept again over him.


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And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or aught else till the sun be down!


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And all the people remarked it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people.


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And all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.


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And the king said to his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?


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And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me Jehovah reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness!


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And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were enfeebled, and all Israel was troubled.


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And Saul's son had two men, captains of bands the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin; for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin.


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And Jonathan Saul's son had a son that was lame of <n>[his]</n> feet. He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jizreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.


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And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came in about the heat of the day into the house of Ishbosheth, who was taking his noonday rest.


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And they came thither into the midst of the house, <n>[as though]</n> they would fetch wheat; and they smote him in the belly; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.


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They came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him; and they took his head, and went by the way of the plain all night.


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And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David in Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, thine enemy who sought thy life; and Jehovah has given to my lord the king to be avenged this day of Saul and of his seed.


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Then David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, <n>[As]</n> Jehovah liveth, who has redeemed my soul out of all distress,


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when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead! and he was in his own sight a messenger of good, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag -- to whom forsooth I should give a reward for his good tidings


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how much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? and should I not now demand his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?


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And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged <n>[them]</n> up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.


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Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.


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Even aforetime, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel; and Jehovah said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.


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And all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah; and they anointed David king over Israel.


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In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.


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And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; and they spoke to David, saying, Thou shalt not come in hither, but the blind and the lame will drive thee back; as much as to say, David will not come in hither.


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And David said on that day, Whoever smites the Jebusites and gets up to the watercourse, and the lame and the blind hated of David's soul ...! Therefore they say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.


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So David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from the Millo and inward.


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And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.


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And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom because of his people Israel.


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And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.


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And these are the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,


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And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard <n>[of it]</n>, and went down to the stronghold.


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And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou give them into my hand? And Jehovah said to David, Go up; for I will certainly give the Philistines into thy hand.


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And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, Jehovah has broken in upon mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.


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And David inquired of Jehovah; and he said, Thou shalt not go up; turn round behind them and come upon them opposite the mulberry-trees.


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And it shall be, when thou hearest a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then will Jehovah have gone forth before thee, to smite the army of the Philistines.


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And David did so, as Jehovah had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou comest to Gezer.


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And David arose and went with all the people that were with him from Baale-Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God which is called by the name, the name of Jehovah of hosts who sitteth between the cherubim.


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And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was upon the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.


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And they brought it with the ark of God out of the house of Abinadab which was upon the hill; and Ahio went before the ark.


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And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah on all manner of <n>[instruments made of]</n> cypress wood, with harps, and with lutes, and with tambours, and with sistra, and with cymbals.


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And when they came to Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah reached after the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen had stumbled.


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And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.


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And David was indignant, because Jehovah had made a breach upon Uzzah; and he called that place Perez-Uzzah to this day.


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So David would not bring the ark of Jehovah home unto himself into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.


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And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months; and Jehovah blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.


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And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that is his, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with joy.


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And it was so, that when they that bore the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatted beast.


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And David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Jehovah with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.


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And as the ark of Jehovah came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah; and she despised him in her heart.


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And they brought in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had spread for it. And David offered up burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.


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And when David had ended offering up the burnt-offerings and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts.


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And he dealt to all the people, to the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a measure <n>[of wine]</n>, and a raisin-cake. And all the people departed every one to his house.


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And David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How honourable did the king of Israel make himself to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the lewd fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!


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And David said to Michal, It was before Jehovah, who chose me rather than thy father, and than all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of Jehovah, over Israel; and I played before Jehovah.


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And I will make myself yet more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight; and of the handmaids that thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.


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And it came to pass when the king dwelt in his house, and Jehovah had given him rest round about from all his enemies,


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that the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedars, and the ark of God dwells under curtains.


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Go and say to my servant, to David, Thus saith Jehovah Wilt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?


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For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but I went about in a tent and in a tabernacle.


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In all my going about with all the children of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye me not a house of cedars?


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And now, thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts I took thee from the pasture-grounds, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel;


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and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are on the earth.


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And I will appoint a place for my people, for Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and be disturbed no more; neither shall the sons of wickedness afflict them any more, as formerly,


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and since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. And I have given thee rest from all thine enemies; and Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house.


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When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.


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It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.


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I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the sons of men;


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but my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before thee.


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And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made firm for ever before thee thy throne shall be established for ever.


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And king David went in and sat before Jehovah, and said, Who am I, Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?


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And yet this hath been a small thing in thy sight, Lord Jehovah; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, Lord Jehovah?


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For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, to make thy servant know <n>[it]</n>.


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Wherefore thou art great, Jehovah Elohim; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.


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And who is like thy people, like Israel, the one nation in the earth that God went to redeem to be a people to himself, and to make himself a name, and to do for them great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thyself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?


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And thou hast established to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, Jehovah, art become their God.


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And now, Jehovah Elohim, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house, fulfil it for ever, and do as thou hast said.


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And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel; and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.


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For thou, Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house; therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.


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And now, Lord Jehovah, thou art that God, and thy words are true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant;


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and now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever; for thou, Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it; and with thy blessing shall the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.


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And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them; and David took the power of the capital out of the hand of the Philistines.


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And he smote the Moabites, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became David's servants, <n>[and]</n> brought gifts.


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And David smote Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion by the river Euphrates.


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And David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David houghed all the chariot <n>[horses]</n>, but reserved of them <n>[for]</n> a hundred chariots.


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And the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, and David smote of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men.


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And David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, <n>[and]</n> brought gifts. And Jehovah preserved David whithersoever he went.


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And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.


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and Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him; for Hadadezer was continually at war with Toi. And he brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of bronze.


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Them also king David dedicated to Jehovah, with the silver and the gold that he had dedicated of all the nations that he had subdued


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of the Syrians, and of the Moabites, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of the Amalekites, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.


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And David made him a name when he returned, after he had smitten the Syrians in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand <n>[men]</n>.


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And he put garrisons in Edom throughout Edom did he put garrisons; and all they of Edom became servants to David. And Jehovah preserved David whithersoever he went.


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and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was scribe;


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and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.


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And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?


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And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba; and they called him to David. And the king said to him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant!


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And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God to him? And Ziba said to the king, Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame on <n>[his]</n> feet.


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And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.


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And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he said, Behold thy servant!


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And David said to him, Fear not; for I will certainly shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.


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And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?


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Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, I have given to thy master's son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.


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And thou, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in <n>[the fruits]</n>, that thy master's son may have food to eat. And Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread at my table continually. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.


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And Ziba said to the king, According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will thy servant do. And Mephibosheth <n>[said David]</n> shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.


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And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.


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So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king's table. And he was lame on both his feet.


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And it came to pass after this that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.


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And David said, I will shew kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.


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And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Is it, in thine eyes, to honour thy father that David has sent comforters to thee? Is it not to search the city and to spy it out, and to overthrow it, that David has sent his servants to thee?


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And Hanun took David's servants, and had the one half of their beards shaved off, and their raiment cut off in the midst, as far as their buttocks, and sent them away.


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And they told <n>[it]</n> to David; and he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Abide at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.


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And the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David; and the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-Rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah <n>[with]</n> a thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.


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And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate; and the Syrians of Zoba and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.


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And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind; and he chose out of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians;


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and the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abishai his brother that he might array them against the children of Ammon.


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And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.


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Be strong, and let us shew ourselves valiant for our people and for the cities of our God; and Jehovah do what is good in his sight.


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And Joab drew near, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians; and they fled before him.


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And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, they fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. And Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.


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And Hadarezer sent, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river; and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer <n>[went]</n> before them.


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


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And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven hundred <n>[in]</n> chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.


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And all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were routed before Israel, and they made peace with Israel, and served them. And the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.


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And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they laid waste the <n>[land of the]</n> children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David abode at Jerusalem.


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And it came to pass at evening time that David arose from off his couch, and walked upon the roof of the king's house; and from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful;


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and David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Urijah the Hittite?


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And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her; and she had purified herself from her uncleanness; and she returned to her house.


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And when Urijah had come to him, David asked how Joab prospered, and how the people prospered, and how the war prospered.


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And David said to Urijah, Go down to thy house and wash thy feet. And Urijah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him presents from the king.


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And Urijah slept at the entrance of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.


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And they had told David saying, Urijah did not go down to his house; and David said to Urijah, Art thou not come from a journey? why didst thou not go down to thy house?


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And Urijah said to David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? <n>[As]</n> thou livest, and <n>[as]</n> thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.


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And David said to Urijah, Abide here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let thee depart. And Urijah abode in Jerusalem that day and the morrow.


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And David invited him, and he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but did not go down to his house.


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And he wrote in the letter saying, Set Urijah in the front of the thickest fight, and withdraw from him, that he may be smitten and die.


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And it came to pass as Joab watched the city, that he assigned Urijah to a place where he knew that the valiant men were.


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And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab; and there fell some of the people, of the servants of David; and Urijah the Hittite died also.


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and if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say to thee, Why did ye go so near to the city to fight? did ye not know that they would shoot from the wall?


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Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast the upper stone of a handmill from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why did ye go near the wall? -- then say thou, Thy servant Urijah the Hittite is dead also.


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And the messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and came out against us into the field, and we were upon them as far as the entrance of the gate.


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And the shooters shot from upon the wall against thy servants; and some of the king's servants are dead, and thy servant Urijah the Hittite is dead also.


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Then David said to the messenger, Thus shalt thou say to Joab Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devours one as well as another make thy battle strong against the city, and overthrow it; -- and encourage him.


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And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of Jehovah.


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And Jehovah sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.


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but the poor man had nothing at all, but one little ewe lamb which he had bought, and was nourishing; and it grew up with him, and together with his children it ate of his morsel, and drank of his own cup, and slept in his bosom, and was to him as a daughter.


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And there came a traveller to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that had come to him; and he took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that had come to him.


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Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this thing is worthy of death;


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And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man! Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;


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and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if <n>[that]</n> had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.


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Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah to do evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Urijah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.


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Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Urijah the Hittite to be thy wife.


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Thus saith Jehovah Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.


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And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said to David, Jehovah has also put away thy sin thou shalt not die.


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Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, even the child that is born to thee shall certainly die.


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And Nathan departed to his house. And Jehovah smote the child that Urijah's wife bore to David, and it became very sick.


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And David besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.


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And the elders of his house arose, <n>[and went]</n> to him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, and he ate no bread with them.


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And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not hearken to our voice; and how shall we say to him, The child is dead? he may do some harm.


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But David saw that his servants whispered, and David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.


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Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing, and entered into the house of Jehovah and worshipped; then he came to his own house and required them to set bread before him, and he ate.


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And his servants said to him, What thing is this which thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child alive; but as soon as the child is dead, thou dost rise and eat bread.


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And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, Who knows? <n>[perhaps]</n> Jehovah 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 to him, but he will not return to me.


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And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon; and Jehovah loved him.


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And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.


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And now gather the rest of the people, and encamp against the city and take it lest I take the city and it be called by my name.


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And he took the crown of their king from off his head, the weight of which was a talent of gold with <n>[the]</n> precious stones; and it was <n>[set]</n> on David's head; and he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.


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And he brought out the people that were in it, and put them under the saw, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkilns. And so did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.


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And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David having a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar, Amnon the son of David loved her.


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And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed difficult for Amnon to do the least thing to her.


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And Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.


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And he said to him, Why dost thou, the king's son, get thinner from morning to morning? Wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.


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And Jonadab said to him, Lay thee down on thy bed and feign thyself sick; and when thy father comes to see thee, say to him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me food, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.


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So Amnon lay down and feigned himself sick; and the king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.


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And David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go, I pray thee, to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him food.


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And Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he had lain down. And she took flour and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.


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And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Put every man out from me. And they went out every man from him.


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And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the dish into the chamber, that I may eat of thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes that she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.


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And she presented them to him to eat; and he took hold of her, and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister.


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And she said to him, No, my brother, do not humble me; for no such thing is done in Israel do not this infamy.


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And I, whither shall I carry my reproach? and thou wouldest be as one of the infamous in Israel. And now, I pray thee, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.


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And Amnon hated her with an exceeding great hatred, for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone.


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And she said to him, There is no cause for this evil in sending me away, <n>[which]</n> is greater than the other that thou didst to me. But he would not hearken to her.


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Then he called his young man that attended upon him, and said, Put now this <n>[woman]</n> out from me, and bolt the door after her.


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Now she had a vest of many colours upon her; for so were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. And his attendant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.


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And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her vest of many colours which was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went away, crying out as she went.


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And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon thy brother been with thee? and now, my sister, be still he is thy brother; take not this thing to heart. And Tamar remained, and <n>[that]</n> desolate, in her brother Absalom's house.


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And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had humbled his sister Tamar.


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And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-Hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king's sons.


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And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold, now, thy servant has sheepshearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant.


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And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to thee. And he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.


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And Absalom said, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with thee?


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And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon; then slay him, fear not have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.


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And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and they rode each upon his mule and fled.


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And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom has smitten all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.


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Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their garments rent.


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And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he humbled his sister Tamar.


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And now let not my lord the king take the thing to heart, to say, All the king's sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.


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And Absalom fled. And the young man that watched lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there came much people from the way behind him, from the hill-side.


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And as soon as he had ended speaking, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept; and the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.


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And Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And <n>[David]</n> mourned for his son every day.


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And king David longed to go forth to Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.


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And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said to her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments, I pray, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath a long time mourned for the dead;


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And the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, and she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and said, Save, O king!


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And the king said to her, What aileth thee? And she said, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.


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And thy bondmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other and slew him.


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And behold, the whole family is risen against thy bondmaid, and they say, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may put him to death, for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also so they will quench my coal which is left, and will not leave to my husband a name or remnant on the earth.


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And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, Upon me, my lord, O king, be the iniquity, and upon my father's house; and the king and his throne be guiltless.


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Then she said, I pray thee, let the king remember Jehovah thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they cut off my son. And he said, <n>[As]</n> Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.


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And the woman said, Let thy bondmaid, I pray thee, speak a word to my lord the king. And he said, Speak.


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And the woman said, Why then hast thou thought such a thing against God's people? and the king in saying this thing, is as one guilty, in that the king does not bring back his banished one.


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For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; and God has not taken away his life, but devises means that the banished one be not expelled from him.


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And now that I am come to speak of this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid; and thy bondmaid said, I will now speak to the king; perhaps the king will perform the request of his handmaid.


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For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.


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And thy bondmaid said, Let the word of my lord the king now be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad; and Jehovah thy God will be with thee.


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And the king answered and said to the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.


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And the king said, Is the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, <n>[As]</n> thy soul liveth, my lord, O king, there is no turning to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king has spoken; for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words into the mouth of thy bondmaid


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in order to turn the appearance of the thing has thy servant Joab done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all that is in the earth.


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And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing so go, bring back the young man Absalom.


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And Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and blessed the king; and Joab said, To-day thy servant knows that I have found favour in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.


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And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. And Absalom withdrew to his own house, and saw not the king's face.


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But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.


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And when he shaved his head (for it was at every year's end that he shaved it, because it was heavy on him, therefore he shaved it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.


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And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar she was a woman of a beautiful countenance.


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Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him; and he sent again the second time, but he would not come.


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Then he said to his servants, See, Joab's allotment is near mine and he has barley there go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the allotment on fire.


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Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to <n>[his]</n> house, and said to him, Why have thy servants set my allotment on fire?


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And Absalom said to Joab, Behold, I sent to thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Why am I come from Geshur? it would have been better for me to be there still. And now let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him slay me.


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And Joab came to the king, and told him. And he called Absalom, and he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.


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And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.


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And Absalom rose early, and stood beside the way of the gate; and it was so, that when any man who had a controversy had to come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.


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And Absalom said to him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man to hear thee <n>[appointed]</n> by the king.


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And Absalom said, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any controversy and cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!


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And it was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.


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And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; and Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.


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And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay in Hebron my vow which I have vowed to Jehovah.


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For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode in Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.


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And Absalom sent emissaries into all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, ye shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron.


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And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew nothing.


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And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And the conspiracy gathered strength; and the people increased continually with Absalom.


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And David said to all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Rise up and let us flee; for we shall not <n>[else]</n> escape from Absalom. Be quick to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.


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And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, thy servants <n>[will do]</n> whatever my lord the king shall choose.


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And the king went forth, and all his household after him, and the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.


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And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed over before the king.


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And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why dost thou also go with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king; for thou art a foreigner, and besides, thou hast emigrated to the place where thou <n>[dwellest]</n>.


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Thou didst come yesterday, and should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I can? Return and take back thy brethren. Mercy and truth be with thee!


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And Ittai answered the king and said, <n>[As]</n> Jehovah liveth, and <n>[as]</n> my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.


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And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.


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And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over; the king also himself passed over the torrent Kidron, and all the people passed over, towards the way of the wilderness.


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And behold, Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had passed completely out of the city.


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And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I shall find favour in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and shew me it, and its habitation.


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But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, <n>[here am]</n> I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him.


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And the king said to Zadok the priest, Thou art the seer return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.


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But David went up by the ascent of the Olives, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot; and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.


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And one told David saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. Then said David, Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.


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And it came to pass, when David had come to the summit, where he worshipped God, that behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.


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but if thou return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so now will I be thy servant; then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.


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And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? and it shall be, <n>[that]</n> whatsoever thing thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.


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Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's <n>[son]</n>, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send to me everything that ye shall hear.


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And when David was a little past the summit, behold, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred <n>[loaves]</n> of bread, and a hundred raisin-cakes, and a hundred cakes of summer fruits, and a flask of wine.


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And the king said to Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruits for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.


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And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.


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And the king said to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly bow myself may I find favour in thy sight, my lord, O king.


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And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out from thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera he came forth, and cursed,


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and cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.


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Jehovah has returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and Jehovah has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son; and behold, thou art <n>[taken]</n> in thine own evil, for thou art a man of blood.


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And Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.


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And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, for Jehovah has said to him, Curse David! Who shall then say, Why dost thou so?


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And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth of my bowels, seeks my life how much more now a Benjaminite? let him alone and let him curse; for Jehovah has bidden him.


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It may be that Jehovah will look on mine affliction, and that Jehovah will requite me good for my being cursed this day.


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And David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.


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And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, Long live the king! Long live the king!


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And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why didst thou not go with thy friend?


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And Hushai said to Absalom, No; but whom Jehovah, and this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.


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And again, whom should I serve? should it not be in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.


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And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to thy father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art become odious with thy father; and the hands of all that are with thee shall be strong.


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So they spread a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.


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And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired of the word of God so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.


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And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me, I pray, choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David to-night;


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and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only;


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and I will bring back all the people to thee. The man whom thou seekest is as if all returned all the people shall be in peace.


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And Hushai came to Absalom, and Absalom spoke to him saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner shall we carry out his word? If not, speak thou.


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And Hushai said, Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are of exasperated spirit, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.


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Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or some such place; and it will come to pass, when some of them fall at the first, whoever heareth it will say, There has been slaughter among the people that follow Absalom,


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and even the valiant man whose heart is as the heart of a lion shall utterly melt; for all Israel knows that thy father is a mighty man, and they that are with him are valiant men.


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But I counsel that all Israel be speedily gathered to thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.


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And we shall come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.


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And if he withdraw into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the torrent, until there be not one small stone found there.


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And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. And Jehovah had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, in order that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom.


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And Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.


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And now send quickly, and tell David saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.


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And Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; and the maid went and told them; and they went and told king David, for they might not be seen to come into the city.


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But a lad saw them, and told Absalom. Then they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.


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And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn on it; and the thing was not known.


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And Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, and said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. And they sought and could not find <n>[them]</n>, and returned to Jerusalem.


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And it came to pass after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counselled against you.


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Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over the Jordan; by the morning light there was not one of them missing that had not gone over the Jordan.


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And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose and went to his house, to his city, and gave charge to his household, and hanged himself, and he died; and he was buried in the sepulchre of his father.


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And David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.


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And Absalom set Amasa over the host instead of Joab; which Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra the Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.


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And as soon as David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,


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brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched <n>[corn]</n>, and beans, and lentils, and parched <n>[pulse]</n>,


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and honey, and cream, and sheep, and cheese of kine to David, and to the people that were with him, to eat; for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.


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And David marshalled the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.


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And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.


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But the people said, Thou shalt not go forth, for if we should in any case flee, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us; for *thou* art worth ten thousand of us; and now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.


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And the king said to them, I will do what is good in your sight. And the king stood by the gate-side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.


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And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, <n>[Deal]</n> gently for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.


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And the people of Israel were routed before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day twenty thousand men.


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And the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.


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And Absalom found himself in the presence of David's servants. And Absalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of the great terebinth, and his head caught in the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.


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And Joab said to the man that told him, And behold, thou sawest <n>[him]</n>, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten silver pieces and a girdle.


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And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand silver pieces in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Take care, whoever it be <n>[of you]</n>, of the young man Absalom.


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Or I should have acted falsely against mine own life, for there is no matter concealed from the king, and thou wouldest have set thyself against <n>[me]</n>.


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Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into Absalom's body, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth.


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And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab kept back the people.


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And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and raised a very great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel fled every one to his tent.


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Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a monument, which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance; and he called the monument after his own name; and it is called unto this day, Absalom's memorial.


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And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me run, I pray, and carry the king the news that Jehovah has avenged him of his enemies.


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And Joab said to him, Thou shalt not be a bearer of news to-day, but thou shalt carry the news another day; but to-day thou shalt carry no news, because the king's son is dead.


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Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.


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And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, Come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that there is no news suited <n>[to thee]</n>?


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-- But, come what may, let me run. And he said to him, Run. And Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outstripped the Cushite.


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And David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate, on to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone.


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And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. And he came on and drew near.


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And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter and said, Behold a man running alone. And the king said, He also is a bearer of news.


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And the watchman said, I see the running of the foremost like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man; and comes with good news.


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And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, Peace! And he fell down to the earth on his face before the king, and said, Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who has delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.


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And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz said, I saw a great tumult when Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant; but I knew not what it was.


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And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, Let my lord the king receive good tidings, for Jehovah has avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.


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And the king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite said, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee for evil, be as that young man.


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And the king was much moved, and went up to the upper chamber of the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said thus O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died in thy stead, O Absalom, my son, my son!


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And the victory that day was <n>[turned]</n> into mourning for all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king is grieved for his son.


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And the people stole away that day into the city, as people steal away when ashamed of fleeing in battle.


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And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!


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And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast put to shame this day the faces of all thy servants who have this day saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives and the lives of thy concubines;


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in that thou lovest them that hate thee, and hatest those that love thee. For thou hast declared this day, that neither princes nor servants are anything to thee for to-day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died to-day, then it would have been right in thine eyes.


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But now arise, go forth, and speak consolingly to thy servants; for I swear by Jehovah, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night; and that would be worse to thee than all the evil that has befallen thee from thy youth until now.


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Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate. And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.


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And all the people were at strife throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land because of Absalom.


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And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle; and now why are ye silent as to bringing the king back?


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And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, to his house.


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Ye are my brethren, ye are my bone and my flesh; and why will ye be the last to bring back the king?


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And say to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually instead of Joab.


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And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah as of one man; and they sent to the king, Return, thou and all thy servants.


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And the king returned and came as far as the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over the Jordan.


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And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, who was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.


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And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they forded the Jordan before the king.


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And a ferry boat passed to and fro to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was <n>[just]</n> crossing over the Jordan.


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And he said to the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart.


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For thy servant knows that I have sinned; and behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.


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And Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Jehovah's anointed?


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And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries to me? Should there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?


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And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. Now he had neither washed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came <n>[again]</n> in peace.


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And as soon as Jerusalem came to meet the king, the king said to him, Why didst thou not go with me, Mephibosheth?


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And he said, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for thy servant said, I will saddle me the ass, and ride thereon, and go with the king; for thy servant is lame.


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And he has slandered thy servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God; do therefore what is good in thy sight.


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For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; and thou didst set thy servant among them that eat at thine own table. What further right therefore have I? and for what should I cry any more to the king?


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And the king said to him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.


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And Mephibosheth said to the king, Let him even take all, since my lord the king is come again in peace to his own house.


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And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan.


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And Barzillai was very aged, eighty years old; and it was he that had maintained the king while he abode at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.


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And the king said to Barzillai, Pass thou over with me, and I will maintain thee with me in Jerusalem.


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And Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?


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I am this day eighty years old can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat and what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? and why should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?


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Thy servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king; and why should the king recompense it to me with this reward?


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Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what seems good to thee.


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And the king said, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which seems good to thee; and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.


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And all the people went over the Jordan; and the king went over; and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.


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And the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.


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And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over the Jordan?


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And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to me; and why then are ye angry for this matter? have we eaten anything which came from the king, or has he given us any present?


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And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, I have ten parts in the king and I have also more right in David than thou; and why didst thou slight me? and was not my advice the first, to bring back my king? And the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.


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And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite; and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse every man to his tents, Israel.


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Then all the men of Israel went up from after David, following Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah clave to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.


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And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women, concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in a house of confinement and maintained them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.


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And the king said to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and do thou attend here.


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So Amasa went to call together <n>[the men of]</n> Judah; but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.


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And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom. Take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities and escape our sight.


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And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. And Joab was girded with his coat, his dress, and upon it was the girdle of the sword which was fastened on his loins in its sheath; and as he went forth it fell out.


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And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou well, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.


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And Amasa had taken no notice of the sword that was in Joab's hand so he smote him with it in the belly and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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And one of Joab's young men stood by <n>[Amasa]</n> and said, He that favours Joab, and he that is for David, let him follow Joab.


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Now Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by stood still.


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When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri,


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who went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth-Maacah, and all the Berim; and they gathered together, and went also after him.


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And they came and besieged him in Abel-Beth-Maacah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it was raised in the trench; and all the people that were with Joab sapped the wall, to throw it down.


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And a wise woman cried out of the city, Hear, hear say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.


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And he came near to her; and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he said, I <n>[am he]</n>. And she said to him, Listen to the words of thy handmaid. And he said, I am listening.


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And she spoke saying, They were wont to speak in old time saying, Just inquire in Abel; and so they ended.


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I am peaceable <n>[and]</n> faithful in Israel thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?


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The matter is not so; but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David give up him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.


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Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.


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And Joab was over all the host of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;


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And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for <n>[his]</n> house of blood, because he slew the Gibeonites.


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And the king called the Gibeonites, and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remainder of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them; and Saul sought to smite them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.)


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And David said to the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and with what shall I make atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of Jehovah?


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And the Gibeonites said to him, As to Saul and his house, it is with us no question of receiving silver or gold, neither is it for us to have any man put to death in Israel. And he said, What ye say will I do for you.


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And they said to the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in all the borders of Israel,


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let seven men of his sons be given up to us, and we will hang them up to Jehovah in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Jehovah. And the king said, I will give <n>[them]</n>.


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But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.


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And the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she had borne to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of <n>[the sister of]</n> Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite;


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and he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before Jehovah. And they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the first days of the harvest, in the beginning of barley harvest.


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Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water poured on them out of the heavens, and suffered neither the fowl of the heavens to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.


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And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-Gilead, who had stolen them from the open place of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, the day the Philistines had smitten Saul in Gilboa;


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and he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.


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And they buried <n>[them]</n> with the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the sepulchre of Kish his father; and they did all that the king had commanded. And afterwards God was propitious to the land.


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And the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought with the Philistines. And David was exhausted.


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And Ishbibenob, who was of the children of Raphah -- the weight of his lance was three hundred shekels of bronze, and he was girded with new <n>[armour]</n> -- thought to smite David.


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And Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the lamp of Israel.


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And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines, at Gob; then Sibbechai the Hushathite smote Saph, who was of the children of Raphah.


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And there was again a battle at Gob with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, smote Goliath the Gittite; now the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam.


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And there was again a battle, at Gath; and there was a man <n>[there]</n> of great stature, that had on each hand six fingers, and on each foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to Raphah.


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These four were born to Raphah, in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.


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And David spoke to Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul.


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God is my rock, in him will I trust -- My shield, and the horn of my salvation, My high tower, and my refuge, My saviour thou wilt save me from violence.


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In my distress I called upon Jehovah, And I cried to my God; And he heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry <n>[came]</n> into his ears.


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Then the earth shook, and quaked; The foundations of the heavens trembled And shook because he was wroth.


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There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured Coals burned forth from it.


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And the beds of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At the rebuke of Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.


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Jehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.


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And Jehovah hath recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his sight.


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With the gracious thou dost shew thyself gracious; With the upright man thou dost shew thyself upright;


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And the afflicted people thou dost save; And thine eyes are upon the haughty, <n>[whom]</n> thou bringest down.


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As for щGod, his way is perfect; The word of Jehovah is tried He is a shield to all that trust in him.


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And thou didst give me the shield of thy salvation, And thy condescending gentleness hath made me great.


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And I have consumed them and have crushed them, and they rose not again; Yea, they fell under my feet.


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And thou girdedst me with strength to battle Thou didst subdue under me those that rose up against me.


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And I did beat them small as the dust of the earth, I trod them as the mire of the streets; I stamped upon them.


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And thou hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, Thou hast kept me to be head of the nations A people I knew not doth serve me


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He brought me forth from mine enemies Yea, thou hast lifted me up above them that rose up against me; From the man of violence hast thou delivered me.


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<n>[It is he]</n> who giveth great deliverances to his king, And sheweth loving-kindness to his anointed, To David, and to his seed for evermore.


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Now these are the last words of David David the son of Jesse saith, And the man who was raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel saith,


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The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, The ruler among men shall be just, Ruling in the fear of God;


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And <n>[he shall be]</n> as the light or the morning, <n>[like]</n> the rising of the sun, A morning without clouds; <n>[When]</n> from the sunshine, after rain, The green grass springeth from the earth.


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Although my house be not so before щGod, Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in every way and sure; For <n>[this is]</n> all my salvation, and every desire, Although he make <n>[it]</n> not to grow.


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But <n>[the sons]</n> of Belial <n>[are]</n> all of them as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands;


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And the man that will touch them provideth himself with iron and the staff of a spear; And they shall be utterly burned with fire in <n>[their]</n> place.


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These are the names of the mighty men whom David had Joseb-Bassebeth, Tachkemonite the chief of the captains he was Adino the Eznite; he <n>[fought]</n> against eight hundred, slain <n>[by him]</n> at one time.


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And after him, Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of an Ahohite he was one of the three mighty men with David, when they had defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone up.


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He arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave to the sword; and Jehovah wrought a great deliverance that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.


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And after him, Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite the Philistines were gathered into a troop, and there was there a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people had fled before the Philistines;


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and he stood in the midst of the plot and delivered it, and smote the Philistines, and Jehovah wrought a great deliverance.


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And three of the thirty chiefs went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, when the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.


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And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me to drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is in the gate!


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And the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, which is in the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; however he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Jehovah.


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And he said, Be it far from me, Jehovah, that I should do this thing! is it not the blood of the men that went at the risk of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.


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And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the chief of three; and he brandished his spear against three hundred and slew them; and he had a name among the three.


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Was he not most honourable of three? and he was their captain; but he did not attain to the <n>[first]</n> three.


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And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, son of a valiant man, great in exploits, of Kabzeel he it was that smote two lions of Moab; and he went down and smote a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.


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He also smote the Egyptian, an imposing man and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.


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He was honoured above the thirty, but he did not attain to the <n>[first]</n> three. And David set him in his council.


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Heleb the son of Baanah, the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,


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And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.


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And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go, I pray thee, through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.


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And Joab said to the king, May Jehovah thy God even add to the people, how many soever they be, a hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see <n>[it]</n>; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?


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But the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel.


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And they passed over the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the midst of the ravine of Gad, and toward Jaazer.


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And they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and came to Dan-jaan, and to the environs of Sidon;


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and they came to the fortified city of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites; and went out to the south of Judah, to Beer-sheba.


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And they went through all the land, and came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.


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And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king; and there were of Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.


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And David's heart smote him after he had numbered the people. And David said to Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in what I have done; and now, I beseech thee, Jehovah, put away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.


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And when David arose in the morning, the word of Jehovah came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,


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Go and say to David, Thus saith Jehovah I impose on thee three <n>[things]</n>; choose one of them that I may do it unto thee.


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And Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, Shall seven years of famine come to thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine adversaries while they pursue thee? or shall there be three days' pestilence in thy land? Now be aware and consider what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.


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And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait let us fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Jehovah; for his mercies are great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.


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And Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the set time; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.


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And the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it; but Jehovah repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed among the people, It is enough withdraw now thine hand. And the angel of Jehovah was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


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And David spoke to Jehovah when he saw the angel that smote among the people, and said, Behold, it is I that have sinned, and it is I that have committed iniquity; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, be on me, and on my father's house!


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And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, Go up, rear an altar to Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


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And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on towards him; and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.


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And Araunah said, Why is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar to Jehovah, that the plague may be stayed from the people.


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And Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up that which is good in his sight see, <n>[here are]</n> oxen for the burnt-offering, and the threshing-sledges and implements of the oxen for wood.


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All these things, O king, doth Araunah give to the king. And Araunah said to the king, Jehovah thy God accept thee.


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And the king said to Araunah, No; but I will in any case buy <n>[them]</n> of thee at a price neither will I offer up to Jehovah my God burnt-offerings without cost. And David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.


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And David built there an altar to Jehovah, and offered up burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. And Jehovah was propitious to the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.


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And king David was old <n>[and]</n> advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he obtained no warmth.


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And his servants said to him, Let there be found for my lord the king a young virgin; and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get warm.


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And they sought for a fair damsel throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.


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And the damsel was very fair; and cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.


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And Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king; and he provided himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.


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And his father had not grieved him at any time in saying, Why doest thou so? and he was also a very comely man; and <n>[his mother]</n> bore him after Absalom.


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And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they helped Adonijah and followed <n>[him]</n>.


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But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men whom David had, were not with Adonijah.


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And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatted cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel, and invited all his brethren, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants;


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but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he did not invite.


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And Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith is king, and David our lord does not know <n>[it]</n>?


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And now, come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.


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Go and get thee in to king David, and say to him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear to thy handmaid saying, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adonijah reign?


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Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee and confirm thy words.


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And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber; and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered to the king.


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And she said to him, My lord, thou hast sworn by Jehovah thy God to thy handmaid, <n>[saying,]</n> Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.


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And he has sacrificed oxen and fatted cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the captain of the host; but Solomon thy servant has he not invited.


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And thou, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.


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Otherwise it shall come to pass when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders.


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And they told the king saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.


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And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?


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For he is gone down this day, and has sacrificed oxen and fatted cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah!


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But me, <n>[even]</n> me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, he has not invited.


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Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewn to thy servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?


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Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.


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And the king swore, and said, <n>[As]</n> Jehovah liveth, who has redeemed my soul out of all distress,


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even as I swore to thee by Jehovah the God of Israel, saying, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.


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And Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.


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And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.


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And the king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon;


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and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, Long live king Solomon!


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And ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit on my throne; for he shall reign in my stead, and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.


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And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, Amen Jehovah, the God of my lord the king, say so too.


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As Jehovah has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.


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And Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.


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And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon!


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And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.


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And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard <n>[it]</n> as they were finishing their repast; and Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, and he said, Wherefore this noise of the city in an uproar?


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While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said <n>[to him]</n>, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good news.


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And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule;


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and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which ye have heard.


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And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Thy God make the name of Solomon more excellent than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne! And the king bowed himself on the bed.


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And also thus said the king Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.


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And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose and went and caught hold of the horns of the altar.


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And it was told Solomon saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for behold, he has caught hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me this day that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.


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And Solomon said, If he be a worthy man, there shall not one of his hairs fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.


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And king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to thy house.


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and keep the charge of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest and whithersoever thou turnest thyself;


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that Jehovah may confirm his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If thy sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee, said he, a man upon the throne of Israel.


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And thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and upon his sandals that were on his feet.


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But shew kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table; for so they came up to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.


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And behold, there is with thee Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day that I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Jehovah saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.


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And now hold him not guiltless; for thou art a wise man, and thou shalt know what thou oughtest to do to him; but bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood.


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And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.


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And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.


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And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their faces on me that I should reign; but the kingdom is turned about and is become my brother's, for it was his from Jehovah.


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And he said, Speak, I pray thee, to Solomon the king -- for he will not refuse thee -- that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.


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And Bathsheba went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne; and he caused a throne to be set for the king's mother, and she sat on his right hand.


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Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; refuse me not. And the king said to her, Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse thee.


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And king Solomon answered and said to his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.


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And king Solomon swore by Jehovah saying, God do so to me, and more also, -- Adonijah has spoken this word against his own life!


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And now <n>[as]</n> Jehovah liveth, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.


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And the king said to Abiathar the priest, Go to Anathoth, to thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death; but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou didst bear the ark of Adonai Jehovah before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.


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And Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to Jehovah, to fulfil the word of Jehovah, which he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.


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And the report came to Joab (for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he had not turned after Absalom); and Joab fled to the tent of Jehovah, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.


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And it was told king Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of Jehovah; and behold, he is by the altar. And Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him.


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And Benaiah came to the tent of Jehovah and said to him, Thus saith the king Come forth. And he said, No; for I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.


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And the king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall upon him, and bury him; and take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me and from the house of my father.


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And Jehovah shall requite the blood which he shed upon his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, without my father David's knowledge Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.


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And their blood shall be requited upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever; but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Jehovah.


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And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell upon him, and put him to death; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.


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And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his stead over the host; and Zadok the priest the king put in the stead of Abiathar.


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And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and abide there, and go not forth thence anywhere.


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And it shall be that on the day thou goest forth, and passest over the torrent of Kidron, ... know for certain that thou shalt surely die thy blood shall be upon thine own head.


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And Shimei said to the king, The saying is good as my lord the king has said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.


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And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two servants of Shimei's ran away to Achish son of Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei saying, Behold, thy servants are in Gath.


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Then Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath, to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.


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And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Did I not make thee swear by Jehovah, and protest to thee, saying, Know for certain, that on the day thou goest forth, and walkest abroad anywhere, thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst to me, The word that I have heard is good.


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And the king said to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness of which thy heart is conscious, which thou didst to David my father; and Jehovah returns thy wickedness upon thine own head;


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and king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Jehovah for ever.


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And the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; who went out and fell upon him, and he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.


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And Solomon allied himself by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had ended building his own house, and the house of Jehovah, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.


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Only, the people sacrificed on the high places; for there was no house built to the name of Jehovah, until those days.


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And Solomon loved Jehovah, walking in the statutes of David his father; only, he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.


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And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place a thousand burnt-offerings did Solomon offer up upon that altar.


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In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.


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And Solomon said, Thou hast shewn unto thy servant David my father great loving-kindness, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great loving-kindness, that thou hast given him a son who sits upon his throne, as it is this day.


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And now, Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but a little child I know not to go out and to come in.


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And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.


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Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy numerous people?


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And God said to him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself discernment to understand judgment;


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behold, I have done according to thy word behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there hath been none like unto thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.


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And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and glory; so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.


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And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will prolong thy days.


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And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and offered up burnt-offerings, and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.


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And the first woman said, Ah, my lord! I and this woman abode in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.


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And it came to pass the third day after I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also; and we were together; no stranger was with us in the house, only we two were in the house.


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And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thy handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom.


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And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; and I considered it in the morning, and behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.


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And the other woman said, No, for the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this one said, No, but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king.


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Then said the king, The one says, This that is living is my son, and thy son is the dead; and the other says, No, for thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.


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Then spoke the woman whose was the living child to the king, for her bowels yearned over her son, and she said, Ah, my lord! give her the living child, and in no wise put it to death. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine; divide it.


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And the king answered and said, Give this one the living child, and in no wise put it to death she is its mother.


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And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.


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and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the superintendents; and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, the king's friend;


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And Solomon had twelve superintendents over all Israel; and they provided food for the king and his household each man his month in the year had to make provision.


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Baana the son of Ahilud had Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zaretan beneath Jizreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-Meholah, as far as beyond Jokneam.


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Ben-Geber, in Ramoth-Gilead; he had the villages of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; he had the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bars of bronze.


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Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the land of Sihon the king of the Amorites, and of Og the king of Bashan; and <n>[he was]</n> the only superintendent that was in the land.


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Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.


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And Solomon ruled over all kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.


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ten fatted oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and fallow-deer, and fatted fowl.


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For he had dominion over all on this side the river, from Tiphsah as far as Gazah, over all the kings on this side the river; and he had peace on all sides round about.


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And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.


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And those officers provided food for king Solomon, and for all who came to king Solomon's table, every man in his month they let nothing be wanting.


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And the barley, and the straw for the horses and coursers, they brought to the place where <n>[the superintendents]</n> were, every man according to his charge.


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And God gave Solomon wisdom and very great understanding and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore.


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For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the nations round about.


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And he spoke of the trees, from the cedar-tree that is on Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of cattle, and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes.


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And there came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.


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And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father; for Hiram always loved David.


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Thou knowest that David my father could not build a house unto the name of Jehovah his God, because of the wars which were about him on every side, until Jehovah put them under the soles of his feet.


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And behold, I purpose to build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God, as Jehovah spoke to David my father saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy stead, he shall build a house unto my name.


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And now command that they hew me cedar-trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants; and I will give thee hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt say; for thou knowest that there is not among us any that are experienced in cutting timber like to the Zidonians.


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And it came to pass when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be Jehovah this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.


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And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have heard the things which thou sentest to me for I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of cypress.


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My servants shall bring <n>[them]</n> down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will convey them by sea <n>[in]</n> rafts to the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and thou shalt receive them. And thou shalt accomplish my desire in giving food for my household.


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And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat as food for his household, and twenty measures of beaten oil thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.


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And Jehovah gave Solomon wisdom as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league.


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And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, two months at home; and Adoniram was over the levy.


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And Solomon had seventy thousand that bore burdens, and eighty thousand stone-masons in the mountains;


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besides the overseers whom Solomon had set over the work, three thousand three hundred, who ruled over the people that wrought in the work.


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And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the house.


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And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Giblites hewed them, and prepared timber and stones to build the house.


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And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Jehovah.


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And the house that king Solomon built for Jehovah was sixty cubits in length, and twenty in breadth, and thirty cubits in height.


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And the porch, in front of the temple of the house, was twenty cubits in length, in front of the house broadways, <n>[and]</n> ten cubits was its breadth, in front of the house.


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And against the wall of the house he built floors round about, <n>[against]</n> the walls of the house, round about the temple and the oracle; and he made side-chambers round about.


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The lowest floor was five cubits broad, and the middle one was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for in the <n>[thickness of the wall of]</n> the house he made resets round about outside, that nothing should be fastened in the walls of the house.


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And the house, when it was being built, was built of stone entirely made ready before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was being built.


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The entrance to the side-chambers of the middle <n>[floor]</n> was in the right side of the house; and they went up by winding stairs into the middle <n>[floor]</n>, and out of the middle into the third.


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And he built the floors against all the house, five cubits high; and they held to the house by the timbers of cedar.


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As to this house which thou art building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and practise mine ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them, then will I perform my word as to thee which I spoke unto David thy father;


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And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, from the floor of the house to the walls of the roof; he overlaid <n>[them]</n> on the inside with wood, and overlaid the floor of the house with boards of cypress.


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And he built twenty cubits of the innermost part of the house, both floor and walls, with boards of cedar; and he built <n>[them]</n> for it within, to <n>[be]</n> the oracle, the most holy place.


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And the cedar of the house within was carved with colocynths and half-open flowers all was cedar; there was no stone seen.


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And he prepared the oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.


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And the oracle within was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof; and he overlaid it with pure gold; and he overlaid the cedar-wood altar --


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and Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold, and shut off the oracle in front with chains of gold, and overlaid it with gold.


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And the whole house he overlaid with gold, the whole house entirely; also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.


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and one wing of the cherub was five cubits, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub, ten cubits from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing;


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And he set the cherubim in the midst of the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched, wing to wing, in the midst of the house.


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And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved sculptures of cherubim, and palm-trees, and half-open flowers, within and without.


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And for the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive-wood the lintel <n>[and]</n> side posts were the fifth part <n>[of the breadth of the house]</n>.


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The two doors were of olive-wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, and palm-trees and half-open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm-trees.


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And he also made for the doorway of the temple posts of olive-wood, of the fourth part <n>[of the breadth of the house]</n>.


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And the two folding-doors were of cypress-wood the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.


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And he carved on them cherubim, and palm-trees, and half-open flowers; and overlaid them with gold fitted on the carved work.


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and in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished in all its parts, and according to all the fashion of it. So he was seven years in building it.


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And he built the house of the forest of Lebanon; its length was a hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar-pillars, with cedar-beams upon the pillars;


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and it was covered with cedar above upon the side-chambers, which were on forty-five pillars, fifteen in a row.


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And all the doors and posts were square, with an architrave; and window was against window in three ranks.


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And he made the porch of pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits; and there was a porch in front of them; and there were pillars, and steps in front of them.


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And he made the porch for the throne where he judged, the porch of judgment; and it was covered with cedar from floor to floor.


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And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. And he made, like to this porch, a house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom Solomon had taken.


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All these <n>[buildings]</n> were of costly stones, hewn stones, according to the measures, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation to the coping, and on the outside as far as the great court.


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And the foundations were of costly stones, great stones, stones of ten cubits and stones of eight cubits.


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And the great court round about had three rows of hewn stones, and a row of cedar-beams; and so it was for the inner court of the house of Jehovah, and the porch of the house.


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He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was full of wisdom and understanding and knowledge, to do all kinds of works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and made all his work.


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And he formed the two pillars of brass; the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a line of twelve cubits encompassed the second pillar.


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And he made two capitals of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits;


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<n>[and]</n> nets of checker-work, wreaths of chain-work, for the capitals which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital and seven for the other capital.


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And he made pomegranates, namely two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars; and so he did for the other capital.


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And the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily-work <n>[as]</n> in the porch, four cubits.


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And the capitals upon the two pillars, above also, close to the enlargement which was behind the network, had two hundred pomegranates in rows round about, <n>[also]</n> on the other capital.


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And he set up the pillars for the porch of the temple; and he set up the right pillar, and called its name Jachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called its name Boaz.


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And he made the sea, molten, ten cubits from brim to brim, round all about; and its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits encompassed it round about.


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And under the brim of it round about there were colocynths, encompassing it, ten in a cubit enclosing the sea round about; two rows of colocynths, cast when it was cast.


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It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.


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And its thickness was a hand-breadth, and its brim was like the work of the brim of a cup, with lily-blossoms; it held two thousand baths.


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And he made ten bases of brass four cubits was the length of one base, and the breadth four cubits, and the height three cubits.


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And on the panels that were between the fillets were lions, oxen and cherubim; and over the fillets there was a base above; and beneath the lions and oxen were garlands of festoon-work.


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And every base had four wheels of brass, and axles of brass; and on its four corners were shoulder-pieces under the laver were shoulder-pieces molten, behind every garland.


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And the mouth of it within the crown and above was a cubit; and its mouth was rounded, <n>[as]</n> the work of the base, a cubit and a half; and also upon its mouth was sculpture; but their panels were square, not round.


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And the four wheels were under the panels; and the supports of the wheels were in the base; and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.


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And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel their supports, and their rims, and their spokes and their naves were all molten.


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And there were four shoulder-pieces to the four corners of one base; of the base itself were its shoulder-pieces.


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And in the top of the base there was a circular elevation of half a cubit round about; and on the top of the base its stays and its panels were of the same.


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And he engraved on the plates of its stays and on its panels cherubim, lions and palm-trees, according to the space upon each; and garlands were round about.


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After this <n>[manner]</n> he made the ten bases all of them had one casting, one measure, one form.


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And he made ten lavers of brass one laver contained forty baths; every laver was four cubits; upon every one of the ten bases one laver.


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And he put the bases, five on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house; and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, over against the south.


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And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the bowls. So Hiram ended doing all the work that he made for king Solomon <n>[for]</n> the house of Jehovah


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two pillars, and the globes of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars, two; and the two networks, to cover the two globes of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars;


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and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two globes of the capitals which were upon the pillars;


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and the pots, and the shovels, and the bowls. And all these things, which Hiram made king Solomon for the house of Jehovah, were of bright brass.


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And Solomon left all the vessels <n>[unweighed]</n> from their exceeding number; the weight of the brass was not ascertained.


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And Solomon made all the vessels that were <n>[in]</n> the house of Jehovah the golden altar; and the table of gold, whereon was the shewbread;


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and the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right, and five on the left, before the oracle; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold,


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and the basons, and the knives, and the bowls, and the cups, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, for the folding-doors of the inner house, the most holy place, <n>[and]</n> for the doors of the house, of the temple.


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And all the work was finished that king Solomon made for the house of Jehovah. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated; the silver and the gold and the vessels he put among the treasures of the house of Jehovah.


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Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the city of David, which is Zion.


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And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, that is, the seventh month.


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And they brought up the ark of Jehovah, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent the priests and the Levites brought them up.


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And king Solomon, and all the assembly of Israel that were assembled to him, <n>[who were]</n> with him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.


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And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah to its place, into the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim;


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for the cherubim stretched forth <n>[their]</n> wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its staves above.


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And the staves were long, so that the ends of the staves were seen from the holy place before the oracle, but they were not seen without. And there they are to this day.


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There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses placed there at Horeb, when Jehovah made <n>[a covenant]</n> with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.


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And it came to pass when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Jehovah,


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and the priests could not stand to do their service because of the cloud; for the glory of Jehovah had filled the house of Jehovah.


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And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel; and the whole congregation of Israel stood.


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And he said Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,


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Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; but I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.


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And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house unto the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.


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But Jehovah said to David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart;


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nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.


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And Jehovah has performed his word which he spoke; and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and I have built the house unto the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.


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And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.


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And Solomon stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of the whole congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward the heavens.


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And he said, Jehovah, God of Israel! there is no God like thee, in the heavens above, or on the earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart;


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who hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou didst promise him; thou spokest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled <n>[it]</n> with thy hand, as at this day.


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And now, Jehovah, God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only thy sons take heed to their way, to walk before me as thou hast walked before me.


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And now, O God of Israel, let thy words, I pray thee, be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David my father.


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But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heavens, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!


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Yet have respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, Jehovah, my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee this day;


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that thine eyes may be open upon this house night and day, upon the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.


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And hearken unto the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place, and hear thou in thy dwelling-place, in the heavens, and when thou hearest, forgive.


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If a man have sinned against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to adjure him, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;


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then hear thou in the heavens, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head; and justifying the righteous, giving him according to his righteousness.


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When thy people Israel are put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house;


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then hear thou in the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land that thou gavest unto their fathers.


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When the heavens are shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, because thou hast afflicted them;


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then hear thou in the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou teachest them the good way wherein they should walk; and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.


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If there be famine in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blight, mildew, locust, caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their gates; whatever plague, whatever sickness there be


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what prayer, what supplication soever be made by any man, of all thy people Israel, when they shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and shall spread forth his hands toward this house;


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then hear thou in the heavens, the settled place of thy dwelling, and forgive, and do, and render unto every man according to all his ways, whose heart thou knowest (for thou, thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men),


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that they may fear thee all the days that they live upon the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.


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And as to the stranger also, who is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake


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(for they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy mighty hand, and of thy stretched-out arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house,


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hear thou in the heavens thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; in order that all peoples of the earth may know thy name, <n>[and]</n> that they may fear thee as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.


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If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray to Jehovah toward the city that thou hast chosen, and the house that I have built unto thy name;


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If they have sinned against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and give them up to the enemy, and they have carried them away captives unto the enemy's land, far or near;


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and if they shall take it to heart in the land whither they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done iniquity, we have dealt perversely;


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and if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city that thou hast chosen, and the house that I have built unto thy name;


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then hear thou in the heavens, the settled place of thy dwelling, their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their right;


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and forgive thy people their sin against thee, and all their transgressions whereby they have transgressed against thee, and give them to find compassion with those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them


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(for they are thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron) --


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thine eyes being open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.


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For thou hast separated them from among all peoples of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spokest through Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord Jehovah.


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And it was so, that when Solomon had ended praying all this prayer and supplication to Jehovah, he arose from before the altar of Jehovah, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth to the heavens,


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Blessed be Jehovah, who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised there has not failed one word of all his good promises which he spoke through Moses his servant!


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that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers.


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And let these my words, with which I have made supplication before Jehovah, be nigh to Jehovah our God day and night, that he maintain the right of his servant, and the right of his people Israel, as the matter of each day shall require;


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and that your heart may be perfect with Jehovah our God, to walk in his statutes and to keep his commandments, as at this day.


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And Solomon sacrificed a sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he sacrificed to Jehovah, twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of Jehovah.


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The same day the king hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of Jehovah; for there he offered the burnt-offerings, and the oblations, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar that was before Jehovah was too small to receive the burnt-offerings, and the oblations, and the fat of the peace-offerings.


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And at that time Solomon held the feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entrance of Hamath unto the torrent of Egypt, before Jehovah our God, seven days and seven days, fourteen days.


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On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that Jehovah had done to David his servant, and to Israel his people.


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And it came to pass when Solomon had completed the building of the house of Jehovah, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,


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And Jehovah said to him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication which thou hast made before me I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.


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And <n>[as for]</n> thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, <n>[and]</n> wilt keep my statutes and mine ordinances;


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then will I establish the throne of thy kingdom over Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.


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<n>[But]</n> if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments, my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them;


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then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and the house, which I have hallowed to my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a by word among all peoples;


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and this house, <n>[which]</n> is high, every one that passes by it shall be astonished at, and shall hiss, and they shall say, Why has Jehovah done thus to this land and to this house?


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And they shall say, Because they forsook Jehovah their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have attached themselves to other gods, and have worshipped them and served them; therefore has Jehovah brought upon them all this evil.


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And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of Jehovah and the king's house,


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Hiram the king of Tyre having furnished Solomon with cedar-trees and cypress-trees, and with gold, according to all his desire, -- that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.


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And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him; and they did not please him.


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And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul to this day.


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And this is the account of the levy which king Solomon raised, to build the house of Jehovah, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.


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-- Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer, and burned it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife.


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and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and cities for chariots, and cities for the horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and on Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.


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All the people that were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel,


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their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, upon them did Solomon impose a tribute of bondservice until this day.


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But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen; but they were men of war, and his servants, and his chiefs, and his captains, and captains of his chariots, and his horsemen.


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These were the chief superintendents that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, that ruled over the people that wrought in the work.


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But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David to her house which he had built for her then he built Millo.


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And three times in the year did Solomon offer up burnt-offerings and peace-offerings upon the altar that he had built to Jehovah, and he burned incense upon that which was before Jehovah. So he finished the house.


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And king Solomon made a fleet of ships in Ezion-Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.


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And Hiram sent in the fleet his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon;


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and they went to Ophir, and fetched thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.


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And the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon in connection with the name of Jehovah, and came to prove him with enigmas.


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And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bore spices and gold in very great abundance, and precious stones; and she came to Solomon, and spoke to him of all that was in her heart.


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And Solomon explained to her all she spoke of there was not a thing hidden from the king that he did not explain to her.


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and the food of his table, and the deportment of his servants, and the order of service of his attendants, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of Jehovah, there was no more spirit in her.


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And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine affairs, and of thy wisdom;


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but I gave no credit to the words, until I came and mine eyes had seen; and behold, the half was not told me in wisdom and prosperity thou exceedest the report that I heard.


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Happy are thy men! happy are these thy servants, who stand continually before thee, who hear thy wisdom!


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Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel! Because Jehovah loves Israel for ever, therefore did he make thee king, to do judgment and justice.


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And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in very great abundance, and precious stones there came no more such abundance of spices as those which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.


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(And the fleet also of Hiram, which carried gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir sandal-wood in very great abundance, and precious stones.


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And the king made of the sandal-wood a balustrade for the house of Jehovah, and for the king's house, and harps and lutes for the singers. There came no such sandal-wood, nor was there seen to this day.)


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And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides what he gave her of the bounty of king Solomon. And she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.


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And the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,


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besides what <n>[came]</n> by the dealers, and by the traffic of the merchants, and by all the kings of Arabia, and by the governors of the country.


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And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold, -- he applied six hundred <n>[shekels]</n> of gold to one target;


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and three hundred shields of beaten gold, -- he applied three minas of gold to one shield; and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.


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the throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was rounded behind; and there were arms on each side at the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the arms;


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and twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps there was not the like made in any kingdom.


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And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of precious gold none were of silver, <n>[which]</n> was not of the least account in the days of Solomon.


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For the king had on the sea a Tarshish-fleet, with the fleet of Hiram once in three years came the Tarshish-fleet, bringing gold and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.


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And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.


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And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, and armour, and spices, horses and mules, a rate year by year.


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And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had a thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; and he placed them in the chariot-cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.


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And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he as the sycamores that are in the lowland for abundance.


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And the exportation of horses that Solomon had was from Egypt a caravan of the king's merchants fetched a drove <n>[of horses]</n>, at a price.


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And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred <n>[shekels]</n> of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty; and so they brought <n>[them]</n> by their means, for all the kings of the Hittites and for the kings of Syria.


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But king Solomon loved many foreign women, besides the daughter of Pharaoh women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, Hittites;


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of the nations of which Jehovah had said to the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in to you; they would certainly turn away your heart after their gods to these Solomon was attached 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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And it came to pass when Solomon was old, <n>[that]</n> his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as the heart of David his father.


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And Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.


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Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, on the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.


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And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,


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and had commanded him concerning this thing, not to go after other gods; but he kept not what Jehovah had commanded.


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And Jehovah said to Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done by thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes which I commanded thee, I will certainly rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant


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notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father's sake; I will rend it out of the hand of thy son;


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only, I will not rend away all the kingdom I will give one tribe to thy son, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.


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And Jehovah stirred up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the king's seed in Edom.


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Now it came to pass when David was in Edom, when Joab the captain of the host had gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom


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that Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child.


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And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran, and took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt; who gave him a house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.


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And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, and he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.


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And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son; and Tahpenes brought him up in Pharaoh's house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household, among the sons of Pharaoh.


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And Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead; and Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.


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And Pharaoh said to him, What then dost thou lack with me, that behold, thou desirest to go to thine own country? And he said, Nothing; but in any case let me depart.


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God stirred him up yet an adversary, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from Hadadezer king of Zobah, his lord.


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And he collected men to him, and became captain of a band, when David slew them <n>[of Zobah]</n>; and they went to Damascus, and dwelt there, and reigned in Damascus.


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And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad <n>[did]</n>; and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.


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And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zeredah, Solomon's servant (whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman), even he lifted up his hand against the king.


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And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king Solomon was building Millo, and closing the breach of the city of David his father;


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and the man Jeroboam was strong and valiant; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.


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And it came to pass at that time that Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field.


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and said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee;


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but one tribe shall he have for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel


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because they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my sight, and my statutes and mine ordinances, as David his father.


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But I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; for I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;


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And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen for myself to put my name there.


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And I will take thee, that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth, and thou shalt be king over Israel.


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And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my sight, in keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, that I will be with thee, and build thee a lasting house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.


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And Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam; and Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt; and he was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.


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And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?


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And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.


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And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (now he was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;


