# verses

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Now, don't let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord's presence. Indeed, the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea, like someone hunts a partridge in the mountains." 


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<n>{Saul Apologizes Again}</n> d Then Saul said, "I've wronged you. Return, my son David, for I won't harm you again because my life was precious to you <n>{Lit. in your sight}</n> today. Look, I've acted foolishly and have made a very great mistake." 


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The Lord repays a person for his righteousness and his faithfulness. The Lord gave you into my control today, but I refused to raise my hand against the Lord's anointed. 


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Look, just as your life was valuable in my eyes today, so may my life be valuable in the Lord's eyes, and may he deliver me from all trouble." 


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Saul told David, "Blessed are you, my son David. In whatever you do you will surely succeed." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place. 


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<n>{David Escapes to Philistine Territory}</n> d David told himself, "One of these days I'll perish by Saul's hand. There is nothing better for me to do than to escape to Philistine territory. Saul will give up searching for me anymore within the borders of Israel, so I'll escape from him." 


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So David got up, and he and the 600 men who were with him went to Maoch's son Achish, the king of Gath. 


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David stayed with Achish in Gath along with his men, each of whom was with his household. David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel. 


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<n>{Achish Gives Ziklag to David}</n> d David told Achish, "If it pleases you, give me a place in one of the outlying towns, <n>{Lit. one of the towns of the field}</n> so I may live there. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?" 


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So that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and therefore, Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah until the present time. 


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<n>{David's Raids on the Land}</n> d David and his men went up and raided the descendants of Geshur, the descendants of Girzi, and the Amalekites, for they had been living in the land since ancient times, from the entrance of <n>{Lit. times, where you enter}</n> Shur all the way to the land of Egypt. 


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David struck the land and did not leave a man or woman alive. He took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing, and then came back and went to Achish. 


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Achish said, "Where did you raid today?" David answered, "Against the Negev <n>{I.e. southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> of Judah, against the Negev <n>{Or south}</n> of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev <n>{Or south}</n> of the Kenites." 


text:
David did not leave a man or woman alive to bring to Gath. He told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks himself}</n> "Otherwise, they'll say, «This is what David is doing, and this has been his practice all the time he has lived in Philistine territory.»" 


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Achish believed David, telling himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks himself}</n> "He has certainly made himself repulsive to his people in Israel. He will be my servant forever." 


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<n>{The Philistines Prepare to Fight against Israel}</n> d At that time the Philistines assembled their army for war to fight against Israel. Achish told David, "You know, of course, that you and your men will go out with me into the battle." 


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David told Achish, "Very well, you will now see <n>{Lit. you will know}</n> what your servant will do." Achish told David, "Very well, I'll appoint you as my permanent bodyguard." 


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<n>{Saul and the Medium at Endor}</n> d Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. 


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The Philistines assembled, moved out, and camped at Shunem, while Saul assembled all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 


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Saul inquired of the Lord , but the Lord did not answer him, either through dreams or Urim <n>{I.e. a device used by the priest to determine God's will}</n> or through prophets. 


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Saul told his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium so I can go to her and make my inquiry through her." His servants told him, "Look, there's a woman at Endor who is a medium." 


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Saul disguised himself, putting on different clothes. He went along with two men to the woman at night. He said, "Consult a familiar spirit for me and bring up for me the one whom I tell you." 


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The woman told him, "Look, you know what Saul has done. He has removed mediums and spiritists from the land, so why are you trying to entrap me, so as to cause my death?" 


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Saul swore to her by the Lord : "As surely as the Lord lives, no punishment will come on you for this thing." 


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The woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" Saul <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "Bring up Samuel for me." 


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When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. <n>{Lit. with a loud voice}</n> The woman told Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" 


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The king told her, "Don't be afraid; but what do you see?" The woman told Saul, "I see a divine being <n>{Or a spirit ; or a god}</n> coming up out of the ground." 


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Saul <n>{Lit. He}</n> told her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up, and he's wrapped in a robe." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed low to the ground and prostrated himself. 


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<n>{Samuel's Message to Saul}</n> d Samuel told Saul, "Why did you disturb me by bringing me up?" Saul said, "I'm in great distress. The Philistines are waging war against me. God has departed from me and won't answer me anymore, either by messages written by <n>{The Heb. lacks messages written by}</n> the hand of the prophets or by dreams. So I've summoned you to tell me what I should do." 


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The Lord has done to you exactly as he spoke through me. <n>{Lit. by my hand}</n> The Lord has torn the kingdom away from you <n>{Lit. from your hand}</n> and has given it to your colleague David. 


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Because you didn't obey the Lord and didn't display his fierce anger against Amalek, therefore, the Lord will do this thing to you today. 


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The Lord is giving both you, and Israel with you, into Philistine control. Tomorrow, the Lord will give you, your sons with you, and also the army of Israel into the control <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of the Philistines." 


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<n>{The Medium Attends to Saul}</n> d Saul immediately fell down full-length on the ground. He was terrified because of Samuel's words, and he had no strength because he had not eaten food all day and all night. 


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Then the woman came to Saul and saw that he was very disturbed. She told him, "Look, your servant <n>{Lit. maidservant}</n> obeyed you. I put my life into your hands, and I listened to your words that you spoke to me. 


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Now, please listen to your servant. <n>{Lit. maidservant}</n> I'll put a piece of bread before you so you can eat and have strength to go on your way." <n>{Lit. the way}</n> 


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Saul <n>{Lit. He}</n> refused, saying, "I won't eat!" Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. 


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The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. 


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She brought it to Saul and to his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went out that night. 


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<n>{The Philistine Leaders Reject David}</n> d The Philistines gathered all their troops at Aphek, while Israel was camped at the spring in Jezreel. 


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The Philistine leaders were passing in review among <n>{The Heb. lacks among}</n> the military units, <n>{Lit. the hundreds and the thousands}</n> and David and his men were among <n>{Lit. were passing}</n> them in the rear with Achish. 


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The Philistine leaders said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" Achish asked the Philistine leaders, "Isn't this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather <n>{The Heb. lacks rather}</n> these years? I've found no fault in him from the day he deserted <n>{Lit. fell}</n> until now." 


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But the Philistine leaders were angry with him, so they <n>{Lit. the Philistine leaders}</n> pleaded with him, "Send the man back! Let him return to the <n>{Lit. his}</n> place you assigned him. He mustn't go into battle with us. Otherwise, he may become our adversary in the battle! How could there be a better way for <n>{The Heb. lacks there be a better way for}</n> this fellow to reconcile himself with his lord? Wouldn't it be with the heads of these men? 


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Isn't this the same <n>{The Heb. lacks same}</n> David about whom the maidens <n>{Lit. they}</n> sang when they were dancing, «Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his ten thousands'?" 


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<n>{Achish Sends David Home}</n> d Then Achish summoned David and told him, "As surely as the Lord lives, you are trustworthy, <n>{Or upright}</n> and it seems good to me for you to campaign <n>{Lit. for you to go out and come in}</n> with me as part of the army. Indeed, I've not found any evil in you from the time you came to me until now. <n>{Lit. until this day}</n> But the leaders don't approve of you. 


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David told Achish, "What have I done, and what have you found in your servant from the time I came before you until this very moment, <n>{Lit. until this day}</n> that I shouldn't go out and fight the enemies of your majesty?" <n>{Lit. my lord the king}</n> 


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Achish answered David, "I know that I'm pleased with you. You're <n>{The Heb. lacks You're}</n> like an angel of God. But the Philistine leaders have said, «He mustn't go into battle with us.'


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Now, get up early in the morning along with your lord's servants who came with you. <n>{LXX reads with you and go to the place that I've assigned you. Harbor no bitter thought in your heart, for you are acceptable to me.}</n> Get up early in the morning, and go as soon as you have light." 


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So <n>{The Heb. lacks So}</n> David and his men got up early in the morning to return to Philistine territory, while the Philistines went up to Jezreel. 


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<n>{Trouble on David's Return to Ziklag}</n> d When David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had raided the Negev <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and set it on fire. 


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They took the women in it captive, from young to old. <n>{Lit. from small to great}</n> They did not kill anyone. Instead, they carried them off and went on their way. 


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David and his men came to the town, and it had been burned down. Their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 


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Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and cried until they had no more strength left to cry. 


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David's two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal's former <n>{The Heb. lacks former}</n> wife, had been captured. 


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David was in great danger <n>{Or greatly distressed}</n> because all the people were bitter because of their sons and daughters, and they were talking about stoning him. But David found strength <n>{Or strengthened himself}</n> in the Lord his God. 


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<n>{David Pursues the Amalekites}</n> d David told Ahimelech's son Abiathar the priest, "Bring me the ephod." <n>{The ephod was a type of vest worn by the priest and was used to determine God's will.}</n> So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 


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David inquired of the Lord : "Shall I pursue this raiding party? <n>{Or band}</n> Will I overtake them?" The Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> told David, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Pursue them! You will definitely overtake them and rescue the captives." <n>{Lit. and you will definitely rescue}</n> 


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So David and 600 men who were with him set out. They came to the Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> Besor where those who were left behind stayed. 


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David and 400 men continued the pursuit, <n>{Lit. pursued}</n> while the 200 men who were too exhausted to cross over the Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> Besor remained there. <n>{The Heb. lacks there}</n> 


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<n>{An Egyptian Leads David to the Amalekites}</n> d They found an Egyptian man in the field, and they took him to David. They gave him food to eat and provided water for him. 


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They gave him part of a fig cake and two bunches of raisins. After he had eaten, he revived, <n>{Lit. his spirit revived}</n> since he had neither eaten food nor had he drunk water for three days and three nights. 


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David told him, "To whom do you belong and where are you from?" The Egyptian <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "I'm a young Egyptian man, the slave of an Amalekite man. My master abandoned me, because I got sick three days ago. 


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We raided the Negev <n>{Or the southern region}</n> of the Cherethites, the territory that belongs to Judah, <n>{Lit. what belongs to Judah}</n> and the Negev <n>{Or the southern region}</n> of Caleb, and we set Ziklag on fire." 


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David asked him, "Will you take me to this raiding party?" <n>{Or band}</n> He said, "Swear to me by God that you won't kill me or turn me over to my master, and I'll take you to the raiding party." <n>{Or band}</n> 


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<n>{David Defeats the Amalekites}</n> d The Egyptian <n>{Lit. He}</n> led him to the camp, <n>{Lit. him down}</n> and there the Amalekites <n>{Lit. they}</n> were spread out over the whole area, eating, drinking, and celebrating with the great amount of spoil they had taken from the territory belonging to the Philistines and to Judah. 


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David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not one of them escaped except for 400 young men who mounted camels and fled. 


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David rescued everyone whom the Amalekites <n>{Lit. whom Amalek ; i.e., those who lived in the town of Amalek}</n> had captured, including <n>{Lit. captured, and David rescued}</n> his two wives. 


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Nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or large, sons or daughters, spoil, or anything that they had taken for themselves David brought back everything. 


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David took all the rest of <n>{The Heb. lacks the rest of}</n> the sheep and cattle, driving them ahead of their rescued livestock. <n>{Lit. ahead of those livestock}</n> People said about all this, <n>{Lit. about them}</n> "This is David's spoil." 


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<n>{David Divides the Spoil}</n> d David came to the 200 men who were too exhausted to follow him <n>{Lit. David}</n> and who had been left at the Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> Besor. They came out to meet David and the people who were with him. As David approached the people, he asked them how they were doing. <n>{Or he greeted them}</n> 


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At this point, all the wicked and worthless men of the group who had gone with David answered, "Because they didn't go with us, we won't give them any of the spoil that we recovered, except that each person may take his wife and his children and go." 


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David said, "No, you won't do this, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He guarded us and gave the raiding party <n>{Or band}</n> that came against us into our hand. 


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Who will listen to you in this matter? Indeed, the share of those who went down into battle and the share of those who stayed with the supplies will be the same. They'll share alike." 


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From that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel, and it remains <n>{The Heb. lacks and it remains}</n> to this present <n>{The Heb. lacks present}</n> day. 


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<n>{David Shares the Spoil with the People of Judah}</n> d David came to Ziklag, and he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, and to his friends, telling them, "Look, this is a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord 


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<n>{Saul Killed by the Philistines}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 10:1-7)}</n> d The Philistines fought against Israel, and the army <n>{Lit. and the men}</n> of Israel fled before the Philistines. They fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 


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The Philistines pursued Saul and his sons. The Philistines struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul's sons. 


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The heaviest fighting was directed toward Saul, <n>{Lit. was heavy toward}</n> and when the bowmen who were shooting located Saul, he was severely wounded by them. <n>{Lit. the archers}</n> 


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Saul told his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised people will come and run me through and make sport of me." But his armor bearer did not want to do it <n>{The Heb. lacks to do it}</n> because he was very frightened, so Saul took the sword and fell on it. 


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When the men of Israel who were across the valley and who were across the Jordan saw that the army <n>{Lit. men}</n> of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled, and the Philistines came and occupied them. 


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<n>{The Philistines Desecrate Saul's Body}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 10:8-10)}</n> d The next day, the Philistines came to strip the dead, and they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 


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They cut off his head and stripped him of his weapons. They sent people throughout the territory of the Philistines to report the good news in the temples of their idols and to the people. 


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They put Saul's <n>{Lit. his}</n> weapons in the temple of Asherah <n>{Asherah was a female deity worshipped by the Canaanites and the Philistines}</n> and fastened his corpse to the wall of Beth-shan. 


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<n>{The People of Jabesh-gilead Give Saul a Proper Burial}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 10:11-13)}</n> d When the residents of Jabesh-gilead heard what <n>{Lit. heard about it, what}</n> the Philistines had done to Saul, 


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every valiant soldier <n>{Lit. man}</n> got up, traveled all night, and removed Saul's body and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. Then they went to Jabesh and cremated the bodies <n>{Lit. them}</n> there. 


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<n>{ The Book of}</n> <n>{ Second Samuel}</n> d <n>{David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan}</n> d Shortly after Saul had died, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days. 


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The next <n>{Lit. third}</n> day, a man escaped from Saul's camp! With torn clothes and dirty hair, he approached David, fell to the ground, and bowed down to him. 


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David asked him, "Where did you come from? He answered him, "I just escaped from Israel's encampment." 


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David continued questioning him, "How did things go? Please tell me!" He replied, "The army has fled the battlefield, many of the army are wounded <n>{Lit. fallen}</n> or have died, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead." 


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David asked the young man who related the story, <n>{The Heb. lacks the story}</n> "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" 


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The young man who had been relating the story <n>{The Heb. lacks the story}</n> answered, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and there was Saul, leaning on his spear! Meanwhile, the chariots and horsemen were rapidly drawing near. 


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So I stood next to him and killed him, because I knew that he wouldn't live after he had fallen. I took the crown that had been on his head, along with the bracelet that had been on his arm, and I have brought them to your majesty." <n>{Lit. my lord ; and so throughout the book}</n> 


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On hearing this, <n>{Lit. Then}</n> David grabbed his clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were attending to him. 


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They mourned and wept, and then decided to fast <n>{Lit. wept, fasting}</n> until dusk for Saul, for his son Jonathan, for the army of the Lord , and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen in battle. <n>{Lit. fallen by the sword}</n> 


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Meanwhile, David asked the young man who had told him the story, <n>{The Heb. lacks story}</n> "Where are you from?" He answered, "I'm an Amalekite, the son of a foreign man." 


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At this David asked him, "How is it that you weren't afraid to raise your hand to strike the Lord's anointed?" 


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Then David called out to one of his young men and ordered him, "Go up to him and cut him down!" So he attacked him and killed him. 


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David told him, "Your blood is on your own head, because your own words <n>{Lit. mouth}</n> testified against you! After all, you said, «I myself have killed the Lord's anointed!»" 


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<n>{David's Song for Saul and Jonathan}</n> d So David intoned this song of lament about Saul and his son Jonathan, 


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and he gave orders <n>{Lit. he said}</n> to teach the descendants of Judah the art of warfare, <n>{Lit. Judah the bow ; or Judah the Song of the Bow ; i.e., David's lament in vs. 19-27}</n> as is recorded in the Book of Jashar: <n>{Lit. the Book of the Upright ; i.e. an ancient chronicle of Israel, apparently now lost.}</n> 


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Don't make it known in Gath! Don't declare it in the avenues of Ashkelon! Otherwise, the daughters of Philistia will rejoice; and the daughters of the uncircumcised will triumph. 


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Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew or rain fall on you, and may none of your fields be filled with plenty, because in that place the shield of the valiant ones was defiled, the shield of Saul without an anointing with oil. 


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From the blood of the slain, from the blood of the valiant, Jonathan's bow would not retreat nor would Saul's sword return empty. 


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Saul and Jonathan, loved and handsome in life, in death were not separated. Swifter than eagles they were, and more valiant than lions. 


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Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul! He clothed you in scarlet luxury and decorated your garments with gold. 


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I am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been most kind <n>{Or pleasant}</n> to me. Your love for me was extraordinary <n>{Or wonderful}</n> beyond love from women. 


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<n>{David Becomes King over Judah}</n> d Some time later, David inquired of the Lord to ask, "Am I to move <n>{Lit. to go up}</n> to any one of the cities of Judah?" The Lord told him, "Go." So David asked, "To which one?" He replied, "To Hebron." 


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So David went there, along with his two wives Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, widow of Nabal from Carmel. 


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David brought his army <n>{Lit. men}</n> with him, each soldier accompanied by his household, and they settled in the cities of Hebron. 


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After this, the army of Judah arrived, and they anointed David king over the house of Judah. There they informed David, "The men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul." 


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So David sent messengers to the people <n>{Lit. men}</n> of Jabesh-gilead and told them, "May the Lord bless you, because you showed gracious love like <n>{The Heb. lacks like}</n> this to your lord Saul by burying him. 


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Now may the Lord reward you with gracious love, as well as faithfulness, to you, too! And I will also reward you because you did this good thing. 


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So strengthen yourselves, and be valiant in heart, because your lord Saul has died, and the household of Judah has anointed me to be king over them." 


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<n>{Abner's Rebellion and the Battle at Gibeon}</n> d Meanwhile, Ner's son Abner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Saul's son Ish-bosheth <n>{MT means Shameful Man ; cf. 1Chr 8:33, where he is named Esh-baal}</n> and brought him to Mahanaim. 


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He installed him as king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all of the rest of <n>{The Heb. lacks the rest of}</n> Israel. 


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Ish-bosheth began to reign over Israel at the age of 40 years, and he reigned for two years, even though Judah's lineage followed David. 


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Zeruiah's son Joab and some of David's staff went out to meet them at the pool of Gibeon. One side encamped on one side of the pool while the other encamped on the other side of the pool. 


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Abner told Joab, "Let's have the young men get up and fight in our presence." Joab replied, "Let them come." 


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So they got up and twelve were counted to represent Benjamin and Saul's son Ish-bosheth and twelve to represent members of David's staff. 


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Each man grabbed his opponent by the head, plunged <n>{The Heb. lacks plunged}</n> his sword into his opponent's side, and then they both fell together. That's why the place at Gibeon was named The Field of Swords. <n>{Lit. Helkath-hazzurim}</n> 


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The battle was very violent that day, with Abner and the men of Israel being defeated in the presence of David's servants. 


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<n>{Abner Kills Joab's Brother Asahel}</n> d Zeruiah's three sons Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were there. As a runner, Asahel was fast, like one of the wild gazelles. 


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So Asahel ran straight <n>{Lit. ran turning neither to the right nor to the left}</n> after Abner, following him. 


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Abner told him, "Go off to your right or left after one of the young men and grab some war spoils." But Asahel would not stop following him, 


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so Abner told Asahel again, "Stop following me. Why should I strike you down? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?" 


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But Asahel <n>{Lit. he}</n> refused to turn away, so Abner struck Asahel in the abdomen with the butt end of his spear, and the spear protruded through his back. He collapsed to the ground and died where he fell. Everyone gathered round the place where Asahel had collapsed and died, and stood still there. 


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Meanwhile, Joab and Abishai continued to chase Abner. At dusk, as they approached the hill of Ammah that is located near Giah on the way to the Gibeon desert, 


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the descendants of Benjamin rallied around Abner, forming a single military force. They took their stand on top of the hill. 


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Then Abner called out to Joab, "Must the battle sword keep on devouring forever? Don't you realize that the end result is bitterness? How long will it take for you to order your army <n>{Lit. people ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> to stop pursuing their own relatives?" 


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Joab answered, "As God lives, if you hadn't spoken up, by morning my army would have broken off their pursuit of their own relatives." 


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So Joab sounded his battle trumpet, his entire army stopped pursuing Israel any longer, and they quit fighting. 


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Abner and his army traveled through the Arabah by night, crossed the Jordan, and arrived at Mahanaim after marching all morning. 


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Joab returned from his pursuit of Abner, and when he had mustered his entire army, nineteen of David's soldiers <n>{Lit. servants}</n> were missing besides Asahel. 


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Meanwhile, other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> soldiers of David had killed 360 of Abner's men from the tribe of <n>{The Heb. lacks the tribe of}</n> Benjamin. 


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They retrieved Asahel's body and buried him in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night until daybreak and arrived back in Hebron. 


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<n>{Abner Changes Loyalties}</n> d After this, a state of protracted war existed between Saul's dynasty and David's dynasty, and the dynasty of David continued to grow and become strong while the dynasty of Saul continued to grow weaker. 


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During this time, sons were born to David while he was living in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam from Jezreel, 


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his second was Chileab by Abigail, widow of Nabal from Carmel, his third was Absalom by Maacah, daughter of King Talmai from Geshur, 


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and his sixth was Ithream by David's wife Eglah. They were all <n>{The Heb. lacks all}</n> born to David in Hebron. 


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While war continued between the dynasties of Saul and David, Abner was growing in influence within the dynasty of Saul. 


text:
Meanwhile, Saul had a mistress <n>{Or concubine ; i.e. a secondary wife; and so throughout the chapter}</n> named Rizpah, who was the <n>{The Heb. lacks who was the}</n> daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth <n>{Lit. And he ; cf. vs. 8}</n> asked Abner, "Why did you have sex with my father's mistress?" 


text:
What Ish-bosheth <n>{Cf. 1Chr 8:33, where he is named Esh-baal ; i.e., a man devoted to Baal}</n> said made Abner furious, so he replied, "A dog's head for Judah is that what I am? Up until today I've kept on showing loyalty to your father Saul's dynasty, to his relatives and friends, and I haven't turned you over to David, but you're charging me today with moral guilt regarding this woman! 


text:
Therefore may God do to me <n>{Lit. to Abner}</n> and more also! just as the Lord has promised to David, since I'm doing this for him: 


text:
I will take away the kingdom from the dynasty of Saul by making the throne of David firm over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beer-sheba!" 


text:
Ish-bosheth <n>{Lit. he}</n> couldn't say another word in response to Abner, because he was terrified of him. 


text:
So Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron to ask him, "Who owns this land? Cut a deal <n>{Lit. covenant}</n> with me, and look! I'll lend my hand in bringing all of Israel over to you!" 


text:
David replied, "Sounds good to me! I'll cut a deal <n>{Lit. covenant}</n> with you under one condition: you're not to show yourself in my presence unless you bring Saul's daughter with you when you come to see me." 


text:
Then David sent a delegation to Saul's son Ish-bosheth to say, "Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was engaged with a dowry of 100 Philistine foreskins." <n>{Cf. 1Sam 18:25ff}</n> 


text:
Her husband accompanied her, crying as he followed after her all the way to Bahurim, where Abner told him, "Leave! Go back!" So he went back. 


text:
<n>{David's Dynasty is Strengthened}</n> d Later, Abner had a talk with the elders of Israel. He said, "In the past you were looking to see David made king over you. 


text:
So do it, then! Because the Lord has said this about David: «Through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the control of the Philistines and from all of their enemies.»" 


text:
Abner also addressed the tribe of Benjamin. Furthermore, with David's permission, <n>{Lit. in the hearing of David ; i.e., with David's tacit knowledge}</n> Abner said anything that seemed like it would be good for Israel and for the entire tribe of Benjamin. 


text:
Afterwards, Abner brought 20 soldiers to David at Hebron, and David threw a party for Abner and the men who were with him. 


text:
So Abner told David, "Give me permission to go out and rally all of Israel to your majesty the king so they can enter into a formal agreement with you to reign over everything that your heart desires." So David sent Abner off, and he went away in peace. 


text:
<n>{Joab Murders Abner}</n> d Right about then, David's servants returned from a raid, bringing plenty of war booty with them, but Abner wasn't in Hebron with David, since David <n>{Lit. he}</n> had sent him away and Abner <n>{Lit. he}</n> had left in peace. 


text:
When Joab returned with his entire army, Joab was informed, "Ner's son Abner visited the king, and he has dismissed him. He has left in peace." 


text:
So Joab approached the king and asked him, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you! What's this? You sent him away? He's long gone now! 


text:
You know Ner's son Abner came to mislead you, to learn your troop movements, <n>{Lit. to know your comings and goings}</n> and to learn everything you're doing!" 


text:
As soon as Joab left David, Joab <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah, but David was not aware of this. 


text:
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab brought him aside within the gateway to talk to him alone and then stabbed him in the abdomen. <n>{Lit. him there the fifth ; i.e., below the fifth rib}</n> So he died for shedding <n>{The Heb. lacks shedding}</n> the blood of Joab's <n>{Lit. his}</n> brother Asahel. 


text:
Later on, David found out about it and proclaimed, "Let me and my kingdom remain guiltless forever in the Lord's presence for the death <n>{Lit. blood}</n> of Ner's son Abner. 


text:
May judgment <n>{Lit. guilt}</n> rest on Joab's head and on his father's entire household. May Joab's dynasty never be without one who has a discharge, <n>{I.e. one who is ceremonially unfit to serve God; cf. Lev 13:46}</n> who is a leper, who walks with a cane, <n>{Lit. who needs a staff}</n> who commits suicide, <n>{Lit. who falls on a sword}</n> or who lacks food!" 


text:
He said this <n>{The Heb. lacks He did this}</n> because Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner after he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. 


text:
David ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner." King David walked behind the funeral procession, 


text:
and they buried Abner at Hebron. The king wept loudly at Abner's grave, and all the people wept, too. 


text:
Your hands were not bound, nor were your feet in irons. As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen." Then all the people cried again because of him. 


text:
Everyone tried to persuade David to have a meal while there was still daylight, but David took an oath by saying, "May God to do like this to me and more, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!" 


text:
Everybody took note of this and was very pleased, just as everything else the king did pleased everyone. 


text:
As a result, the entire army and all of Israel understood that day that the king had nothing to do with the murder of Ner's son Abner. 


text:
The king reminded his staff, <n>{Lit. servants}</n> "Don't you know that a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel? 


text:
Today, even though I'm anointed as king, I'm weak. These men, sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult <n>{Or violent}</n> for me. May the Lord repay the one who acts wickedly in accordance with his wickedness!" 


text:
<n>{The Murder of Ish-bosheth}</n> d When Saul's son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage <n>{Lit. hands}</n> failed and all of Israel was disturbed. 


text:
Now Saul's son had two officers in charge of some raiding parties. One was named Baanah and the other was named Rechab. They were sons of Rimmon, a descendant of Benjamin from Beeroth, which was considered to belong to the tribe of <n>{The Heb. lacks the tribe of}</n> Benjamin. 


text:
Meanwhile, Saul's son Jonathan had a son whose feet were crippled. When he was five years old, news had arrived about Saul and Jonathan from Jezreel, and his nurse picked him up to flee, but in her hurry to leave, he happened to fall and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth. <n>{Cf. 1Chr 8:34; 9:40, where his name is recorded as Merib-baal}</n> 


text:
Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, left and arrived during the hottest part of the day at the home of Ish-bosheth while he was taking a noon day nap. 


text:
They entered the house as though they intended to obtain some grain and stabbed him in the abdomen. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. 


text:
While they were in the house, they struck him, killed him, and cut off his head while he was lying on his bed in his bedroom. They took his head, and traveled all night along the Arabah road. 


text:
<n>{David Punishes the Killers of Ish-bosheth}</n> d They brought Ish-bosheth's head to David at Hebron and told the king, "Look! Here's the head of your enemy Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, who sought your life. Today the Lord has given your majesty the king vengeance on Saul and his descendants." <n>{Lit. seed}</n> 


text:
David responded to Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite: "As the Lord lives, who has saved my life in every adversity, 


text:
when the man who told me «Look! Saul is dead!'thought he was bringing me good news, I arrested him and had him killed at Ziklag as the reward I gave him for his news. 


text:
How much worse will it be, then, when evil men kill an innocent man on his own bed in his own house! Shouldn't I avenge his blood which you are responsible for shedding <n>{Lit. blood from your hand}</n> by removing you from the earth?" 


text:
So David commanded his personal guards, <n>{Lit. his young men}</n> and they killed Rechab and Baanah, <n>{Lit. killed them}</n> cut off their hands and feet, and hung up their bodies beside the pool at Hebron. They took Ish-bosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb at Hebron. 


text:
<n>{David Becomes King over Israel}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 11:1-3)}</n> d After this, all of the tribes of Israel assembled with David at Hebron and declared, "Look, we're your own flesh and blood! <n>{Lit. bone}</n> 


text:
Even back when Saul was our king, it was you who kept on leading Israel out to battle <n>{The Heb. lacks to battle}</n> and bringing them back again. <n>{The Heb. lacks back again}</n> The Lord told you, «You yourself will shepherd my people Israel and serve as Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over Israel.»" 


text:
So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where King David entered into a covenant with them in the presence of the Lord . Then they anointed David to be king over Israel. 


text:
<n>{David Establishes Jerusalem as His Capital}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 11:4-9; 14:1-7)}</n> d David began to reign when he was 30 years old, and he reigned 40 years. 


text:
He reigned over Judah for seven years and six months in Hebron, and he reigned over all of Israel including Judah for 33 years in Jerusalem. 


text:
Later, the king and his army marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who were inhabiting the territory at that time <n>{The Heb. lacks at that time}</n> and who had told David, "You're not coming in here! Even the blind and the lame could turn you away!" because they were thinking <n>{Lit. saying}</n> "David can't come here." 


text:
Even so, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now known as <n>{The Heb. lacks now known as}</n> the City of David. 


text:
At that time, <n>{Lit. day}</n> David had said, "Whoever intends to attack the Jebusites will have to climb up the water shaft to attack the lame and blind, who hate David." <n>{Or whom David hates ; LXX reads blind, and those who hate David}</n> Therefore they say, "The blind and lame are never to come into the house." 


text:
David occupied <n>{Or lived in}</n> the fortress, naming it the City of David. He <n>{Lit. David}</n> built up the surroundings from the terrace ramparts <n>{Lit. the Millo , fortified areas of ancient Jerusalem with terraces and retaining walls}</n> inward. 


text:
Later, King Hiram of Tyre sent a delegation to David, accompanied by cedar logs, carpenters, and stone masons. They built a palace for David. 


text:
So David concluded <n>{Lit. knew}</n> that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom in order to benefit his people Israel. 


text:
But after arriving in Jerusalem after leaving Hebron, David took more wives and mistresses, <n>{Or concubines ; i.e. secondary wives}</n> and more sons and daughters were born to David. 


text:
<n>{David Battles the Philistines}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 14:8-17)}</n> d When the Philistines eventually learned that Israel <n>{The Heb. lacks Israel}</n> had anointed David to be king over Israel, they marched out in search of him. <n>{Lit. David}</n> But David heard about it and retreated to his stronghold. 


text:
so David asked the Lord , "Am I to go attack the Philistines? Will you give me victory over them?" <n>{Lit. give them into my hand}</n> "Go get them," the Lord replied to David, "because I'm going to put the Philistines right into your hand!" 


text:
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He called the place Baal-perazim, <n>{The Heb. name means Lord of breaking forth ; cf. 2Sam 6:8}</n> because he said, "Like a bursting flood, the Lord has jumped out in front of me to fight my enemies." 


text:
When David asked the Lord about it, he said, "Don't attack them directly. Instead, go around to the rear and attack them opposite those balsam trees. 


text:
When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then be sure to act quickly, since the Lord will have gone out ahead of you to cut down the Philistine army." 


text:
So David did exactly what the Lord ordered him to do, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. 


text:
<n>{Troubles in Mishandling the Ark}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 13:1-14; 15:25-16:3)}</n> d After this, David gathered together again 30,000 men from all of the choicest men of Israel. 


text:
Then David and all the people with him set out from Baal-judah to bring up from there the Ark of God, who is called the Name, the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, and who is enthroned on the cherubim. 


text:
They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's home in Gibeah, <n>{Or was on the hill}</n> with Abinadab's sons Uzzah and Ahio <n>{Or and his brother}</n> driving the new cart. 


text:
As they left Abinadab's house in Gibeah accompanied by the Ark of God, Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 


text:
David and the entire assembly <n>{Lit. house}</n> of Israel were dancing in the presence of the Lord with all of their strength, accompanied by all sorts of wood instruments, <n>{Cf. 1Chr 13:8, where MT letters of the word cypress may be transposed as MT word song}</n> harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. 


text:
When they arrived at Nacon's threshing floor, Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Ark of God because the oxen had stumbled. 


text:
Just then, the anger of the Lord blazed against Uzzah, and God struck him down right there because of his failure, and he died there beside the Ark of God. 


text:
David flew into a rage because the Lord had killed <n>{Lit. had burst out against}</n> Uzzah. That's why that place is called Perez-uzzah <n>{The Heb. name Perez-uzzah means Overwhelming Uzzah ; cf. 2Sam 5:20}</n> to this day. 


text:
As a result, David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the city of David. Instead, David left it at the home of Obed-edom the Gittite. 


text:
So the ark of the Lord remained for three months in the household of Obed-edom the Gittite while the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household. 


text:
Later on, David was informed, "The Lord has blessed the home of Obed-edom and everything he has since he's in possession <n>{Or has on account}</n> of the Ark of God." So David went out joyfully and brought up the Ark of God to the City of David from Obed-edom's home. 


text:
After those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed oxen and fattened animals, 


text:
So David and the entire assembly <n>{Lit. house}</n> of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and trumpet blasts. 


text:
<n>{David's Wife Michal Disrespects David's Worship}</n> d As the ark of the Lord was coming into the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David jumping and dancing in the Lord's presence, and she despised him in her heart. 


text:
They brought in the ark of the Lord , set it in place inside the tent that David had erected for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings in the presence of the Lord . 


text:
After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies 


text:
and distributed to all the people the entire multitude of Israel, including both men and women a cake made of bread, one made of dates, and one made of raisins to each one. Then all the people left, each headed for home. 


text:
When David returned to bless his household, Saul's daughter Michal came out to meet him and called out, "How the king of Israel honored himself today by undressing himself right in front of his women staff members, just like any pervert <n>{Lit. like one of the worthless ones}</n> would dare to expose himself!" 


text:
But David replied to Michal, "It was in front of the Lord , who appointed me to replace your father and his entire household by selecting me as Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over Israel, the people of the Lord , that I danced in front of the Lord . 


text:
I'm going to act more shamelessly than this, even to humbling myself in my own eyes. Now as to the women staff members about whom you have spoken, they are to hold me in honor!" 


text:
<n>{David Plans to Build the Temple}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 17:1-15)}</n> d After the king had settled down in his palace and the Lord had given him respite from all of his surrounding enemies, 


text:
he <n>{Lit. the king}</n> told the prophet Nathan, "Look now, I'm living in a cedar palace, but the Ark of God resides behind <n>{Lit. between}</n> a tent <n>{The Heb. lacks tent}</n> curtain." 


text:
Nathan replied to the king, "Go do everything you have in mind, <n>{Lit. heart}</n> because the Lord is with you." 


text:
"Go tell my servant David, «This is what the Lord says: "Are you going to build a house <n>{I.e. a temple, and so throughout the chapter}</n> for me to inhabit? 


text:
After all, I haven't lived in a house since the day I brought up the Israelis from Egypt until now. Instead, I've moved around in a tent that served as my <n>{Lit. tent and}</n> dwelling place. 


text:
Wherever I moved among the Israelis, did I ever ask even one tribal leader <n>{Lit. ask the tribes}</n> of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, «Why haven't you built me a cedar house? '


text:
"Now therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David: «This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: "I took you from the pasture myself from tending sheep to become Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over my people, that is, over Israel. 


text:
"Furthermore, I have remained with you everywhere you have gone, annihilating all your enemies right in front of you. I will make a great reputation <n>{Lit. name}</n> for you, like the reputation <n>{Lit. name}</n> of great ones who have lived on <n>{The Heb. lacks have lived}</n> earth. 


text:
I will establish a homeland <n>{Lit. place}</n> for my people for Israel planting them so they may live in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people <n>{Lit. Children of wickedness}</n> will no longer afflict them, as happened in the past 


text:
when I had commanded judges to administer <n>{Lit. judges over}</n> my people Israel. I'll also grant you relief from all your enemies."'«The Lord also announces to you: "The Lord will himself build a house <n>{I.e. a dynasty}</n> for you. 


text:
When your life <n>{Lit. days}</n> is complete and you go to join <n>{Lit. you rest with}</n> your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring <n>{Lit. seed ; MT is sing.}</n> after you, who will come forth from your body, <n>{Lit. your inward parts}</n> and I will fortify his kingdom. 


text:
He will build a Temple dedicated to my Name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever. 


text:
I will be a father to him, and he will be to me a son who, when he commits iniquity, I will discipline with the rod wielded by armies <n>{Lit. men}</n> and with wounds inflicted by human beings. <n>{Lit. by children of Adam}</n> 


text:
But I'll never remove my gracious love from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed from your presence. 


text:
Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain forever in my presence your throne will be secure forever."»" 


text:
<n>{David's Prayer}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 17:16-27)}</n> d Then King David went in to the presence of the Lord, sat down, and said: "Who am I, Lord God , and what is my household, <n>{Lit. house , and so throughout the chapter}</n> since you have brought me to this? 


text:
And this is still a small thing to you, Lord God , and yet you have spoken to your servant's household for a great while to come, and this is the charter <n>{Lit. law}</n> of mankind, Lord God . 


text:
For the sake of your word and consistent with your desire, <n>{Lit. heart ; cf. Eph 1:5}</n> you have done all of these great things, informing your servant. 


text:
And therefore you are great, Lord God , there is no one like you, there is no God except for you, just as we've heard with our own ears. 


text:
"And who is like your people, like Israel, the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to carry out for them great and awe-inspiring accomplishments, driving out nations and their gods in front of your people, whom you redeemed to yourself from Egypt? 


text:
You have prepared your people Israel to be your very own people for ever, and you, Lord , have become their God! 


text:
"And now, Lord God, let what you have spoken concerning your servant and his household be done and let it be done just as you've promised. 


text:
May your name be made great forever with the result that it is said that the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is God over Israel, and that the household of your servant David may be established before you. 


text:
For you, Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant, telling him, «I will build a dynasty for you,'so that your servant has found fortitude <n>{Lit. heart}</n> to pray this prayer to you. 


text:
"Now therefore, Lord God , you are God, and your words are true, and you have spoken to your servant these good things. 


text:
So may it please you to bless the household of your servant, so that it might remain forever in your presence, because you, Lord God , have spoken, and from your blessing may the household of your servant be blessed forever." 


text:
<n>{David's Military Victories}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 18:1-13)}</n> d Sometime later, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah away from the Philistines. 


text:
David also conquered Moab, then measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground. He executed everyone measured out in each two lengths'measurement of the cord, but spared the ones measured out by every third length. Then the Moabites were placed under servitude to David, and made to pay tribute. 


text:
David also attacked King Hadadezer, Rehob's son from Zobah, when he was attempting to restore his hegemony <n>{Lit. hand}</n> over the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River. 


text:
David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 1,700 <n>{So MT; LXX reads 7,000; cf. 1Chr 18:4}</n> horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses except for enough to supply <n>{The Heb. lacks enough to supply}</n> 100 chariots. 


text:
David erected garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, placing the Arameans under servitude to him, <n>{Lit. David}</n> and they paid tribute to him. 


text:
David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer's officers and took them to Jerusalem. 


text:
He <n>{Lit. David}</n> also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities under Hadadezer's control. 


text:
When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 


text:
Tou sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer, because he had been at war with Tou. Joram brought articles of silver, gold, and bronze with him, 


text:
and King David dedicated them to the Lord , along with the silver and gold that had been dedicated from all the nations that he had conquered, 


text:
including from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and spoil from King Hadadezer, Rehob's son from Zobah. 


text:
He erected garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 


text:
<n>{David's Leaders}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 18:14-17)}</n> d David reigned over all of Israel, administering <n>{Lit. with David administering}</n> justice and equity to every one of his people. 


text:
Zeruiah's son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud's son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist, <n>{Or recorder ; an officer who kept official records of David's administration}</n> 


text:
Ahitub's son Zadok and Abiathar's son Ahimelech were priests, Seraiah <n>{Cf. 1Chr 18:16, which reads Shavsha}</n> was his personal secretary, <n>{Or scribe}</n> 


text:
Jehoida's son Benaiah supervised the special forces <n>{Lit. Cherethites ; i.e. elite body guards}</n> and mercenaries, <n>{Lit. Pelethites ; i.e. special couriers}</n> and David's sons were priests. <n>{Cf. 1Chr 18:17, which describes them as special officials}</n> 


text:
<n>{David Shows Kindness to Mephibosheth}</n> d Later on, David asked, "Is there anyone left alive from Saul's household to whom I can show gracious love in memory <n>{Lit. love for the sake}</n> of Jonathan?" 


text:
A household servant of Saul named Ziba was called to appear before David, and the king asked him, "Are you Ziba?" "I am your servant," Ziba replied. 


text:
At this the king asked, "Isn't there still someone left from Saul's household to whom I may show God's gracious love?" "There's Jonathan's son. He has maimed feet, " Ziba answered. 


text:
So David asked, "Where is he?" Ziba responded, "He's in Lo-debar at the home of Ammiel's son Makir." 


text:
When Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son and a grandson of Saul, approached David, he threw himself on his face out of respect. "Mephibosheth!" David said as he greeted him. "Hello! I am your servant," he replied. 


text:
"Don't be afraid," David reassured him, "because I'm going to show gracious love to you in memory <n>{Lit. love for the sake}</n> of your father Jonathan. I'm going to restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you'll always have a place <n>{Lit. always eat}</n> at my table!" 


text:
Mephibosheth <n>{Lit. He}</n> bowed low again and asked, "Who am I, your servant, that you would pay attention to a dead dog like me?" 


text:
At this, the king called for Saul's servant Ziba and told him, "I'm restoring to your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 


text:
You and your servants are to farm the land on his behalf and bring in the crops in order to provide for your master's grandson. Meanwhile, Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, will always have a place <n>{Lit. always eat}</n> at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and 20 servants.) 


text:
Later, Ziba told the king, "Your servant will do everything that your majesty the king commands him." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons. 


text:
Mephibosheth fathered a son named Mica, and everyone who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. 


text:
Mephibosheth continued to live in Jerusalem, always eating at the king's table, since he was maimed in both feet. 


text:
<n>{Subjugation of Ammon and Aram}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 19:1-19)}</n> d Sometime later, the Ammonite king died and his son Hanun succeeded him as king, 


text:
so David told himself, "I will be loyal to Nahash's son Hanun, since in his loyalty his father showed gracious love to me." So David sent a delegation <n>{Lit. sent by the hand of his servants}</n> to Hanun to console him about his loss of <n>{The Heb. lacks his loss of}</n> his father. But when David's delegation arrived in Ammonite territory, 


text:
the Ammonite officials asked their lord Hanun, "Do you think that because David has sent a delegation of consolers to you that he is honoring your father? His delegation has arrived intending to search, scout the land, and then overthrow it, hasn't it?" 


text:
So Hanun arrested David's delegation, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their clothes at the waist line, and sent them away in disgrace. <n>{The Heb. lacks in disgrace}</n> 


text:
When David had been informed about the incident, <n>{The Heb. lacks about the incident}</n> he sent word <n>{The Heb. lacks word}</n> to them, since the men had been deeply humiliated. The king told them, "Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return." 


text:
When the Ammonites realized that they had created quite a stink with <n>{Lit. had become odious to}</n> David, they hired 20,000 Aramean mercenaries from Beth-rehob and Zobah, along with the king of Maacah and 1,000 men, and 12,000 men from Tob. 


text:
The Ammonites went out in battle formation at the entrance to the city <n>{The Heb. lacks city}</n> gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob, along with the army <n>{Lit. men}</n> from Tob and Maacah, were out by themselves in the open fields. 


text:
When Joab observed that the battle lines were set up to oppose him both in front and behind, he appointed the best troops in Israel and arrayed them to oppose the Arameans, 


text:
putting the rest of his forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them to oppose the Ammonites. 


text:
He said, "If the Arameans prove too strong for me, then you are to help me. If the Ammonites prove too strong for you, then I will come help you. 


text:
Be strong, be courageous on behalf of our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what he thinks is best." 


text:
So Joab and the soldiers who were with him attacked the Arameans in battle formation, and the Arameans retreated in front of him. 


text:
When the Ammonites saw the Arameans retreating, they also retreated from Abishai back to the city. Then Joab broke off his attack against the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem. 


text:
Hadadezer sent for the Arameans who lived beyond the Euphrates River, <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> and they set out for Helam, with Shobach <n>{Cf. 1Chr 19:16, which reads Shophach}</n> leading them as commander of Hadadezer's army. 


text:
When David learned this, he mustered all of Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and approached Helam. The Arameans assembled in battle array to attack David, and started their assault. 


text:
But the Arameans retreated from Israel, and David's forces <n>{Lit. David}</n> killed 700 of their charioteers, 40,000 soldiers, and mortally wounded Shobach, the commander of their army. As a result, Shobach <n>{Lit. he}</n> died there. 


text:
When all the kings who were allied with <n>{Lit. were servants of}</n> Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sought terms of peace with the Israelis and became subservient to them. Furthermore, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore. 


text:
<n>{David's Adultery}</n> d One spring day, during the time of year when kings go off to war, David sent out Joab, along with his personal staff <n>{Lit. his servants}</n> and all of Israel's army. They utterly destroyed the Ammonites and then attacked Rabbah while David remained in Jerusalem. 


text:
Late one afternoon about dusk, <n>{Lit. It happened at the time of the evening}</n> David got up from his couch and was walking around on the roof of the royal palace. From there <n>{Lit. From the roof}</n> he watched a woman taking a bath, and she <n>{Lit. and the woman}</n> was very beautiful to look at. 


text:
David sent word <n>{The Heb. lacks word}</n> to inquire about her, <n>{Lit. the woman}</n> and someone told him, "This is Eliam's daughter Bathsheba, <n>{Eliam's father was Ahithophel, Bathsheba's grandfather; cf. 2Sam 15:12; 23:34}</n> the wife of Uriah the Hittite, isn't it?" 


text:
So David sent some messengers, took her from her home, <n>{The Heb. lacks from her home}</n> and she went to him, and he had sex with her. (She had been consecrating herself following her menstrual separation.) <n>{I.e. a week-long period of ritual exemption from participation in Israel's social and worship community; cf. Lev 15:19, 28; 18:19}</n> Then she returned to her home. 


text:
The woman conceived, and she sent this message <n>{The Heb. lacks this message}</n> to David: "I'm pregnant." 


text:
So David summoned Joab, and told him, <n>{The Heb. lacks and told him}</n> "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent Uriah to David. 


text:
When Uriah arrived, David inquired about how Joab was doing, how the army was <n>{Lit. the people were}</n> doing, and how the war was progressing. 


text:
Then David told Uriah, "Go on down to your house and relax a while." <n>{Lit. and wash your feet}</n> So Uriah left the king's palace, and the king sent a gift along after him. 


text:
But Uriah spent the night sleeping in the alcove of the king's palace in the company of all his master's staff members. He refused to go down to his own home. 


text:
When David was told that Uriah hadn't gone home the previous night, <n>{The Heb. lacks the previous night}</n> he quizzed him, <n>{Lit. Uriah}</n> "You just arrived from a long journey, so why didn't you go down to your own house?" 


text:
Uriah replied, "The ark, along with Israel and Judah, are encamped in tents, while my commanding officer Joab and my master's staff members are camping out in the open fields. Should I go home, eat, drink, and have sex with my wife? Not on your life! <n>{Lit. As you live and as your soul lives}</n> I won't do something like this, will I?" 


text:
Then David invited Uriah, "Stay here today, and tomorrow I'll send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem all that day and the next. 


text:
Then at David's invitation, he and Uriah dined and drank wine together, and David got him drunk. Later that evening, Uriah went out to lie on a couch in the company of his lord's servants, and he did not go down to his house. 


text:
<n>{David Orders Uriah Killed}</n> d The next morning, David sent a message to Joab that Uriah took with him in his hand. 


text:
In the message, he wrote: "Assign Uriah to the most difficult fighting at the battle front, and then withdraw from him so that he will be struck down and killed." 


text:
So as Joab began to attack the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew valiant men would be stationed. <n>{The Heb. lacks stationed}</n> 


text:
When the men of the city came out to fight Joab, some of David's army staff members fell, and Uriah the Hittite died, too. 


text:
He instructed the courier, "When you have finished conveying all the news about the battle to the king, 


text:
if the king starts to get angry and asks you, «Why did you get so near the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot from the wall? 


text:
Who killed Jerubbesheth's <n>{I.e. Gideon (cf. Judg 8:30-31), also called Jerubbaal (cf. Judg 8:35)}</n> son Abimelech? Didn't a woman kill him by throwing an upper millstone on him from the wall at Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall? 'then tell him, «Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.»" 


text:
So the messenger left Joab, set out for Jerusalem, <n>{The Heb. lacks for Jerusalem}</n> and disclosed to David everything that Joab had sent him to say. 


text:
The messenger told David, "The men surprised us and attacked us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. 


text:
Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king's staff members are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite has died as well." 


text:
David responded to the messenger, "Here's what you're to tell Joab: «Don't be troubled by this incident, because the battle sword consumes one or another from time to time. Consolidate your attack against the city and conquer it.'Be sure to encourage him." 


text:
When Uriah's wife heard about the death of her husband <n>{The Heb. word for husband ( isha ) describes a husband with respect to his relationship with his wife.}</n> Uriah, she went into mourning for the head of her household. <n>{Lit. for her husband ; the Heb. word for husband ( baal ) describes a husband with respect to his role as a household leader.}</n> 


text:
When her mourning period was completed, David sent for her, brought her to his palace, and she became his wife. Later on, she bore him a son. Meanwhile, what David had done grieved the Lord , <n>{Lit. done was grieving in the Lord's sight ; i.e., the act itself is personified here as being distressed in the Lord's sight}</n> 


text:
So the Lord sent Nathan to David. <n>{Nathan's Rebuke}</n> d Nathan <n>{Lit. He}</n> approached David <n>{Lit. him}</n> and said, "There are two men in the city. One is rich and one is poor. 


text:
but the poor man had nothing except for one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It used to share his food and drink from his own cup. It even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 


text:
A traveler arrived to visit the rich man. Because he was unwilling to take an animal from one of his own flocks or herds to prepare for the guest who had come to visit him, he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to visit him." 


text:
David flew into a rage at the man and told Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 


text:
He will restore the lamb four times its value, because he did this thing, and because he did it without compassion." 


text:
But Nathan replied to David, "You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: «I anointed you king and you became king over Israel. «I delivered you from Saul's control. 


text:
«I gave you your former <n>{The Heb. lacks former}</n> master's household. «I placed your former <n>{The Heb. lacks former}</n> master's wives right in your arms. «I gave you <n>{Lit. you the house of}</n> Israel and Judah. «And if this had been too little, I would have added much more than that to you! 


text:
«Why did you despise what the Lord has promised by doing what is detestable in his sight? «You struck down Uriah the Hittite with a battle sword. «You took his wife to be your own. <n>{Lit. wife}</n> «You killed him with the sword of the Ammonite army. 


text:
«Therefore the sword will never leave your household, because you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'<n>{Lit. wife}</n> 


text:
"This is what the Lord says: «Listen very carefully! «I'm raising up evil against you right out of your own household. «I'm going to take your wives away from you right before your eyes. «Then I'll give them to your neighbor. «And then he's going to have sex with your wives in broad daylight! 


text:
«What you did in secret I'm going to do right in front of all Israel and in broad daylight as well!»" 


text:
At this point, David told Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord ." Nathan responded to David, "There's one other thing: the Lord has forgiven your sin. <n>{Or has caused your sin to go away ; lit. has caused your sin to cross over eastward}</n> You won't die. 


text:
Nevertheless, because you have despised the Lord's enemies with utter contempt, <n>{Or because you have given occasion for the Lord's enemies to show contempt}</n> the son born to you will most certainly die." 


text:
Then Nathan went home. <n>{David's Infant Son Dies}</n> d After this, the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife had born to David, and the child <n>{Lit. and he}</n> became very ill. 


text:
David begged God on behalf of the youngster. He <n>{Lit. David}</n> fasted, went inside, and spent the night lying on the ground. 


text:
His closest advisors at the palace <n>{Lit. The elders of the house}</n> got up, remained with him, and tried to help him get up from the ground, but he would not do so. He also wouldn't eat with them. 


text:
A week later, the child died, and David's staff was afraid to tell him that the child had died. They were telling themselves, "Look, when the child was still alive, we talked to him but he wouldn't listen to what we said. Now what kind of trouble will he bring on himself if we tell him that the child has died?" 


text:
But as David observed his staff whispering together, he perceived that the child had died, so he asked his staff, "Is the child dead?" They replied, "He has died." 


text:
At this, David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the Lord's tent <n>{Lit. house}</n> to worship. Then he went back to his palace where, at his request, they served him food and he ate. 


text:
His staff asked him, "What's this about? When the child was alive, you fasted and cried. Now that the child has died, you get up and eat!" 


text:
He answered, "When the child was alive, I fasted and cried. I asked myself, «Who knows? Maybe the Lord will show grace to me and the child will live.'


text:
But now that he has died, what's the point of fasting? Can I bring him back again? I'll be going to be with him, but he won't be returning to me." 


text:
<n>{The Birth of Solomon}</n> d Then David consoled his wife Bathsheba. He went in and had sex with her, and she bore a son whom he named Solomon. The Lord loved him, 


text:
and sent a message written by Nathan the prophet to call his name Jedidiah, <n>{The Heb. name Jedidiah means loved by the Lord}</n> for the Lord's sake. 


text:
<n>{The Ammonites are Defeated}</n> d Meanwhile, Joab attacked the Ammonite city of <n>{The Heb. lacks city of}</n> Rabbah and captured its stronghold. 


text:
Then Joab sent messengers to David to tell him, "I just attacked Rabbah and captured its municipal water supply, 


text:
so call out the rest of the army, attack the city, and capture it. Otherwise, I'll take the city myself and name it after me." 


text:
He confiscated the crown of their king <n>{Lit. of Malcam ; LXX reads king Molchol ; cf. 1King 11:5, 33; Zeph 1:5}</n> from his head it weighed 75 pounds <n>{Lit. was a talent}</n> in gold and was set with precious stones and it was placed on David's head. He confiscated a great amount of war booty that had been plundered from the city, 


text:
brought back the people who had lived in it, placing them under conscripted labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. He did this to every Ammonite city, and then David and his entire army <n>{Lit. people}</n> returned to Jerusalem. 


text:
<n>{Amnon's Rape of Tamar}</n> d Sometime after this, David's son Amnon fell in love with David's other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> son Absalom's beautiful sister Tamar. 


text:
Amnon became so emotionally distressed that he fell sick over his half-sister Tamar. She was a virgin, and Amnon found it difficult to do anything to her. 


text:
Meanwhile, Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, who was the son of David's brother Shimeah. Now Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 


text:
"Why are you so depressed these past few mornings," <n>{Lit. depressed morning by morning}</n> Jonadab <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked Amnon, "since you're a son of the king? Why not tell me?" Amnon replied, "I'm in love with my brother Absalom's sister Tamar." 


text:
Jonadab advised him, "Lie down and fake being sick. When your father visits you, ask him, «Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat that she prepares especially for me, <n>{Lit. prepares in my sight}</n> and after she makes dinner for me, let her feed it to me personally.»" <n>{Lit. it from her hand}</n> 


text:
So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to visit him, Amnon asked the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make some of her bread especially for me, <n>{Lit. bread in my sight}</n> so she can feed it to me personally." <n>{Lit. it from her hand}</n> 


text:
So David sent for Tamar back at the palace, telling her, "Please go to your brother Amnon's home and prepare some food for him." 


text:
Tamar went to her brother Amnon's home, where he was lying down. She brought along some dough, kneaded it, prepared some cakes especially for him, <n>{Lit. some bread in his sight}</n> baked them, 


text:
and emptied the baking skillet just for him, but he refused to eat. "Send everybody out of here," Amnon said. So everyone left the room. 


text:
Amnon told Tamar, "Bring the food into my private bedroom, so I can eat it with you personally." <n>{Lit. it from your hand}</n> So Tamar took the cakes she had prepared and brought them into the private bedroom for her brother Amnon. 


text:
But as soon as she brought them near him to eat, he overpowered her and told her, "Come here and have sex with me, my sister!" 


text:
"No, my brother!" she kept telling him. "Don't humiliate me like this! This just isn't done in Israel! Don't do this utterly foolish thing! 


text:
And what about me? Where will I go to escape <n>{Or carry}</n> this disgrace? And as for you, you'll be known as one of Israel's greatest fools! So please talk to the king, because he won't withhold me from you!" 


text:
But he was unwilling to listen to what she was saying. Since he was stronger than she was, he forced her into having sex with him. 


text:
Afterwards, though, Amnon hated her very intensely. As a result, his hatred for her exceeded the love that he had previously for her. So Amnon told her, "Get up! Leave!" 


text:
Even so, she tried to tell him, "No! After all, it's more wrong to send me away than what you just did to me!" But he was unwilling to listen to her. 


text:
So he called out to a young man who was serving him, and told him: "Send this woman away from me and lock the door after her." 


text:
Now she was clothed in a long sleeved, multi-colored ornamental tunic, commonly worn by the king's virgin daughters. When Amnon's <n>{Lit. his}</n> servant threw her out and locked the door after her, 


text:
Tamar rubbed her head with ashes, tore her tunic that she was wearing, put her hand to her head, and ran off, crying aloud as she went away. 


text:
<n>{Absalom's Plans Revenge}</n> d Later, her brother Absalom asked her, "Has Amnon, that brother of yours, raped <n>{Or yours, been with}</n> you? Then keep quiet about your half-brother for now, my sister. Stop taking this so personally." <n>{Lit. this matter to your heart}</n> From that time on, Tamar lived in continual desolation within her brother Absalom's house. 


text:
But Absalom never said a word, either good or bad, to Amnon. Nevertheless, he hated Amnon because he had humiliated his sister Tamar. 


text:
<n>{Absalom's Men Kill Amnon}</n> d Two full years later, Absalom took some men to Baal-hazor near Ephraim to shear his sheep. He <n>{Lit. Absalom}</n> also invited all of the king's sons to come. 


text:
Absalom had gone to the king to ask him, "I've brought some men to shear the sheep. Won't you please come and join me, along with your senior staff?" 


text:
But King David declined, <n>{Lit. David replied}</n> saying to Absalom, "No, my son, we won't all go, since that would be too much trouble for you." Although Absalom begged David, he would not go, even though he did give his blessing. 


text:
So Absalom responded, "If you aren't coming, please allow my brother Amnon to accompany us." The king asked, "Why should he go with you?" 


text:
But Absalom kept begging David <n>{Lit. him}</n> until he sent Amnon and all of David's <n>{Lit. all the king's}</n> sons to accompany Absalom. 


text:
Then Absalom instructed his young men, "Please keep watching Amnon until he's drunk. Then I'll tell you, «Attack Amnon!'As soon as I do, kill him and don't be afraid! You have your orders, so be strong and brave!" 


text:
So Absalom's young men did to Amnon just as they had been <n>{Lit. as Absalom had}</n> ordered, but the rest of David's sons jumped up, mounted their mules, and escaped. 


text:
While they were still on the road, this rumor came to David: "Absalom has struck down all of the king's sons and none of them has survived." 


text:
David arose, ripped his clothes in anguish, <n>{The Heb. lacks in anguish}</n> and collapsed to the ground while all of his staff stood by with their own clothes torn. 


text:
But David's brother Shimeah's son Jonadab reported, "Your majesty, don't assume they've killed all of the young men the king's sons only Amnon has died, since that was Absalom's intention from the day Amnon raped <n>{Lit. humiliated}</n> his sister Tamar. 


text:
Now your majesty, don't be concerned about this rumor that all the king's sons have died, because only Amnon is dead." 


text:
Meanwhile, Absalom had run away. While the young man standing watch was looking around, all of a sudden he observed many people coming down the road behind and to the west of the mountain! So the watchman left his post and reported, "I have seen men coming from the direction of Horonaim." <n>{So LXX; the Heb. lacks So the of Horonaim}</n> 


text:
Jonadab told the king, "Look! Here come the king's sons. This thing has turned out just like your servant reported." 


text:
Just as he finished his comments, the king's sons arrived, crying loudly. At this, with tears overflowing, the king and his entire staff wept bitterly. 


text:
Absalom continued to flee, eventually going to Ammihud's son King Talmai of Geshur, while King David continued to mourn for his son every day. 


text:
Meanwhile, King David longed to visit Absalom, since he was moved to compassion over Amnon's death. 


text:
<n>{Joab's Plan Regarding Absalom}</n> d Meanwhile, Zeruiah's son Joab knew that the king's attention was focused on Absalom, <n>{Lit. king's heart was toward}</n> 


text:
so he <n>{Lit. Joab}</n> sent messengers <n>{The Heb. lacks messengers}</n> to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, "Please play the role of a mourner, wear the clothes of a mourner, and refrain from using makeup. <n>{Lit. using anointing oil}</n> Act like a woman who's been in mourning for the dead for many days. 


text:
When the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, prostrating herself to address him, "Help, your majesty!" 


text:
The king asked her, "What's your problem?" <n>{The Heb. lacks problem}</n> "I've been a widowed woman <n>{I.e. a widow of meager resources, low social status, and limited circumstances, therefore eligible to receive special assistance from Israel's society.}</n> ever since my husband died," she answered. 


text:
"Your humble servant used to have two sons, but they got into a fight out in the field. Because there was no one to keep them apart, one of them attacked the other and killed him. 


text:
Now please pay attention closely! My <n>{Lit. The}</n> whole family is attacking your humble servant! They're saying, «Turn over the one who attacked his brother and we'll put him to death in retribution for his brother, whose life he took. That way, we'll kill the heir also!'They're going to extinguish the only light <n>{Lit. the coal that is ; i.e. the only remaining heir}</n> left in my family, leaving my late husband neither an ongoing name nor a survivor on the face of the earth!" 


text:
But the woman from Tekoa told the king, "Your majesty, let any guilt for this be on me and on my ancestors'household, and not on my king or his throne!" 


text:
The king replied, "Bring anyone who talks to you about this to me, and he certainly won't be bothering <n>{Lit. touching}</n> you anymore!" 


text:
Then she said, "Your majesty, please remember the Lord your God, so that blood avengers don't do any more damage! Otherwise, they'll destroy my son!" So he promised, "As the Lord lives, not even a single hair from your son's head <n>{The Heb. lacks head}</n> will fall to the ground!" 


text:
At this, the woman responded, "Would your majesty the king please allow your humble servant to say one more thing?" "Say it" <n>{The Heb. lacks it}</n> he replied. 


text:
"Why, then," the woman asked, "are you planning to act just like this against God's people? Based on what your majesty has said, you're acting like one who is guilty himself, because you're not bringing back the one whom you've banished! 


text:
After all, even though we all die, <n>{Lit. though to death we all die}</n> and we're <n>{The Heb. lacks we're}</n> all like water being spilled on the ground that cannot be recovered, nevertheless God doesn't take away life, but carries out his plans so as not to cast away permanently from him those who are presently estranged. <n>{MT verb for cast away permanently is an intensive form of the verb estranged}</n> 


text:
"Now as to why I've come to speak with your majesty the king, it's because the people have made me afraid, so your humble servant told herself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to herself}</n> «I'll go speak to the king, so perhaps the king will do what his humble servant has requested. 


text:
Perhaps the king will listen and deliver his humble servant from the oppression <n>{Lit. palm}</n> of the man who intends to eliminate both me and my son from what God has apportioned to us!'<n>{The Heb. lacks to us}</n> 


text:
"So your humble servant is saying, «Please, your majesty, let what the king has to say be of comfort, because just as the angel of God is, so also is your majesty the king to discern both good and evil. And may the Lord your God remain present with you.»" 


text:
In reply, the king asked the woman, "Please don't conceal anything about which I'm going to be asking you now." So the woman replied, "Please, your majesty, let the king speak." 


text:
Then the king asked, "Is Joab behind all of this with you?" <n>{Lit. Is the hand of Joab with you in}</n> "As your soul lives, your majesty, the king," the woman answered, "no one can divert anything left or right from what your majesty the king has spoken! As a matter of fact, it was your servant Joab! He was there, giving me precise orders about everything that your humble servant was to say. Your servant Joab did this, 


text:
intending to change the outcome of this matter. Nevertheless, your majesty is wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to be aware of everything that's going on throughout the earth." <n>{Or land ; or going on in the land}</n> 


text:
<n>{David Authorizes Absalom's Return}</n> d Then the king addressed Joab, "Look! I'll do this thing that you've requested. <n>{The Heb. lacks that you've requested}</n> Go bring back the young man Absalom." 


text:
At this, Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrating himself to bless the king, and then <n>{Lit. Joab}</n> said, "Today your servant realizes that he's found favor with you, your majesty, in that the king has acted on the request of his servant." 


text:
Nevertheless, the king said, "Let him return to his own home and not show his face to me." So Absalom returned to his own home and did not show his face to the king. 


text:
<n>{David's Son Absalom}</n> d Now throughout all of Israel no one was as handsome as Absalom or so highly praised, from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there wasn't a single thing wrong about him. 


text:
Whenever he cut his hair he cut it at the end of every year, because it grew thick on his head, <n>{Lit. grew heavy on him}</n> which is why he cut it his hair weighed in at 200 shekels <n>{I.e. about 1.5 pounds, assuming 10,000 shekels was equivalent in weight to one talent}</n> measured by the royal standard. <n>{Lit. the king's weight}</n> 


text:
Absalom fathered three sons and one daughter, whom he named Tamar. She was a beautiful woman, both in form and appearance. 


text:
After this, Absalom sent for Joab, intending to send him to the king, but Joab <n>{Lit. he}</n> would not come. Absalom <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent for him a second time, but he still <n>{The Heb. lacks still}</n> would not come. 


text:
So Absalom <n>{Lit. he}</n> told his servants, "Observe that Joab's grain field lies next to mine. He has barley planted there. Go set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set the field on fire. 


text:
At this, Joab got up, went to Absalom's home, and demanded of him, "Why did your servants set fire to my grain field?" 


text:
In answer to Joab, Absalom replied, "Look, I sent for you, telling you «Come here so I can send you to the king to ask him "What's the point in moving here from Geshur? I would have been better off to have remained there!"'So let me see the king's face, and if I'm guilty of anything, let him execute me!" 


text:
So when Joab approached the king and told him what Absalom had said, <n>{The Heb. lacks what Absalom had said}</n> he summoned Absalom, who then came to the king and fell to the ground on his face in front of him. <n>{Lit. of the king}</n> Then the king kissed Absalom. 


text:
<n>{Absalom Instigates Civil War}</n> d Sometime later, Absalom acquired a chariot equipped with horses and recruited <n>{The Heb. lacks recruited}</n> 50 men to accompany <n>{Lit. to run before}</n> him. <n>{Cf. 1Sam 8:11}</n> 


text:
Then he <n>{Lit. Absalom}</n> would get up early, stand near the passageway to the palace <n>{The Heb. lacks palace}</n> gate, and when anyone arrived to file a legal complaint for a hearing before the king, Absalom would call to him and ask, "You're from what city?" If <n>{The Heb. lacks If}</n> he replied, "Your servant is from one of Israel's tribes," 


text:
Absalom would respond, "Look, your claims are valid and defensible, but nobody will listen to you on behalf of the king. 


text:
Who will appoint me to be a judge in the land? When anyone arrived to file a legal complaint or other cause, he could approach me for justice and I would settle it!" 


text:
Furthermore, if a man approached him to bow down in front of him, he would put out his hand, grab him, and embrace him. 


text:
By doing all of this to anyone who came to the king for a hearing, Absalom stole the loyalty <n>{Lit. hearts}</n> of the men of Israel. 


text:
And so it was that forty <n>{So MT and LXX; Syr Peshitta and Lucian recension of LXX read four}</n> years after Israel had demanded a king, <n>{The Heb. lacks after Israel had demanded a king ; i.e. about ten years before David began his reign. Or forty years after David's anointing at Bethlehem ; cf. 1Sam 16:13}</n> Absalom asked the king, "Please let me go to Hebron so I can pay my vow that I made to the Lord, 


text:
because when I was living at Geshur in Aram, your servant made this solemn promise: <n>{Lit. servant vowed a vow}</n> «If the Lord ever brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord .»" 


text:
But Absalom sent agents throughout all of the tribes of Israel, telling them, "When you hear the sound of the battle trumpet, you're to announce that Absalom is king in Hebron." 


text:
Meanwhile, 200 men left Jerusalem with Absalom. They had been invited to go along, but were innocent, not knowing anything about what was happening. <n>{Lit. about the matter}</n> 


text:
Absalom also sent for Ahithophel <n>{Ahithophel was Bathsheba's grandfather; cf. 2Sam 11:3; 23:34}</n> the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come <n>{The Heb. lacks to come}</n> from his home town of Giloh while Absalom <n>{Lit. he}</n> was presenting the sacrificial offerings. And so the conspiracy widened, because the common people increasingly sided with Absalom. 


text:
<n>{David Flees from Jerusalem}</n> d Then a messenger arrived to inform David, "The loyalties of the men <n>{Lit. heart of the man}</n> of Israel have shifted to <n>{Lit. have followed after}</n> Absalom." 


text:
So David told all of his staff who were with him in Jerusalem, "Let's get up and get out of here! Otherwise, none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry, or he'll overtake us quickly, bring disaster on all of us, and execute the inhabitants of the city!" 


text:
So the king left, taking his entire household with him except for ten mistresses, <n>{Or concubines ; i.e. secondary wives}</n> who were to keep the palace in order. 


text:
All of his staff were going on ahead of <n>{Lit. on beside}</n> him that is, all of the special forces <n>{Lit. Cherethites ; i.e. elite body guards}</n> and mercenaries, <n>{Lit. Pelethites ; i.e. special couriers}</n> all of the Gittites, and 600 men who had come to serve <n>{Lit. come at his feet}</n> him from Gath, went on ahead of the king. 


text:
Then the king suggested to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you have to go with us? Return and stay with the new <n>{The Heb. lacks new}</n> king, since you're a foreigner and exile. Stay where you want to stay. <n>{Lit. Stay in your own place}</n> 


text:
It seems only yesterday that you arrived, so should I make you wander around with us while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your brothers with you. May gracious love and truth accompany you!" 


text:
"As the Lord lives," Ittai answered in reply, "and as your majesty the king lives, wherever your majesty my king may be whether living or dying that's where your servant will be!" 


text:
So David replied, "Come along, then!" So Ittai the Gittite went along also, accompanied by all of his men and all of his little ones. 


text:
With all of the people in <n>{The Heb. lacks of the people in}</n> the territory crying loudly, everybody passed over the Kidron brook, along with the king. Then everyone headed out toward the road that leads to the wilderness. 


text:
Meanwhile, Zadok showed up also, along with all of the descendants of Levi with him, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God and Abiathar approached while all the people finished abandoning the city. 


text:
The king told Zadok, "Take the Ark of God back to the city. If I'm shown favor in the Lord's sight, then he'll bring me back again and show me both it and the place where it rests. <n>{Lit. and his habitation}</n> 


text:
But if he should say something like «I'm not pleased with you,'well then, here I am let him do to me whatever seems right to him." 


text:
The king also asked Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a seer, too? Go back to the city in comfort, along with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. 


text:
David then left, going up the Mount of Olives, <n>{Lit. the Olivet}</n> crying as he went, with his head covered and his feet bare. All of the people who were with him covered their own heads and climbed up the Mount of Olives, <n>{The Heb. lacks the Mount of Olives}</n> crying as they went along. 


text:
Just then, someone told David, "Ahithophel is one of Absalom's conspirators!" So David prayed, "Lord , please turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness." 


text:
<n>{Hushai Serves as a Spy}</n> d Just as David was coming to the top of the Mount of Olives where God was being worshipped, there was Hushai the Archite to meet him, with his coat ripped and dust all over his head! 


text:
So go back to the city and tell Absalom, «I'll be your servant, your majesty! Just as I served your father in the past, I can be your servant now.'That way you can manipulate Ahithophel's advice to my benefit. 


text:
Won't Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? So whatever you hear from the king's palace, you're to report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 


text:
Their two sons Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan are with them there. You'll be sending me everything that you hear through them." 


text:
<n>{David's Experience with His Adversaries}</n> d Now just as David happened to have passed the summit of the Mount of Olives, <n>{The Heb. lacks of the Mount of Olives}</n> suddenly Mephibosheth's servant Ziba met him, accompanied by a couple of saddled donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 pieces of summer fruit, and a skin of wine! 


text:
The king asked Ziba, "What are those for?" Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for your young men to eat, and the wine is for whoever wants to drink if they get weary in the wilderness." 


text:
Then the king asked, "Where is your master's son?" "He's staying in Jerusalem!" Ziba answered the king. "He's saying «The nation <n>{Lit. house}</n> of Israel will restore my father's kingdom to me today!»" 


text:
So the king told Ziba, "Pay attention! Everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!" In response Ziba said, "I'm submitting to you. Let me find favor in your sight, your majesty the king!" 


text:
<n>{Shimei Curses David}</n> d Later on, as King David approached Bahurim, Gera's son Shimei, who was related to the family of Saul's household, went out to meet David, <n>{The Heb. lacks to meet David}</n> cursing continuously as he came. 


text:
He threw rocks at David and all of David's staff who were accompanying him, while all the rest of the entourage, including all of David's security detail, were close by him. <n>{Lit. were at his right and left hands}</n> 


text:
"Get out of here! <n>{The Heb. lacks of here}</n> Get out!" Shimei yelled as he cursed. "You murderer! You who think you're above the law! <n>{So LXX. MT reads You man of Belial!}</n> 


text:
The Lord has repaid you personally for murdering the entire dynasty of Saul, whose place you've taken to reign! And the Lord has given the kingdom into your son Absalom's control. Now look! Your own evil has caught up with you, because you're guilty of murder!" 


text:
At this point, Zeruiah's son Abishai asked the king, "Why should this dead dog be cursing your majesty the king? May I have permission to go over and cut off his head?" 


text:
But the king responded, "What do I have in common with you sons of Zeruiah? If he continues to curse and if the Lord has told him, «Curse David!» then who are you to be demanding to know <n>{Lit. be saying}</n> «Why have you done this?»" 


text:
So David ordered Abishai and all of his staff: "Look! My own son wants to kill me! How much more now is this descendant of Benjamin? Leave him alone and let him go on cursing, because the Lord has ordered him to do this. <n>{The Heb. lacks to do this}</n> 


text:
So David and his entourage went on their way, and Shimei walked along the hillside with him, cursing, throwing rocks, and tossing dirt at David <n>{Lit. him}</n> as they went along. 


text:
Eventually, the king and his entourage arrived exhausted at their destination, and David <n>{Lit. he}</n> refreshed himself there. 


text:
<n>{Absalom Captures Jerusalem}</n> d Right about then, Absalom and his entourage from the people of Israel entered Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. 


text:
When David's friend Hushai the Archite approached Absalom, Hushai greeted Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" 


text:
But Absalom asked Hushai, "So this is how you demonstrate your loyalty <n>{Lit. gracious love}</n> to your closest friends? Why didn't you leave with your friend?" 


text:
Hushai replied, "No! On the contrary, whomever the Lord , this group, and all the men of Israel choose is where I'll be, and I'll remain with him! 


text:
Besides, who else should I be serving? Why not the son? The same way I served your father, I'll serve you." <n>{Lit served in your father's presence, I'll serve in your presence}</n> 


text:
<n>{Ahithophel Counsels Absalom}</n> d So Absalom asked Ahithophel, "What's your advice? What should we do?" 


text:
Ahithophel responded, "Go inside and have sex with your father's mistresses <n>{Or concubines ; i.e. secondary wives}</n> , whom he left to keep the palace in order. Then everyone in Israel will hear how your father has come to hate you and everyone who has joined you will be emboldened to act." 


text:
So they erected a tent for Absalom on the palace roof and Absalom went in and had sex with his father's mistresses right in front of all Israel. 


text:
<n>{Ahithophel Tries to Crush David's Supporters}</n> d Now Ahithophel's advice that he provided at that time was being compared to one who inquired of God, so highly regarded was Ahithophel's counsel by both David and Absalom. 


text:
"Give me 12,000 men! I'll leave <n>{Lit. get up}</n> tonight and pursue David," Ahithophel advised Absalom. 


text:
"I'll catch him while he is still tired and weak. <n>{Lit. and weak-handed}</n> I'll frighten him so all his people with him desert him. But I'll only kill the king. 


text:
Then I'll bring everybody else back to you. When the man you're looking for is dead, all the rest of the people will return quietly." 


text:
When Hushai approached Absalom, Absalom asked him, "Here's what Ahithophel had to advise. Should we do what he says? Or if not, say so!" 


text:
<n>{Hushai Counters Ahithophel's Advice}</n> d "Ahithophel's advice is not best at this time," Hushai suggested to Absalom. 


text:
"You know how strong your father and his men are. They're as mad as a bear robbed of her cubs! Furthermore, your father is a skilled warrior. He won't stay with his army at night. 


text:
Look! He's probably already hiding in a cave or someplace like that. If the first attack fails, people will hear about it and think, «Absalom's army is losing!'


text:
Then even men who would otherwise be as brave as lions will be scared, because every Israeli knows your father is a mighty man, and they know his men are valiant! 


text:
So here's my advice: Muster everybody from one end of the country to the other! <n>{Lit. from Dan to Beer-sheba ; i.e. Hushai was stalling for time, since Dan was the northernmost Israeli city and Beer-sheba its southernmost.}</n> You'll have an army in number like the sand on the seashore! Then you'll go into battle! 


text:
We'll go find David wherever he's hiding. We'll fall on him like dew on the ground! We'll kill him and all of his men, and we won't leave even one man alive! 


text:
If he escapes into a city, we'll bring ropes to that city and tear it down! We won't leave a single stone left in the valley!" 


text:
Absalom and all of the Israelis replied, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel's!" <n>{Hushai Warns David}</n> d But the Lord had planned to circumvent the sound advice of Ahithophel so the Lord could bring Absalom to destruction. 


text:
So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had suggested to Absalom and the elders of Israel. He also reported what he himself had proposed. Hushai said, 


text:
"Quick! Get word to David! Tell him not to spend the night at the crossings that lead to the desert. Instead, he must cross the Jordan River immediately. That way, if he crosses the river, the king and his entourage <n>{Lit. people ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> will survive." 


text:
Meanwhile, since they could not risk being seen entering the city, Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been waiting at En-rogel, where a young servant woman was to go to inform them and they would then go brief King David. 


text:
But a young man observed Jonathan and Ahimaaz and informed Absalom, so they left in a hurry, arrived at the home of a man who lived at Bahurim, and hid inside a well that was in his courtyard. 


text:
The man's wife grabbed a sheet, covered the mouth of the well with it, and spread some dried grain over it. As a result, nobody could tell it was a hiding place. <n>{Lit. And nothing was known}</n> 


text:
When Absalom's servants approached the woman of the house, they asked her, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" "They've already crossed the brook," the woman answered. So Absalom's servants went away in search of Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but they couldn't find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. 


text:
A little while later, the men crawled up out of the well and went off to talk to King David. They told David, "Get up! Cross the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel advised about you" 


text:
So David got up and all of his entourage crossed the Jordan River. <n>{The Heb. lacks River ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> Everyone had crossed the Jordan River by dawn's first light. 


text:
<n>{Ahithophel's Suicide}</n> d Meanwhile, when Ahithophel observed that his counsel was not being acted upon, he saddled his donkey, got up, and left for his hometown. Leaving behind a set of orders for his household, he hanged <n>{Lit. strangled}</n> himself. After his death he was buried in his father's tomb. 


text:
<n>{David Receives Supplies in the Wilderness}</n> d Later, David arrived at Mahanaim. Absalom and all of the Israelis who supported him crossed the Jordan River. 


text:
Absalom had installed Amasa in place of Joab over the army. (Amasa was the son of a man named Jether the Ishmaelite. His mother was Abigail, a daughter of Nahash and a sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother.) 


text:
Absalom and the Israelis with him <n>{The Heb. lacks with him}</n> camped in the territory of Gilead. 


text:
When David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi (Nahash's son from the Ammonite town of Rabbah), Makir (Ammiel's son from Lo-debar), and Barzillai (from Rogelim in Gilead) were already there. 


text:
honey, cheeses, <n>{Or milk curds}</n> sheep, and cheese made from cow's milk for David and his entourage because they had been reasoning, "The people are hungry, tired, and thirsty there in the wilderness." 


text:
<n>{The Battle Begins}</n> d David mustered his forces and appointed officers in charge of regiments and companies. <n>{Lit. of thousands and hundreds}</n> 


text:
Dividing his forces into three groups, he set Joab as commander of one third of his army, Zeruiah's son Abishai, Joab's brother, as commander of another third, and Ittai from Gath as commander of another third. The king informed the army, "I'm going out to battle <n>{The Heb. lacks to battle}</n> with you, too." 


text:
"No way!" his army responded. "If we have to retreat from the battle, Absalom's men won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. The best thing you can do for us is to remain in the city." 


text:
So David responded, "I'll do what you think best." Then he stood alongside the city gate as the army went out in battle array by hundreds and thousands. 


text:
As they were going out, the king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Treat young Absalom gently for my sake." Everyone heard what the king had ordered his commanders about Absalom. 


text:
David's army left for the battlefield to fight Absalom and his Israeli followers, and they also fought in the Ephraim forest, 


text:
The battle spread throughout the entire countryside, and the forest claimed more casualties that day than did the sword fighting. 


text:
<n>{Joab Kills Absalom}</n> d Absalom happened to run into David's soldiers. While Absalom was trying to get away on his mule, it ran under the thick branches of a giant oak tree, and Absalom's head got caught in the tree! As his mule ran out from under him, Absalom was left hanging above the ground. 


text:
When one of the soldiers saw what had happened, he told Joab, "I saw Absalom stuck in an oak tree!" 


text:
Joab asked the man who was reporting to him, "What! You saw him? Why didn't you kill him right then and there? I would've given you ten pieces <n>{The Heb. lacks pieces ; the unit of payment is unspecified}</n> of silver and a warrior's sash!" <n>{Lit. belt ; i.e., a commemorative battle decoration}</n> 


text:
But the soldier replied to Joab, "I wouldn't have touched the king's son even if you dropped 1,000 pieces <n>{The Heb. lacks pieces ; the unit of payment is unspecified}</n> of silver right into my hands, because we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, «Watch how you treat the young man Absalom!'


text:
If I had taken his life, <n>{Or If I had put my life in jeopardy ; i.e. by disobeying David's order}</n> the king would have uncovered everything about it, and you would never have protected me!" 


text:
"There's no reason to wait for you!" Joab retorted. Then he took three spears <n>{Or sticks}</n> in his hand and stabbed Absalom in the heart while he was still alive, dangling from the branches of <n>{The Heb. lacks the branches of}</n> the oak tree. 


text:
Ten young men who served as Joab's personal assistants then surrounded Absalom, striking him repeatedly and killing him. 


text:
At this, Joab sounded his battle trumpet and his troops stopped pursuing the other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> Israelis. 


text:
Meanwhile, Joab's army grabbed Absalom's body, tossed it into a large pit in the forest, and filled it up with a huge pile of rocks. Then the Israelis ran away back to their homes. 


text:
While Absalom had been living, he had erected a pillar as a monument <n>{The Heb. lacks as a monument}</n> to himself in King's Valley because he had been telling himself, "I don't have a son to carry on my family name." <n>{Lit. on memory of my name}</n> So he named the pillar after himself it's called Absalom's Monument even today. 


text:
<n>{David Learns of Absalom's Death}</n> d Zadok's son Ahimaaz told Joab, "Let me run over to King David and take him the news. I'll mention that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies." 


text:
But Joab answered Ahimaaz, "You're not the man to deliver news today. Do it any other time, but not today, because the king's son is dead." 


text:
So Joab ordered a man from Ethiopia, <n>{Lit. Cush}</n> "Go tell the king what you've seen." So the Ethiopian <n>{Lit. Cushite ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> saluted <n>{Lit. bowed to}</n> Joab and then ran to tell David. 


text:
"Please," Zadok's son Ahimaaz continued, "No matter what happens, let me follow the Ethiopian!" Joab asked him, "Why this request <n>{The Heb. lacks request}</n> to run, my son? There's no reward in it for you." 


text:
"No matter what, I'm running," Ahimaaz replied. <n>{The Heb. lacks Ahimaaz replied}</n> So Joab told Ahimaaz, "Run!" And Ahimaaz ran, taking the Jordan Valley road, passing the Ethiopian. 


text:
Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman was up on the roof of the gateway near the walls, looking around, and there was a man running by himself! 


text:
So the watchman <n>{Lit. he}</n> called out his news to the king. The king responded, "If he's alone, he's bringing some news to report." <n>{Lit. news in his mouth}</n> As the man continued to draw near and approach the palace, <n>{The Heb. lacks the palace}</n> 


text:
the watchman observed another man running. So he called out to the gatekeeper, "There's another <n>{The Heb. lacks another}</n> man running by himself!" The king replied, "He's also bringing some news to report!" 


text:
Then the watchman observed, "It looks to me that the runner out in front is running like Zadok's son Ahimaaz!" The king replied, "This is a good man bearing good news!" 


text:
"Everything's fine!" <n>{Lit. Peace!}</n> Ahimaaz announced to the king. He bowed low with his face to the ground <n>{The Heb. lacks to the ground}</n> before the king and said, "Praise be to the Lord your God! He has handed over the men who rebelled against your majesty the king." 


text:
"Are things fine <n>{Lit. Peace!}</n> with respect to the young man Absalom?" the king asked. Ahimaaz answered, "I saw a lot of confusion about the time Joab was getting ready to send the king's courier and me, your servant, but I'm not sure what was going on." <n>{The Heb. lacks was going on}</n> 


text:
The king replied, "Stand here at attention and wait." So he stepped to the side and stood there waiting. 


text:
Just then the Ethiopian arrived. He <n>{Lit. The Cushite}</n> reported, "Good news, your majesty the king! The Lord has delivered you from the control of everyone who rebelled against you!" 


text:
The king asked the Ethiopian, "Is the young man safe?" The Ethiopian answered, "May the enemies of your majesty the king including everyone who rebels and tries to harm you become like that young man." 


text:
<n>{David Mourns for Absalom}</n> d <n>{This v. is 19:1 in MT}</n> Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, "My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!" 


text:
<n>{Joab Rebukes David}</n> d <n>{This v. is 19:2 in MT, 19:2 is 19:3 in MT, and so through 19:43}</n> Someone informed Joab, "The king is weeping bitterly, mourning for Absalom." 


text:
The victory had become an occasion for the army to mourn, because on that very day the troops heard the announcement, "The king is grieving for his son!" 


text:
So men snuck into the city that day like men do who are ashamed after they've run away from a battle. 


text:
Meanwhile, the king veiled his face and kept on crying loudly, "My son Absalom! Absalom my son, my son!" 


text:
Joab went up to the palace and rebuked the king: "Today you've humiliated your entire army who just saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and mistresses! 


text:
You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! You've made it abundantly clear today that your officers and the men under them <n>{Lit. and the servants}</n> mean nothing to you! I've learned today that you would rather have Absalom alive today and all the rest of us dead! 


text:
Now get up and restore the morale of <n>{Lit. and encourage}</n> your army. I swear by the Lord that if you don't get out there, you won't have a single man left in your army <n>{Lit. left with you}</n> by nightfall! You'll be in more trouble today than all the disasters you've been through from your boyhood until now!" 


text:
So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the army was informed, "The king is sitting in the gateway!" they all gathered together in his presence. <n>{David is Reinstated as King}</n> d Meanwhile, the Israelis had run away back to their own homes. 


text:
Throughout the tribes of Israel, everyone was quarreling with one another: "The king delivered us from the domination of our enemies." "He's the one who rescued us from Philistine control." "Now he's fleeing the country because of Absalom!" 


text:
"The very same Absalom we anointed to rule just died in battle!" "Now then, why remain silent about bringing the king back?" 


text:
So King David sent this message <n>{The Heb. lacks this message}</n> to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: "Ask the elders of Judah, «Why are you the last to bring the king back to his palace, considering that what's being reported throughout all of Israel has come to the king at his palace? 


text:
You're my relatives! You're my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last to bring back the king? '


text:
Then ask Amasa, «Aren't you my own flesh and blood? So may God deal with me, no matter how severely, if from this day forward you don't take Joab's place as commander of my army.'


text:
By doing things like this, <n>{The Heb. lacks By doing things like this}</n> he persuaded all the men of Judah to unite in support of him. <n>{The Heb. lacks in support of him}</n> They sent the king this message: "Come on back, you and all of your army!" 


text:
So the king returned to Israel as far as the Jordan River. <n>{The Heb. lacks River ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> <n>{Shimei is Shown Mercy}</n> d The men of Judah went out as far as Gilgal to greet the king and escort him across the Jordan River 


text:
while Gera's son Shimei, <n>{Cf. 2Sam 16:5-12}</n> a descendant of Benjamin from Bahurim, accompanied them to meet King David. 


text:
Ziba, the steward in charge of Saul's household, and 1,000 descendants of Benjamin accompanied him, along with Ziba's fifteen sons and 20 servants. They rushed toward the Jordan River ahead of the king 


text:
and forded it to assist the king at the crossing so he could do whatever he wished. Just as the king was about to ford the Jordan River, Gera's son Shimei fell down in front of the king 


text:
and addressed him, <n>{Lit. addressed the king}</n> "May your majesty not hold me guilty. Don't remember how your servant did wrong the day your majesty the king left Jerusalem. May the king not let it burden his heart, 


text:
because your servant knows that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first one from the entire house of Joseph to meet your majesty the king." 


text:
But Zeruiah's son Abishai asked, "Why shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? After all, he cursed the Lord's anointed!" 


text:
David replied, "What do you sons of Zeruiah have in common with me? <n>{Cf. 2Sam 16:10}</n> You've become my enemies today! Should anyone be executed in Israel today? Don't you know that I've been reinstated as king over Israel today?" 


text:
<n>{David Meets Mephibosheth}</n> d Meanwhile, Saul's grandson Mephibosheth also went out to greet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 


text:
When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, "So why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?" 


text:
He replied, "Well, your majesty, since your servant is lame, I told myself, «I'll have my donkey saddled and I'll ride on it so I can leave with the king.'But my servant Ziba deceived me 


text:
by slandering your servant to your majesty. <n>{Cf. 2Sam 16:1-4}</n> But your majesty the king is like an angel from God: so do what you think is best. 


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Everyone from my grandfather's household deserved nothing but death from your majesty the king, but you provided a place for your servant among those who have been eating from your table. So what right do I have to ask for anything more from the king?" 


text:
In response, the king told him, "What's the point of us talking anymore? My decision is that you and Ziba divide the fields." 


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But Mephibosheth told the king, "Let him take all of it, now that your majesty the king has returned safely to his palace." 


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<n>{David's Mercy for Barzillai}</n> d Barzillai the Gileadite also had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king and to see him on his way from there. 


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Now Barzillai was a very old man at the age of 80 years. A very wealthy man, Barzillai <n>{Lit. he}</n> had provided for king David during his sojourn in Mahanaim. <n>{Cf. 2Sam 17:27}</n> 


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So the king invited Barzillai, "Cross the Jordan River <n>{The Heb. lacks the Jordan River}</n> with me, live with me in Jerusalem, and I'll provide for you there." <n>{The Heb. lacks there}</n> 


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"How many more years do I have to live," Barzillai replied to the king, "that I should move to Jerusalem with the king? 


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I'm now 80 years old! I can hardly tell the difference between what tastes <n>{The Heb. lacks what tastes}</n> good or bad! I can't tell what I eat or drink! I can't hear the voice of men and women when they sing! So why should your servant be an added burden to your majesty the king? 


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Your servant will cross the Jordan River <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> with the king for a short distance, but why should the king offer me this reward? 


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Please let your servant return so I can die in my own home town near the grave of my father and mother. Meanwhile, here is your servant Chimham! <n>{I.e., a son of Barzillai to whom David later gave a land grant near Bethlehem and on which Chimham built an inn that remained at least until the exile; cf. Jer 41:17}</n> Let him accompany your majesty the king. Please do for him whatever seems best to you." 


text:
So the king answered, "Chimham will accompany me, and I'll do for him whatever seems best to you! I'll do anything for you that you want!" 


text:
Then all the people crossed the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> followed by the king. The king embraced <n>{Or kissed}</n> Barzillai, blessed him, and then Barzillai <n>{Lit. he}</n> returned to his home. <n>{Lit. place}</n> 


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As the king crossed over the Jordan River <n>{The Heb. lacks the Jordan River}</n> to Gilgal, Chimham accompanied him, as did all the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel. 


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<n>{Petty Quarrels Arise between Israel and Judah}</n> d Not long afterward, all the men of Israel started coming to the king, complaining to him, <n>{Lit. to the king}</n> "Why did our relatives in Judah's army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> along with David's army?" 


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Everybody from Judah shouted to the men from Israel, "We did this because the king is closely related to us. So why are you angry about this? Have we lived off <n>{Lit. we eaten from}</n> the king's expense? Have we appropriated anything for ourselves?" 


text:
But the men from Israel answered the men from Judah: "We <n>{Lit. I}</n> represent ten of the tribes <n>{Lit. ten hands ; i.e. ten fractional portions}</n> of Israel! So we <n>{Lit. I}</n> have more right to David than you <n>{MT you is sing.}</n> do! Why haven't you <n>{MT you is sing.}</n> taken us <n>{Lit. me}</n> seriously? Weren't we <n>{Lit. Wasn't I}</n> the first to talk about bringing back our <n>{Lit. my}</n> king?" But what the people of Judah had to say was harsher than what the people of Israel were saying. 


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<n>{Sheba's Rebellion}</n> d Right about then, Bichri's son Sheba, an ungodly man <n>{Lit. a son of Belial}</n> from the tribe of Benjamin, sounded a battle trumpet and announced: We've never been a part of David! We'll never gain anything from Jesse's son! It's every man to his tent, Israel! 


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So all of the other Israeli soldiers <n>{I.e. the ten tribes apparently mentioned in 2Sam 19:43; the Heb. lacks other}</n> abandoned David to follow Bichri's son Sheba, while the army of Judah remained with the king all the way from the Jordan River <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> to Jerusalem. 


text:
When David arrived at his palace in Jerusalem, the king took the ten mistresses <n>{Lit. concubines ; i.e. secondary wives}</n> whom he had left behind to keep the palace in order and placed them in a separate house, providing for them under the care of a protective guard. He never visited them again, so they were under care until they died, living as if their husbands had died. 


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Meanwhile, David ordered Amasa, "Muster the army of Judah here within three days, and be here yourself!" 


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But when Amasa went out to muster the army of <n>{The Heb. lacks the army of}</n> Judah, he delayed to act within the time allotted to him. 


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So David told Abishai, "Now Bichri's son Sheba is about to do more damage than did Absalom. So take my personal guards and go after them. Otherwise, he'll run to one of the fortified cities and escape from us." 


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So Joab's men, the special forces <n>{Lit. Cherethites ; i.e. elite body guards}</n> and mercenaries, <n>{Lit. Pelethites ; i.e. special couriers}</n> and all of David's elite forces left Jerusalem in pursuit of Bichri's son Sheba. 


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<n>{Joab Murders Amasa}</n> d When they arrived at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came out to meet them. Joab was dressed in a soldier's uniform, over which was a belt that fastened a sword sheath to his thigh. As he walked forward, the sword was exposed. 


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Joab asked Amasa, "Is everything going well with you, my brother?" As Joab took Amasa by his beard to greet him, 


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Amasa did not notice the sword that Joab was holding in his hand. Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, spilling his intestines to the ground in a single stroke and killing him. After this, Joab and his brother pursued Bichri's son Sheba. 


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One of Joab's soldiers stood by Amasa while he lay dying <n>{The Heb. lacks while he lay dying}</n> and announced, "Whoever is in favor of Joab and David, let him follow Joab." 


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While Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway, everybody who passed by was stopping to stare at him, so when the soldier saw that all of the army was stopping, he carried Amasa off the highway into a nearby field and covered him with a garment. 


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After Amasa <n>{it. he}</n> had been removed from the highway, the rest of the army followed Joab in pursuit of Bichri's son Sheba. 


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<n>{Sheba Dies at Abel of Beth-maacah}</n> d Meanwhile, Sheba traveled throughout the tribes of Israel in the direction of Abel and Beth-maacah, and all of the descendants of Beri <n>{So MT; some ancient versions read descendants of Bichri}</n> gathered together and followed him inside. 


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All of the men who had accompanied Joab arrived and besieged Sheba in Abel of Beth-maacah. They threw up a siege ramp against the city rampart and began to batter the wall to demolish it. 


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Just then a wise woman called out from the city. "Attention!" she said, "Go tell Joab «Come here! I want to talk to you!»" 


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Joab came over and the woman asked him, "Are you Joab?" "I am," he answered. So she told him, "Listen to what your servant has to say!" "I'm listening," he replied. 


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So she said, "In days past, people used to settle a dispute by saying «Let's ask for advice at Abel!'


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I'm one of the peaceful and faithful citizens of Israel. You're trying to destroy a city that's a mother in Israel. Why are you devouring the heritage of the Lord ?" 


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That's a lie! But there is a man from the Ephraim hill country he's known as Bichri's son Sheba who has rebelled against King David. Turn him over and I'll withdraw from the city!" So the woman replied, "Watch this! His head will be thrown to you over the city wall." 


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Then the woman wisely went back to her people. They cut off the head of Bichri's son Sheba and threw it out to Joab, so Joab sounded his battle trumpet and they withdrew from the city. Everybody went back home and Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem. 


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Joab commanded the entire army of Israel, Jehoiada's son Benaiah commanded the special forces <n>{Lit. Cherethites ; i.e. elite body guards}</n> and mercenaries, <n>{Lit. Pelethites ; i.e. special couriers}</n> 


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and Ira the Jairite <n>{Cf. 2Sam 23:38, where he is also known as Ira the Ithrite}</n> was David's priest. 


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<n>{Retribution for the Gibeonites}</n> d One time there was a famine during David's reign that went on for three straight years. David sought the Lord , who <n>{Lit. sought the face of the Lord, and the Lord}</n> said, "Saul and his household are guilty because he executed the Gibeonites." 


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So the king called together the Gibeonites and conferred with them. Now the Gibeonites weren't part of the nation of Israel, but were the survivors from the Amorites. Although the Israelis had promised to spare them, Saul had started to execute them in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah. 


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So David asked the Gibeonites, "What am I to do for you? How am I to make atonement so that you will bless the Lord's heritage?" 


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"We're not looking for mere silver or gold to be paid by Saul or his household to us," the Gibeonites responded to him. "And it's not for us to execute anyone in Israel." In reply, David <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked, "So what are you asking me to do for you?" 


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They told the king, "The man who consumed us, who planned our destruction intending to leave us with nothing in the territory of Israel 


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is to have <n>{Lit. Israel 6 Let seven}</n> seven of his sons turned over to us. We will hang <n>{Or impale ; i.e. they would execute them and then expose the bodies}</n> them in the presence of the Lord at Gibeah, which belonged to Saul, whom the Lord chose." So the king answered, "I will give them." <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> 


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The king exempted Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the promise to the Lord that existed between David and Saul's son Jonathan. 


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Instead, the king arrested Aiah's daughter Rizpah's two sons Armoni and Mephibosheth, whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Barzillai the Meholathite's son Adriel. 


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Then he turned them over to the custody of the Gibeonites, who hanged them on the mountain in the presence of the Lord . All seven of them died at the same time. They were executed during the first days of harvest, just as the barley began to be gathered in. 


text:
Then Aiah's daughter Rizpah grabbed some sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock where her children had been hanged <n>{The Heb. lacks where her children had been hanged}</n> from the beginning of harvest until the first rain fell from the sky. She would not allow any scavenger birds <n>{Lit. any birds of the sky}</n> to land on them during the day nor the beasts of the field to approach them <n>{The Heb. lacks to approach them}</n> at night. 


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When David was informed what Rizpah, the daughter of Saul's mistress <n>{Lit. concubine ; a secondary wife}</n> had done, 


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David had Saul's bones and the bones of his son Jonathan removed from the custody of certain men from Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square in Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them that is, back on the day when the Philistines had killed Saul on Mount <n>{The Heb. lacks Mount}</n> Gilboa. 


text:
He brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there along with the bones of those who had been hanged, 


text:
and they buried Saul's bones and his son Jonathan's bones in the territory of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Saul's <n>{Lit. his}</n> father Kish. After they had done everything that the king commanded, God responded to prayers for the land. <n>{Cf. 2Sam 24:25}</n> 


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<n>{Israel Battles Four Giants from Gath}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 20:4-8)}</n> d Afterwards, war broke out between the Philistines and Israel, so David went down to fight the Philistines. David became weary, 


text:
and Ishbi-benob, who had been fathered by giants, <n>{Lit. by the Rapha ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> said he intended to kill David. (His bronze spearhead weighted 300 shekels, <n>{I.e., about seven and a half pounds}</n> and he carried state-of-the-art <n>{Or newly-issued ; lit. newly girded}</n> weaponry.) 


text:
But Zeruiah's son Abishai came to David's aid, attacked the Philistine, and killed him. After this, David's army told him, "You're not going out anymore with us to battle, so Israel's beacon won't be extinguished!" 


text:
Sometime later after this incident, there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who had been fathered by giants. 


text:
In yet another battle at Gob, Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite's son Elhanan killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear resembled that of a weaver's beam. 


text:
Later on, there was another battle at Gath, where there was a very tall man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot 24 in number who had also been fathered by giants. 


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These four giants, who had been fathered by a giant in Gath, were killed at the hands of David and his servants. 


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<n>{David's Psalm of Deliverance}</n> d David composed the words of this song to the Lord the very day the Lord delivered him from the domination <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of all of his enemies, including from Saul's hands. 


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This is what <n>{The Heb. lacks This is what}</n> he said: Lord, you are <n>{So LXX. MT reads The Lord is}</n> my stone stronghold and my fortified place; you are continually delivering <n>{So MT LXX reads rescuing}</n> me. 


text:
He is my God, my strong stone in him I will find my refuge my shield, the strength <n>{Lit. horn}</n> of my salvation, my high tower, my way of escape, and the one who is saving me. You will save me from violence. 


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As I am praising him, <n>{The Heb. lacks him}</n> I will call out to the Lord , and I will be saved from my enemies. 


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Because deadly breakers <n>{Or currents}</n> engulfed me, while torrents of abuse <n>{The Heb. lacks of abuse}</n> from the ungodly overwhelmed <n>{Or terrified}</n> me. 


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I cried out to the Lord in the middle of my troubles; I cried out to my God. He listened to my voice from his sanctuary, and my call for help was heard. 


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Just then the earth shook and trembled! The foundations of heaven reeled and quaked because the Lord <n>{Lit. because he}</n> was angry. 


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From the shining light <n>{Or the brightness}</n> that was his presence <n>{Or counterpart ; MT word is perhaps a word play on the noun shining light}</n> coals of fire blazed into flame! 


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The currents of the sea were revealed and the foundations of the world were exposed at the rebuke of the Lord and at the blazing breath from his nostrils! 


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He rescued me from my strong enemy from those who continually hate me, since they were stronger than I. 


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They confronted me when I was in trouble, <n>{Lit. in the day of my calamity}</n> but the Lord remained my support! 


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The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness, rewarding me according to the degree of my innocence, <n>{Lit. the cleanness of my hands}</n> 


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and because all of his decrees remain in my thoughts, <n>{Lit. presence}</n> I have not turned aside from his statutes, 


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I have been innocent before him, and I've kept myself from incurring <n>{The Heb. lacks incurring}</n> guilt. 


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The Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness, that is, according to my clean standing as he <n>{Lit. standing to the counterpart}</n> looks at me. <n>{Or standing in his eyes}</n> 


text:
In the company of the gracious you demonstrate your gracious love. In the company of the blamelessly valiant you demonstrate your blamelessness. 


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In the company of the pure you demonstrate your purity. In the company of the perverted you will appear to be perverse. 


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This God! His way is perfect! What the Lord declares proves true. He shields <n>{Lit. He is a shield for}</n> everyone who flees for protection to him! 


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He has equipped me with the shield that is your salvation, Your gentleness <n>{So MT; LXX reads Obedience to you}</n> has made me great. 


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You strengthened me with valor sufficient for the battle; you made those who rebelled against me fall beneath me. 


text:
You made my enemies turn and run, <n>{Lit. away their backs to me}</n> that is, those who hate me and I destroyed them! 


text:
They looked around, but there was no one to save <n>{MT verb looked around sounds like MT verb to save}</n> them <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> they looked <n>{The Heb. lacks they looked}</n> to the Lord , but he paid no attention! 


text:
I pulverized them to powder, like the dust of the earth; I crushed them, stomping on them like mud on a street. 


text:
You delivered me from civil war among my own people. You preserved me as head of the nations. People whom I had never known served me! 


text:
Foreigners <n>{Lit. Children of foreigners}</n> came cringing to me; they obeyed as soon as they heard <n>{MT verbs obeyed and heard are identical in spelling}</n> me. 


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Foreigners <n>{Lit. Children of foreigners}</n> lost their courage, coming trembling from their strongholds. 


text:
delivering me from my enemies. You exalted me above those who rebelled against me, delivering me from violent men. 


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Because of all of this I will praise you among the nations, Lord , and I will sing praises to your name! 


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Great is the salvation he brings to his king, showing gracious love to his anointed, to David and to his offspring <n>{Lit. seed ; MT is singular}</n> forever. 


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<n>{David's Oracle}</n> d This was David's last composition: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, an oracle by the valiant one who was exalted anointed by the God of Jacob, the contented psalm writer of Israel. 


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The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has talked to me. "When one is governing men justly, he fears God while governing. 


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He is like dawn's first <n>{The Heb. lacks first}</n> light, like bright sun blazing on a cloudless morning, glistening on grassland that flourishes after a rain shower. 


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Is not my dynasty <n>{Lit. house}</n> like this with God? Has he not made an eternal covenant with me, preparing every detail of it? And he has made it secure, including my complete <n>{Lit. including all of my}</n> salvation, has he not? He has been of continual <n>{Lit. He has been all}</n> help, has he not, even with the parts <n>{The Heb. lacks the parts}</n> he has not yet <n>{The Heb. lacks yet}</n> brought about? 


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But ungodly men <n>{Lit. But Belial}</n> are like thorns that are discarded because they cannot be safely <n>{The Heb. lacks safely}</n> handled. 


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Whoever handles them wears heavy duty clothing, <n>{Lit. arms himself with iron}</n> carries strong tools, <n>{Lit. and a spear shaft}</n> and burns them to ashes on the spot! <n>{Lit. ashes where they sit}</n> 


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<n>{David's Elite Soldiers}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 11:10-19)}</n> d Here's a list of the names of David's special forces: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite <n>{Cf. 1Chr 11:11, where this individual is named Hachmoni's son Jashobeam}</n> was head of the Three; <n>{I.e. a group of three distinguished officers who served David, and so throughout the chapter; cf. 1Chr 11:12}</n> he was nicknamed Adino the Eznite <n>{The two Heb. names comprise a word play that roughly translates as Thin as a Spear}</n> because he killed 800 men in a single battle engagement. 


text:
Next was Dodai <n>{Cf. 1Chr 11:12, where this individual is named Dodo}</n> the Ahohite's son Eleazar. Eleazar, who also was one of the Three, was with David when they challenged the Philistines. When the Philistines had assembled in battle array, the Israeli army retreated, 


text:
but Eleazar remained standing right where he was and fought so hard against the Philistines that he became exhausted he couldn't even let go of his sword! The Lord magnificently delivered them that day. After Eleazar had won the battle, the other soldiers returned, but only to strip the weapons and armor from the dead. <n>{The Heb. lacks the weapons and armor from the dead}</n> 


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Next was Shammah, Agee the Hararite's son. One time the Philistines assembled to fight <n>{Or assembled at Lehi}</n> in a field where lentils had been growing. Israel's army retreated from the Philistines, 


text:
but Shammah stood his ground in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the Lord brought about a great victory. 


text:
One day while the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants, <n>{Or the Rephaim Valley}</n> three of the 30 leaders joined David at the cave of Adullam. 


text:
David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem. 


text:
David expressed his longing, "Oh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well that's by the city gate!" 


text:
So the Three elite warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out in the Lord's presence, 


text:
and said, "The Lord forbid that I drink this this is the blood of men who endangered their own lives!" The Three elite warriors did these things. 


text:
<n>{David's Other Valiant Soldiers}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 11:20-47)}</n> d Zeruiah's son Abishai, Joab's brother, was the lieutenant <n>{Lit. chief}</n> in charge of the platoons. <n>{So Syr; MT reads Three}</n> He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three. 


text:
He was more well-known than the Three, and became their commander, but he never measured up to <n>{Or never attained the stature of}</n> the Three. 


text:
Jehoiada's son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named <n>{The Heb. lacks men named}</n> Ariel from Moab <n>{The Heb. name Ariel means lion}</n> and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day. 


text:
He also killed a soldier <n>{Lit. man}</n> from Egypt. Of handsome appearance, the Egyptian carried a spear, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 


text:
He was well known among the platoons, but he didn't measure up to <n>{Or he never attained the stature of}</n> the Three. David placed him in charge of his security detail. 


text:
Helez the Paltite, <n>{Cf. 1Chr 11:27, where he is named Helez the Pelonite}</n> Ikkesh's son Ira from Tekoa, 


text:
Benaiah from Pirathon, Hiddai from the Gaash creeks area, <n>{The Heb. lacks area ; i.e. a region in Gaash containing numerous seasonal streams}</n> 


text:
Ahasbai the Maacathite's son Eliphelet, Ahithophel the Gilonite's son Eliam, <n>{Bathsheba's father was Eliam; her grandfather was Ahithophel; cf. 2Sam 11:3; 15:12}</n> 


text:
Ira the Ithrite, <n>{Cf. 2Sam 20:26, where he is also known as Ira the Jairite}</n> Gareb the Ithrite, 


text:
<n>{David Takes a Census of Israel}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 21:1-6)}</n> d Later, God's anger blazed forth against Israel, so he incited David to move against them by telling him, "Go take a census of Israel and Judah." 


text:
So the king ordered Joab, commander of the special forces, who was with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and take a census of the people so I can be made aware of the total number." 


text:
But Joab replied, "May the Lord your God increase the population of the people a hundredfold while your majesty the king is still alive to see it happen! But why does your majesty the king want to do this?" 


text:
But the king's order overruled Joab and the commanders of the special forces, so Joab and the commanders of the special forces left David's presence to take a census of the people of Israel. 


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They crossed the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> encamped at Aroer south of the town that is located in the river valley, proceeding through Gad and then on toward Jazer. 


text:
They went on to Gilead and the territory of Tahtim-hodshi, then on toward Dan. From Dan they went around to Sidon 


text:
and arrived at the fortified city of Tyre and all of the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Eventually they proceeded to Beer-sheba in the Judean Negev. <n>{I.e. southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> 


text:
After they had traveled throughout the entire land, they returned to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and 20 days. 


text:
Joab reported the total number of men to the king. In Israel there were 800,000 men trained for war. <n>{Lit. men in wielding a sword}</n> In Judah there were 500,000. 


text:
<n>{Discipline for David's Sin}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 21:7-17)}</n> d Later, David's conscience bothered <n>{Lit. David's heart struck}</n> him after he had numbered the army, <n>{Lit. people}</n> so David told the Lord , "I have sinned greatly by what I did. But now I am asking you, please remove the guilt of your servant, since I have acted very foolishly." 


text:
"Go tell David, «This is what the Lord says: "I'm holding three choices out for you: pick one of them for yourself, and I will do it to you."»" 


text:
So Gad went to David and asked him, "Shall seven years of famine come to your land, or three months of reversals <n>{Or destruction}</n> while you flee from your enemies as they pursue you, or three days of pestilence in your land? Decide right now what I am to answer to the one who sent me." 


text:
So David replied to Gad, "This is a very difficult choice for me to make! Let me now please fall into the hand of the Lord , since his mercy is very great, but may I never fall into human hands!" 


text:
That very morning, the Lord sent a pestilence to Israel until the conclusion of the time designated, and 70,000 men <n>{Or soldiers}</n> died from Dan to Beer-sheba. 


text:
As the angel was stretching out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord was grieved because of the calamity, so he told the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Stay your hand!" So the angel of the Lord remained near the threshing floor that belonged to Araunah <n>{Araunah was also known as Ornan; cf. 1Chr 21:15}</n> the Jebusite. <n>{I.e. a descendant of Canaan's third son (cf. Gen 10:15-16), Jebusites were native to Jebus, the ancient name of the city of Jerusalem}</n> 


text:
When David saw the angel who had been attacking the people, he told the Lord , "Look, I'm the one who has sinned! I did the evil. These are only sheep! What did they do? Please, let your hand fall on me and on my household!" 


text:
<n>{David Buys Araunah's Threshing Floor}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 21:18-27)}</n> d That very day, Gad approached David and told him, "Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor that belongs to Araunah the Jebusite." 


text:
When Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his staff approaching him. Araunah went out, bowed down before the king with his face on the ground, 


text:
and asked <n>{Lit. and Araunah said}</n> him, "Why has your majesty the king come to his servant?" David replied, "To purchase your threshing floor and to build an altar to the Lord , so the pestilence can be averted from the people." 


text:
Araunah responded to David, "May your majesty the king take it and offer whatever pleases him. Here are oxen for a burnt offering, along with the threshing sledges and yokes from the oxen for wood! 


text:
Your majesty, Araunah gives all of this <n>{The Heb. lacks of this}</n> to the king." Araunah also told the king, "May the Lord your God be pleased with you!" 


text:
"No!" the king replied to Araunah. "I will buy them from you at full <n>{The Heb. lacks full}</n> price. I won't offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 silver shekels, 


text:
built <n>{Lit. David built}</n> an altar to the Lord there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord answered David's prayers for the land <n>{Cf. 2Sam 21:14}</n> and the pestilence on Israel was averted. 


text:
<n>{ The Book of}</n> <n>{ First Kings}</n> d <n>{Adonijah's Attempted Coup}</n> d When David had grown very old, they covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm, 


text:
so his servants suggested to him, "Let's look for a young virgin woman to take care of you, your majesty. She will be of use to you if you have her lie down near you <n>{Lit. lie in your lap}</n> so that your majesty may keep warm." 


text:
So they conducted a search throughout the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman, and Abishag the Shunammite was located and brought to the king. 


text:
The young woman was absolutely beautiful. She served the king and was very useful to him. The king was not sexually involved with her. 


text:
Meanwhile, about this time Haggith's son Adonijah began to seek a reputation for himself and decided, <n>{Lit. said}</n> "I'm going to be king!" So he prepared chariots, cavalry, and 50 soldiers to serve as a security detail to guard him. <n>{Lit. soldiers to run ahead of him}</n> 


text:
His father had never challenged him at any time during his life by asking him, "Why are you acting like this?" Adonijah <n>{Lit. He}</n> was very handsome and had been born after Absalom. 


text:
He had the support of Zeruiah's son Joab and of Abiathar the priest, who followed Adonijah <n>{Lit. him}</n> and assisted him, 


text:
but Zadok the priest, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's personal elite forces would have nothing to do with Adonijah. 


text:
Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatted cattle by the Serpent Stone <n>{Or the stone of Omelet}</n> near En-rogel, <n>{Josh 15:7; 18:16; 2Sam 17:17}</n> inviting all of his relatives, the king's sons, and all of the men of Judah who worked for the king, 


text:
but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David's <n>{Lit. the}</n> personal elite forces, or his brother Solomon. 


text:
<n>{Nathan and Bathsheba Confer about Adonijah}</n> d "Haven't you heard?" Nathan asked Solomon's mother Bathsheba. "Haggith's son Adonijah has become king and David, our true king, <n>{Lit. our lord}</n> isn't aware of it. 


text:
Go right now to King David and ask him, «Your majesty, you promised your servant that "Your son Solomon will certainly become king after me and will sit on my throne," didn't you? So why has Adonijah become king? '


text:
So Bathsheba went to the king in his private room. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to him. <n>{Lit. to the king}</n> 


text:
"Your majesty," she replied, "you promised your servant in the name of <n>{The Heb. lacks the name of}</n> the Lord your God, «Your son Solomon will certainly become king after me and will sit on my throne.'


text:
Adonijah <n>{Lit. He}</n> has sacrificed myriads of oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep, and he has invited all of the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon. 


text:
And as for you, your majesty, everyone in Israel is looking to you to tell them who will sit on your majesty's throne after you. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
Otherwise, as soon as your majesty is laid to rest with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be branded as traitors." <n>{Lit. sinners}</n> 


text:
They informed the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." When he had been ushered into the presence of the king, Nathan bowed low in front of the king with his face to the ground 


text:
Well now, he went down today and sacrificed lots of oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. They're having a party together and saying, «Long live King Adonijah!'


text:
Of course, he never invited me, Zadok the priest, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, nor your servant Solomon. 


text:
Were you behind this, your majesty, without letting your servants know who would sit on your majesty's throne after him?" 


text:
<n>{David Affirms Solomon as King}</n> d "Call Bathsheba for me," King David replied. So she came in and stood in front of the king. 


text:
I certainly did tell you in the name of <n>{The Heb. lacks the name of}</n> the Lord God of Israel, «Your son Solomon will be king after me and will sit on my throne in my place.'I'm certainly going to make this happen today!" 


text:
"King David," Bathsheba said as she bowed low in front of the king with her face to the ground, "your majesty, may you live forever." 


text:
"Get me Zadok the priest," King David said, "along with Nathan the prophet, and Jehoiada's son Benaiah." So they were ushered into the king's presence 


text:
and David addressed them. "Take your lord's servants, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. 


text:
Have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel. Then sound a trumpet and declare «Long live King Solomon!'


text:
After this, you are to follow him back here, and he is to come and sit on my throne and take my place as king, because I've appointed him to be Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over Israel and Judah." 


text:
"Amen!" replied Jehoiada's son Benaiah to the king. "May the Lord God of your majesty make this happen! 


text:
As the Lord has been with your majesty the king, so may he be with Solomon. May he make his throne greater than the throne of your majesty, King David." 


text:
<n>{Solomon is Anointed King}</n> d So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, the special forces <n>{Lit. Cherethites ; i.e. elite body guards}</n> and mercenaries <n>{Lit. Pelethites ; i.e. special couriers}</n> went out and had Solomon ride the king's mule all the way to Gihon. 


text:
Zadok the priest brought from his tent a horn filled with oil and anointed Solomon, a trumpet was sounded, and everybody yelled out, "Long live King Solomon!" 


text:
All the people followed after him, playing on wind pipes and so full of joy that the earth shook because of all the noise! 


text:
Right about then, Adonijah and all of his guests were just finishing their meal when they heard all the noise. "Why is the city in such an uproar?" Joab asked as he heard the trumpet sounds. 


text:
While he was still asking that question, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest arrived, so Adonijah told him, "Come on in, since you're a worthy man and are bringing us good news!" 


text:
The king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, the special forces <n>{Lit. Cherethites ; i.e. elite body guards}</n> and mercenaries, <n>{Lit. Pelethites ; i.e. special couriers}</n> along with Solomon, who is riding the king's personal mule. 


text:
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him in Gihon, and they just left from there rejoicing, and that's why the city is all in an uproar. That's the noise that you've been hearing! 


text:
In addition to all of this, the king's servants have come along to congratulate our lord King David. They've been telling David «May your God make Solomon's reputation even more famous than yours, and may he make his throne greater than yours!'The king has himself bowed in worship on his own bed <n>{I.e. a possible allusion to sacred oaths such as Joseph's promise to Jacob in Gen 47:31}</n> 


text:
and said «Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has provided someone to sit on my throne today. I've seen it with my own eyes!»" 


text:
Afraid of Solomon, Adonijah also jumped up and headed straight for the horns of the altar. <n>{I.e. the altar associated with sacrifices in the tent}</n> 


text:
"Hey look!" somebody informed Solomon. "Adonijah is terrified of King Solomon! He's gone out, grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, and now he's begging King Solomon, «Swear to me that you won't put your servant to death with a sword!»" 


text:
"If he's done nothing wrong, not a hair of his head will be harmed," Solomon replied. "But if we find evil in him, he's a dead man." 


text:
So King Solomon sent for him, and he was brought down from the altar. When he had arrived, he fell on his face in front of King Solomon, so Solomon told him, "Go home!" 


text:
<n>{David Instructs Solomon}</n> d As David's time to die approached, he addressed his son Solomon with these words: 


text:
"I'm headed down the road that everyone who lives on earth travels, so be strong and demonstrate that you're a grown man 


text:
by keeping the charge that the Lord your God entrusted to you. Live life his way, keep his statutes, his commands, his ordinances, and his testimonies, just as they're written down in the Law of Moses, so that you may succeed in everything you do and wherever you go, <n>{Lit. turn}</n> 


text:
and so that the Lord may fulfill his promise that he spoke about me when he said, «If your sons pay attention to how they live by walking truthfully in my presence with all their heart and with all their soul, you will never lack a man on the throne of Israel.'


text:
"Furthermore, you're aware of what Zeruiah's son Joab did to me and to those two commanders of the armies of Israel, Ner's son Abner and Jether's son Amasa, whom he killed, and how he shed the blood of wartime during times of peace, staining the very belt he wears around his waist and the sandals he wears on his feet. 


text:
So act consistently with your wisdom, and don't let him die as a peaceful old man. <n>{Lit. let his gray hair descend to Sheol in peace}</n> 


text:
Be gracious to the descendants of Barzillai the Gileadite, and provide for them in your household, <n>{Lit. them at your table}</n> because they helped me when I had to run from your brother Absalom. 


text:
"Pay attention now! You have with you Gera's son Shimei the descendant of Benjamin from Bahurim. He cursed me violently that day when I had to leave for Mahanaim. When he visited me at the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> I made an oath to the Lord and told him, «I won't execute you with a sword.'


text:
But don't let him off unpunished, since you're a wise man and you'll know what you need to do to him. Find a way that he dies in his old age <n>{Lit. Bring his gray hair down to Sheol}</n> by shedding his blood." 


text:
<n>{David Dies and Solomon Consolidates His Reign}</n> <n>{ (1 Chronicles 3:4; 29:26-28)}</n> d After this, David died, as had <n>{Lit. David slept with}</n> his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of David. 


text:
David had reigned over Israel for 40 years. He reigned in Hebron for seven years and in Jerusalem for 33 years. 


text:
<n>{Adonijah asks for Abishag}</n> d Later, Haggith's son Adonijah approached Solomon's mother. "Are you here on a peaceful mission?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. 


text:
So he replied, "You know that the kingdom should have come to me, and that everyone in Israel intended to place me as the next <n>{The Heb. lacks the next}</n> king. However, the kingdom has turned around and now belongs to my brother, because it went to him from the Lord . 


text:
Then he asked her, "Please talk to King Solomon for me, since he won't refuse you. Ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife." 


text:
So Bathsheba went to talk to King Solomon for Adonijah. The king rose to meet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. He ordered a throne be set in place for his mother. She sat on a throne to his right 


text:
and told him, <n>{The Heb. lacks to him}</n> "I would like to make a minor request of you. Please don't refuse me." "What is your request, mother?" the king asked her. "I won't turn you down." 


text:
But King Solomon replied to his mother, "Why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Why not ask me to give up the kingdom for him, since he's my older brother, and why not ask <n>{The Heb. lacks why not ask}</n> for Abiathar the priest, and for Zeruiah's son Joab?" 


text:
Then King Solomon took this oath in the name of the Lord : "May God do so to me, and more besides, if Adonijah hasn't endangered his life by bringing up this subject. 


text:
Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of my father David, and who has established a dynasty, just like he promised, Adonijah will surely be executed today." 


text:
So King Solomon sent for Jehoiada's son Benaiah, who attacked and killed Adonijah. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
The king also told Abiathar the priest, "Go home to Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I won't kill you today, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before my father David and because you shared all the troubles that my father went through." 


text:
So Solomon fired Abiathar as the Lord» s priest, thus fulfilling the promise that the Lord had spoken in Shiloh concerning Eli's household. <n>{1Sam 2:27-36}</n> 


text:
<n>{Joab is Executed}</n> d When Joab learned what had happened, he ran to the Lord's tent and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, since Joab had supported Adonijah (though he had not supported Absalom). 


text:
Somebody informed King Solomon, "Joab just ran to the Lord's tent and now he's standing beside the altar!" But Solomon ordered Jehoiada's son Benaiah, "Go kill him!" 


text:
So Benaiah went into the Lord's tent and told Joab, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "The king orders you to come out!" "No," Joab said, "I'd rather die here!" So Benaiah went and informed the king, "This is how Joab answered me." 


text:
The king replied to him, "Do just what he asked. Kill him and bury him so that you may remove from me and from my father's household the guilt that Joab shed needlessly. 


text:
The Lord will repay him for his bloodshed because, without my father David's consent he attacked and murdered two men more righteous and better than he, Ner's son Abner, the commander of Israel's army and Jether's son Amasa, commander of Judah's army. 


text:
May their blood be repaid to Joab and to his descendants forever, and may there be peace shown from the Lord forever to David, to his descendants, to his household, and to his throne." 


text:
Jehoiada's son Benaiah then approached Joab, attacked him, killed him, and had him buried at Joab's <n>{Lit. his}</n> home in the wilderness. 


text:
The king appointed Jehoiada's son Benaiah in charge of the army to replace Joab and also appointed Zadok the priest to replace Abiathar. 


text:
<n>{Shimei is Executed}</n> d The king sent for Shimei and told him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but don't go anywhere from there. 


text:
If you ever leave and cross the Kidron Brook, you can be sure that you'll die. You'll be responsible for your own death." 


text:
Shimei replied to the king, "What your majesty has decreed is acceptable to me. I'll do what you've said." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for quite some time. 


text:
But three years later, two of Shimei's servants escaped to Maacah's son Achish, the king of Gath. Somebody told Shimei, "Look! Your servants went to Gath!" 


text:
So Shimei got up, saddled a donkey, and traveled to Gath to find his servants. He found them and brought them back from Gath. 


text:
so the king sent for Shimei and asked him, "Didn't I make a promise to the Lord and warn you, «The day you leave and go anywhere else, you can be sure you'll die'? And you told me, «What your majesty has decreed is acceptable to me.'


text:
So why haven't you kept the oath you made to the Lord , and why didn't you obey my personal order to you?" 


text:
The king also reminded Shimei, "You know all the evil things that you admit you did to my father David. Therefore the Lord is going to repay you for <n>{Lit. repay on your head}</n> all of your evil. 


text:
But King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will be established in the presence of the Lord forever." 


text:
So the king gave orders to Jehoiada's son Benaiah to go out, attack Shimei, and kill him. That is how the kingdom was established under Solomon's control. 


text:
<n>{Solomon Prays for Wisdom}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 1:2-13)}</n> d Later, Solomon intermarried with the family of <n>{Lit. The Heb. lacks the family of}</n> Pharaoh, the king of Egypt by taking his daughter and bringing her to the city of David to live until he had completed building his own palace, the Lord's Temple, and the wall around Jerusalem. 


text:
The people were sacrificing at various high places because the Temple had not yet been built and dedicated to <n>{Lit. built for the name of}</n> the Lord . 


text:
Solomon loved the Lord , and lived according to the statutes that his father David obeyed, except that he sacrificed and burned offerings at the high places. 


text:
The king used to go to Gibeon to sacrifice, since there was a famous high place there, where Solomon once offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar. 


text:
The Lord appeared to Solomon one night in a dream and told him, "Ask me for whatever you want and I'll give it to you." 


text:
So Solomon said: "You have demonstrated abundant gracious love to your servant David, my father, as he lived in your presence truthfully, righteously, and uprightly in his heart. In addition, you have kept on showing this abundant gracious love by giving him a son to sit on his throne today. 


text:
Now, Lord my God, you have set me as king to replace my father David, but I'm still young. I don't have any leadership skills. <n>{Lit. I'm only a youth and don't know how to come and go}</n> 


text:
Your servant lives in the midst of your people that you have chosen, a great people that is too numerous to be counted. 


text:
So give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, so I can discern between good and evil. Otherwise, how will I be able to govern this great people of yours?" 


text:
so God told him: "Because you asked for this, and you didn't ask for a long life for yourself, and you didn't ask for the lives of your enemies, but instead you've asked for discernment so you can understand how to govern, 


text:
look how I'm going to do precisely what you asked. I'm giving you a wise and discerning mind, so that there will have been no one like you before you and no one will arise after you like you. 


text:
I'm also giving you what you haven't requested: both riches and honor, so that no other king will be comparable to you during your lifetime. 


text:
If you will live life my way, keeping my statutes and my commands, just like your father David did, I'll also increase the length of your life." 


text:
Then Solomon woke up and realized that he had dreamed a dream. Then he went back to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and threw a party for all of his servants. 


text:
<n>{Solomon's Wisdom is Tested}</n> d Right about then, two prostitutes approached the king and requested an audience with him. 


text:
One woman said, "Your majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 


text:
Three days later, this woman also gave birth. We lived alone there. There was nobody else with us in the house. It was just the two of us. 


text:
She got up in the middle of the night, took my son from me while your servant was asleep, and laid him to her breast after laying her dead son next to me. 


text:
The next morning, I got up to nurse my son, and he was dead. But when I examined him carefully in the light of day, he turned out not to be my son whom I had borne!" 


text:
"Not so," claimed the other woman. "The living child is my son, and the dead one is yours." But the first woman said, "Not so! The dead child is your son and the living one is my son." This is what they testified before the king. 


text:
The king said, "One of them claims, «This living son is mine, and your son is the dead one'and the other claims «No. Your son is the dead one and my son is the living one.'


text:
The woman whose child was still alive cried out to the king, because her heart yearned for her son. "Oh no, your majesty!" she said. "Give her the living child. Please don't kill him." But the other woman said, "Cut him in half! That way, he'll belong to neither one of us." 


text:
The king announced his decision: "Give the living child to the first woman. Don't kill him. She is his mother." 


text:
When this decision that the king had handed down was announced, everybody in Israel was amazed at <n>{Lit. Israel feared}</n> the king, because they all saw that God's wisdom was in him, enabling him to administer justice. 


text:
Nathan's son Azariah supervised the governors, Nathan's son Zabud the priest was the king's counselor, 


text:
Solomon also appointed twelve governors over all of Israel, each of whom were responsible for providing one month's food provisions to the king and to his administration during each year. 


text:
Ahilud's son Baana served Taanach, Megiddo, and all of Beth-shean near Zarethan below Jezreel, including from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah as far as the other side of Jokmeam; 


text:
Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead, including the towns that belonged to Manasseh's descendant Jair that are in Gilead; 


text:
and Uri's son Geber served in the territory of Gilead, the territory formerly ruled by King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan (he was the only governor over that territory). 


text:
<n>{Solomon's Magnificence}</n> d Judah and Israel became as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They enjoyed abundance, and ate, drank, and rejoiced regularly. 


text:
<n>{This v. is 5:1 in MT, 4 :22 is 5:2 , and so on through 4:34}</n> Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> to the territory of the Philistines and south <n>{The Heb. lacks south}</n> to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon throughout his lifetime. 


text:
ten fattened oxen, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and domestic poultry. 


text:
He ruled over everything west of the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all of the kings west of the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River, and he enjoyed peace on all sides around him. 


text:
Judah and Israel lived safely, and everyone enjoyed their own vine and fig tree from Dan to Beer-sheba through all of Solomon's life. 


text:
Solomon owned 40,000 stalls for the horses that drove his chariots, and he employed 12,000 men to drive them. <n>{The Heb. lacks to drive them}</n> 


text:
His officers supplied provisions for King Solomon and for everyone who visited King Solomon's palace, <n>{Lit. table}</n> each in their respective month of service responsibility. <n>{The Heb. lacks of service responsibility}</n> Nothing ever ran out. 


text:
They also provided barley and straw for the horses and camels to their respective locations, each consistent with their responsibilities. 


text:
<n>{Solomon's Fame}</n> d God gave Solomon wisdom and great discernment. His insights were as numerous as sand on the seashore. 


text:
He was wiser than anyone of his day wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, and wiser than Mahol's sons Calcol and Darda. His reputation was known throughout the surrounding nations. 


text:
He described trees everything from cedars that grow in Lebanon to hyssop that grows on a garden wall. He described animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 


text:
<n>{Preparations to Build the Temple}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 2:1-18)}</n> d <n>{This v. is 4:15 in MT, 5:2 is 4:16, and so on through 5:18, which is 4:32 in MT}</n> King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he learned that Solomon <n>{Lit. he}</n> had been anointed king to replace his father, because Hiram had been David's lifelong friend. <n>{Lit. David's friend all his days}</n> 


text:
"You know that my father David was unable to build a temple dedicated to <n>{Lit. temple to the name of}</n> the Lord his God because he was busy fighting wars all around him until the Lord defeated his enemies. 


text:
But now the Lord has given me rest all around, since I have neither foreign adversaries nor domestic crises. 


text:
So now I'm planning to build a temple dedicated to <n>{Lit. temple to the name of}</n> the Lord my God, just as the Lord told my father when he said, «Your son, whom I will set on your throne to replace you, will build the Temple dedicated to me.'<n>{Lit. to my name}</n> 


text:
Now therefore please order that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, because you know there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians do." 


text:
As soon as Hiram received the message from Solomon, he became so ecstatic that he exclaimed, "Blessed be the Lord today, who has given David a wise son to rule this great people!" Then he sent this message to Solomon: 


text:
"I have read the letter that you sent me. I'll do what you've asked about the cedar and cypress timber. 


text:
My servants will transport them from Lebanon to the sea, where we'll make them into rafts and float them by sea to the port that you tell me to send them. We'll have them prepared for transport there and then you can carry them from there. You can meet my needs by providing provisions for my household." 


text:
In return, Solomon paid Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of beaten oil. Solomon provided this amount every year during the construction. <n>{The Heb. lacks during the construction}</n> 


text:
The Lord continued giving Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised, and Hiram and Solomon entered into a peace treaty between themselves. 


text:
<n>{Conscripted Labor for the Building Program}</n> d King Solomon conscripted laborers from throughout Israel. The work force numbered 30,000 men. 


text:
He sent 10,000 men to Lebanon in shifts lasting one month. They worked one month in Lebanon for every two months they worked at home. Adoniram was placed in charge of the conscripted labor. 


text:
Solomon also employed 3,300 officials to supervise the work and to manage the people employed in the construction. 


text:
The king specified that large, expensive stones be quarried so the foundation of the Temple could be laid with cut stones. 


text:
As a result, Solomon's builders worked with Hiram's builders, accompanied by the Gebalites, to quarry the stone and to prepare the timber and other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> stone for the Temple's construction. 


text:
<n>{Temple Construction Begins}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 3:1-14)}</n> d During the month of Ziv, which was the second month of the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, 480 years after the Israelis left the land of Egypt, Solomon began to build the Lord's Temple. 


text:
The Temple for the Lord that Solomon was building was 90 feet <n>{Lit. 60 cubits ; i.e. about 27.4 meters}</n> long and 30 feet <n>{Lit. 20 cubits ; i.e. about 9.1 meters}</n> wide. 


text:
A portico extended in front of the Temple for 30 feet <n>{Lit. 20 cubits ; i.e. about 9.1 meters}</n> outward, corresponding to the width of the Temple. Along the front of the Temple its depth was 15 feet. <n>{Lit. ten cubits ; i.e. about 4.6 meters}</n> 


text:
Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> also constructed windows in the Temple with specially designed <n>{Or latticed}</n> frames. 


text:
Against the wall of the Temple he built a series of rooms that encompassed the exterior of the Temple walls around the inner sanctuary. He built these side chambers all around the building. <n>{The Heb. lacks the building}</n> 


text:
The lower structures were seven and a half feet <n>{Lit. five cubits ; i.e. about 2.3 meters}</n> wide, the middle structures were nine feet wide, <n>{Lit. six cubits ; i.e. about 2.74 meters}</n> and the third structures were ten and a half feet <n>{Lit. seven cubits ; i.e. about 3.2 meters}</n> wide. Offsets were placed all around the Temple so that beams would not protrude through the walls of the Temple. 


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The Temple was constructed of stone precut at the quarry so that no hammer, axe, or any other iron implement would be heard in the Temple while it was being built. 


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A passageway to the side chamber was constructed on the south side of the Temple by which people <n>{Lit. they}</n> could ascend winding stairs to the middle story, then from there to the third story. 


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<n>{Interior Finishing with Gold and Cedar}</n> d After Solomon <n>{Lit. he}</n> built the Temple and finished it, he covered the Temple with beams and planks made of cedar. 


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He constructed this structure to adjoin the entire Temple, seven and a half feet <n>{Lit. five cubits ; i.e. about 2.3 meters}</n> high, and fastened it to the Temple with cedar timbers. 


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"Concerning <n>{The Heb. lacks Concerning}</n> this Temple that you're building, if you live your life <n>{Lit. you walk}</n> according to my statutes, carry out my ordinances, and keep all of my commands, and live according to them, then I will do what I promised to your father David. 


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Then he built the inside walls of the Temple, lining them from floor to ceiling with cedar boards, and overlaying the Temple floor with boards made of cypress wood. 


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He lined 30 feet <n>{Lit. 20 cubits ; i.e. about 9.1 meters}</n> of the rear part of the Temple from floor to ceiling with cedar boards specially constructed for the inside to serve as the Most Holy Place. 


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The rest of the main nave in the front was 60 feet <n>{Lit. 40 cubits ; i.e. about 18.2 meters}</n> long. 


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Cedar carvings in the form of gourds and blooming flowers covered the entire interior of the Temple so that no stone could be seen. 


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Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> also prepared an inner sanctuary within the Temple where the Lord's Ark of the Covenant was placed. 


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The inner sanctuary was 30 feet <n>{Lit. 20 cubits ; i.e. about 9.1 meters}</n> long, 30 feet <n>{Lit. 20 cubits ; i.e. about 9.1 meters}</n> wide, and 30 feet <n>{Lit. 20 cubits ; i.e. about 9.1 meters}</n> high, and overlaid with pure gold. The altar was also overlaid with cedar. 


text:
Solomon overlaid the inside of the Temple with pure gold, fastened gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold. 


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He finished the Temple by overlaying it entirely with gold, including overlaying with gold the whole altar that was by the inner sanctuary. 


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<n>{Temple Furnishings}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 4:1-10, 19-22; 5:1)}</n> d Inside the inner sanctuary Solomon <n>{Lit. he}</n> placed two cherubim crafted from olive wood, each fifteen feet <n>{Lit. ten cubits ; i.e. about 4.6 meters}</n> high. 


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Each wing of one cherub was seven and a half feet long, <n>{Lit. five cubits ; i.e. about 2.3 meters}</n> and each wing of the other cherub was seven and a half feet long, <n>{Lit. five cubits ; i.e. about 2.3 meters}</n> so that the distance from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing was fifteen feet. <n>{Lit. ten cubits ; i.e. about 4.6 meters}</n> 


text:
Each cherub was fifteen feet <n>{Lit. ten cubits ; i.e. about 4.6 meters}</n> high, and both were of the same size and shape, 


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the height of one cherub being fifteen feet, <n>{Lit. ten cubits ; i.e. about 4.6 meters}</n> as was the height of the other. 


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Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> placed the cherubim in the middle of the inner sanctuary, with their wings spread in such a way that the wing of one was touching the one wall and the opposite wing of the other cherub was touching the opposite wall. Furthermore, their wings in the center of the wall were touching each other wing-to-wing. 


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Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> also inlaid all the inner walls of the Temple both the inner and outer sanctuaries with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and blooming flowers. 


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Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> also provided doors, lintels, and five-sided doorposts for the entrance to the inner sanctuary. 


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He installed two doors made of olive wood, inlaying them with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and blooming flowers, and overlaying them with gold. Then he added more gold to cover the cherubim and palm trees. 


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Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> also provided four-sided doorposts made of cypress wood for the entrance to the outer sanctuary, 


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along with two doors of cypress wood, one door of which had two leaves that turned on hinges, as did the other door, which also had two leaves that turned on hinges. 


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Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> also inlaid the doors with <n>{The Heb. lacks the doors with}</n> cherubim, palm trees, and blooming flowers. He overlaid them with gold that was carefully <n>{Or evenly}</n> applied on the engraved work. 


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<n>{Temple Construction is Completed}</n> d The foundation for the Lord's Temple was laid in the month of Ziv during the fourth year of Solomon's reign, 


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and the Temple was completely finished according to its plans and specifications in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomon's <n>{Lit. his}</n> reign, that is, during the month of Bul. It took about seven years to build. 


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<n>{Solomon's Palace}</n> d But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own palace, and finally finished it. 


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He built his own palace out of timber supplied from the forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet <n>{Lit. 100 cubits ; i.e. about 45.7 meters}</n> long, 75 feet <n>{Lit. 50 cubits ; i.e. about 22.9 meters}</n> wide, and 45 feet <n>{Lit. 30 cubits ; i.e. about 13.7 meters}</n> tall, and was constructed on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams interlocking the pillars. 


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All the doorways and doorposts had rectangular frames, with the doorways facing each other in three tiers. 


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There was also a hall of pillars 75 feet <n>{Lit. 50 cubits ; i.e. about 22.9 meters}</n> long and 45 feet <n>{Lit. 30 cubits ; i.e. about 13.7 meters}</n> wide, and a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of the pillars. <n>{Lit. of them}</n> 


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He constructed the Judgment Hall for the throne room where he would be ruling, paneling it with cedar from floor to ceiling. <n>{Lit. floor to floor}</n> 


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Solomon's <n>{Lit. His}</n> personal dwelling quarters, a separate court behind the hall, was of similar workmanship. Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> also built a house similar to this for Pharaoh's daughter, whom Solomon had married. 


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All of these were made with expensive stones, pre-cut according to specifications, hand-sawed inside and out from the foundation to the coping, including from inside to the great court. 


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The foundation was made of expensive stone, including large stones fifteen feet <n>{Lit. 10 cubits ; i.e. about 4.6 meters}</n> long and stones twelve feet <n>{Lit. 8 cubits ; i.e. about 3.7 meters}</n> long. 


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So the great court was surrounded by three rows of cut stone, along with a row of cedar beams, just like the inner court of the Lord's Temple and the porch surrounding the Temple. 


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<n>{Contributions by Hiram the Bronzeworker}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 3:15-17; 4:11-18)}</n> d King Solomon sent for Hiram <n>{2Chr 2:13 identifies the man as Hiram-abi}</n> from Tyre, 


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the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, whose father was from Tyre. A bronze worker, he was wise, knowledgeable, and was skilled in all sorts of bronze working. He went to King Solomon and did all of his work. 


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He fashioned two bronze pillars, each one 27 feet <n>{Lit. eighteen cubits ; i.e. about 8.2 meters}</n> high, with a circumference of 18 feet <n>{Lit. twelve cubits ; i.e. about 5.5 meters}</n> . 


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He also crafted two capitals of cast bronze and set them on top of the pillars. The height of one capital was seven and a half feet, <n>{Lit. five cubits ; i.e. about 2.3 meters}</n> and the height of the other capital was seven and a half feet. <n>{Lit. five cubits ; i.e. about 2.3 meters}</n> 


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A network of latticework on top of the pillars was inlaid with ornamental wreaths and chains, the top of each pillar containing seven groups of ornamental structures. 


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The pillars contained two rows of ornaments shaped like pomegranates around the latticework covering the top of each pillar. 


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The capitals on top of each pillar above the rounded latticework contained six feet <n>{Lit. four cubits ; i.e. about 1.8 meters}</n> of lily designs, 


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with the capitals on the two pillars covered by 200 pomegranates in rows around both the capitals above and adjoining the rounded latticework. 


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That's how he designed the pillars at the portico of the sanctuary. When he set up the right pillar, he named it Jachin. <n>{The name means He Established}</n> When he set up the left pillar, he named it Boaz. <n>{The name means In Strength}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Bronze Sea}</n> d Hiram <n>{Lit. He}</n> also made a sea of cast metal fifteen feet <n>{Lit. ten cubits ; i.e. about 4.6 meters}</n> from brim to brim, circular in shape and seven and a half feet high <n>{Lit. five cubits ; i.e. about 2.3 meters}</n> and 45 feet <n>{Lit. 30 cubits ; i.e. about 13.7 meters}</n> in its inner circumference. 


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Under the brim, completely encircling it, were two rows of gourds inlaid as part of the original casting, ten for each one and a half feet. <n>{Lit. ten to a cubit ; i.e. about 0.46 meters}</n> 


text:
The sea stood on top of twelve oxen. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The sea was set on top of them, and their hind parts faced the center. <n>{Lit. were inward}</n> 


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The reservoir, which held about 12,000 gallons, <n>{Lit. 2,000 baths ; i.e. about 44,000 liters}</n> stood about three inches thick, and its rim looked like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom. 


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<n>{The Ten Water Carts}</n> d Hiram <n>{Lit. He}</n> also made ten bronze water carts. <n>{Or stands , and so throughout this paragraph}</n> Each one was six feet <n>{Lit. four cubits ; i.e. about 1.83 meters}</n> wide, six feet long, <n>{Lit. four cubits ; i.e. about 1.83 meters}</n> and four and a half feet <n>{Lit. three cubits ; i.e. about 1.4 meters}</n> high. 


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and on the borders between the cross-pieces were lions, oxen, and cherubim. A pedestal was placed above the cross-pieces, and beneath the lions and oxen there were wreaths hanging down. 


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Each cart had four bronze wheels equipped with bronze axles with four support feet. Beneath the basin were cast support structures made like wreaths on each side. 


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The opening to each water cart inside the crown on top was one and a half feet <n>{Lit. one cubit ; i.e. about 0.46 meters}</n> wide, with engravings on the opening. The borders to the frames surrounding the opening were square, not round. 


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The four wheels were placed underneath the borders, and the axles for the wheels were on the stand. Each wheel stood 27 inches <n>{Lit. one and a half cubits ; i.e. about 0.7 meters}</n> high. 


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The wheels resembled those of a chariot, with their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs made of cast bronze. 


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On top of each stand was a circular structure nine inches <n>{Lit. one half of one cubit ; i.e. 0.23 meters}</n> high, with its braces and support frames integral with it, forming a single piece. 


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Hiram <n>{Lit. He}</n> engraved ornamental cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and frames wherever there was space to do so, and encircled the artwork with wreaths. 


text:
<n>{The Other Bronze Implements}</n> d Hiram <n>{Lit. He}</n> also fashioned ten bronze basins, each holding about 240 gallons, <n>{Lit. holding 40 baths}</n> each basin measuring 6 feet <n>{Lit. four cubits ; i.e. about 2.7 meters}</n> in diameter, <n>{The Heb. lacks in diameter}</n> with one basin for each stand. 


text:
He set five of the stands on the right side of the Temple and five on the left side of the Temple. He set the bronze sea on the right side of the Temple eastward facing the south. 


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Hiram also made the basins, shovels, and bowls to complete the work that he performed for King Solomon in the Lord's Temple, 


text:
including the two pillars and the bowls for the capitals that stood on top of the two pillars, along with the two lattices that covered the two bowls of the capitals that stood on top of the pillars, 


text:
plus the 400 pomegranates for the two lattices (that is, the two rows of pomegranates for each lattice to cover the two bowls of the capitals that stood on top of the pillars), 


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and the pots, shovels, and bowls all of these utensils that Hiram made for King Solomon for the Lord's Temple were made from polished bronze. 


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Solomon never inventoried the weight of the bronze used, because there were too many utensils, so the weight of the bronze used was never ascertained. 


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Solomon made all the furnishings that were placed in the Lord's Temple, including the golden altar and the golden table on which the bread of the Presence was placed, 


text:
along with the lamp stands (five on the right side and five on the left in front of the inner sanctuary), all made of pure gold, as well as the flower blossoms, lamps, and tongs of gold, 


text:
and the cups, snuffers, bowls, spoons, and the fire pans, all made of pure gold, and hinges for the doors of the inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place, and for the gates of the Temple that led to the nave, also of gold. 


text:
Thus all the work that King Solomon performed in the Lord's Temple was finished. Then Solomon brought in the articles that had been dedicated by his father David, including silver, gold, and other utensils, and he placed them into storage in the treasuries of the Lord's Temple. 


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<n>{The Temple is Dedicated}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 5:2-6:2)}</n> d Then Solomon gathered together the elders of Israel, including all the heads of the tribes and the leaders of the ancestral households of the Israelis, to meet with him in Jerusalem so they could bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Zion, the city of David. 


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So all the men gathered together to meet with King Solomon at the Festival of Tents <n>{The Heb. lacks of Tents ; cf. Lev 23:34}</n> in the month Ethanim, the seventh month. 


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and brought it, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy implements that were in the tent. The priests and descendants of Levi carried them up to Jerusalem. <n>{The Heb. lacks to Jerusalem}</n> 


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King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel that had assembled to be with him stood in front of the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they were neither counted nor inventoried. 


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After this, the priests brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to the place prepared for it, into the inner sanctuary of the Temple, under the wings of the cherubim in the Most Holy Place. 


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The wings of the cherubim spread over the resting place for the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles when viewed <n>{The Heb. lacks when viewed}</n> from above. 


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The poles extended so far that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. They remain there to this day. 


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The ark was empty except for the two stone tablets that Moses had placed there at Horeb when the Lord had made a covenant with the Israelis after they had come out of the land of Egypt. 


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When the priests left the Holy Place after setting the ark in place, <n>{The Heb. lacks after setting the ark in place}</n> the cloud filled the Lord» s Temple 


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so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, since the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's Temple. 


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<n>{Solomon's Speech of Dedication}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 6:3-11)}</n> d Then Solomon said, "The Lord has said that he lives shrouded in darkness. 


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Now I have been constructing a magnificent Temple dedicated to you that will serve as a place for you to inhabit forever." 


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Then the king turned to face the entire congregation of Israel while the congregation of Israel remained standing. 


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Then Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> prayed: "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who made a commitment <n>{Lit. who spoke by his mouth}</n> to my father David and then personally <n>{Lit. and by his hand}</n> fulfilled what he had promised when he said: <n>{Cf. 1Chr 17:5ff}</n> 


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«From the day I brought out my people Israel from Egypt I never chose a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple where my name might reside. I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.'


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The Lord told my father David: «Therefore, since you determined <n>{Lit. since it was in your heart}</n> to build a temple for my name, you acted well, because it was your choice <n>{Lit. because it was in your heart}</n> to do so. 


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Nevertheless, you are not to build the Temple, but your son who will be born <n>{Lit. will come from your loins}</n> to you is to build a temple for my name.'


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"The Lord has brought to fulfillment <n>{Lit. has caused to stand up}</n> what he promised, and now here I stand, <n>{MT verb is a pun on the verb brought to fulfillment}</n> having succeeded my father David to sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built the Temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 


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I have placed there the ark in which the covenant is stored that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt." 


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<n>{Solomon's Prayer of Dedication}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 6:12-43)}</n> d Then Solomon took his place in front of the Lord's altar in the presence of the entire congregation of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, 


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and said: "Lord God of Israel, there is no one like you, God in heaven above or on the earth below, who watches over <n>{Or who keeps}</n> his covenant, showing gracious love to your servants who live their lives in your presence <n>{Lit. who walk before you}</n> with all their hearts. 


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It is you, Lord God, <n>{The Heb. lacks It is you, Lord God}</n> who have kept your promise to my father, your servant David, that you made to him. Indeed, you made a commitment <n>{Lit. you spoke by your mouth}</n> to my father David and then personally fulfilled <n>{Lit. and by your hand full}</n> what you had promised today. 


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"Now therefore, Lord God of Israel, keep your promise that you made <n>{Lit. spoke}</n> to my father, your servant David, when you said, «You will not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, <n>{Cf. 1King 2:4; 2Chr 7:18}</n> if only your descendants will watch their lives, <n>{Lit. ways}</n> to live <n>{Lit. walk}</n> in my presence just as you have lived <n>{Lit. walked}</n> in my presence.'<n>{Or have walked before me}</n> 


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"Now therefore, God of Israel, may your promise that you made <n>{Lit. spoke}</n> to your servant David my father be fulfilled 


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and yet, will God truly reside on earth? Look! Neither the sky nor the highest heaven can contain you! How much less this Temple that I have built! 


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Pay attention to the prayer of your servant and to his request, Lord my God, and listen to the cry and prayer that your servant is praying in your presence today. 


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Let your eyes always look toward this Temple night and day, toward the location where you have said «My name will reside there.'Listen to the prayer that your servant prays in this direction. <n>{Lit. prays toward this place}</n> 


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Listen to the requests from your servant and from your people Israel as they pray in this direction, <n>{Lit. pray toward this place}</n> listen from the place where you reside in heaven, then hear and forgive. 


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"If a man should sin against his neighbor and he is required to take an oath, and he then comes to take an oath in front of your altar in this Temple, 


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then listen in heaven, act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing back to him the consequences of his choices <n>{Lit. by bringing his way upon his head}</n> and by justifying the righteous by recompensing him according to his righteousness. 


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"If your people Israel are defeated in a battle with <n>{Lit. defeated before}</n> their enemy because they have sinned against you, when they return to you and confess to you, <n>{Lit. confess your name}</n> pray, and in this Temple they ask you to show grace to them, 


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then hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and return them to the soil <n>{Or land}</n> that you gave to their ancestors. 


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"When heaven remains closed, and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and they pray in the direction of this place, confessing your name and turning from their sin when you afflict them, <n>{So MT; LXX reads you bring them low}</n> 


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then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel. Indeed, teach them the best way to live and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as an inheritance. 


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"If a famine comes to the land, or if plant diseases, mildew, locust, or grasshoppers <n>{Or caterpillars}</n> appear, or if their enemies attack them in their settlements of the land, no matter what the epidemic or illness is, 


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whatever prayer or request is made, no matter whether it's made by a single man or by all of your people Israel, each praying out of his own hurting heart and anguish and stretching out his hands toward this Temple, 


text:
then hear from heaven, the place where you reside, and forgive, repaying each person according to all of his ways, since you know their hearts for you alone know the hearts of all human beings 


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so they will fear you every day and live on the surface of the land that you have given to our ancestors. 


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"Now concerning the foreigner who is not from your people Israel, when he comes from a land far away for the sake of your name 


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(for people will hear of your great name, your mighty acts, <n>{Lit. hand}</n> and your obvious power <n>{Lit. your outstretched arm}</n> ), when he comes and prays facing this Temple, 


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then hear in heaven where you reside, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the people of the earth may know your name, fear you as do your people Israel, and so they may know that this Temple that I have built is called by your name. 


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"When your people go out to war against their enemies, no matter what way you send them, and they pray to the Lord in the direction of the city that you have chosen and in the direction of the Temple that I have built for your name, 


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"When they sin against you because there isn't a single human being who doesn't sin and you become angry with them and deliver them over to their enemy, who takes them away captive to the land that belongs to their enemy, whether near or far away, 


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if they turn their hearts back to you <n>{The Heb. lacks back to you}</n> in the land where they have been taken captive, repent, and pray to you even if they do so in the land of their captivity confessing, «We have sinned, we have committed abominations, and practiced wickedness,'


text:
if they return to you with all of their heart and with all of their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, as they pray to you in the direction of their land that you have given to their ancestors and to the city that you have chosen, and to the Temple that I have built for your name, 


text:
forgiving your people who have sinned against you, along with their transgressions by which they have transgressed against you. "Show your compassion in the presence of those who have taken them captive, so they may show compassion on them, 


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since they are your people and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from an iron fire furnace. 


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Do this <n>{The Heb. lacks Do this}</n> so your eyes may remain open to the requests of your servant and to the requests of your people's prayers, to listen to them whenever they call out to you, 


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because you have separated them to yourself as your heritage from all the people of the earth, as you spoke through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, Lord God. 


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<n>{Solomon's Blessing to the Assembly}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 6:40-42)}</n> d When Solomon had completed saying this entire prayer to the Lord , he got up from kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven in the presence of the Lord's altar, 


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"Blessed is the Lord, who has given security to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one of his promises has failed to come about that he gave through his servant Moses. 


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May the Lord our God be with us, just as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us, 


text:
so that he may turn our hearts toward him, so that we may live life <n>{Lit. may walk in}</n> his way, keeping his commands, statutes, and ordinances that he gave to our ancestors. 


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And may what I've had to say to the Lord remain with the Lord our God both day and night, so that he may defend the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as the need of the day may require it, 


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so that, in turn, <n>{Lit. therefore}</n> all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God there is no one else. 


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Now let your heart be completely devoted to the Lord our God, to live according to his statutes and to keep his commands, as we are doing today." 


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<n>{Solomon's Initial Offerings}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 7:4-11)}</n> d Then the king and all of Israel with him offered sacrifices to the Lord . 


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Solomon offered peace offerings to the Lord consisting of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelis dedicated the Lord's Temple. 


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That same day, the king consecrated the middle court that stood in front of the Lord's Temple, because that was where he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat from the peace offerings and because the bronze altar that was in the Lord's presence was too small to hold the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat from the peace offerings. 


text:
So Solomon observed the Festival of Tents <n>{The Heb. lacks of Tents ; cf. Lev 23:34}</n> at that time, as did all of Israel with him. A large assembly came up from as far away as Lebo-hamath and the Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> of Egypt to appear in the presence of the Lord our God, not just for seven days, but for seven days after that, a total of fourteen days. 


text:
The following <n>{Lit. eighth}</n> day, Solomon <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent the people away as they blessed the king. Then they went back to their tents, rejoicing and glad for all the good things that the Lord had done for his servant David and to his people Israel. 


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<n>{God Appears to Solomon}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 7:11-22)}</n> d Later, after Solomon had finished building the Lord's Temple, the royal palace, and everything else that Solomon wanted to do, 


text:
The Lord told him: "I've heard your prayer and your request that you made to me. I have consecrated this Temple that you have built by placing my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there continually. 


text:
"Now as for you, if you commune with me like your father did, with an upright heart of integrity and doing everything that I've commanded you and keeping my statutes and ordinances, 


text:
then I'll make your royal throne secure forever, just as I agreed to do so for your father David when I said, «You are to not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'


text:
But if you or your descendants abandon me, and do not keep my commandments and statutes that I have given to you, and if you go away, serve other gods, and worship them, 


text:
then I will eliminate Israel from the land that I gave them and from the Temple that I've consecrated for my name. I will throw them out of my sight, and Israel will become the butt of jokes <n>{Lit. become an object of mockery}</n> and a means of ridicule among people worldwide! 


text:
"This Temple will become a pile of ruins. Everyone who passes by it will be so astounded that they will ask, «Why did the Lord do this to this land and to this Temple? '


text:
They will answer, «Because they abandoned the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and served them. That's why the Lord has brought all of this disaster on them.»" 


text:
<n>{Solomon Cedes Cities to Hiram}</n> d It took 20 years for Solomon to finish working on the two houses the Lord's Temple and the royal palace 


text:
after which King Solomon gave Hiram 20 cities in the land of Galilee, because King Hiram of Tyre had provided Solomon with as much cedar, cypress timber, and gold that he wanted. 


text:
Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, but he wasn't happy with them, 


text:
so he asked him, "What are these cities that you have given to me, my brother?" That's why these cities were named "the land of Cabal" <n>{The Heb. name Cabul means as good as nothing}</n> to this day. 


text:
Then Hiram paid the king 9,000 <n>{Lit. 120 talents ; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> pounds of gold. 


text:
<n>{Solomon's Other Accomplishments}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 8:3-16)}</n> d Here is a summary of the conscripted labor that King Solomon required to build the Lord's Temple, his royal palace, the terrace ramparts in the city of David, <n>{Lit. the Millo , fortified areas of ancient Jerusalem with terraces and retaining walls}</n> the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 


text:
Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had attacked and captured Gezer, burned it down, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and then gave it as a dowry for his daughter, Solomon's wife. 


text:
along with the storage cities that Solomon used for his chariots and for his cavalry, everything that Solomon felt like building in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in every territory under his control. 


text:
The people who survived from the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not related to the Israelis, 


text:
and whose descendants had survived them and continued to live in the land because the Israelis were unable to completely eliminate them, Solomon placed under conscripted labor, a situation that remains in effect to this day. 


text:
However, Solomon did not force Israelis into conscripted labor, but they did serve as his soldiers, servants, princes, captains, chariot commanders, and cavalry. 


text:
There were 550 chief officers who supervised Solomon's activities and managed the staff that was doing the work. 


text:
As soon as Pharaoh's daughter arrived from the city of David to live in her house that Solomon <n>{Lit. he}</n> had built for her, then he fortified the terrace ramparts in the city of David. <n>{Lit. the Millo , fortified areas of ancient Jerusalem with terraces and retaining walls}</n> 


text:
Three times every year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar that he had built to the Lord , burning incense with the offerings in the presence of the Lord. This concludes the record of the Temple construction. 


text:
<n>{Solomon's Business Ventures}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 8:17-18)}</n> d King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Reed <n>{So MT; LXX reads Red}</n> Sea in the land of Edom. 


text:
Hiram sent his servants to sail with the fleet, since they were expert seamen, and so they accompanied Solomon's servants. 


text:
They sailed as far as Ophir <n>{Or as a source of fine gold ; cf. 1Chr 29:4}</n> and brought back 31,500 pounds <n>{Lit. 420 talents ; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> of gold for Solomon. 


text:
<n>{The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 9:1-28)}</n> d When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's reputation with the Lord , she came to test him <n>{Lit. Solomon}</n> with difficult questions. 


text:
She brought along a large retinue, camels laden with spices, and lots of gold and precious stones. Upon her arrival, she spoke with Solomon about everything that was on her mind. <n>{Lit. was with her heart}</n> 


text:
Solomon answered all of her questions. Nothing was hidden from Solomon that he did not explain to her. 


text:
When the queen of Sheba had seen all of Solomon's wisdom for herself, the palace that he had built, 


text:
the food set at his table, his servants who sat with him, his ministers in attendance and how they were dressed, his personal staff <n>{Lit. his cupbearers}</n> and how they were dressed, and even his personal stairway by which he went up to the Lord's Temple, she was breathless! 


text:
"but I didn't believe it at first! But then I came here and I've seen it for myself! It's amazing! I wasn't told half of what's really great about your wisdom. You're far better in person than what the reports have said about you! 


text:
How blessed are your staff! And how blessed are your employees who serve you continuously and get to listen to your wisdom! 


text:
Blessed be the Lord your God, who is delighted with you! He set you in place on the throne of Israel because the Lord loved Israel forever. That's why he made you to be king, so you could carry out justice and implement righteousness." 


text:
Then she gave the king 9,000 pounds <n>{Lit. 120 talents ; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> of gold, a vast quantity of spices, and precious stones. No spices ever came again that were comparable to those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 


text:
Hiram's ships that brought gold from Ophir, <n>{Or from a source of fine gold ; cf. 1Chr 29:4}</n> also brought from Ophir <n>{Or from a source of fine gold ; cf. 1Chr 29:4}</n> lots of algum wood <n>{Or presented Juniper trees}</n> and precious stones. 


text:
The king used the algum wood <n>{Or the Juniper trees}</n> to have supports made for the Lord's Temple and for the royal palace, as well as lyres and harps for the choir, <n>{Lit. singers}</n> and nothing like that wood <n>{The Heb. lacks wood}</n> has ever come again or even been seen since right to this day. 


text:
In return, King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and had requested in addition to what he had given her consistent with his generosity. Afterward, she returned to her own land with her servants. 


text:
<n>{Solomon's Wealth}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 1:14-17; 10:13-28)}</n> d Solomon received annually about 49,950 <n>{Lit. 666 talents ; a talent weighed about 75 pounds}</n> pounds of gold, 


text:
not including revenue from traders, merchants, and from all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land. 


text:
King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, overlaying each large shield with the gold from 600 gold pieces, <n>{MT does not identify the individual unit of measure}</n> 


text:
and 300 shields from beaten gold, overlaying each shield with the gold from 300 gold pieces. <n>{MT does not identify the individual unit of measure}</n> The king put them in his palace in the Lebanon forest. 


text:
Six steps led up to the throne, which had a round canopy fastened to the rear of the throne and armrests on each side of the seat and two lions standing on either side of each armrest. 


text:
Twelve lions were placed on both sides of the six steps leading to the throne, <n>{The Heb. lacks leading to the throne}</n> and nothing comparable was made for any other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> kingdoms. 


text:
All of King Solomon's drinking vessels were made of <n>{The Heb. lacks made of}</n> gold, and all the vessels in his palace in the Lebanon forest were made of <n>{The Heb. lacks made of}</n> pure gold. None were of silver, because silver was never considered to be valuable during Solomon's lifetime, 


text:
because the king had ships that sailed to Tarshish accompanied by Hiram's ships. Once every three years ships from Tarshish returned, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 


text:
As a result, King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in regards to wealth and wisdom. 


text:
All the earth continued to seek audiences with Solomon so they could hear the wise things that God had put in his heart. 


text:
Everyone kept on bringing gifts on an annual basis, including items made of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules. 


text:
Solomon accumulated chariots and cavalry. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 cavalry soldiers. He stationed them in various chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 


text:
The king made silver as common as <n>{The Heb. lacks as common as}</n> stones in Jerusalem, and made cedar trees as abundant as sycamore trees in the Shephelah. <n>{I.e. the verdant central lowlands of Israel; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> 


text:
Solomon imported horses from Egypt and Kue, and the king's buyers procured them at market price from Kue. 


text:
A chariot from Egypt cost 600 pieces <n>{The denomination of silver coin is not specified.}</n> of silver, and a horse 150 pieces of silver, <n>{The Heb. lacks pieces of silver}</n> but then they were exported to all the Hittite kings and to the Aramean kings. 


text:
<n>{Solomon's Forbidden Marriages and Idolatry}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 9:1-28)}</n> d But King Solomon married <n>{Lit. loved}</n> many foreign women besides the daughter of Pharaoh: women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidonia, along with Hittite women, too, 


text:
all of them from nations that the Lord had ordered the Israelis, "You are not to associate with <n>{Lit. to go in to}</n> them and they are not to associate with you, because they will most certainly turn your affections <n>{Lit. hearts}</n> away to follow their gods." Solomon became deeply attached to them by falling in love. 


text:
He had 700 princess wives and 300 mistresses <n>{Or concubines ; i.e. secondary wives}</n> who <n>{Lit. mistresses, and his wives}</n> turned his heart away from the Lord, <n>{The Heb. lacks from the Lord}</n> 


text:
because as Solomon grew older, his wives turned his affections away after other gods, and his heart was not fully as devoted to the Lord his God as his father David's heart had been. 


text:
Solomon practiced what the Lord considered to be evil by not fully following the Lord , as had his father David. 


text:
Later, Solomon even constructed a high place on the mountain east of Jerusalem that was dedicated to Chemosh, that detestable Moabite idol, and to Molech, the detestable Ammonite idol. 


text:
Solomon <n>{Lit. He}</n> did this for all of his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their own gods. 


text:
The Lord became angry at Solomon because his heart wandered away from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice <n>{Cf. 1King 3:5, 9:2}</n> 


text:
and warned him about this so he would not pursue other gods. But he did not obey what the Lord had commanded, 


text:
so the Lord told Solomon, "Because you have done this and haven't kept my covenant and statutes that I commanded you, I'm going to tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant. 


text:
I'm not going to do this during your lifetime, for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of your son's control. <n>{Lit. hand}</n> 


text:
For the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, I won't tear away the entire kingdom. I'll leave one tribe for your son to govern." <n>{The Heb. lacks to govern}</n> 


text:
<n>{Solomon's Enemies}</n> d After this, the Lord allowed <n>{Lit. raised up}</n> Hadad the Edomite to oppose Solomon. He was part of the royal line of Edom. 


text:
During David's military campaign against Edom, when his army commander Joab had gone out to bury the dead, he killed every male in Edom. 


text:
Joab had his entire army of Israel stay there for six months until he had eliminated every male in Edom. 


text:
But Hadad escaped to Egypt in the company of some of his father's Edomite servants, while Hadad was still a little child. 


text:
They left Midian, arrived in Paran, and left from Paran with some men and traveled on to Egypt, where Pharaoh, king of Egypt, gave him a house to live in, assigned a food allotment to him, and gave him some land. 


text:
Hadad won the affection of the Pharaoh, who gave permission for Hadad to marry the sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes. 


text:
Queen Tahpenes'sister bore him his son Genubath, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's palace while Genubath lived in Pharaoh's palace with the Pharaoh's own sons. 


text:
Later on, Hadad learned in Egypt that David had been buried <n>{Lit. had slept}</n> with his ancestors and that Joab the army commander was dead. So Hadad asked Pharaoh, "Please send me out so I can go back to my own land." 


text:
Pharaoh asked him, "But have you lacked anything from me that would make you want to go back to your own country?" "No," he answered, "but I still really must leave." 


text:
He raised an army and commanded a gang of raiders after David had eliminated those who lived in Zobah. Rezon and his army <n>{Lit. They}</n> moved to Damascus, remained there, and Rezon ruled from Damascus. 


text:
He opposed Israel during Solomon's entire reign, in addition to all of the evil things that Hadad did. Rezon <n>{Lit. He}</n> also hated Israel while he reigned over Aram. 


text:
<n>{Jeroboam Rebels against Solomon}</n> d Solomon had a servant, Nebat's son Jeroboam, who was an Ephraimite from Zeredah. His widowed mother was named Zeruah. Jeroboam rebelled against Solomon, 


text:
and this is why he rose in rebellion against the king: Solomon had built up the terrace ramparts <n>{Lit. the Millo , fortified areas of ancient Jerusalem with terraces and retaining walls}</n> in the city of his father David in order to repair a weakness. 


text:
Jeroboam was a valiant soldier, and because Solomon observed that the young man was able to get things done, he set him in charge over all of the conscripted labor from the household of Joseph. 


text:
During that time, Jeroboam left Jerusalem and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road. Ahijah had wrapped himself up in a new cloak, and both of them were alone on the open road. 


text:
Then he told Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself, because this is what the Lord God of Israel says: «Pay attention! I'm going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's control <n>{Lit. hand}</n> and give you ten tribes. 


text:
I'll leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and one tribe <n>{The Heb. lacks one tribe}</n> for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I chose from all of the tribes of Israel. 


text:
I'm doing this <n>{The Heb. lacks I'm doing this}</n> because they have abandoned me and worshipped that Sidonian goddess Astarte, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Milcom. They haven't lived my way by doing what I consider to be right and observing my statutes and my ordinances, like his father David did. 


text:
«Nevertheless, I won't take the entire kingdom away from him, but I'll let him reign for the rest of his life, because of my servant David, whom I chose, who obeyed my commandments and statutes, 


text:
but I will take the kingdom away from his son's control <n>{Lit. hand}</n> and give ten tribes to you. 


text:
I'll give one tribe to his son, so my servant David will always have a light shining in my presence in Jerusalem, the city that I chose for myself and where I have placed my name. 


text:
If you listen to everything that I command you to do, and if you live your life my way, <n>{Lit. you walk in my ways}</n> and if you do what I consider to be right by observing my statutes and my commandments, just like my servant David did, then I will be with you, I will build an enduring dynasty for you, <n>{Lit. enduring house}</n> just like I did for David, and I'll give Israel to you. 


text:
This is how I'm going to afflict David's descendants because of what they have done, though I won't do it continuously.»" 


text:
That's why Solomon tried to execute Jeroboam, but Jeroboam got up and fled to Egypt, where he lived as a guest of King Shishak and remained until Solomon had died. 


text:
<n>{The Death of Solomon}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 9:29-31)}</n> d Now the rest of Solomon's accomplishments, including everything else he did, as well as records of <n>{The Heb. lacks records of}</n> his wisdom, are recorded in the Book of the Acts of Solomon, are they not? 


text:
Then Solomon died, as had <n>{Lit. Solomon slept with}</n> his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam reigned in his place. 


text:
<n>{Secession of the Northern Tribes}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 10:1-19)}</n> d Rehoboam traveled to Shechem because all of Israel went there to install him as king. 


text:
Nebat's son Jeroboam heard about it while he was still in Egypt, where he had fled to get away from King Solomon. Jeroboam returned from Egypt 


text:
after being summoned. When Jeroboam and the entire assembly of Israel arrived, they spoke to Rehoboam, 


text:
"Your father made our burdens unbearable. <n>{Lit. our yoke heavy}</n> Therefore lighten your father's requirements and his heavy burdens that he placed on us, and we'll serve you." 


text:
while King Rehoboam conferred with his advisors who had worked for his father Solomon during his administration. He asked them, "What is your advice as to how I should respond to these people?" 


text:
They advised him, "If today you are a servant, you will serve this people by answering them and speaking kindly to them. Then they will serve you forever." 


text:
But Rehoboam <n>{Lit. he}</n> ignored the counsel that his elder advisors had given him. Instead, he consulted the younger men who had grown up with him and who worked for <n>{Lit. who stood before}</n> him. 


text:
As a result, he asked them, "What's your advice so that we can give an answer to these people who have asked me, «Please lighten the burden that your father put on us.'?" 


text:
"This is what you should tell these people who asked you «Your father made our burden heavy, but you must make it lighter for us!»" the young men who grew up with Rehoboam <n>{Lit. him}</n> replied. "Tell them, «My little finger will be thicker than my father's whole body! <n>{Lit. father's loin}</n> 


text:
Not only that, but since my father loaded you down heavily, I'm going to add to that burden. My father disciplined you with whips, but I'm going to discipline you with scorpions!»" 


text:
So Jeroboam and all the people went back to Rehoboam on the third day, just as they had been directed when the king said, "Come back again in three days." 


text:
But the king gave the people a harsh response, because he was ignoring the counsel that his elders had given him. 


text:
Instead, Rehoboam <n>{Lit. he}</n> spoke to them along the lines of what the younger men suggested. He told them "My father burdened you heavily, but I will add to that burden. If my father disciplined you with whips, I'm going to discipline you with scorpions!" 


text:
The king would not listen to the people, because the turn of events was from the Lord , to fulfill his prediction that the Lord spoke by means of Ahijah the Shilonite to Nebat's son Jeroboam 


text:
When all of Israel saw that the king wasn't listening to them, the people responded to the king's message, "What's the point in following David? We have no inheritance in the descendants of Jesse. Let's go home, <n>{Lit. Each man to his tent}</n> Israel! David, take care of your own household!'So Israel left for home. <n>{Lit. left for their tents}</n> 


text:
King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of conscripted labor, but all of Israel stoned him to death, and King Rehoboam had to jump in his chariot and flee back in a hurry to Jerusalem. 


text:
<n>{Jeroboam Reigns over Israel}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 11:1-4)}</n> d Now when all of Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent for him and invited him to visit their assembly, where they installed him as king over all of Israel. Nobody (with the sole exception of the tribe of Judah) would align with David's dynasty. 


text:
As soon as Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he assembled 180,000 elite soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, intending to attack the dynasty of Israel and restore the kingdom to Solomon's son Rehoboam. 


text:
"Tell Solomon's son Rehoboam, king of Judah, all the dynasty of Judah, Benjamin, and the rest of the people, 


text:
«This is what the Lord says: "You are not to fight or even approach your fellow Israelis in battle. Every soldier is to return to his own home, because this development comes from me."»" So they listened to what the Lord had to say and returned home, <n>{The Heb. lacks home}</n> just as the Lord had directed. 


text:
<n>{Jeroboam's Idolatry}</n> d Later on, Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. He also expanded from there and built Penuel. 


text:
Jeroboam was thinking to himself, "The kingdom is about to return to David's control. <n>{Lit. house}</n> 


text:
If these people keep going up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord there, the hearts of these people will return to their lord, King Rehoboam of Judah. Then they'll kill me and return to Rehoboam, king of Judah!" 


text:
So the king sought some advice and then built two golden calves and announced, "It's too difficult for you to travel to Jerusalem. So here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!" 


text:
Doing this was sinful, because the people traveled as far as Dan to appear before one of their idols. <n>{The Heb. lacks of their idols}</n> 


text:
Jeroboam <n>{Lit. He}</n> built temples on the high places, and appointed his own priests from the fringe elements of the people who were not descendants of Levi. 


text:
Jeroboam invented a festival for the fifteenth day of the eighth month similar to the festival that takes place in Judah. He approached the altar that he had set up in Bethel and sacrificed to the calves that he had made, having stationed in Bethel the priests that he had appointed. 


text:
Then, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, he went up to burn incense on the altar that he had set up in Bethel, thus beginning the festival that he had made up out of his own heart for the Israelis. 


text:
<n>{Josiah's Desecration Predicted by a Man of God}</n> d Right when Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn some incense, a man of God arrived in Bethel from Judah in obedience to a command from the Lord . 


text:
He cursed <n>{Or rebuked}</n> the altar in this <n>{Lit. a}</n> message from the Lord : "Hey altar! Hey altar! This is what the Lord says: «Pay attention to this! A son is going to be born in David's dynasty. His name will be Josiah. He will sacrifice the priests who burn incense on you in these high places. Human bones will be burned on you!»" <n>{Cf. 2King 23:15-16}</n> 


text:
Later that same day, he gave them a special display of power <n>{Or a sign}</n> of what was to come when he said, "Here's proof <n>{Or Here's a sign}</n> that the Lord has decreed this: <n>{Lit. spoken}</n> Look! This altar will be split apart and the ashes that are on it will spill out." 


text:
When he heard the man of God curse <n>{Or rebuke}</n> the altar in Bethel, the king pointed at the man of God from where the king was standing at the altar. "Seize him!" he ordered. But all of a sudden his hand that he had stretched out dried up, and he could not bring it back to his side! 


text:
Also, the altar broke apart and the ashes that were on it spilled out from the altar, providing just the proof that the man of God had predicted in his message from the Lord ! 


text:
"Please!" the king begged the man of God, "Ask the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored for me!" So the man of God asked the Lord , and the king's hand was immediately and fully restored, just like it had been before. 


text:
So the king told the man of God, "Come back to my palace and rest a while. I'd like to give you a reward." 


text:
But the man of God replied to the king, "Even if you were to offer me half of your house, I wouldn't go with you, and I'm sure not going to eat even a piece of bread or drink water in this place, 


text:
because the Lord commanded me specifically, «You are not to eat bread, drink water, or return by the way that you came to arrive here!»" 


text:
<n>{An Old Prophet Rebukes the Man of God}</n> d Now there was an old prophet who lived in Bethel, and his sons went to him and told him everything that the man of God had accomplished that day in Bethel, including the message that he had delivered to the king. 


text:
"Which way did he go?" their father asked him, since his sons had observed the way that the man of God had taken to return to Judah from Bethel. 


text:
"Saddle my donkey for me!" he ordered. <n>{The Heb. lacks he ordered}</n> So they saddled the donkey for him 


text:
and he rode off after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak tree. <n>{or under a terebinth tree ; i.e. an oak tree used in idol worship}</n> "You're the man of God who came from Judah, aren't you?" the old prophet <n>{Lit. He}</n> asked him. "I am," he replied. 


text:
But he replied, "I can't go back with you to your home, be in your company, or even eat food or drink water with you in this place, 


text:
because I've been given a command in the form of this message from the Lord : «You are to eat no food, drink no water, and do not return to Judah <n>{The Heb. lacks to Judah}</n> by traveling the way by which you go there.»" 


text:
"I'm a prophet like you," the old man replied, "and an angel spoke to me and delivered this message from the Lord : «Bring him back with you to your house and give him food and water.»" But he was lying, 


text:
and the man of God <n>{Lit. So he}</n> accompanied the old prophet <n>{Lit. accompanied him}</n> back to his house, ate some food, and drank some water. 


text:
Later, while they were sitting down at the table, a message from the Lord was delivered to the prophet who had brought him back, 


text:
so he cried out to the man of God from Judah: "This is what the Lord says: «Because you disobeyed a command from the Lord and haven't done what the Lord your God commanded you to do, 


text:
but instead you returned to eat and drink in the very place that he told you "Eat no food and drink no water," your body will not be buried in the same grave as your ancestors.»" 


text:
<n>{A Lion Kills the Man of God}</n> d After the meal was over, and the man had eaten food and had drunk water, the old prophet saddled the donkey for him that is, for the man of God whom he had brought back. 


text:
Not long after the man of God <n>{Lit. after he}</n> had left, a lion met him along the road and killed him. His body was left lying in the middle of the road with the donkey standing beside it and with the lion also standing next to the body. 


text:
When some men passed by and noticed the body lying in the middle of the road and the lion standing beside the body, they went straight to the city and told what had happened in the city where the old prophet lived. 


text:
The prophet who had brought the man of God <n>{Lit. brought him}</n> back from the road learned about it. "It's the man of God who disobeyed the message from the Lord ," he said. "That's why the Lord gave him to that lion, which mauled him and killed him, just as the message from the Lord told rebuke him." 


text:
The old prophet <n>{Lit. He}</n> went out, located the body on the road where the donkey and the lion were standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body nor mauled the donkey. 


text:
The prophet picked up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to the city where the old man lived so he could mourn and bury him. 


text:
He buried the corpse in his own grave and his family mourned for him, crying out, "Oh, no! My brother!" 


text:
After he had buried the man of God, <n>{Lit. buried him}</n> he gave these instructions to his children: "When I die, bury me in the same grave in which the man of God is buried. Place my bones beside his, 


text:
because what he predicted by a message from the Lord against the altar in Bethel and the temples built in the high places of the cities of Samaria will certainly come about." 


text:
Despite everything that happened, Jeroboam never did repent of his evil practices. Instead, he appointed even more people to act as priests for the high places. Anyone who wanted to be a priest was ordained to be a priest in the high places. 


text:
This practice became so sinful that the Lord decided <n>{The Heb. lacks that the Lord decided}</n> to erase Jeroboam's dynasty, thus eliminating it from the face of the earth. 


text:
so Jeroboam suggested to his wife, "Get up, disguise yourself so that no one will know that you're Jeroboam's wife, and go to Shiloh where the prophet Ahijah lives. He's the one who told me that I would be king over this people. 


text:
Take ten loaves with you, some <n>{Lit. loaves in your hand}</n> cakes, and a jar of honey and go visit him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy." 


text:
So that's what Jeroboam's wife did. She got up, went to Shiloh, and found Ahijah's home. Ahijah was blind, because his eyes could not focus <n>{Lit. eyes were set}</n> due to his age. 


text:
Meanwhile, the Lord had spoken to Ahijah, "Be on your guard! Jeroboam's wife is coming to ask you about her son, because he is ill. You're to say such and such to her. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else!" 


text:
When she arrived, Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came through the doorway. He said this to her: "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. What is this pretension at being someone else? I have some harsh news. <n>{The Heb. lacks news}</n> 


text:
Go tell Jeroboam: «I raised you up from among the people. «I made you Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over my people Israel. 


text:
«I tore the kingdom away from David's dynasty. «Then I gave it to you. But you have not lived like my servant David, who kept my commands with all his heart, and did only what I considered to be right. 


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«Instead, you have done more evil than everyone who lived before you. «You have gone out and crafted other gods for yourself. «You made cast images. «You have provoked me to anger. «You have thrown me behind your back. 


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«Therefore, watch while I bring calamity on Jeroboam's dynasty! «I will eliminate every male, <n>{Lit. everyone who urinates against a wall}</n> both slave and free in Israel, from Jeroboam. «I will burn up Jeroboam's dynasty, as a man burns up manure until it is gone. 


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Dogs will eat anyone who dies in the city that belongs to Jeroboam's household. The birds of the sky will eat anyone who dies in the open field, because the Lord has determined it.'


text:
Everyone in Israel will mourn for him and will bury him, because he alone from Jeroboam's family will receive a decent burial, because something good was observed in him with respect to the Lord God of Israel out of all the household of Jeroboam! 


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"In addition to this, the Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who will eliminate Jeroboam's dynasty, starting today and from now on. 


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The Lord will attack Israel, and Israel will shake like a reed shakes in a river current! He will uproot Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors and he will scatter them beyond the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River, because they erected their Asherim <n>{I.e. cultic pillars erected in worship to Canaanite deities}</n> and provoked the Lord to become angry! 


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He will give up Israel because of Jeroboam's sins that he committed and by which Jeroboam <n>{Lit. he}</n> caused Israel to sin." 


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Then Jeroboam's wife got up and left for Tirzah. As soon as she set foot over the threshold of the house, the child died. 


text:
All of Israel mourned him at his burial, just as the Lord had said when he spoke through Ahijah the prophet. 


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<n>{The Death of Jeroboam}</n> d Now as for the rest of Jeroboam's accomplishments, including how he waged war and how he reigned, you may read about them in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 


text:
Jeroboam reigned for 22 years and then died, as had his ancestors, and his son Nadab reigned in his place. 


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<n>{Rehoboam Reigns over Judah}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 11:5-12:6)}</n> d Meanwhile, Solomon's son Rehoboam reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king, and he reigned for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city where the Lord had chosen from all the tribes of Israel to place his Name. His mother was an Ammonite named Naamah. 


text:
Judah practiced what the Lord considered to be evil. They did more to provoke him to jealousy than their ancestors had ever done by committing the sins that they committed. 


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They erected high places, sacred pillars, and Asherim <n>{I.e. cultic pillars erected in worship to Canaanite deities}</n> for themselves on every high hill and under every green tree. 


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They even maintained male shrine prostitutes throughout the land, and imitated every detestable practice that the nations practiced whom the Lord had expelled in front of the Israelis. 


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As a result, during the fifth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Rehoboam, King Shishak of Egypt invaded and attacked Jerusalem. 


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He stripped the Lord's Temple and the royal palace of their treasures. He took everything, even the gold shields that Solomon had made. 


text:
King Rehoboam made shields out of bronze to take their place, and then committed them to the care and custody of the commanders of those who guarded the entrance to the royal palace. 


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Whenever the king entered the Lord's Temple, the guards would carry them to and from the guard's quarters. 


text:
As to the rest of Rehoboam's accomplishments, and everything else that he undertook, they are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, aren't they? 


text:
but eventually Rehoboam died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His mother's name had been Naamah the Ammonite, and his son Abijah became king to replace him. 


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<n>{Abijah's Reign over Judah}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 13:1-14:1)}</n> d Abijah reigned over Judah starting in the eighteenth year of Nebat's son Jeroboam's reign. 


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He practiced the same sins that his father committed before he was born. Unlike his ancestor David, his heart never became devoted to the Lord his God. 


text:
Nevertheless, for the sake of David, the Lord his God maintained a lamp for David <n>{Lit. him}</n> in Jerusalem by raising up his son after him so that Jerusalem would be established, 


text:
because David had practiced what the Lord considered to be right. He never avoided anything that the Lord had commanded him during his entire lifetime, except for the case of Uriah the Hittite. 


text:
There was continual military conflict between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout his entire lifetime. 


text:
The rest of Abijah's accomplishments, including everything he undertook, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? And a state of war continued to exist between Abijah and Jeroboam. 


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Eventually, Abijah died, as did his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king. 


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<n>{Asa Reigns over Judah}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 14:1-15:19)}</n> d Asa began to reign as Judah's king during the twentieth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Jeroboam as king over Israel. 


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He also removed the male cult prostitutes <n>{Or sodomites}</n> from the land and destroyed all the idols that his ancestors had made. 


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He removed his mother Maacah from her position as Queen Mother because she had made a detestable image dedicated to Asherah. <n>{I.e. cultic pillars erected in worship to Canaanite deities}</n> Asa cut down his mother's idol, crushed it, and burned it at the Kidron Brook. 


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Nevertheless, the high places were not removed, even though Asa's heart was blameless toward the Lord all of his life. 


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Asa brought into the Lord's Temple the things that his father had dedicated, as well as his own dedicated gifts such as silver, gold, and temple service <n>{The Heb. lacks temple service}</n> implements. 


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<n>{Alliances with Aram against Israel}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 16:1-17:1)}</n> d A state of continual military unrest existed between Asa and King Baasha of Israel throughout their lifetimes. 


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King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and interdicted Ramah by building fortifications around it so no one could enter or leave to join King Asa of Judah. 


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But Asa removed all the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord's Temple and from his royal palace, placed them into the care of some servants, and then sent them to Tabrimmon's son King Ben-hadad of Aram, the grandson of Hezion, who lived in Damascus. 


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"Let's make a treaty between you and me," he said, "just like the one between my father and your father. Notice that I've sent you silver and gold to break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he'll retreat from his attack <n>{The Heb. lacks his attack}</n> on me." 


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So King Ben-hadad did just what King Asa had asked: he sent his commanding officers to attack the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, all of Chinneroth, <n>{I.e. the region encompassing the Sea of Galilee}</n> and the territory of Naphtali. 


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so King Asa published a proclamation throughout Judah (no one was left out) and they carried away the stones and timber with which Baasha had been fortifying Judah. King Asa used them to fortify Geba in Benjamin and Mizpah. 


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The rest of Asa's accomplishments, his strength, everything that he undertook, and the cities that he fortified are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? However, as he approached old age, he became diseased in his feet. 


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Then Asa died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, his ancestor. His son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place. 


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<n>{Nadab Reigns over Israel}</n> d Jeroboam's son Nadab became king over Israel during the second year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Asa over Judah. He reigned over Israel for two years, 


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practicing what the Lord considered to be evil, living the way his father did, committing sins, and leading Israel to sin. 


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So Ahijah's son Baasha from the household of Issachar conspired against him and killed Nadab at Gibbethon in Philistia while Nadab and all of Israel were attacking Gibbethon. 


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Baasha killed him during the third year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Asa of Judah and took Nadab's <n>{Lit. his}</n> place as king. 


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As soon as he was established as king, he killed everyone in the household of Jeroboam. He left not even one single person alive. He destroyed them completely, just as the Lord had spoken through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite, <n>{Cf. 1King 14:7-16}</n> 


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because of the sins that Jeroboam had committed, and because he led Israel into sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to become angry. 


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Now the rest of Nadab's accomplishments, including everything he undertook, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


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Meanwhile, a state of war continued to exist between Asa and Baasha king of Israel, throughout their reigns. 


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<n>{Baasha Reigns over Israel}</n> d During the third year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Asa of Judah, Ahijah's son Baasha became king over all of Israel. He reigned for 24 years at Tirzah. 


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He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, living like Jeroboam did and leading Israel into sin. 


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<n>{Jehu Rebukes Baasha}</n> d Later, a message came from the Lord to Hanani's son Jehu. It was directed to rebuke Baasha, and this is what it said: 


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I raised you from the dirt to become Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over my people Israel, but you've been living like Jeroboam, you've been leading my people Israel into sin, and you've been provoking me to anger with their sins. 


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So watch out! I'm going to devour Baasha and his household. I'm going to make your household just like the household of Jeroboam, Nebat's son. 


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Anyone from Baasha's household <n>{The Heb. lacks household}</n> who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the sky will eat." 


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Now the rest of Baasha's accomplishments, including everything that he undertook, as well as his strengths, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


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Eventually, Baasha died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah was installed as king in his place. 


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In addition, a message from the Lord came through Hanani's son Jehu the prophet against Baasha and his household, not only because of all of the things that Baasha <n>{Lit. he}</n> did that the Lord considered to be evil, including provoking the Lord <n>{Lit. him}</n> to anger by what he did and by being like the household of Jeroboam, but also because Baasha <n>{Lit. he}</n> had destroyed Jeroboam's household. <n>{Lit. destroyed it}</n> 


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<n>{Elah Reigns over Israel}</n> d During the twenty-sixth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Asa of Judah, Baasha's son Elah became king over Israel and reigned at Tirzah for two years. 


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But his servant Zimri, who commanded half of his chariot forces, conspired against Elah while he was drinking himself drunk in the home of Arza, who managed the household at Tirzah. 


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Zimri went inside, attacked him, and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Asa of Judah, and then became king in Elah's place. 


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As soon as he had consolidated his reign, he executed the entire household of Baasha. He did not leave a single male alive, including any of Baasha's relatives or friends. 


text:
In doing so, Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha, in keeping with the message from the Lord that he had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet 


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because of all the sins that Baasha and his son Elah had committed and because of what they did to lead Israel into sin, thus provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idolatry. 


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Now the rests of Elah's accomplishments, including everything he undertook, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


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<n>{Zimri Reigns over Israel}</n> d Zimri reigned for seven days at Tirzah during the twenty-seventh year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Asa of Judah. At that time, the army was encamped in a siege against Gibbethon of Philistia. 


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The army at the encampment heard this report: "Zimri has conspired against the king and killed him." So the entire army of <n>{The Heb. lacks army of}</n> Israel made Omri, their commander, king over Israel. 


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Then Omri and the entire army of <n>{The Heb. lacks army of}</n> Israel left from Gibbethon and attacked Tirzah. 


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When Zimri observed that the city had been captured, he retreated into the king's palace, set fire to the citadel, and died when the palace burned down around him 


text:
because of the sins that he committed by doing what the Lord considered to be evil, living like Jeroboam did, and sinning so as to lead Israel into sin. 


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The rest of Zimri's accomplishments, including his conspiracy that he carried out, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


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<n>{Omri Reigns over Israel and Builds Samaria}</n> d The army <n>{Or people}</n> of Israel was divided into two parties: half of the army <n>{Or people}</n> were loyal to Ginath's son Tibni and wanted to make him king, and half were loyal to Omri. 


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But the army <n>{Or people}</n> that was loyal to Omri was victorious over Ginath's son Tibni. Tibni later died and Omri became king. 


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During the thirty-first year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Asa of Judah, Omri became king over Israel. He reigned for twelve years, six of them at Tirzah. 


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He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, fortified the hill, and named the city Samaria after Shemer, the former owner of the hill. 


text:
Omri practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, doing far more evil than anyone who had reigned before him. 


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He lived just like Nebat's son Jeroboam, and by his sin he led Israel into sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel with their idolatry. 


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Now the rest of Omri's accomplishments, including the power that he demonstrated, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


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So Omri died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place. 


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<n>{Ahab Reigns over Israel and Marries Jezebel}</n> d Omri's son Ahab became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa of Judah. He <n>{Lit. Omri's son Ahab}</n> reigned over Israel in Samaria for 22 years. 


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Omri's son Ahab practiced more of what the Lord considered to be evil than anyone who had lived before him. 


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In fact, as if it were nothing for him to live like Nebat's son Jeroboam, Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Then he went out to serve Baal and worship him. 


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Ahab also erected an Asherah, doing more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all of the kings of Israel who had reigned before him. 


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It was during Ahab's reign that Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations just as his firstborn son Abiram was dying, and he erected its gates while his youngest son Segub was dying, thus fulfilling the message that the Lord delivered through Nun's son Joshua. <n>{Cf. Josh 6:26}</n> 


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<n>{Elijah Calls for a Drought}</n> d Elijah the foreigner, <n>{Lit. Tishbite ; or sojourner}</n> who was an alien resident from Gilead, told Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, in whose presence I'm standing, there will be neither dew nor rain these next several years, except when I say so." 


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"Leave here and go into hiding at the Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> Cherith, where it enters the Jordan River. <n>{The Heb. lacks River ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> 


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So Elijah <n>{Lit. he}</n> left and did exactly what the Lord had told him to do he went to live near the Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> Cherith, where it enters the Jordan River. 


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Crows would bring him bread and meat both in the morning and in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. 


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But after a while, <n>{Lit. But at the end of days}</n> the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 


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<n>{Elijah Visits the Widowed Mother of Zarephath}</n> d Then this message came to him from the Lord: 


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"Get up, move to Zarephath in Sidon, and stay there. Look! I've commanded a widow to sustain you there." 


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So he got up and went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance to the city, a widow was there gathering sticks. So he asked her, "Please, may I have some water in a cup so I can have a drink." 


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While she was on her way to get the water, he called out to her, "Would you please also bring me a piece of bread while you're at it?" <n>{Lit. bread in your hand}</n> 


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"As the Lord your God lives," she replied, "I don't have so much as a muffin, just a handful of flour in a bowl and some oil left in a bottle. Now I'm going to find some sticks so I can cook a last meal for my son and for me. Then we're going to eat it and die." 


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But Elijah told her, "You can stop being afraid. Go and do what you said, but first make me a muffin and bring it to me. Then make a meal for yourself and for your son, 


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because this is what the Lord God of Israel says: «That jar of flour will not run out, nor will that bottle of oil become empty until the very day that the Lord sends rain on the surface of the ground.»" 


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So she went out and did precisely what Elijah told her to do. As a result, Elijah, <n>{Lit. he}</n> the widow, <n>{Lit. she}</n> and her son <n>{Lit. household}</n> were fed for days. 


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The jar of flour never ran out and the bottle of oil never became empty, just as the Lord had promised <n>{Lit. spoken}</n> through <n>{Lit. through the hand of}</n> Elijah. 


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<n>{Elijah Restores the Widow's Son}</n> d Sometime later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. In fact, his illness became so severe that he died. <n>{Lit. that no breath remained in him}</n> 


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"What do we have in common, you man of God?" she accused Elijah. "You came to me so you could uncover my guilt! And you're responsible for the death of my son!" 


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"Give me your son," he replied. Then he took him from her lap, carried him upstairs to the room where he lived, and laid him on his bed. 


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Then he called out to the Lord and asked him, "Lord my God, have you also brought evil to this dear widow with whom I am living as her guest? Have you caused the death of her son?" 


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Then he stretched himself three times and cried out to the Lord , "Lord my God, please cause the soul of this little boy to return to him." 


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Then Elijah took the little boy downstairs from the upper chamber back into the main house and delivered him to his mother. "Look," Elijah told her, "your son is alive." 


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The woman responded to Elijah, "Now at last I've really learned that you are a man of God and that what you have to say about the Lord <n>{Lit. that the word of the Lord in your mouth}</n> is the truth." 


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<n>{Elijah Rebukes Ahab}</n> d Quite some time later three years later! this message from the Lord came to Elijah: "Go visit Ahab, and I'll send some rain to the surface of the ground." 


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had taken 100 prophets and had hidden them by fifties in a cave, providing them with food and water when Jezebel was trying to destroy the Lord's prophets. 


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Ahab had instructed Obadiah, "Go throughout the land to all of the water springs and to all of the valleys. Maybe we'll find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive. Also, maybe we won't have to kill some of our cattle." 


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So they divided the land between them so they could conduct their survey. Ahab went off by himself in one direction and Obadiah went off by himself in the other. 


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While Obadiah was on the road, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him and bowed down with his face to the ground. "It's you, isn't it, my master Elijah?" 


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But Obadiah replied, "What did I do wrong, that you would put me in a position where Ahab would execute me? 


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As surely as the Lord your God lives, there isn't a nation or kingdom where my master hasn't tried to find you. Whenever they would say «He isn't here,'he forced that kingdom or nation to swear that they hadn't seen you. 


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As soon as I've left you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you off to I don't know where! Then when I go tell Ahab and he can't find you, he'll kill me, even though I have been your servant and have feared the Lord since I was young! 


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Hasn't anyone told you, my master, what I did when Jezebel was killing the Lord's prophets? I hid 100 of the Lord's prophets by fifties in a cave and provided food and water for them. 


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But Elijah promised him, "As the Lord of the Heavenly Armies lives, in whose presence I stand, I will appear to Ahab today." 


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But Elijah <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied, "I'm no destroyer of Israel. But you and your ancestor's household have been doing that, because you have abandoned the Lord's commandments and have followed the Baals. 


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So go gather all of Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. Bring along 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah who are funded at Jezebel's expense." <n>{Lit. who eat at Jezebel's table}</n> 


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<n>{Elijah Defeats the Prophets of Baal}</n> d Ahab sent for the Israelis and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel, 


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where Elijah approached all the people and asked them, "How long will you keep hesitating <n>{Lit. dancing ; or limping}</n> between both sides? If the Lord is God, go after him. If Baal, go after him." But the people didn't say a word. 


text:
So Elijah told the people, "I'm the only one left over as a prophet of the Lord , am I? But Baal's prophets number 450 men? 


text:
So let them provide two oxen. They can choose one ox for themselves. Cut it up, lay it on top of some wood, but don't set fire to it. I will prepare the other ox and lay it on top of some wood, and I won't set fire to it. 


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Then you can call on the name of your god, and I'll call on the name of the Lord . Let the God who answers by fire be our God!" "That's a good idea!" all the people shouted. 


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So Elijah told the prophets of Baal, "Choose an ox for yourselves and you prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but don't set fire to the offering." 


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So they took the ox that was given to them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from early morning until noon. "Baal! Answer us!" they cried. But there was no response. Nobody answered. So they kept on dancing <n>{Or limping}</n> around the altar that they had made. 


text:
Starting about noon, Elijah began to tease them: "Shout louder! "He's a god, so maybe he's busy. "Maybe he's relieving himself. "Maybe he's busy someplace. "Maybe he's taking a nap and somebody needs to wake him up." 


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So the prophets of Baal <n>{Lit. So they}</n> cried even louder and slashed themselves with swords and lances until their blood gushed out all over them, as was their custom. 


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They kept on raving right through midday and until it was time to offer the evening sacrifice, but there was still no response. Nobody answered, and nobody paid attention. 


text:
Eventually, Elijah told everybody, "Come here!" So everybody approached him, and he repaired the Lord's altar that had been torn down. 


text:
Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes of Jacob's descendants, to whom the message from the Lord had come that "Israel is to be your name." 


text:
So Elijah used the stones to build an altar to the name of the Lord . But then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two measures <n>{Lit. seahs ; or hold four gallons ; i.e. a trench encircling the altar and wide enough that a container holding about four gallons could be laid inside it}</n> of seed. 


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Then he laid the wood in order, cut the bull into pieces, and laid them on top of the wood. "Fill four pitchers with water," he ordered. "Then pour them out on the burnt offering and the wood." 


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"Do it a second time," he ordered. So they did it a second time. "Do it a third time," he said. So they did it a third time. 


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The water ran down around the altar and completely filled the trench. <n>{Lit. trench with water}</n> 


text:
<n>{Elijah's Prayer and God's Answer by Fire}</n> d As the time for the evening offering arrived, Elijah the prophet approached and said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I, your servant, have done all of this in obedience to your word. 


text:
Answer me, Lord ! Answer me so that this people may know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning back their hearts again." 


text:
Right then the Lord's fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, and even the water that was in the trench! 


text:
When all the people saw what had happened, they fell flat on their faces and cried out "The Lord is God! The Lord is God!" 


text:
But Elijah said, "Arrest the prophets of Baal. Don't let even one of them get away." So the people <n>{Lit. So they}</n> seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> Kishon and executed them there. 


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<n>{The Rain Storm Ends the Drought}</n> d After this, Elijah told Ahab, "Get up and have something to eat and drink, because there's the sound of a coming rainstorm." 


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So Ahab got up to get something to eat and drink while Elijah went back up to the top of Mount <n>{The Heb. lacks Mount}</n> Carmel, where he bowed low to the ground and placed his face between his knees. 


text:
Then he told his young servant, "Go and look toward the sea." So he went and looked out to sea. "Nothing there," he said. But Elijah told him to go back seven times. 


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On the seventh look, he said, "Look! There's a cloud, a small one, about the size of a man's hand. It's coming up out of the sea!" "Get up and find Ahab!" Elijah <n>{Lit. he}</n> said. "Tell him, «Mount your chariot and ride down the mountain <n>{The Heb. lacks the mountain}</n> so the storm doesn't stop you.»" 


text:
A little while later, the sky turned black with storm clouds and winds, and there was a heavy shower. So Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 


text:
After Ahab had left, <n>{Lit. Then}</n> the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah, and he tucked his mantle into his belt and outran Ahab in a race to the city gate of Jezreel. 


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<n>{Elijah Runs from Jezebel}</n> d Ahab complained to Jezebel about everything that Elijah had done, especially the part about him killing all the prophets of Baal with a sword. 


text:
Jezebel sent a messenger to tell Elijah, "May the gods do the same to me and even more if tomorrow about this time I haven't made you like one of those prophets you had killed." <n>{The Heb. lacks prophets you had killed}</n> 


text:
Elijah was terrified, so he got up and ran for his life to Beer-sheba, which is part of Judah, and left his servant there 


text:
and ran for a day's journey deep into the wilderness. He found a juniper tree, sat down under it, and prayed that he could die. He asked God, "Enough! Lord! Take my life, because I'm not better than my ancestors!" 


text:
Then he lay down and went to sleep under the juniper tree. All of a sudden, there was an angel, who kept grabbing him and telling him, "Get up! Eat!" 


text:
So he looked around, and there near his head was a muffin sitting on top of some heated stones, along with a jar of water. Elijah ate and drank and then lay down again. 


text:
Later, the angel of the Lord came a second time, grabbed him, and said "Get up! Eat! The journey ahead <n>{The Heb. lacks ahead}</n> is too difficult for you!" 


text:
So Elijah <n>{Lit. he}</n> got up, ate and drank, and survived on that one meal for 40 days and nights as he set out on his journey to Horeb, God's mountain. 


text:
<n>{Elijah Talks to God at Horeb}</n> d Elijah <n>{Lit. He}</n> arrived at a cave and stayed there. All of a sudden this message came from the Lord : "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 


text:
"I've been very zealous for the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies," he replied. "The Israelis have abandoned your covenant, demolished your altars, executed your prophets with swords, and I that's right, just me! am the only one left. Now they're seeking my life, to get rid of me!" 


text:
"Go out," he responded, "and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord ." And there was the Lord , passing by! A tremendous, mighty windstorm was tearing at the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces in the presence of the Lord , but the Lord was not in the windstorm. After the wind there came an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 


text:
After the earthquake there came fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 


text:
As soon as Elijah heard it, he covered his face in his mantle, went outside, and stood at the entrance to the cave. And there a voice spoke to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 


text:
The Lord replied to him, "Go! Return to Damascus, and when you get there, anoint Hazael as king over Aram, 


text:
anoint Nimshi's son Jehu as king over Israel, and anoint Shaphat's son Elisha from Abel-meholah as a prophet to replace you. 


text:
Whoever escapes from Hazael's sword Jehu will execute, and whoever escapes from Jehu's sword Elisha will put to death. 


text:
Nevertheless, I've reserved 7,000 in Israel who have neither bowed their knees to Baal nor kissed him." 


text:
<n>{Elisha Chosen to Replace Elijah}</n> d Elijah left there and located Shaphat's son Elisha, who was plowing, along with a total of <n>{The Heb. lacks a total of}</n> twelve pairs of oxen. <n>{The Heb. lacks of oxen}</n> (He was plowing with the twelfth pair.) As Elijah passed by, he tossed his cloak at Elisha. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
He abandoned the oxen, ran off to follow Elijah, and asked him, "Please, let me kiss my mother and father good-bye, and then I'll come after you." "Go back again," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?" 


text:
So Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> turned back, took the pair of oxen, sacrificed them, boiled their flesh using the farm implements for fuel, and gave the food to the people with him. <n>{The Heb. lacks with him}</n> Then he got up, followed Elijah, and became his servant. 


text:
<n>{Ahab Attacks the Arameans}</n> d A little while later, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered an army of cavalry and chariots in a military confederacy with 32 kings, invaded Samaria, and set up siege encampments there. 


text:
"Whatever you want, your majesty," the king of Israel answered. "I belong to you, as does everything I own." 


text:
After delivering Ahab's answer, <n>{The Heb. lacks After delivering Ahab's answer}</n> the envoys returned with this message: "This is what Ben-hadad says: «I've sent my envoys to you to tell you that your silver, gold, wives, and children are to be given to me. 


text:
About this time tomorrow, I'll send my servants to you, and they'll search through your palace and your servants'houses. Whatever is important to you will be seized <n>{Lit. seized in their hand}</n> and taken away.»" 


text:
Then the king of Israel called together all of the elders of the land and told them, "Please note that this man is here looking for trouble. He sent a message to me, demanding my wives, my children, and my silver and gold, and I haven't refused him." 


text:
"Don't listen to him," all the elders and the people replied. "And don't agree to his terms." <n>{The Heb. lacks to his terms}</n> 


text:
So he told Ben-hadad's envoys, "Tell his majesty the king, «Everything that you asked for the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.»" So the envoys left to deliver Ahab's response. They <n>{Lit. deliver and}</n> returned a little while later. 


text:
Beh-hadad sent this message back: "May the gods do so to me, and more than that also, if the dust that remains of Samaria is enough to fill up a few handfuls for all of the armies at my disposal." 


text:
But the king of Israel replied, "Tell him, «The one who is starting to strap on his battle armor should never brag like the one who is taking it off.»" 


text:
Ben-hadad received Ahab's response <n>{Lit. message}</n> while he was celebrating with his kings in the battle pavilions. "Sound «Battle Stations!»" he ordered, and the army began to prepare their attack. 


text:
<n>{God's Prophets Rebuke Ahab}</n> d Right about then, a prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and told him, "This is what the Lord says: «You see all of this great big army, do you? Well now, I'm going to deliver them all right into your hand, and you will learn that I am the Lord !»" 


text:
"By whom?" Ahab asked. "This is what the Lord says," the prophet replied. «By the young men who serve as officials within the provinces.»" "Who is to begin the battle?" Ahab asked. "You," the prophet answered. 


text:
So Ahab <n>{Lit. he}</n> gathered together 232 young men who served as officials within the provinces and then mustered 7,000 soldiers from among the Israelis. 


text:
They attacked at noon, just as Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the battle pavilions, along with the 32 kings who had joined him. 


text:
The young men who served as officials within the provinces led the charge, and somebody informed Ben-hadad, "Some men have come out from Samaria." 


text:
Meanwhile, as the young men who served as officials within the provinces left the city, their army followed after them. 


text:
Each man struck down his opponent, and the Arameans ran away with Israel in pursuit. King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on horseback with the help of <n>{The Heb. lacks the help of}</n> his cavalry. 


text:
The king of Israel went out and attacked the cavalry and chariots and killed the Arameans in a massive victory. <n>{20;21 Or slaughter}</n> 


text:
The prophet approached the king of Israel and told him, "Go replenish your forces and prepare for the future, because early this next year the king of Aram will attack you again." 


text:
<n>{The Arameans are Defeated}</n> d Sure enough, the advisors to the king of Aram told him, "Their gods are mountain gods. That's why they were stronger than we were. But when we fight them on the plains, we're certain to be the stronger army! 


text:
So do this: remove the kings from command <n>{The Heb. lacks from command}</n> and replace them with captains. 


text:
Then replace the army that you lost, horse-for-horse and chariot-for-chariot. We'll fight them on the plains, and we're certain to be the stronger army." Ben-hadad <n>{Lit. He}</n> listened to what they had to say and carried out their advice. 


text:
The Israelis were mustered, equipped with provisions, and sent out to fight. The Israeli encampment looked like two little flocks of goats compared to how the Aramean encampments <n>{The Heb. lacks encampments}</n> filled the countryside! 


text:
Right about then, a man of God approached and told the king of Israel, "This is what the Lord says: «Because the Arameans keep saying "The Lord is a mountain god, but isn't a valley god," I'm going to deliver this entire vast army right into your control, so you'll learn that I really am the Lord .»" 


text:
So they remained in opposing camps for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle commenced, and the Israelis killed 100,000 Aramean infantry troops in a single day. 


text:
The rest of the Aramean army retreated into Aphek, but the city wall collapsed on 27,000 soldiers who had taken shelter there. Ben-hadad himself ran away and hid inside a closet <n>{Lit. inside an inner room}</n> somewhere in the city. 


text:
"Look, now," his advisors suggested, "we've heard that the Israeli kings are merciful. So let's clothe ourselves with sackcloth, tie our hair back with ropes, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he'll spare your life." 


text:
So they put on some sackcloth, tied their hair back with ropes, and approached the king of Israel. "Your servant Ben-hadad says this," they said. "Please let me live." "Is he still alive?" Ahab asked. "He's my brother." 


text:
Ben-hadad's advisors, <n>{Lit. The men}</n> quickly analyzing the signs in what Ahab was saying, responded, "Yes, your brother Ben-hadad." "Go get him," Ahab responded. So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab took him up into his personal chariot. 


text:
Ben-hadad made this promise to Ahab: "I will restore the cities that my ancestors took from your ancestors. You'll be able to build streets named after yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." "With this promise I will release you," Ahab <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied. So Ahab <n>{Lit. he}</n> made a treaty with Ben-hadad <n>{Lit. him}</n> and let him go. 


text:
<n>{Ahab is Condemned}</n> d Right about then, one of the members of the guild <n>{Lit. sons}</n> of prophets told another through a message from the Lord : "Please strike me!" But the man refused to do so, 


text:
so he told him, "Because you haven't obeyed the Lord's voice, as soon as you leave here, a lion will kill you." As soon as the man left, a lion found him and killed him. 


text:
Later, he found another man and told him, "Please strike me!" So the man struck him and wounded him. 


text:
Then the prophet left and waited for the king to pass by, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. 


text:
As the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and told him, "Your servant went out into the middle of the battle, and a soldier turned aside, brought a prisoner to me, and told me, «Guard this man. If he turns up missing for any reason at all, you'll pay for it with your life or be fined 75 pounds <n>{Lit. fined a talent ; a talent weight about 75 pounds}</n> of silver.'


text:
While your servant was busy here and there, the prisoner escaped." The king told him, "By your actions you've earned the proper judgment!" 


text:
Then the prophet quickly tore off his bandage, and the king of Israel recognized him as being one of the prophets. 


text:
He told the king, <n>{Lit. told him}</n> "This is what the Lord says: «Because you let the man whom I had dedicated to destruction go free, therefore your life is to be forfeited for his life, and your people for his people.»" 


text:
After hearing this, the king of Israel rode back to his palace in Samaria, frustrated and in a foul mood. 


text:
<n>{The Naboth Vineyard Incident}</n> d Meanwhile, there was a man named Naboth from Jezreel who owned a vineyard that was located contiguous to King Ahab's palace in Samaria. 


text:
Ahab addressed Naboth and asked him, "I would like to plant a vegetable garden near my house. Please exchange your vineyard with a better one from me, or if you'd rather have cash, I'll buy it for its full value." 


text:
But Naboth replied to Ahab, "No way! The Lord prohibits the sale to you of the inheritance of my ancestors!" 


text:
Ahab went back to his palace, sullen and in a foul mood, because Naboth the Jezreelite had turned down Ahab's offer by saying "I will not transfer my ancestors'inheritance to you!" He laid down on his bed, curled up with his face to the wall, and refused to eat. 


text:
But his wife Jezebel went to him and asked him, "How is it that you're so sullen and refusing to eat?" 


text:
"I asked Naboth the Jezreelite, «Sell me your vineyard for cash, or if you want, I'll give you a better one in its place.'But he refused. He told me, «I won't give you my vineyard!»" 


text:
"Aren't you the reigning king of Israel," his wife Jezebel replied. "Get up, have a meal, and get ready to be happy. I'll go get you the vineyard that Naboth the Jezreelite owns." 


text:
So she wrote some memos in Ahab's name, set his personal seal to them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 


text:
In the memos, she wrote the following directives: "Proclaim a public fast and seat Naboth in the front row. 


text:
Seat two wicked men in front of him, and make them testify against him. Tell them to claim «You cursed God and the king.'Then take him out and stone him to death." 


text:
So the leading men of the city, along with the elders and nobles who lived there, did precisely what Jezebel had directed them to do. They followed the instructions that she had set forth in the memos: 


text:
Two wicked men came in, sat down in front of them, and testified against Naboth in public, "Naboth cursed God and the king!" So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. <n>{Lit. death with stones}</n> 


text:
Afterwards, they sent a message <n>{The Heb. lacks a message}</n> to Jezebel that said, "Naboth has been stoned. He's dead." 


text:
When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she told Ahab, "Get up and confiscate Naboth's vineyard that he refused to sell you for cash. Naboth the Jezreelite isn't alive anymore. He's dead!" 


text:
So once he heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab got up, went down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, and confiscated it. 


text:
<n>{Elijah Rebukes Ahab}</n> d That's when this message from the Lord came to Elijah the foreigner: <n>{Lit. Tishbite ; or sojourner}</n> 


text:
"Get up and go down to meet King Ahab of Israel. He's in Samaria. Look! He's in Naboth's vineyard, where he's gone to confiscate it. 


text:
Ask the king, «Did you commit murder? And now you're going to steal as well? 'Also tell him, «This is what the Lord says: "Where the dogs were licking up Naboth's blood, dogs will also lick up your blood that's right yours!"»" 


text:
Later on, Ahab asked Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" But Elijah answered, "I've found you because you sold yourself to do what the Lord considers to be evil! 


text:
Now pay attention! I'm going to send evil in your direction! I will completely sweep you away and eliminate from Ahab every male, whether indentured servant or free, throughout Israel. 


text:
I will make your household resemble that of Nebat's son Jeroboam, or like the household of Ahijah's son Baasha, because of how you've provoked me to anger and made Israel to sin. 


text:
The Lord also has this to say about Jezebel: «Dogs will eat Jezebel within the outer ramparts of Jezreel. 


text:
Dogs will eat whoever belongs to Ahab and who dies in the city. The birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in the fields.»" 


text:
It can be truly said that no one else sold himself to practice what the Lord considered to be evil quite like the way Ahab did, because his wife Jezebel incited him. 


text:
His behavior in pursuing idolatry was detestable, just like the Amorites had done whom the Lord had expelled in front of the army of Israel. 


text:
Nevertheless, as soon as Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He even slept in sackcloth and wandered around meekly. 


text:
Later, this message from the Lord came to Elijah the foreigner: <n>{Lit. Tishbite ; or sojourner}</n> 


text:
"Have you noticed that Ahab has humbled himself in my presence? Because he has humbled himself in my presence, I will not bring his evil to harvest <n>{The Heb. lacks to harvest}</n> during his lifetime, but I will bring evil to his household during his son's lifetime." 


text:
<n>{King Ahab Invites Jehoshaphat to Invade Aram}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 18:1-11)}</n> d Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel. 


text:
The king of Israel asked his servants, "Were you aware that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, but we aren't doing anything to remove it from the control of the king of Aram?" 


text:
Then he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you join me in battle against Ramoth-gilead?" "I'm with you," Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel. "My army will join yours, and my cavalry will be your cavalry." 


text:
So the king of Israel called in about 400 prophets and asked them, "Should we go attack Ramoth-gilead, or should I call off the attack?" <n>{The Heb. lacks the attack}</n> "Go attack them," they all said, "because the Lord will drop them right into the king's hand!" 


text:
"There is still one man left by whom we could ask the Lord what to do," <n>{The Heb. lacks what to do}</n> the king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, "but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me. Instead, he prophesies evil. He is Imla's son Micaiah." But Jehoshaphat rebuked Ahab, "Kings <n>{Lit. The king}</n> should never talk like that." 


text:
Nevertheless, the king of Israel called one of his officers and ordered him, "Bring me Imla's son Micaiah quickly." 


text:
Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were each sitting on their respective thrones, arrayed in their robes, on the threshing floor at the entrance to the city gate of Samaria, and all of the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 


text:
Chenaanah's son Zedekiah made iron horns for himself and told them, "This is what the Lord says, «With these horns you are to gore the Arameans until they are eliminated!»" 


text:
All the other prophets were saying similar things, like "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and you will be successful, because the Lord will hand it over to the king!" 


text:
<n>{Micaiah Predicts Failure}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 18:12-27)}</n> d Meanwhile, the messenger who had gone off to summon Micaiah advised him, "Look, everything that the other prophets were saying was unanimously favorable to the king. So please, cooperate with them and speak favorably." 


text:
When Micaiah <n>{Lit. he}</n> approached the king, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I not?" "Go to war," Micaiah <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied, "and you will be successful, because the Lord will hand it over to the king!" 


text:
When he heard this, the king asked him, "How many times do I have to make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth? Now do it in the name of the Lord !" 


text:
So Micaiah replied: "I saw all of Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord told me, «These have no master, so let them each return to his own home in peace.»" 


text:
Then the king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he wouldn't prophesy anything good about me, but only evil?" 


text:
But Micaiah responded, "Therefore, listen to what the Lord has to say. I saw the Lord , sitting on his throne, and the entire Heavenly Army was standing around him on his right hand and on his left hand. 


text:
"The Lord asked, «Who will tempt King Ahab of Israel to attack Ramoth-gilead, so that he will die there? 'And one was saying one thing and one was saying another. 


text:
"And the Lord asked him, «How? '«I will go,'he announced, «and I will be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all of his prophets! '"So the Lord said, «You're just the one to deceive him. You will be successful. Go and do it.'


text:
"Now therefore, listen! The Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouth of all of these prophets of yours, because the Lord has determined to bring disaster upon you." 


text:
Right then, Chenaanah's son Zedekiah approached Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. Then he asked him, "How did the Spirit of the Lord move from me to speak to you?" 


text:
Micaiah replied, "You'll see how when the day comes that you run away to hide yourself in a closet!" 


text:
Then the king of Israel ordered, "Take Micaiah and place him in the custody of Amon, the city governor. Hand him over to Joash, the king's son. 


text:
Give him this order: «Place him in prison on survival rations of bread and water only until I come back safely.»" 


text:
"If you return alive," Micaiah responded, "then the Lord has not spoken by me." Then he added, "Listen, all you people!" 


text:
<n>{Ahab Dies at Ramoth-gilead}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 18:28-34)}</n> d So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah both attacked Ramoth-gilead. 


text:
The king of Israel suggested to Jehoshaphat, "I'll go into battle in disguise, but you keep your royal uniform on." So the king of Israel disguised himself and they both went into the battle. 


text:
Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to 32 of his chariot commanders: "Don't attack unimportant soldiers or ranking officers. Go after only the king of Israel." 


text:
So when the chariot commanders observed Jehoshaphat, they said by mistake, <n>{The Heb. lacks by mistake}</n> "It's the king of Israel!" and they turned aside to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out. 


text:
When the chariot commanders saw that their target <n>{Lit. that he}</n> was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him. 


text:
Meanwhile, somebody drew his bow aimlessly and struck the king of Israel between the scales where his armor breastplates joined, so he instructed his chariot driver, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, because I've been severely wounded." 


text:
The battle continued on for the rest of the day while the king of Israel was propped up in front of the Arameans until the sun set, at which time he died. The blood from Ahab's wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot. 


text:
As the day drew to a close, this order was circulated throughout the army telling the soldiers, "Everybody go back to his city and to his own land." 


text:
They washed the chariot by the reservoir of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood near where the prostitutes went to bathe, in keeping with the message that the Lord had spoken. 


text:
Now as to the rest of Ahab's accomplishments, everything that he undertook, the ivory palace he built, and the cities that he built, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


text:
<n>{Jehoshaphat Reigns over Judah}</n> d Asa's son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah during the fourth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Ahab of Israel. 


text:
Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king. He reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah. She was the daughter of Shilhi. 


text:
He lived like his father Asa and never abandoned that life. He did what the Lord considered to be right. Nevertheless, the high places were not demolished, and the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places. <n>{This last sentence of v 43 is v44 in MT, v44 is v45 in MT, and so through the rest of the chapter.}</n> 


text:
Now the rest of Jehoshaphat's accomplishments, the power that he demonstrated, and how he waged war are written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 


text:
Jehoshaphat had ocean-going vessels from Tarshish sail to Ophir <n>{Or a source of fine gold ; cf. 1Chr 29:4}</n> for gold, but they never made it because they were shipwrecked at Ezion-geber. 


text:
Ahab's son Ahaziah had offered to go. "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships!" he said. But Jehoshaphat was not willing. 


text:
Later, Jehoshaphat died, as did his ancestors, and he was buried alongside his ancestors in the city of David. Jehoram his son became king in his place. 


text:
<n>{Ahaziah Reigns over Israel}</n> d Ahab's son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He reigned for two years over Israel. 


text:
He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil by living life like his father and mother did. He lived like Nebat's son Jeroboam, who led Israel into sin. 


text:
He served Baal, worshipped him, and provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger, in accordance with everything his father had done. 


text:
<n>{ The Book of}</n> <n>{ Second Kings}</n> d <n>{Elijah Rebukes King Ahaziah}</n> d Moab rebelled against Israel <n>{2Sam 8:2}</n> after Ahab died. 


text:
Meanwhile, Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice in his upper room in Samaria and lay injured. He sent messengers to Ekron with these orders: "Go and consult with Ekron's god Baal-zebub to find out <n>{The Heb. lacks and find out}</n> if I'm going to recover from this injury." <n>{Lit. sickness}</n> 


text:
But the angel of the Lord spoke to Elijah the foreigner, <n>{Lit. Tishbite ; or sojourner}</n> "Get up and go meet the messengers from the king of Samaria. Ask them «Is it because there is no God in Israel that you're going to consult with Ekron's god Baal-zebub? 


text:
Now therefore this is what the Lord says: "You won't be getting up from that bed of yours on which you're lying. You will most certainly die!"»" So Elijah got up and <n>{The Heb. lacks got up and}</n> went. 


text:
They replied, "We met a man who told us, «Go back to the king who sent you and ask him, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you're going to consult with Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you won't be getting up from that bed on which you're lying. You will most certainly die!"»" 


text:
They answered, "The man was a hairy fellow. He wore a leather sash around his waist." The king <n>{Lit. He}</n> responded, "It's Elijah, that foreigner!" <n>{Lit. Elijah the Tishbite ; or Elijah, the sojourner}</n> 


text:
<n>{Fire from Heaven Destroys the King's Henchmen}</n> d So the king sent out 50 men, along with their leader. <n>{Lit. a captain of fifty ; and so through v. 14; modern equivalent to a Second Lieutenant commanding a platoon of four twelve-member squads}</n> The leader <n>{Lit. He}</n> approached Elijah, who was sitting at the top of a hill. He ordered Elijah, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Hey, man of God! The king orders you to come down!" 


text:
Elijah responded to the leader who was in charge of the 50 soldiers, "So I'm a man of God, am I? If so, may fire <n>{MT word fire sounds like MT word man}</n> fall from heaven and devour you and your 50 soldiers" <n>{The Heb. lacks soldiers}</n> Just then, fire fell from heaven and devoured that leader and his 50 soldiers. <n>{The Heb. lacks soldiers}</n> 


text:
Later the king tried again he sent another company of 50 soldiers, along with their leader, who ordered Elijah, "Hey, man of God! This is what the king orders: «Come down!»" 


text:
Elijah responded to the leader and to his entire company, <n>{Lit. to them}</n> "So I'm a man of God, am I? If so, may fire <n>{MT word fire sounds like MT word man}</n> fall from heaven and devour you and your 50 soldiers" <n>{The Heb. lacks soldiers}</n> Just then, fire fell from heaven and devoured him and his 50 soldiers. <n>{The Heb. lacks soldiers}</n> 


text:
Then the king tried yet again! The king sent a third company of 50 soldiers along with their leader. The third leader went up the hill, <n>{The Heb. lacks the hill}</n> approached Elijah, <n>{The Heb. lacks Elijah}</n> fell on his knees in front of him, and begged him, <n>{Lit. Elijah}</n> "Hey, man of God, please treat <n>{Lit. see}</n> my life and the lives of these servants of yours as precious! 


text:
Look how fire fell from heaven and devoured the two other companies of 50 soldiers, along with their captains, but now please treat me as if my life were precious!" 


text:
The angel of the Lord told Elijah, "Go down the hill with that man. Don't be afraid of him!" So Elijah <n>{Lit. he}</n> got up and went down with him to meet the king. 


text:
Then Elijah spoke to the king, "This is what the Lord says: «Since you sent messengers to consult with Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron is it because there is no God in Israel with whom to consult regarding his word? therefore you're not getting up from the bed on which you're lying. You certainly will die!»" 


text:
And die he did, just as the Lord had said and just as Elijah had spoken! After this, Jehoram ascended to the throne during the second year of the reign of Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram from Judah. He took the place of Ahaziah, who had no son. 


text:
The rest of Ahaziah's activities are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, <n>{An ancient chronicle of Israel, apparently now lost; and so throughout the book}</n> are they not? 


text:
<n>{Elijah is Taken to Heaven}</n> d As the time drew near when the Lord was about to take Elijah to heaven in a wind storm, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 


text:
Elijah instructed Elisha, "Remain here on this side, please, because the Lord is sending me as far as Bethel." But Elisha replied, "As the Lord lives, I'm not going to leave you while you're still alive!" So they both went on to Bethel. 


text:
When the Guild of Prophets <n>{Lit. The children of the prophets ; and so throughout the book; i.e. a group of disciples within Israel's prophetic community whose precise association with Elijah and Elisha is never specified}</n> who lived in Bethel came out to greet Elisha, they asked him, "You are aware, aren't you, that later today the Lord is going to remove your master from being your mentor?" <n>{Lit. your head over you}</n> "Of course I'm aware of it," he said. "Calm down." 


text:
Elijah also spoke to him, "Elisha, remain here on this side, please, because the Lord is sending me to Jericho." But Elisha responded, "As the Lord lives, and while you're still alive, I'm not going to leave you!" So they went to Jericho. 


text:
The Guild of Prophets who lived in Jericho approached Elisha and asked him, "You are aware, aren't you, that later today the Lord is going to remove your master from being your mentor?" <n>{Lit. your head over you}</n> "Of course I'm aware of it," he said. "Calm down." 


text:
Elijah also spoke to him, "Elisha, remain here on this side, please, because the Lord is sending me to the Jordan River." <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> But Elisha responded, "As the Lord lives, and while you're still alive, I'm not going to leave you!" So they went on their way, <n>{The Heb. lacks their way}</n> 


text:
accompanied by 50 men from the Guild of Prophets, who stood at a short distance from them while they were both standing by the Jordan. 


text:
Elijah took off his ornamented cloak, wrapped it up in a roll, struck the water, and all of a sudden the water divided into two parts! One side of the river stood still opposite the other until the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 


text:
When they had crossed the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks the Jordan River}</n> Elijah invited Elisha, "Ask me what you want me to do for you before I'm taken away from you." So Elisha asked, "Please, may there be a double portion of <n>{Or double desire for ; Lit. double mouth for}</n> your spirit upon me!" 


text:
"That's a hard thing to ask for," Elijah answered, "but if you see me while I'm being taken from you, it will happen for you. But if you don't see me, it won't happen." 


text:
As they continued on, talking as they went, suddenly chariots blazing with fire and pulled by fiery horses appeared, separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a wind storm to heaven! 


text:
As Elisha continued to watch, he cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots of Israel and its cavalry!" <n>{The Heb. word cavalry can refer to horses , to horsemen , or to both}</n> Then he did not see Elijah anymore. After this, Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> gripped his clothes that he was wearing, tore them apart into two pieces, 


text:
picked up Elijah's ornamented cloak that had fallen from him, and went back to stand on the bank of the Jordan River. <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> 


text:
Elisha <n>{Lit. He}</n> took hold of Elijah's ornamental cloak that had been left behind, <n>{Lit. had fallen from him}</n> struck the water, and cried out: "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" All of a sudden, after he had struck the water, the water divided into two parts! One side of the river stood opposite the other, and Elisha crossed over. 


text:
<n>{Elisha is Recognized as Elijah's Successor}</n> d As soon as the Guild of Prophets who lived adjacent to Jericho saw Elisha, <n>{Lit. him}</n> they began to announce, "The spirit <n>{Or Spirit}</n> of Elijah is at rest on Elisha!" So they came out to meet him and they greeted him by bowing low to the ground in front of him. 


text:
Then they asked Elisha, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Look! We have 50 valiant men here with your servant! Please let them go out and search for your master Elijah. <n>{The Heb. lacks Elijah}</n> Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up on a mountain or into a valley." Elisha responded, "Don't bother searching." 


text:
But they persisted until he was frustrated, so he said, "Send them out!" So they sent out the 50 men, and they looked around for three days but did not find Elijah. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
By the time they returned, Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> was living in Jericho. Then Elisha asked them, "Didn't I tell you not to go?" 


text:
<n>{Elisha Cures the Waters of Jericho}</n> d The men who lived in the city addressed Elisha. "Look now," they said, "our <n>{Lit. The}</n> city's location is good, as you <n>{Lit. as my Lord}</n> have been observing, but the water springs <n>{Lit. the waters}</n> here are bad and the land isn't sustaining crops." 


text:
Elisha ordered them, "Bring me a new bowl and put some salt in it." So they brought him what he had requested. <n>{The Heb. lacks what he had requested}</n> 


text:
Elisha went out to the springs, threw the salt into them, and declared, "This is what the Lord says: «I have purified these waters. Neither death nor barrenness is to flow from them anymore.»" 


text:
As a result, the water springs <n>{Lit. the waters}</n> remain pure to this day, just as <n>{Lit. as the word of}</n> Elisha had declared. 


text:
<n>{Elisha Rebukes Some Mockers}</n> d Later, Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> left there to go up to Bethel, and as he was traveling along the road, some insignificant <n>{Or small ; i.e. in significance, not stature or age; the individuals were adults}</n> young men came from the city and started mocking him. They told him, "Get on up, <n>{The taunt may be an allusion to Elijah's experience described in v. 11.}</n> baldy! Get on up, baldy!" 


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He looked behind him, took note of the young men, and cursed them in the name of the Lord . Suddenly two female bears emerged from the woods and mauled 42 of the young men. 


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<n>{Jehoram Becomes King}</n> d Ahab's son Jehoram ascended to the throne of Israel at Samaria during the eighteenth year of the reign of Judah's king Jehoshaphat. He reigned for twelve years, 


text:
practicing evil in the Lord's presence, <n>{Lit. sight}</n> only not to the extent that his mother and father had done <n>{The Heb. lacks had done}</n> he forced abolition of the sacred pillar to Baal <n>{I.e. the main Canaanite male deity, and so throughout the book}</n> that his father had crafted. 


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Even so, <n>{Lit. Only}</n> he kept on committing the sins that Nebat's son Jeroboam had done, which ensnared Israel in sin he never abandoned them. 


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<n>{Moab Rebels against Israel}</n> d Meanwhile, Moab's king Mesha was a sheep breeder. He used to pay 100,000 lambs and the wool from 100,000 rams to the king of Israel as tribute. 


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So king Jehoram left Samaria at that time <n>{Lit. in those days}</n> and mustered the entire army of <n>{The Heb. lacks army of}</n> Israel. 


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As he was going out, he sent this message <n>{The Heb. lacks this message}</n> to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight Moab?" "I'm coming," Jehoshaphat <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied. "I'm like you! My army will act like your army and my cavalry like your cavalry," Then Jehoshaphat <n>{Lit. He}</n> added: 


text:
So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom made a complete circuit on the road for seven days, but there was no water for the army or for the livestock that accompanied <n>{Or followed}</n> them. 


text:
Then the king of Israel remarked, "Oh no! The Lord has summoned us three kings so he can hand us over to Moab, hasn't he?" 


text:
<n>{The Kings Seek Elisha's Counsel}</n> d Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet who belongs to the Lord and through whom we can ask the Lord a question?" One of the king of Israel's attendants replied, "Shaphat's son Elisha lives here. He used to be Elijah's personal attendant." <n>{ to pour water on Elijah's hands}</n> 


text:
Jehoshaphat answered, "He receives messages from <n>{Lit. He has the word of}</n> the Lord ." So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went to visit Elisha. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
Elisha asked the king of Israel, "What do I have in common <n>{The Heb. lacks in common}</n> with you? Go visit your parents'prophets." <n>{Lit. the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother}</n> The king of Israel replied, "No! The Lord has summoned these three kings so he can hand them over to Moab!" 


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But Elisha responded, "As the Lord of the Heavenly Armies lives, in whose presence I stand, I would never pay attention to you or even look in your direction were it not for my continual respect for the presence of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. 


text:
For this is what the Lord says: «Though you won't see wind or storm, nevertheless that river <n>{Or seasonal stream}</n> will overflow with water so that you, your cattle, and your livestock may drink.'


text:
And this is the easy part for the Lord <n>{Lit. part in the Lord's eyes}</n> he's also going to hand the Moabites over to you! 


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Then you are to attack every fortified city and every significant city. Cut down every significant tree, fill in all of the water springs, and ruin every prime piece of land with stones." 


text:
<n>{War with Moab}</n> d The very next day, about the time of the morning offering, water suddenly appeared, coming from the direction of Edom, and the land overflowed with water! 


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Meanwhile, all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to attack them, so everyone old enough to wear battle armor was mustered to stand guard at the border. 


text:
As the Moabites arose early that morning, the sun cast its rays on the water, and to the Moabites, the water across from them appeared to be red like blood. 


text:
So they concluded, <n>{Lit. said}</n> "This must be blood! The kings must have had one mighty big fight and each man killed the other! So let's go get the battle spoil, Moab!" 


text:
But when the Moabites arrived at the Israeli encampment, the Israelis got up and attacked them. The Moabites ran away from the Israelis, <n>{Lit. of them}</n> who followed them into the land as they continued their pursuit against Moab. 


text:
They destroyed their cities, and all of them threw stones onto every piece of farm <n>{Or good}</n> land, ruining the fields. <n>{I.e. for future cultivation}</n> Then they filled in all the water wells <n>{Or springs}</n> and chopped down all of the useful <n>{Or good}</n> trees. Stone walls remained surrounding Kir-hareseth only, until the archers surrounded and attacked that city. 


text:
When the king of Moab realized that the battle was going strongly against him, he took 700 expert swordsmen to attempt to break through to the king of Edom, but was unable to do so. 


text:
So he took his firstborn son, whom he intended to reign after him, and offered him up as a burnt offering on the wall. There subsequently came great anger against Israel, so they abandoned the attack and returned to their homeland. 


text:
<n>{The Miracle of the Oil Vessels}</n> <n>{ (1 Kings 17:14-16)}</n> d Now there happened to be a certain woman who had been the wife of a member of the Guild of Prophets. She cried out to Elisha, "My husband who served you has died, and you know that your servant feared the Lord . But a creditor has come to take away my children into indentured servitude!" 


text:
Elisha responded, "What shall I do for you? Tell me what you have in your house." She replied, "Your servant has nothing in the entire house except for a flask of oil." 


text:
He told her, "Go out to all of your neighbors in the surrounding streets and borrow lots of pots from them. Don't get just a few empty vessels, either. 


text:
Then go in and shut the door behind you, taking only your children, and pour oil <n>{The Heb. lacks oil}</n> into all of the pots. As each one is filled, set it aside." 


text:
So she left Elisha, <n>{Lit. him}</n> shut the door behind her and her children, and while they kept on bringing vessels to her, she kept on pouring oil. <n>{The Heb. lacks oil}</n> 


text:
When the last of <n>{The Heb. lacks last of}</n> the vessels had been filled, she told her son, "Bring me another pot!" But he replied, "There isn't even one pot left." Then the oil stopped flowing. 


text:
After this, she went and told the man of God what had happened. <n>{The Heb. lacks what had happened}</n> So he said, "Go sell the oil, pay your debt, and you and your children will be able to live on the proceeds." 


text:
<n>{The Hospitality of a Woman from Shunem}</n> d Some time later, Elisha went to Shunem, <n>{I.e. a town in the territory belonging to Issachar}</n> where he met a prominent and wealthy <n>{Lit. strong}</n> woman who persuaded him to have a meal with her. As a result, whenever he was in the area, he stopped by to eat with her. 


text:
So she had a talk with her husband. "Look here! I've learned that this is a holy and godly man <n>{Or a holy man of God}</n> who comes by here on a regular basis. 


text:
Now then, let's build a small upper room and put a bed in it for him there, along with a table, a chair, and a lamp stand. That way, when he comes to visit, he can rest <n>{Or can turn in}</n> there." 


text:
He told his attendant <n>{Lit. his young man ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> Gehazi, "Call this Shunammite." So when he had summoned her, she stood in front of him. 


text:
Elisha <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "Ask her, «Look how you've gone to all this trouble to care for us! What can I do for you? Do you wish to be mentioned to the king or to the head of the army?»" She replied, "I'm at home <n>{So LXX; the Heb. lacks at home}</n> living among my own people." 


text:
He responded, "What, then, is to be done on her behalf?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son and her husband is growing old." 


text:
"Call her," Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> ordered. After he called her, she came and stood in the doorway, 


text:
and he told her, "About this time next year you will be embracing a son." "No, sir! Please, as a godly man, <n>{Or a man of God}</n> don't mislead your servant!" 


text:
But the woman did conceive and did bear a son at that very same time the next year, just as Elisha had told her. 


text:
<n>{Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son}</n> <n>{ (1 Kings 17:17-24)}</n> d After the child had grown up a bit, one day he went out to visit his father, who was with the harvesters. 


text:
He told his father, "My head! My head!" So his father ordered his servant, "Carry him over to his mother!" 


text:
So the servant carried him over to his mother, where he rested on her lap until mid-day, <n>{Or noon}</n> and then he died. 


text:
The woman went upstairs, laid him on the bed belonging to the man of God, and shut the door, leaving him behind as she left. 


text:
Then she called to her husband and asked him, "Please send me one of the servants, along with one of the donkeys, so I can ride quickly to see that godly man. <n>{Or that man of God}</n> I'll be right back." 


text:
He asked her, "What's the point of visiting him today? It's not a New Moon, and it isn't the Sabbath!" But she kept saying, "Things will go well." <n>{Lit. Peace ; i.e. a general statement of good will; and so through v. 26}</n> 


text:
So she saddled a donkey and told her servant, "Forward, driver! Don't slow down on my account, unless I tell you!" 


text:
So out she went and eventually she arrived at Mount Carmel to visit the man of God. When the man of God noticed her from a distance, he told his attendant Gehazi, "Look! There's the woman from Shunem! 


text:
Please run out quickly and greet her. Ask her, «Are things going well with you? Are things going well with your husband? Are things going well with your child?»" She answered Gehazi, <n>{The Heb. lacks Gehazi}</n> "Things are going well." 


text:
As she came near the man of God on the mountain, she grabbed his feet. When Gehazi intervened to push her away, the man of God said, "Leave her alone! She is deeply troubled! The Lord has concealed the thing from me, and hasn't informed me." 


text:
At this he told Gehazi, "Get ready to run! <n>{Lit. Tie up your garments ; i.e. to secure one's robes with a belt in preparation for running}</n> Take my staff in your hand, and get on the road. Don't greet anyone you meet. If anyone greets you, don't respond. Just go lay my staff on the youngster's face." 


text:
At this, the youngster's mother replied, "As long as you and the Lord live, I'm not leaving you!" So he got up and followed her. 


text:
Meanwhile, Gehazi went on ahead of them and placed the staff on the youngster's face, but when there was no sound or reaction, he returned, met Elisha, <n>{Lit. him}</n> and told him, "The youngster has shown no sign of awakening." 


text:
When Elisha entered the house, there was the youngster, dead and laid out on Elisha's <n>{Lit. his}</n> bed! 


text:
Then he approached the child and lay down with his mouth near the child's, with his eyes near those of the child, and taking the child's hands in his. As Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> stretched himself on the child, the child's flesh began to grow warm. 


text:
Then he went downstairs, walked around back and forth inside the house once, went back up to his upper chamber, <n>{The Heb. lacks up to his upper chamber}</n> and stretched himself over the child again. The young man sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes. 


text:
He called out to Gehazi, "Go get the Shunammite woman!" So he called her. When she came in to see Elisha, <n>{Lit. him}</n> he told her, "Take back your son!" 


text:
Then she approached him, fell at his feet, bowing low to the ground, took back her son, and went out. 


text:
<n>{Poisoned Stew is Purified}</n> d Elisha returned to Gilgal during a time of famine in the land. While the Guild of Prophets were having a meal <n>{Lit. were sitting}</n> with him, he instructed his attendant, "Put a large pot on the fire and boil some stew for the Guild of Prophets." 


text:
Somebody went out into the fields to grab some herbs, found a wild vine, and gathered a lap full of wild gourds, which he came and sliced up into the stew pot, but nobody else knew. 


text:
When they served the men, they began to eat the stew. But they cried out, "That pot of stew is deadly, you man of God!" So they couldn't eat the stew. 


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But he replied, "Bring me some flour." He tossed it into the pot and said, "Serve the people so they can eat." Then there was nothing harmful in the pot. 


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<n>{Feeding of the Crowd}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 14:13-31; 15:32-39)}</n> d Later on, a man arrived from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God some bread as a first fruit offering. He had 20 loaves of barley and ripe ears of corn in his sack. So Elisha <n>{Lit he}</n> said, "Give them to the people so they can eat." 


text:
Elisha's attendant asked, "What? Will this serve 100 men?" But he replied, "Distribute it to the people so they can eat, because this is what the Lord says: «They will eat and have a surplus!»" 


text:
<n>{The Healing of Naaman}</n> d Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, <n>{I.e., ancient Assyria, and so throughout the book}</n> was a great man in the opinion <n>{Lit. eyes}</n> of his master. He was highly favored, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. Though he was a mighty and valiant man, he was suffering from leprosy. 


text:
On one of their raids to the territory of Israel, Aram had taken captive a young girl when she was an infant, <n>{Or young little girl ; cf. v. 14; i.e., a young girl of small size}</n> who had eventually become an attendant to <n>{Lit. girl, and she was in the presence of}</n> Naaman's wife. 


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She mentioned to her mistress, "If only my master were to visit the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 


text:
Later, Naaman <n>{Lit. he}</n> went to inform his master and told him something like this: "Thus and so spoke the young woman from the territory of Israel." 


text:
The king of Aram replied, "Go now, and I'll send a letter to the king of Israel." So he left and took with him ten talents of silver and 6,000 units <n>{The unit of weight is unspecified.}</n> of gold, along with ten sets <n>{So MT; LXX reads changes}</n> of clothing. 


text:
He also brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read as follows: and now as this letter finds its way to you, look! I've sent my servant Naaman to you so you may heal him of his leprosy." 


text:
When the king of Israel read the letter, he ripped his clothes and cried out, "Am I God? Can I kill and give life? Is this man sending me a request <n>{The Heb. lacks a request}</n> to heal a man's leprosy? Let's think about this he's looking for a reason to start a fight <n>{The Heb. lacks to start a fight}</n> with me!" 


text:
When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message <n>{The Heb. lacks a message}</n> to the king and asked, "Why did you tear your clothes? Please, let the man come visit me and he will learn that there is a prophet in Israel!" 


text:
Elisha sent a messenger out to him, who told him, "Go bathe in the Jordan River <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> seven times. Your flesh will be restored for you. Now stay clean!" 


text:
But Naaman flew into a rage and left, telling himself, "Look! I thought «He's surely going to come out to me, stand still, call out in the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the infection, <n>{Lit. place}</n> and cure the leprosy!'


text:
Aren't the Abana and Pharpar rivers in Damascus better than all of the water in Israel? Couldn't I just bathe in them and become clean?" So he turned away and left, filled with anger. 


text:
But then his servants approached him and spoke with him. They said, "My father, had the prophet only asked of you something great, you would have done it, wouldn't you? Yet he told you, «Bathe, and be clean!»" 


text:
So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan River <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> seven times, just as the man of God had said, and his flesh rejuvenated like the flesh of a newborn child. And he was clean. 


text:
<n>{Gehazi's Greed is Punished}</n> d Naaman <n>{Lit. He}</n> went back to the man of God, along with his entire entourage, and stood before him. "Please look!" he said. "I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel! So please, take a present from your servant." 


text:
But Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied, "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will not receive anything from you." Though Naaman <n>{Lit. he}</n> urged him to take it, Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> declined. 


text:
So Naaman asked, "No? Then please let your servant load two mules with dirt from Israel, <n>{The Heb. lacks from Israel}</n> because your servant will no longer offer any burnt offering or sacrifice to any other god but the Lord . 


text:
In this one area may the Lord pardon your servant: Whenever my master enters the temple of Rimmon to worship there, he will lean on my hand while I bow down in the temple of Rimmon. So may the Lord pardon your servant in this one area." 


text:
"Go in peace," he said. So Naaman <n>{Lit. he}</n> left. After Naaman had gone only a short distance, 


text:
Gehazi, the attendant to Elisha, the man of God, told himself, "Look how my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman! He declined to take from him what he brought. As the Lord lives, I'm going to run after him and get something from him." 


text:
So Gehazi ran after Naaman. When Naaman noticed someone running after him, he came down from his chariot, greeted him and asked, "Is everything all right?" <n>{Lit. Peace ; i.e. a general statement of good will; and so through v. 26}</n> 


text:
Gehazi said, "Everything's all right. My master sent me to tell you, «Just now two men from the Guild of Prophets have arrived from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver bullion and two sets <n>{So MT; LXX reads changes}</n> of clothes.»" 


text:
But Naaman said, "Please accept my invitation to take two <n>{The Heb. lacks two}</n> talents of silver bullion." He urged him, binding two talents of silver bullion in two bags, along with two sets of clothes. He placed them in the care of two of his young men, and they went on ahead of Gehazi. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
When he arrived at the stronghold, Gehazi <n>{Lit. he}</n> took the bags from their custody and hid them away in the house. Then he sent the men away and they left. 


text:
Later he went to address <n>{Or to stand before}</n> his master. Elisha asked him, "Where did you go, Gehazi?" "Your servant went nowhere in particular," he said. 


text:
But Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> responded, "Didn't my heart break <n>{Lit. go}</n> as the man was turning from his chariot to greet you? Is now the time to receive money? To receive clothes? And olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, servants, or female attendants? 


text:
Naaman's leprosy will plague you and your descendants forever!" As he left Elisha's presence, he was infected with leprosy that looked like white snow. 


text:
<n>{The Miracle of the Ax Head}</n> d One day the Guild of Prophets told Elisha, "Notice how the place where we are living is too small for us. 


text:
Let's go to the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> fashion some rafters, <n>{Lit. take a beam}</n> and build a place for us so we can live there." So he said, "Go!" 


text:
So he accompanied them, and when they came to the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> they cut down some trees. 


text:
It happened that as one of them was felling a beam, his axe head fell into the water. He cried out, "Oh no! Master! The axe was on loan to me!" 


text:
The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he was shown the place, he cut off a branch, tossed it there, and made the iron axe head float. 


text:
Then Elisha said, "Pick it up!" So the young man reached out and picked it <n>{The Heb. lacks it}</n> up. 


text:
<n>{The Arameans Attack}</n> d Eventually the king of Aram went to war against Israel, taking counsel with his advisors and concluding, "In such and such a place I'll build my encampment." 


text:
So the man of God sent a message <n>{The Heb. lacks a message}</n> to the king of Israel, warning him, "Keep an eye on that area, because the Arameans are going to be there!" 


text:
The king of Israel confirmed the matter <n>{Lit. Israel sent}</n> about which the man of God had warned him. Having been forewarned, he was able to protect himself there on more than one or two occasions. 


text:
The king of Aram flew into a rage over this, so he called in his advisors and asked them, "Will you please tell me which of us has joined the king of Israel?" 


text:
"No, your majesty," one of his servants said. "Elisha the prophet, who lives in Israel, tells the king of Israel what you talk about in your bedroom!" 


text:
So the king <n>{Lit. So he}</n> ordered, "Go and discover where he is, so I may send men <n>{The Heb. lacks men}</n> to take him into custody." Later somebody told him, "Look! He's in Dothan!" 


text:
So the king of Aram <n>{Lit. So he}</n> sent out horses, chariots, and an elite force, and they arrived during the night and surrounded the city. 


text:
Meanwhile, the attendant to the man of God got up early in the morning and went outside, and there were the elite forces, surrounding the city, accompanied by horses and chariots! So Elisha's attendant cried out to him, "Oh no! Master! What will we do!?" 


text:
Elisha <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "Stop being afraid, because there are more with us than with them!" 


text:
Then Elisha prayed, asking the Lord , "Please make him able to really see!" And so when the Lord enabled the young man to see, he looked, and there was the mountain, filled with horses and fiery chariots surrounding Elisha! 


text:
When the army approached him, Elisha spoke to the Lord , asking him, "Lord , I'm asking you please to afflict this group of people with blindness!" So he afflicted them with blindness, just as Elisha had asked. 


text:
Then Elisha told the army, "This isn't the way, and this isn't the city! Follow me, and I'll bring you to the man you're seeking. Then he led them to Samaria. 


text:
When they arrived in Samaria, Elisha asked the Lord , "Enable them to see again." So the Lord did so, and there they were right in the middle of Samaria! 


text:
But he replied, "No! You're not to kill them! Would you execute those whom you've taken captive at the point of a sword or with your bow? Give them food and water so they can eat and drink. Then send them back to their master!" 


text:
So he prepared a large festival for them, and when they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them back to their master, and marauding gangs of Arameans never came into the territory of Israel again. 


text:
<n>{Ben-hadad Attacks Samaria}</n> d Some time later, King Ben-hadad from Aram mustered his army, invaded the land, <n>{The Heb. lacks the land}</n> and attacked Samaria 


text:
until there was a great famine throughout Samaria. The siege lasted until a donkey's head cost <n>{The Heb. lacks sold}</n> 80 silver coins <n>{The exact weight or denomination of silver coin is unspecified.}</n> and one quarter of a unit <n>{Lit. a kab ; a unit of dry weight in volume about 1.5 quarts}</n> of dove's dung cost <n>{The Heb. lacks cost}</n> five silver coins. <n>{The exact weight or denomination of silver coin is unspecified.}</n> 


text:
While the king of Israel was walking along the city <n>{The Heb. lacks city}</n> wall, a woman cried out to him. "Help me, your majesty!" <n>{Lit me, my lord the king}</n> she said. 


text:
He replied, "No! Since the Lord won't give you victory, how will I be able to deliver you? From the threshing floor? From the wine press?" 


text:
Then the king asked her, "What's bothering <n>{The Heb. lacks bothering}</n> you?" She said, "This woman told me, «Give up your son, and we'll eat him today, and we'll eat your son tomorrow.»" 


text:
So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day, I told her, «Give me your son so we can eat him!'But she has hidden her son!" 


text:
When the king heard what the woman said, he ripped his garments as he continued walking along the city <n>{The Heb. lacks city}</n> wall. As the people watched, all of a sudden they noticed he was wearing sackcloth underneath his clothes, inside next to his flesh! 


text:
He said, "May God do to me and more also! if the head of Shaphat's son Elisha remains on his shoulders <n>{Lit. on him}</n> today!" 


text:
Meanwhile, Elisha was sitting in his house, along with the elders, when the king <n>{Lit. when he}</n> sent a man to kill him, <n>{The Heb. lacks to kill him}</n> but before the messenger arrived, Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> told the elders, "Are you watching how this descendant of murderers has ordered my head be cut off? Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and hold it to shut them out! Don't you hear the sound of his master's feet right behind him?" 


text:
While he was still talking with them, the messenger arrived to see him and delivered the king's message to Elisha, <n>{Lit. and told him}</n> "Look! This evil has come from the Lord ! Why should I wait for the Lord anymore?" 


text:
<n>{Elisha Predicts Deliverance the Next Day}</n> d So Elisha responded, "Listen to this message from the Lord ! «This is what the Lord says: "At about this time tomorrow, in Samaria's city gate, a seah <n>{I.e. a dry measure of grain equal to about 2 gallons in volume.}</n> of finely ground flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel."»" 


text:
But the royal attendant on whom the king depended responded to the man of God: "Look here! Even if the Lord were to open a window in the sky, how could this happen?" He replied, "No, you look! You'll see it with your eyes, but you won't eat any of it!" 


text:
<n>{The Arameans Flee}</n> d Now there happened to be four lepers who were at that very moment at the entrance to the city gate. As they were talking with one another, they said, "Why are we sitting here waiting to die? 


text:
If we tell ourselves, «Let's remain in the city,'we'll die there since there's famine in the city. But if we sit here, we'll die, too. So let's go over <n>{Lit. let's fall}</n> to the Arameans! If they spare our lives, we'll live, and if they kill uswe're dying anyway!" <n>{The Heb. lacks anyway}</n> 


text:
So they got up at dusk and went out to the Aramean encampment. But when they arrived at the outskirts of the Aramean encampment, there was no one there! 


text:
The Lord had made the Aramean army hear the sounds of chariots, horses, and a large army, so they told one another, "Look! The king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and the Egyptians to come attack us!" 


text:
So the Arameans <n>{Lit. So they}</n> got up and ran away in the gathering darkness. They left behind their tents, horses, and donkeys just as they were and fled for their lives! 


text:
When the lepers arrived at the outskirts of the encampment, they entered one tent and ate and drank. Then they carried off from there some silver, gold, and clothes, and went out and hid them. After this, they returned, entered another tent, raided it, and went and hid all of that, <n>{The Heb. lacks all of that}</n> too! 


text:
But then they told each other, "We're not doing the right thing. This is a day of good news, but if we keep quiet until morning, we're sure to be punished! So let's leave and go tell the king's household!" 


text:
So they left, called out to the city gatekeepers, and reported to them: "We went out to the Aramean encampment, and there was nobody there! Not even the sound of men only horses and donkeys tied up, and tents left just as they were!" 


text:
so the king got up in the middle of the night and ordered his servants: "Let me explain what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we're hungry, so they've left their encampment to conceal themselves in the surrounding fields. They're telling themselves, «When they come out of the city, we'll capture them alive and enter the city!»" 


text:
One of his attendants suggested, "Please, let's take five of the remaining horses, since those who remain here will end up like the rest of Israel, which has already died, and we'll send them out to look." 


text:
So they took two chariots and horses, and the king sent them out after the Aramean army with the orders, "Go and look!" 


text:
<n>{The Prophecy is Fulfilled}</n> d They went out in the direction of the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> and the entire roadway was strewn with clothes and equipment that the Arameans had abandoned in their haste to leave! <n>{The Heb. lacks to leave}</n> So the messengers returned and reported to the king. 


text:
At this, the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. At that time, a seah <n>{I.e. a dry measure of grain equal to about 2 gallons in volume.}</n> of finely ground flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in accordance with the Lord's message. 


text:
Meanwhile, the king appointed the same royal attendant on whom he depended <n>{Cf. v. 2}</n> to take control of the city gate, but the people trampled him to death in the gate, just as the man of God had told the king when the king came down to him. 


text:
It happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king: "At about this time tomorrow, in Samaria's city gate, a seah <n>{I.e. a dry measure of grain equal to about 2 gallons in volume.}</n> of finely ground flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel." 


text:
But the royal attendant on whom the king depended responded to the man of God: "Look here! Even if the Lord were to make a window in the sky, how could this happen?" He replied, "No, you look! You'll see it with your eyes, but you won't eat any of it!" <n>{Cf. v. 1-2}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Shunammite's Land is Restored}</n> d Meanwhile, Elisha urged the woman whose son he had restored to life, "You must get up and leave with your household to go live wherever you can, because the Lord has called for a famine, and it's going to come over the land for seven years." 


text:
So the woman followed the instructions given to her by the man of God, and she went to the territory of the Philistines to live for seven years with her household. 


text:
At the end of the seven years, the woman returned from the territory of the Philistines and went to the king in order to file an appeal regarding her house and her grain field. 


text:
The king was talking with Gehazi, the attendant of the man of God. He had asked Gehazi, "Please tell me about all of the great things that Elisha has done." 


text:
Just as he was telling the king about Elisha's having restored the dead to life, the woman whose son had been restored arrived and appealed to the king for her house and her land! Gehazi told the king, "Your majesty, this is the woman! And here's her son, whom Elisha restored to life!" 


text:
The king consulted with the woman, who related the story. So the king appointed a court official to represent her and ordered him: "Restore to her everything that belonged to her, including all of the produce that her fields yielded from the day she left the land until now." 


text:
<n>{The Murder of King Ben-hadad of Aram}</n> d Later on, Elisha traveled to Damascus. King Ben-hadad of Aram was ill, but someone informed him, "The man of God has come here!" 


text:
So the king told Hazael, "Take a gift with you and go meet the man of God. Inquire of the Lord through him and ask, «Will I recover from this sickness?»" 


text:
So Hazael went out to meet with him and took a gift with him 40 camel loads filled with samples of everything good in Damascus. He approached the man of God <n>{Lit. approached him}</n> and said, "Your son King Ben-hadad from Aram has sent me to you to ask you, «Will I recover from this sickness?»" 


text:
But Elisha told him, "Go tell him, «You will certainly recover,'but the Lord has shown me that he will certainly die." 


text:
Then Elisha <n>{Lit. he}</n> looked steadily at Hazael <n>{The Heb. lacks at Hazael}</n> until Hazael grew ashamed, and then the man of God began to cry. 


text:
"Why are you crying, sir?" Hazael asked. "Because I know the evil that you're about to bring on the Israelis," he replied. "You'll burn down their fortified cities, execute their young men with swords, dash to pieces their little ones, and you'll tear open their pregnant women!" 


text:
But Hazael responded, "What? Who am I, your servant, that I should do such a horrible thing?" But Elisha answered, "The Lord has shown me that you will be king over Aram." 


text:
So he left Elisha and returned to his master, who asked him, "What did Elisha tell you?" He replied, "He told me that you would certainly get better." 


text:
But the very next day, Hazael <n>{Lit. he}</n> grabbed a thick covering, soaked it in water, and spread it over the king's <n>{Lit. over his}</n> face, and he suffocated. <n>{Lit. died}</n> Then Hazael succeeded Ben-hadad <n>{Lit. succeeded him}</n> as king. 


text:
<n>{Jehoram Comes to the Throne of Judah}</n> d Sometime during the fifth year of the reign of Ahab's son Joram, king of Israel (while Jehoshaphat was still ruling as king of Judah), Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram ascended to the throne of Judah. 


text:
He lived his life like the kings of Israel did, following the example of Ahab's household when he married Ahab's daughter and practiced what was evil in the Lord's presence. <n>{Lit. sight}</n> 


text:
But the Lord remained unwilling to destroy Judah for the sake of his servant David, since he had promised to keep <n>{Lit. give}</n> David's lamp burning brightly through his descendants every day. 


text:
During Jehoram's lifetime, Edom rebelled from Judah's hegemony and appointed a king to rule over themselves. 


text:
Then Joram crossed over to Zair, along with all of his chariots. At night he attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the commanders of his chariots, but the army <n>{Lit. people}</n> ran away to their tents. 


text:
The rest of the official <n>{The Heb. lacks official}</n> acts of Joram, along with everything else that he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, <n>{An ancient chronicle of Israel, apparently now lost; and so throughout the book}</n> are they not? 


text:
<n>{Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram}</n> d After Joram was laid to rest with his ancestors in the city of David, his son Ahaziah replaced him as king. 


text:
Joram's son Ahaziah began to reign as king of Judah during the twelfth year of the reign of Ahab's son Joram, king of Israel. 


text:
Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for one year. His mother was named Athaliah. She was the granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel. 


text:
Ahaziah lived his life following the example of Ahab's household, practicing what the Lord considered to be evil, just like the household of Ahab, because he was a son-in-law to Ahab's household. 


text:
He joined Ahab's son Joram in an attack on King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, and that's where the Arameans wounded Joram. 


text:
Then King Joram retreated to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah during the battle against King Hazael of Aram. Jehoram's son Ahaziah, king of Judah, went to visit Ahab's son Joram in Jezreel because Joram was sick. <n>{I.e. during Joram's recovery from his battle wounds}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jehu Anointed King of Israel}</n> d Elisha called one of the members of the <n>{The Heb. lacks members of the}</n> Guild of Prophets and told him, "Get ready to run, <n>{Lit. Tie up your garments}</n> take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 


text:
As soon as you get there, go find Jehoshaphat's son Jehu, the grandson of Nimshi. When you do, <n>{The Heb. lacks When you do}</n> go in, tell him to get up and go apart with you away from his brothers. Lead him into a private chamber, 


text:
take the flask of oil, and pour it out on his head. Then tell him, «This is what the Lord says: I'm anointing you king over Israel.'Then open the door and leave. Don't linger there!" 


text:
When he arrived, the army commanders were seated, so he said, "I have a message for you, captain!" Jehu asked, "For which one of us?" "For you, captain!" he answered. 


text:
So Jehu <n>{Lit. he}</n> got up and went inside the house, and the young man <n>{Lit. and he}</n> told him, "This is what the Lord , the God of Israel says: «I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord that is, over Israel. 


text:
You are to attack the household of your master Ahab, so I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, as well as the blood of all of the servants of the Lord that has been spilled <n>{The Heb. lacks that has been spilled}</n> at Jezebel's orders. <n>{Lit. hand}</n> 


text:
The entire household of Ahab will die, and I will cut off from Ahab every male person in Israel, whether imprisoned or surviving. <n>{Or whether in servitude or left behind}</n> 


text:
I will make the household of Ahab like the household of Nebat's son Jeroboam and the household of Ahijah's son Baasha. 


text:
Furthermore, the dogs will eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel. There will be no burial for her.»" Then he opened the door and left. 


text:
As Jehu was coming out to his master's attendants, one of them asked him, "Is everything all right? Why did this maniac visit you?" "You know the man and how he speculates," Jehu replied. 


text:
"That's a lie!" they said. "Tell us what's going on!" "He said «This and that'to me," he responded. «This is what the Lord says: "I have anointed you king over Israel."»" 


text:
At this, each man quickly grabbed his own garment, placed it under him at the top of the stairs, <n>{Or him on the uncovered ascent ; i.e. on the roof of the building}</n> sounded a trumpet, and announced, "Jehu is king!" 


text:
<n>{Joram (Also Known as Jehoram) is Assassinated}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 22:7-9)}</n> d Meanwhile, Jehoshaphat's son Jehu, the grandson of Nimshi had been conspiring against Joram while Joram and all the army of <n>{The Heb. lacks the army of}</n> Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against King Hazael from Aram. 


text:
King Jehoram had returned to Jezreel to recover from wounds he had sustained from the Arameans when he had fought against King Hazael from Aram. So Jehu concluded, "Since this is what you've decided, <n>{Lit. is your soul}</n> then let no one get away, leave the city, and go report to Jezreel!" 


text:
Then Jehu rode by chariot to Jezreel, since Joram was recovering <n>{Lit. lying}</n> there. King Ahaziah from Judah had come to visit Joram. 


text:
While the watchman was standing guard in the tower at Jezreel, he watched Jehu's entourage arrive. So he called out, "I see a group arriving." Joram ordered, "Take a horseman, send him out to meet them, and have him ask, «Have you come in peace?»" <n>{Lit. The peace ; i.e. a general inquiry of welfare}</n> 


text:
So a horseman went out, greeted Jehu and said, "This is what the king said: «Have you come in peace?»" But Jehu responded, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me." The watchman reported, "The messenger arrived there, but he hasn't returned." 


text:
Then Joram sent out a second horseman, who went out to them and said, "This is what the king said: «Have you come in peace?»" Jehu responded, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me." 


text:
The watchman reported to Joram, "He arrived there, but he hasn't returned. Also, he drives like Nimshi's son Jehu drives irrationally!" 


text:
Joram replied, "Let's begin our attack!" As soon as his chariot was prepared, both King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, to fight against Jehu. They met together in the property that had belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. <n>{1 King 21:1-19}</n> 


text:
As soon as Joram noticed Jehu, he cried out, "Peace, Jehu?" Jehu <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "What peace, given <n>{The Heb. lacks given}</n> your mother Jezebel's prostitution and all of <n>{Lit. and many}</n> her witchcraft?" <n>{Or sorcery ; i.e. wielding power through demonic spirits}</n> 


text:
Joram reined his horse <n>{Lit. hands}</n> around to flee and cried out to Ahaziah, "Ahaziah! Treachery!" 


text:
But Jehu drew his bow with all of his strength, shooting Joram between his shoulder blades. <n>{Lit. his arms}</n> The arrow pierced his heart, and he collapsed in his chariot. 


text:
After this, Jehu called out to Bidkar, his third in command, "Pick up Joram's body and throw it in the field, the property that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite, because you and I remember how when we were riding together in pursuit of his father Ahab, that the Lord pronounced this oracle <n>{Lit. burden ; a prophetic message of solemn import}</n> against him: 


text:
«This is what the Lord says, "I have certainly observed the blood of Naboth and his sons, and I will repay you on this property," declares the Lord . '"Therefore take the body and throw it in the field, just as the Lord said." 


text:
<n>{King Ahaziah is Also Killed}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 22:7-9)}</n> d As soon as King Ahaziah of Judah observed this, he attempted to flee by the garden house road, but Jehu pursued him. At the ascent toward Gur which is near Ibleam, he ordered, "Shoot him in the chariot, too!" Ahaziah fled to Megiddo, where he died. 


text:
Ahaziah's servants transported the king's body <n>{Lit. transported him}</n> by chariot to Jerusalem and buried it in his own sepulcher near his ancestors in the city of David. 


text:
Ahaziah had begun to reign over Judah in the eleventh year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Ahab's son Joram. 


text:
<n>{Jezebel is Executed}</n> d As soon as Jehu arrived at Jezreel, Jezebel adorned her eyes, arranged her hair, and peered out a window. 


text:
When Jehu had entered through the gate, she asked, "Was Zimri, who murdered his master, <n>{1King 16:9-10}</n> received well?" 


text:
Jehu <n>{Lit. He}</n> looked up toward the window and called out, "Who is on my side? Who?" When two or three eunuchs looked out at him, 


text:
he ordered, "Throw her down!" So they did, and her blood splashed against the wall and on the horses, while Jehu trampled her underfoot. 


text:
Later on, after he had come in to eat and drink, he ordered, "Go and see to this cursed woman, and bury her, because she was a king's daughter." 


text:
But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing left of her except her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. 


text:
So they returned and reported to Jehu, <n>{Lit. him}</n> and he responded, "This fulfills <n>{The Heb. lacks fulfills}</n> this message from the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the foreigner, <n>{Lit. Tishbite ; or sojourner}</n> who said: «Dogs will eat Jezebel's flesh on the property of Jezreel, 


text:
and her corpse will lie like dung on the surface of the field on the property in Jezreel, but no one will say, "This is Jezebel."»" 


text:
<n>{Ahab's Dynasty is Ended}</n> d Meanwhile, Ahab had 70 sons who lived in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and the guardians of Ahab's children. <n>{The Heb. lacks children}</n> He told them, 


text:
"As soon as you receive this letter (since your master's children are with you, you have chariots and horses there with you, and you are protected by a walled city and weaponry), 


text:
select the best and most qualified of your master's sons, set him in place on his father's throne, and fight for your master's dynasty!" 


text:
But they were too terrified, and so they told one another, <n>{The Heb. lacks to one another}</n> "Look! Two previous kings couldn't stand up to Jehu, so how can we?" 


text:
So the household overseer, the city supervisor, along with the elders and the children's guardians sent word <n>{The Heb. lacks word}</n> to Jehu, telling him, "We will serve you and do everything you ask. We won't set up a king, so do what you want to do." 


text:
But Jehu wrote them another letter: "If you're loyal to me, and if you intend to obey my commands, <n>{Lit. voice}</n> then bring the heads of your master's sons and meet me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow." Now the king's sons, totaling 70 men, were living with the leading men of the city, who were their guardians. 


text:
When the letter from Jehu <n>{The Heb. lacks from Jehu}</n> arrived, the city leaders arrested the king's sons, slaughtered all 70 of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu <n>{Lit. him}</n> at Jezreel. 


text:
When the messenger arrived to report to the king, he said, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." Jehu <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "Put them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning." 


text:
The next morning, Jehu went out, stood still, and announced to all the people: "Are you righteous? I conspired against my master and killed him, but who slaughtered all of these? 


text:
Keep this in mind not a single statement by the Lord will fail to come about that he spoke concerning Ahab's dynasty, because the Lord has accomplished what he predicted by his servant Elijah." 


text:
So Jehu executed all those who remained from Ahab's dynasty in Jezreel, including all of Ahab's men, his friends, and his priests, until there remained not even one survivor. 


text:
Then Jehu got up, left the city, <n>{The Heb. lacks the city}</n> and went to Samaria. When he arrived at the shearing house <n>{Or Beth-eked ; Lit. the house of binding ; i.e. binding sheep to shear them}</n> that was located on the way, 


text:
Jehu met up with the relatives of king Ahaziah of Judah. He asked them "Who are you?" They answered, "We're Ahaziah's relatives, and we've come down to greet the king's sons and the sons of the queen mother." 


text:
Jehu ordered, "Take them alive!" So Jehu's soldiers captured them and executed all 42 of them near the pit at the shearing house. <n>{Or Beth-eked ; Lit. the house of binding ; i.e. binding sheep to shear them}</n> He left none of them alive. 


text:
After he left there, he encountered Rechab's son Jehonadab. After he greeted him, Jehu <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with yours?" "It is," Jehonadab answered. "If it is," Jehu replied, <n>{The Heb. lacks Jehu replied}</n> "Put out your hand." So Jehonadab stuck out his hand, and Jehu took him up to stand in his chariot. 


text:
He told him, "Come with me and see my enthusiasm for the Lord !" So Jehu <n>{Lit. he}</n> had Jehonadab <n>{Lit. him}</n> ride in his chariot. 


text:
When Jehu <n>{Lit. he}</n> arrived in Samaria, he executed everyone who remained of Ahab's household in Samaria, until he had utterly destroyed Ahab in accordance with the message from the Lord that he spoke to Elijah. 


text:
<n>{Jehu Executes the Prophets of Baal}</n> d Then Jehu assembled all the people and announced to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot! 


text:
Therefore summon all of Baal's prophets to me, including all his worshipers and all his priests. Don't leave even one out, because I've prepared a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever doesn't show up doesn't live!" But Jehu did this deceptively, intending to destroy Baal's worshippers. 


text:
Jehu sent the proclamation <n>{The Heb. lacks the proclamation}</n> throughout Israel, and all the Baal worshipers came. There wasn't a single man left who failed to come. When they entered Baal's temple, it was filled from one end to the other. 


text:
Then Jehu <n>{Lit. he}</n> ordered the one in charge of the wardrobe, "Bring out garments for all of the worshipers of Baal." So he brought out garments for them. 


text:
Jehu and Rechab's son Jehonadab entered Baal's temple, and Jehu told the Baal worshipers, "Look around and be sure that no servant of the Lord is here among you, but only worshipers of Baal." 


text:
Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Meanwhile, Jehu had stationed 80 men outside, ordering them, "If any of these men whom I've brought into your control escape, the one who allows it will forfeit his life." 


text:
As soon as he had completed the burnt offering, Jehu ordered the guards and the officers, "Go in and execute them Don't let even one man escape." So they executed them with swords, and the guards and the officers threw the bodies out and proceeded into the inner room of Baal's temple, 


text:
They also cut down the pillar to Baal, tore apart Baal's temple, and turned it into a latrine and it remains that way today. 


text:
Even so, Jehu never abandoned the sins of Nebat's son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, regarding the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan. 


text:
<n>{Israel Begins to Reduce in Size}</n> d Nevertheless, the Lord told Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out what I saw as the right thing to do by completing everything I had in mind regarding Ahab's dynasty, your sons will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." 


text:
But Jehu did not remain careful to walk in the instruction <n>{Or Law}</n> of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart. He never abandoned the sins of Jeroboam that had caused Israel to sin. 


text:
In those days the Lord began to reduce Israel in size: Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel, 


text:
from the Jordan River <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> eastward, all the territory of Gilead, the descendants of Gad, the descendants of Reuben, and the descendants of Manasseh, from Aroer by the Valley of the Arnon, including Gilead and Bashan. 


text:
<n>{Jehoahaz Succeeds Jehu}</n> d Now as to the rest of Jehu's activities, including his valiant deeds, they are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


text:
Then Jehu died, as did <n>{Lit. Jehu slept with}</n> his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz reigned in his place. 


text:
<n>{Athaliah Reigns as Queen of Judah}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 22:10-23:11)}</n> d As soon as Ahaziah's mother Athaliah learned that her son had died, she seized the throne <n>{Lit. she arose}</n> and executed the entire royal bloodline. <n>{Lit. seed}</n> 


text:
But King Joram's daughter Jehosheba, who was Ahaziah's sister, rescued <n>{Lit. took}</n> Ahaziah's son Joash from the group of the king's sons who were being executed and hid him and his nurse in her bedroom, concealing him from Athaliah so he was not put to death. 


text:
So Joash remained hidden with her in the Lord's Temple for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land. 


text:
But during the seventh year of her reign, <n>{The Heb. lacks of her reign}</n> Jehoiada went out and called together the rulers of hundreds, the captains, and the guards, and assembled them together inside the Lord's Temple. He made a covenant with them, making them take an oath in the Lord's Temple, and then he revealed the king's son to them. 


text:
He ordered them: "Here's what we'll do: A third of you will enter here on this coming <n>{The Heb. lacks this coming}</n> Sabbath dressed <n>{The Heb. lacks dressed}</n> as guardians of the watch for the king's palace, 


text:
with a third of you at the Sur gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards. Keep watch over the palace <n>{Or Temple ; Lit. house}</n> and defend it. 


text:
Two <n>{Lit. Two hands}</n> of you who enter here on this coming <n>{The Heb. lacks this coming}</n> Sabbath are to stand watch at the Lord's Temple, 


text:
guarding the king and surrounding him with weapons in hand. Whoever comes within range is to be killed. Stay with the king wherever he goes, coming or going." 


text:
So the captains of hundreds did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one of them assembled his men who were to enter on the Sabbath, along with those who were to leave on the Sabbath, and approached Jehoiada the priest. 


text:
The priest issued king David's personal spears and shields that had been stored in the Lord's Temple to the captains of hundreds. 


text:
So the guards stood assembled, every soldier with weapons in hand, surrounding the king from the right side corner of the Temple to the left side corner, including around the altar and the Temple. 


text:
Then he brought out the king's son, put the royal crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, <n>{I.e. the tablets that were stored in the ark; cf. Ex 25:16, 31:18}</n> and installed him as king. They anointed him, applauded, and said, "May the king live!" 


text:
When Athaliah heard all of the commotion coming from those who were guarding the people, she approached the people who were in the Lord's Temple. 


text:
She looked around and there was the king, standing near a column, as was the royal custom! He was accompanied by the commanding officers, along with trumpeters who stood beside the king. All the people of the land sounded trumpets in their excitement. But Athaliah tore her clothes and bellowed, "It's a plot! A conspiracy!" 


text:
<n>{Athaliah is Executed}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 23:12-15)}</n> d Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains in charge of <n>{Lit. captains of hundred over}</n> the army, "Take her out the back way <n>{Lit. out by the ranks ; i.e. using a utility entrance (cf. vs. 16)}</n> and execute anybody who follows her," since the priest had also issued this order: "Let's not put her to death in the Lord's Temple." 


text:
So they arrested Athaliah, took her out through the same entrance used by the horses for entering the king's palace, and executed her. 


text:
<n>{A Covenant is Made}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 23:16-21)}</n> d Then Jehoiada entered into a covenant with the Lord , the king, and the people, that they would live as the Lord's people, and also entered into a covenant with the king and the people. 


text:
Then all of the people of the land entered Baal's temple, tore it down, and broke his altars and his images to pieces, killing Mattan the priest of Baal right in front of the altars. Furthermore, Jehoiada <n>{The Heb. lacks Jehoiada}</n> the priest appointed officers to guard the Lord's Temple, 


text:
and brought the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, taking the king out of the Lord's Temple, marching through the guard's gate to the king's palace, where Joash <n>{Lit. he}</n> took his seat on the throne of the kings. 


text:
After this, everyone throughout the land rejoiced and the city was at peace, because they had executed Athaliah at the king's palace. 


text:
<n>{Jehoash (Joash) Reigns over Judah}</n> d <n>{This vs. is 12:1 in MT}</n> Jehoash began to reign as king when he was seven years old, 


text:
<n>{This vs. is 12:2 in MT, and so throughout the chapter}</n> ascending to the throne in the seventh year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Jehu and then reigning for 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah from Beer-sheba. 


text:
Jehoash did what the Lord considered to be right during the entire time when Jehoiada the priest was instructing him, 


text:
except that the high places were not demolished, so the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places. 


text:
<n>{Jehoash Institutes Temple Repairs}</n> d Jehoash spoke to the priests about all of the proceeds <n>{Lit. silver ; i.e., money from conversion of gifts into cash}</n> of the consecrated gifts that were being brought into the Lord's Temple, cash from every man who was traveling through the area, <n>{The Heb. lacks the area}</n> cash obtained by personal assessment, <n>{Lit. cash from souls to their appointment}</n> and all the cash that came through voluntary gifts <n>{Lit. through the heart of a man}</n> into the Lord» s Temple: 


text:
"Let the priests get support for themselves from their own donors, and let them repair the Temple wherever a leak in need of repair is discovered." 


text:
But 23 years into the reign of king Jehoash, the priests still had not repaired the leaks in the Temple. 


text:
So king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, along with other <n>{Lit. the}</n> priests, and asked them, "Why haven't you fixed the leaks in the Temple? Stop receiving donations from your acquaintances for repairing the leaks in the Temple." 


text:
So the priests agreed to receive no more cash from the people, but they didn't repair the leaks in the Temple, either. 


text:
So Jehoiada the priest grabbed a chest, bored an opening in its lid, and placed it next to the altar, on the right side as one enters the Lord's Temple. The priests who tended the entryway put all the money that was brought into the Lord's Temple into the chest. <n>{Lit. into it}</n> 


text:
As a result, whenever they noticed that there was a lot of money in the chest, the king's secretary and the high priest went forward, put the money in bags, counted the money that had been given over to the Lord's Temple, 


text:
and disbursed the cash directly into the hands of those who did the work and who were in charge of the oversight of the Lord's Temple. They paid it to the carpenters and builders who worked on the Lord's Temple, 


text:
to masons and stonecutters, and for procurement of timber and quarried stone for making repairs to the Lord's Temple, and for all outlays needed for repairs of the Temple. 


text:
But no provision was included for the Lord's Temple from the money that was brought into the Lord's Temple for silver basins, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels made of gold or silver, 


text:
Furthermore, they required no accounting from the men into whose hand they had paid the money to do the work, because the workers acted in good faith. 


text:
The money from the guilt offerings and <n>{Lit. and the money}</n> from the sin offerings was not brought into the Lord's Temple, because it was allocated to the priests. 


text:
<n>{Hazael Attacks Israel}</n> d Later, King Hazael of Aram invaded and attacked Gath, captured it, and then set out to approach Jerusalem. 


text:
So King Jehoash of Judah took all of the sacred things that his ancestors Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, along with his own dedicated things, and all the gold that could be located within the treasure vaults of the Lord's Temple and in the king's palace, and paid off King Hazael of Aram. Then Hazael <n>{Lit. he}</n> left Jerusalem. 


text:
<n>{Amaziah Succeeds Jehoash (Joash)}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 24:23-27)}</n> d Now the rest of the Joash's activities everything he did are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 


text:
His servants rose up in rebellion, formed a conspiracy, and assassinated Joash in the palace at the terrace ramparts <n>{Lit. the Millo , fortified areas of ancient Jerusalem with terraces and retaining walls}</n> while he was on his way down to Silla. 


text:
Shimeath's son Jozacar and Shomer's son Jehozabad, his servants, attacked him and he died. They buried him alongside his ancestors in the city of David, and his son Amaziah became king to replace him. 


text:
<n>{Jehoahaz Becomes King of Israel}</n> d During the twenty-third year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Ahaziah's son Joash, king of Judah, Jehu's son Jehoahaz began his seventeen year reign in Samaria over Israel. <n>{I.e. over the northern kingdom}</n> 


text:
He did what the Lord considered to be evil, after the pattern of Nebat's son Jeroboam. By doing so, he caused Israel to sin, and he never changed course from it. 


text:
As a result, the Lord's wrath flared up against Israel, so he handed them over to domination by king Hazael of Aram and later into the constant <n>{Lit. all their days}</n> domination by Hazael's son Ben-hadad. 


text:
But Jehoahaz sought the Lord , <n>{Lit. the Lord's face}</n> and the Lord paid attention to him, because the Lord <n>{Lit. because he}</n> had been watching the oppression that Israel was enduring from the king of Aram. <n>{The Heb. lacks that Israel was enduring from the king of Aram.}</n> 


text:
<n>{God Delivers Israel}</n> d The Lord provided Israel with a deliverer, so they escaped the Aramean oppression while the descendants of Israel lived in tents as they had formerly. 


text:
Nevertheless, they did not change course away from the sins of Jeroboam's household, by which he caused Israel to sin, but continued on that same course, with Asherah poles <n>{I.e. cultic pillars used in pagan worship, and so throughout the book}</n> remaining in place in Samaria. 


text:
For the Aramean king <n>{Lit. For he}</n> had left only 50 cavalry, ten chariots, and 10,000 soldiers out of the army belonging to Jehoahaz, because the king of Aram had destroyed the others, <n>{Lit. destroyed them}</n> making them like chaff left over after threshing. 


text:
Now the rest of the activities of Jehoahaz, including everything he did and his grandeur, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


text:
So Jehoahaz died, as did <n>{Lit. Jehoahaz slept with}</n> his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria while his son Joash replaced him as king. 


text:
<n>{Jehoash Reigns in Samaria}</n> d During the thirty-seventh year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> king Joash <n>{ Joash and Jehoash are alternate spellings of the same name}</n> of Judah, Jehoahaz's son Jehoash began a sixteen year reign as king over Israel in Samaria. 


text:
He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, not changing course from all of the sins practiced by Nebat's son Jeroboam by which he caused Israel to sin. Instead, he continued on that same course. 


text:
The rest of Joash's activities, including everything he did and the vehemence with which he fought against king Amaziah of Judah are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


text:
So Joash died, as did <n>{Lit. Joash slept with}</n> his ancestors, and Jeroboam assumed his throne after Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. 


text:
<n>{Elisha Predicts Partial Victory for Joash}</n> d When Elisha fell ill with the sickness from which he was about to die, king Joash of Israel came down to see <n>{The Heb. lacks see}</n> him, wept in his presence, and told him, "My father, Israel's chariots and horsemen!" 


text:
Then Elisha told Israel's king, "Draw the bow!" As he did so, Elisha laid his hands on top of the king's hands 


text:
and ordered him, "Open a window that faces east." So he did so. Elisha ordered him, "Shoot!" So he shot. Then Elisha said, "This is the Lord's arrow of victory the victory arrow against Aram, because you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you will have utterly finished them off." 


text:
After this Elisha said, "Pick up the arrows." So the king picked them up. Then Elisha told the king of Israel, "Strike the ground!" So he struck it three times and then stood still. 


text:
At this the man of God became angry at him and told him, "You should have struck five or six times! Then you would have attacked Aram until you would have destroyed it! But as it is now, you'll defeat Aram only three times!" 


text:
<n>{The Death of Elisha}</n> d Later, Elisha died and was buried. Now at that time various Moabite marauders had been invading the land each spring. 


text:
One day while some Israelis <n>{Lit. As they}</n> were burying a man, they saw some marauders, so they threw the man into Elisha's grave. But when the man fell against Elisha's remains, <n>{Lit. bones}</n> he revived and rose to his feet. 


text:
<n>{Elisha's Prophecy of Partial Victory is Fulfilled}</n> d Meanwhile, king Hazael of Aram had been oppressing Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz, 


text:
but the Lord showed grace to them, displayed his compassion toward them, and turned to them due to his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would not destroy them or evict them from his presence up until that time. 


text:
At that time, Jehoahaz's son Jehoash recaptured from Hazael's son Ben-hadad the cities that Hazael <n>{Lit. he}</n> had captured through warfare from the control of Jehoahaz, Jehoash's father. Joash <n>{ Joash and Jehoash are alternate spellings of the same name}</n> defeated and recovered cities of Israel from Ben-hadad <n>{Lit. him}</n> three times. 


text:
<n>{Amaziah Becomes King of Judah}</n> d Amaziah, son of Judah's king Joash, became king during the second year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Joash, son of king Joahaz of Israel 


text:
He practiced what the Lord considered to be right, but not like his ancestor David did. He acted as his father Joash had done, 


text:
except that the high places were not abolished. The people continued to offer sacrifices and to burn incense on the high places. 


text:
Later on, as soon as he was in firm control of his kingdom, he executed the servants who had murdered his father the king, 


text:
but he did not execute the children of the murderers, in keeping with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, as the Lord had commanded: "Fathers must not be put to death because of their children's sin; nor are children to die because of their fathers'sin, for each person is to be put to death for his own sin." <n>{cf. Deut 24:16}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Edomites are Defeated}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 25:5-16)}</n> d Joash executed 10,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley and captured Sela in battle, renaming it Joktheel, which remains its name to this day. 


text:
Later, Amaziah sent couriers to Jehoahaz's son Jehoash, grandson of king Jehu of Israel, challenging him, "Come on! Let's fight face to face!" 


text:
But king Jehoash of Israel sent this message to king Amaziah of Judah: "The thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to the cedar of Lebanon: «Give your daughter to my son in marriage.'But just then a wild beast from Lebanon wandered by and trampled down the thorn bush. 


text:
You just defeated Edom and you're <n>{Lit. and your heart is}</n> arrogant. Bask in your victory and stay home. Why incite trouble so that you yes, you! fall, along with Judah with you?" 


text:
But Amaziah refused to listen. So Israel's king Jehoash and Judah's king Amaziah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which is part of Judah. 


text:
Then king Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's king Amaziah, the son of Jehoash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. He went to Jerusalem and demolished 600 yards <n>{Lit. demolished 400 cubits}</n> of the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 


text:
He confiscated all the gold and silver, all the instruments he could find in the Lord's Temple and in the palace treasuries. He also captured some hostages and then returned to Samaria. 


text:
<n>{Jeroboam Succeeds Israel's King Jehoash}</n> d The rest of Jehoash's activities that he undertook, including his valor in fighting king Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


text:
Jehoash died, as had <n>{Lit. Jehoash slept with}</n> his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria alongside the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam reigned in his place. 


text:
<n>{The Death of Judah's King Amaziah}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 25:25-28)}</n> d Joash's son king Amaziah of Judah lived for fifteen years after Jehoahaz'son king Jehoash of Israel died. 


text:
The rest of Amaziah's activities are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 


text:
A conspiracy arose against him in Jerusalem, and he ran off to Lachish, but he was pursued to Lachish and killed there. 


text:
His body was brought back on horses and he was buried at Jerusalem alongside his ancestors in the city of David. 


text:
<n>{Azariah's Reign over Judah}</n> d All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and installed him as king to take the place of his father Amaziah. 


text:
He rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah. Later on the king died, as did <n>{Lit. king slept with}</n> his ancestors. 


text:
<n>{Jeroboam's Reign over Israel}</n> d In the fifteenth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, began a 41 year reign in Samaria. 


text:
He did what the Lord considered to be evil by not abandoning all the sins of Nebat's son Jeroboam, who made Israel sin. 


text:
He rebuilt Israel's coastline from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, <n>{I.e. the Dead Sea; cf. Deut 3:17}</n> in accordance with the message from the Lord God of Israel that he spoke through his servant Jonah the prophet, Amittai's son, who was from Gath-hepher. 


text:
For the Lord observed Israel's bitter misery, and there was no one left, neither slave nor free, and there was no deliverer for Israel. 


text:
The Lord had never said that he would erase the name of Israel from under heaven. Instead, he delivered them by Joash's son Jeroboam. 


text:
The rest of Jeroboam's actions everything he did, including his powerful fighting and how on behalf of Israel he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


text:
<n>{Zechariah's Reign over Israel}</n> d Jeroboam died, as had <n>{Lit. Jeroboam slept with}</n> his ancestors the kings of Israel, and his son Zechariah became king in his place. 


text:
<n>{Azariah Becomes King of Judah}</n> d Amaziah's son Azariah began reigning during the twenty-seventh year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Jeroboam, king of Israel. 


text:
He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah; she was <n>{The Heb. lacks she was}</n> from Jerusalem. 


text:
except that the high places were never removed, and the people kept on sacrificing and burning incense on the high places. 


text:
The Lord struck the king so that he was afflicted with leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house while his son Jotham managed the household and ruled <n>{Lit. judged}</n> the people who lived in the land. 


text:
Now the rest of Azariah's activities, including everything he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 


text:
Later, Azariah died, as had <n>{Lit. Azariah slept with}</n> his ancestors, and they buried him with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Jotham then reigned in his place. 


text:
<n>{Zachariah's Reign over Israel}</n> d During the thirty-eighth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Azariah, king of Judah, Jeroboam's son Zachariah began a six-month reign in Samaria. 


text:
He did what the Lord considered to be evil, just as his ancestors had done. He never abandoned the sins of Nebat's son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin. 


text:
So Jabesh's son Shallum conspired against him and attacked him in full view of the people, killed him, and reigned in his place. 


text:
The rest of Zachariah's activities are recorded in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 


text:
<n>{Shallum's Reign over Israel}</n> d This is what the Lord told Jehu: "Your children will sit on Israel's throne for the next four generations." <n>{The Heb. lacks generations}</n> And that is what happened: <n>{Lit. And so it was}</n> 


text:
Jabesh's son Shallum began his reign in the thirty-ninth year of the reign of Uzziah, <n>{ Uzziah is an alternate spelling of Azariah (cf. 2King 15:1)}</n> king of Judah. He reigned a full month <n>{Lit. a lunar of days ; i.e. one complete lunar month (through all four phases of the moon)}</n> in Samaria, 


text:
then Gadi's son Menahem approached Samaria from Tirzah and attacked Jabesh's son Shallum, executed him, and reigned in his place. 


text:
The rest of Shallum's activities, including the conspiracy that he carried out, are recorded in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


text:
<n>{Menahem's Reign over Israel}</n> d At another time, Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all of its inhabitants, including its coastlands from Tirzah, because they would not open the city gate for him. After defeating them, he ripped open all of their pregnant women. 


text:
In the thirty-ninth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Azariah, king of Judah, Gadi's son Menahem began a ten-year reign over Israel from Samaria. 


text:
He did what the Lord considered to be evil by never abandoning the sins of Nebat's son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, as long as he lived. 


text:
Later on, King Pul of Aram attacked the land, and Menahem paid Pul 1,000 silver talents so Pul <n>{Lit. he}</n> would join forces with Menahem <n>{Lit. him}</n> to secure his hold on the kingdom. 


text:
Menahem exacted the money from all of Israel's powerful and wealthy men, 50 shekels from each, to pay the king of Aram. As a result, the king of Aram retreated and did not remain there in the land. 


text:
The rest of Menahem's activities, including everything that he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 


text:
Then Menahem died, as did <n>{Lit. Menahem slept with}</n> his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah reigned in his place. 


text:
<n>{Pekahiah's Reign over Israel}</n> d Menahem's son Pekahiah became king over Israel for two years during the fiftieth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Azariah of Judah. 


text:
He did what the Lord considered to be evil. Just as Nebat's son Jeroboam had led Israel into sin, so also Pekahiah did not stop doing the same thing. 


text:
Then Remaliah's son Pekah, Pekahiah's <n>{Lit. his}</n> officer, conspired against him with Argob and Arieh. Accompanied by 50 Gileadite men, Pekah attacked Pekahiah inside the palace of the king's compound <n>{Lit. house}</n> in Samaria, executed him, and reigned as king in his place. 


text:
The rest of Pekahiah's activities, including everything he did, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 


text:
<n>{Pekah's Reign over Israel}</n> d Remaliah's son Pekah began a 20-year reign as Israel's king during the fifty-second year of King Azariah of Judah. 


text:
He did what the Lord considered to be evil by never abandoning the sins of Nebat's son Jeroboam, by which he caused Israel to sin. 


text:
During the lifetime of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked. He captured the cities of Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He also captured Gilead, Galilee, and the entire territory of Naphtali, and carried its people off to Assyria. 


text:
So during the twentieth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Uzziah's son Jotham, Elah's son Hoshea conspired against Remaliah's son Pekah, attacked him, executed him, and became king in his place. 


text:
The rest of Pekah's activities, including everything that he accomplished, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 


text:
<n>{Jotham's Reign over Judah}</n> d Uzziah's son Jotham became king over Judah during the second year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Remaliah's son Pekah, king of Israel. 


text:
He was 25 years old when he became king. He reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. Zadok's daughter Jerusha was his mother. 


text:
except the high places were not torn down, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. But he rebuilt the upper gate of the Lord's Temple. 


text:
The rest of Jotham's activities, including everything that he accomplished, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 


text:
Right about that time, the Lord began to send King Rezin of Aram and Remaliah's son Pekah against Judah. 


text:
Meanwhile, Jotham died, as did <n>{Lit. Jotham slept with}</n> his ancestors, and he was buried with them <n>{Lit. with his ancestors}</n> in the city of David, his ancestor, and Jotham's son Ahaz reigned in his place. 


text:
<n>{Ahaz Becomes King of Judah}</n> d During the seventeenth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Remaliah's son Pekah, Jotham's son Ahaz became king of Judah. 


text:
Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. He did not practice what the Lord considered to be right, as had his ancestor David. 


text:
Instead, he behaved like the kings of Israel did by making his son pass through fire, the very same abomination that the heathen practiced, whom the Lord evicted from the land right in front of the Israelis. 


text:
Furthermore, Ahaz <n>{Lit. he}</n> sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on top of hills, and under every green tree. 


text:
<n>{Ahaz Seeks Help from Assyria}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 28:16-21; Isaiah 7:1-16)}</n> d Later, King Rezin of Aram and Remaliah's son Pekah, king of Israel, approached Jerusalem to attack it. They besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him. 


text:
But at that time King Rezin of Aram recovered Elath for Aram, completely removing the Judeans from Elath. Then the Arameans returned to Elath and have remained there to this day. 


text:
So Ahaz sent envoys to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria to tell him, "I am your servant and son. Save me from the king of Aram and the king of Israel, who are attacking me." 


text:
Then Ahaz took the silver and gold that was in the Lord's Temple and in the palace treasuries and sent them as a gift to the king of Assyria, 


text:
so the king of Assyria listened to Ahaz. He attacked Damascus, captured it, sent its people away into exile to Kir, and executed Rezin. 


text:
<n>{King Ahaz Constructs a Pagan Altar}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 28:22-25)}</n> d King Ahaz traveled to Damascus and met with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, where he observed the altar at Damascus. So King Ahaz sent a set of construction patterns of this altar to Uriah the priest. 


text:
Uriah the priest built an altar, following the plans that King Ahaz had sent him from Damascus and finishing the altar before King Ahaz returned from Damascus. 


text:
When the king returned from Damascus, as soon as he saw the altar, he <n>{Lit. altar, the king}</n> approached it and offered sacrifices on it. 


text:
He presented a burnt offering, a meat offering, poured out a drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of a peace offering on his altar. 


text:
Then he took the bronze altar that stood in the Lord's presence from in front of the Temple, moved it to the north side of his altar, 


text:
and issued these orders to Uriah the priest: "Burn the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king's burnt offering and grain offering, the whole burnt offering, the grain offering, and the drink offering on behalf of all the people of the land on the large altar. And sprinkle all the blood from the burnt offering and from the sacrifice. But I will use the bronze altar to ask God questions." 


text:
Later, King Ahaz ordered the side panels removed from the bases, along with the washing bowls that had stood on top of the bases. He also removed the large bowl that was called the Sea from on top of the bronze bulls that supported it, and put it on a stone base. 


text:
Then Ahaz removed the covered walkway for use on the Sabbath that they had built in the Temple. Because of the king of Assyria, he also removed the outside entrance from the Lord's Temple that had been built exclusively <n>{The Heb. lacks that had been built exclusively}</n> for the king. 


text:
Now the rest of Ahaz's activities are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 


text:
Later, Ahaz died, as did <n>{Lit. Ahaz slept with}</n> his ancestors, and was buried alongside his ancestors in the city of David. His son Hezekiah reigned in his place. 


text:
<n>{Israel Falls to Assyria during Hoshea's Reign}</n> d During the twelfth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Ahaz of Judah, Elah's son Hoshea became king over Israel for nine years in Samaria. 


text:
He practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, <n>{Lit. sight}</n> though not like the kings of Israel who had preceded him. 


text:
But the king of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy involving Hoshea, who had sent envoys to King So of Egypt and stopped offering tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done annually. As a result, the king of Assyria placed him under arrest and sent him to prison. 


text:
After this, the king of Assyria invaded the entire land, approached Samaria, and began a three year siege. 


text:
As a result, during the ninth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and took the Israelis off to Assyria, placing them in Halah, along the Habor River in Gozan, and in cities ruled by the Medes. 


text:
<n>{The Idolatry of the Northern Kingdom}</n> d This happened because the Israelis had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt and from the domination <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, because <n>{The Heb. lacks because}</n> they were fearing other gods, 


text:
and because they were following <n>{Lit. were walking in}</n> the rules of the nations whom the Lord had expelled before the Israelis and that the kings of Israel had practiced. 


text:
The Israelis practiced secret things that were not right, offending the Lord their God. In addition, they built high places for use by all their towns, watchtowers, and fortified cities. 


text:
where they made offerings on all the high places, as did the nations whom the Lord had expelled before them. They also practiced other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> wickedness, provoking the Lord to become angry, 


text:
Nevertheless, the Lord had warned both Israel and Judah by means <n>{Lit. by the hand}</n> of every prophet and seer: "Turn away from your evil practices <n>{Lit. ways}</n> and keep my commandments and statutes according to the entire Law that I gave your ancestors and that I sent to you through my servants, the prophets." 


text:
But they would not listen. Instead, they were stubborn, <n>{Lit. they hardened their necks}</n> just like their ancestors had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 


text:
They rejected the Lord's <n>{Lit. rejected his}</n> statutes, the covenant that he had made with their ancestors, and his warnings that he gave them. They pursued meaninglessness and became meaningless themselves as they followed the lifestyles of the nations that surrounded them, a practice that the Lord had warned them not to do. 


text:
They abandoned all of the commands given by <n>{The Heb. lacks given by}</n> the Lord their God, crafted for themselves cast images of two calves, constructed an Asherah, worshipped all of the stars in heaven, and served Baal. 


text:
They passed their sons and daughters through fire, practiced divination, cast spells, and sold themselves to practice what the Lord considered to be evil, thereby <n>{The Heb. lacks thereby}</n> provoking him. 


text:
As a result, the Lord was angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. No one was left except for the tribe of Judah. 


text:
But Judah, too, did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. Instead, they lived the lifestyle <n>{Lit. customs}</n> that Israel had chosen, 


text:
so the Lord rejected all of the descendants <n>{Lit. seed}</n> of Israel, afflicted them, and handed them over to the control of plunderers until he had thrown them away from his presence. <n>{Lit. face}</n> 


text:
He ripped them away from the heritage of David, even as the people <n>{Lit. David, and they}</n> appointed Nebat's son Jeroboam to be king. Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the Lord and made them commit great sin. 


text:
The Israelis practiced <n>{Lit. Israelis walked in}</n> all the sins that Jeroboam had practiced, and never wavered from them 


text:
until the Lord removed Israel from his presence, <n>{Lit. sight}</n> just as he had warned through <n>{Lit. spoken by the hand of}</n> all of his prophets who served him. So Israel was carried off into exile from their own land into Assyria, where they remain to this day. <n>{I.e. c. during the late Babylonian captivity or slightly after that time}</n> 


text:
<n>{Assyria Supplants the Northern Kingdom}</n> d Because the king of Assyria brought captives <n>{The Heb. lacks captives}</n> from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sephar-vaim and settled them in the cities of Samaria to replace the Israelis, the settlers <n>{The Heb. lacks the settlers}</n> possessed Samaria and lived in its cities. 


text:
When they first began to live there, the settlers <n>{The Heb. lacks the settlers}</n> did not fear the Lord , so he sent lions among them, and they killed a few of them. 


text:
As a result, they reported to the king of Assyria, "Because the nations whom you exiled to live in the cities of Samaria don't know the law <n>{Or justice}</n> of the god of the land, he has sent lions among them. Look how the lions <n>{Lit. how they}</n> are killing them, because they don't know the law of the god of the land!" 


text:
So the king of Assyria issued this order: "Take one of the priests whom you carried away and let him go back and live there. Let him teach them the law of the god of the land." 


text:
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria went to live in Bethel to teach them how they ought to fear the Lord . 


text:
<n>{Assyrian Settlers Create Lasting Corruption}</n> d Nevertheless, each nation continued to craft their own gods and install them in the temples on the high places that the people of Samaria had constructed every nation in their own cities where they continued to live. 


text:
Settlers <n>{Lit. Men}</n> from Babylon built Succoth-benoth, settlers <n>{Lit. men}</n> from Cuth built Nergal, settlers <n>{Lit. men}</n> from Hamath built Ashima, 


text:
and settlers <n>{Lit. men}</n> from Avva built Nibhaz and Tartak. The residents of Sephar-vaim burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sephar-vaim. 


text:
Because they feared the Lord , they also appointed from among themselves priests for the high places who acted on their behalf in the temples on the high places. 


text:
While they continued to fear the Lord , they served their own gods following the custom of the nations whom they had carried away from there. 


text:
To this very day they still follow the former customs: they don't fear the Lord , they don't live in accordance with their statutes, ordinances, law, or commandments that the Lord had given to the descendants of Jacob, whom he renamed Israel 


text:
and with whom the Lord had made a covenant when he gave these <n>{The Heb. lacks these}</n> orders to them: "You are not to fear other gods, bow down to them, serve them, or sacrifice to them. 


text:
Instead, it is to be the Lord , who brought you up from the land of Egypt, showing great power and public demonstrations of might, <n>{Lit. and with an outstretched arm}</n> whom you are to fear, worship, and to whom you are to offer sacrifice. 


text:
Furthermore, you are to be careful to observe forever the statutes, ordinances, law, and the commandment that he wrote for you. And you are not to fear other gods. 


text:
But you are to fear the Lord , and he will deliver you from the control <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of all your enemies." 


text:
These nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images. Their descendants did the same thing, as did their grandchildren. Just as their ancestors had done, they also do the same thing to this day. 


text:
<n>{Hezekiah Becomes King of Judah}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 29:1-2)}</n> d Now it happened that during the third year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> Elah's son Hoshea, king of Israel, that Ahaz'son Hezekiah became king. 


text:
He was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Zechariah's daughter Abi. 


text:
He did what the Lord considered to be right, according to everything that his ancestor David had done. 


text:
<n>{Hezekiah's Reforms}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 29:3; 31:1)}</n> d He removed the high places, demolished the sacred pillars, and tore down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had crafted, because the Israelis had been burning incense to it right up until that time. Hezekiah <n>{Lit. He}</n> called it a piece of brass. <n>{Lit. Nehushtan ; so MT; LXX reads Neeshthan}</n> 


text:
He trusted the Lord God of Israel, and after him there were none like him among all the kings of Judah, 


text:
because he depended on the Lord , not abandoning pursuit of him, and keeping the Lord's commands that he had commanded Moses. 


text:
So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah prospered wherever he went, even when he rebelled against the king of Assyria, refusing to serve him. 


text:
<n>{Shalmaneser Attacks Samaria}</n> d In the fourth year of King Hezekiah's reign (that is, during the seventh year of Elah's son Hosea's reign as king of Israel), King Shalmaneser from Assyria invaded Samaria and besieged it. 


text:
Three years later, they captured Samaria during the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign, <n>{The Heb. lacks reign}</n> which was the ninth year of Hoshea's reign as king of Israel. 


text:
After this, the king of Assyria carried off Israel into exile in Assyria, settling them in Halah, on the Habor River in Gozan, and in cities controlled by the Medes 


text:
because they would not obey the voice of the Lord their God. Instead, they transgressed his covenant, including everything that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded, by neither listening nor putting what he had commanded <n>{The Heb. lacks what he had commanded}</n> into practice. 


text:
During the fourteenth year of the reign of <n>{The Heb. lacks the reign of}</n> King Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria approached all of the walled cities of Judah and seized them. 


text:
So Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have offended you. Withdraw from me, and I'll accept whatever tribute you impose." So the king of Assyria required Hezekiah to pay him 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold. 


text:
Hezekiah gave him all the silver that could be removed from the Lord's Temple and from the treasuries in the king's palace. 


text:
At that time, Hezekiah removed the doors to the Lord's Temple and the doorposts that King Hezekiah had overlaid with gold, <n>{The Heb. lacks with gold}</n> and gave the gold <n>{Lit. gave it}</n> to the king of Assyria. 


text:
<n>{Assyria's King Taunts Hezekiah}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 29:9-19)}</n> d Sometime later, the king of Assyria sent Tartan, Rab-saris, and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem, accompanied with a large army. 


text:
When they called for the king, Hilkiah's son Eliakim, who managed the household, Shebnah the scribe, and Asaph's son Joah the recorder, went out to them. 


text:
Rab-shakeh told them, "Tell Hezekiah right now, «This is what the great king, the king of Assyria says: "Why are you so confident? 


text:
You're saying but they're only empty words«I have enough <n>{The Heb. lacks I have enough}</n> advice and resources to conduct warfare! '"Now who are you relying on, that you have rebelled against me? 


text:
Look, you're trusting on Egypt to lean on like a staff, but it's a crushed reed, and if you lean on it, it will collapse and pierce your hand. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is just like that to everyone who relies on him! 


text:
"Of course, you might tell me, «We rely on the Lord our God!'But isn't it he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has demolished, all the while telling Jerusalem, «You're to worship in front of this altar in Jerusalem? '


text:
"Come now, and make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria, and I'll give you 2,000 horses, if you can furnish them with riders. 


text:
How can you refuse even one official from the least of my master's servants and rely on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 


text:
"Now then, haven't I come up apart from the Lord to attack and destroy this place? The Lord told me, «Go up against this land and destroy it!»"»" 


text:
At this, Hilkiah's son Eliakim, Shebnah, and Joah asked Rab-shakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, because we understand it, but don't speak the language of Judah to us within the hearing of the people who are on the wall." 


text:
But Rab-shakeh spoke to them, "Has my master sent me to talk about this just to your master and to you, and not also to the men who are sitting on the wall, who will soon be eating their own feces and drinking their own urine <n>{An alternate MT reading is own water at their feet}</n> along with you?" 


text:
Then Rab-shakeh stood up and cried out loud, "Listen to what the great king, the king of Assyria has to say. 


text:
This is what the king says: «Don't let Hezekiah deceive you, because he will prove to be unable to deliver you from my control. <n>{Lit. hand}</n> 


text:
And don't let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by telling you, «The Lord will certainly deliver us and this city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'


text:
«Don't listen to Hezekiah, because this is what the king of Assyria says: "Make peace with me and come out to me! Each of you will eat from his own vine. Each will eat from his own fig tree. And each of you will drink water from his own cistern 


text:
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, one overflowing with grain and new wine, a land filled with bread and vineyards, with olive trees and honey, so you may live and not die." «But don't listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying "The Lord will deliver us!" 


text:
Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land from control by <n>{Lit. from the hand of}</n> the king of Assyria? 


text:
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sephar-vaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my control? <n>{Lit. hand}</n> 


text:
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered their land from my control <n>{Lit. hand}</n> , so that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from me?»" <n>{Lit. from my hand}</n> 


text:
But the people remained silent and did not answer with even so much as a word, because the king's order was, "Don't answer him." 


text:
But Hilkiah's son Eliakim, who managed the household, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph's son Joah the recorder came back to Hezekiah with their clothes torn <n>{I.e. as a visible response to the pending calamity}</n> and told him what Rab-shakeh had said. 


text:
<n>{Isaiah Encourages Hezekiah}</n> d When King Hezekiah heard Eliakim's report, <n>{The Heb. lacks Eliakim's report}</n> he tore his clothes, put on a sackcloth covering, entered the Lord's Temple, 


text:
and sent Eliakim, the household supervisor, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, all of them covered in sackcloth, to Amoz's son, the prophet Isaiah. 


text:
They announced to him: "This is what Hezekiah says: «Today is a day of trouble, rebuke, and blasphemy, <n>{Or contempt}</n> because children are about to be born, but there is no strength to bring them to birth. 


text:
Perhaps the Lord your God will take note of everything that Rab-shakeh has said, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to taunt the living God, and then he will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard. Therefore offer a prayer for the survivors who remain.»" 


text:
In reply, Isaiah responded to them, "Here's how you're to report to your master: "This is what the Lord says: «Never be afraid of the words that you have heard by which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 


text:
Look! I'm going to cause an attitude <n>{Or to bring a spirit}</n> to grow within him so that he'll hear a rumor and return to his own territory, where I'll make him die by the sword in his own land!»"" 


text:
<n>{Sennacherib Defies God}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 29:17-19)}</n> d So Rab-shakeh returned and found the king of Assyria at war with Libnah, because Rab-shakeh had heard that the king had left Lachish. 


text:
When he heard what was being said about King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, <n>{Lit. Cush}</n> "Look! He has come out to attack you!" he again sent messengers to Hezekiah. The messengers were told, 


text:
"This is what you are to say to King Hezekiah of Judah: «Don't let your God in whom you trust deceive you by telling you <n>{The Heb. lacks you}</n> "Jerusalem won't be turned over to the control <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of Assyria's king." 


text:
«Look! you've heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands they completely destroyed them! Will you be spared? 


text:
Did the gods of those nations whom my ancestors destroyed deliver them, including Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and Eden's descendants in Telassar? 


text:
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?»" 


text:
<n>{Hezekiah's Prayer for Help}</n> d Hezekiah took the messages from the couriers, read them, and went up to the Lord's Temple, and laid them out in the presence of the Lord . 


text:
Then Hezekiah prayed in the presence of the Lord , "Lord God of Israel! You live between the cherubim! You alone are the God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have fashioned the heavens and the earth. 


text:
Turn <n>{Or Bow down}</n> your ear, Lord , and listen! Open your eyes, Lord , and observe! Listen to the message sent by Sennacherib to insult the living God! 


text:
throwing their gods into the fire, since they weren't gods but rather were the product of men's handiwork, wood and stone. And so they destroyed them. 


text:
Now, Lord our God, I'm praying that you will deliver us from his control, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord , are God!" 


text:
<n>{God's Answer through Isaiah the Prophet}</n> d Then Isaiah the son of Amoz send word to Hezekiah, "This is what the Lord , the God of Israel says: «Because you have prayed to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria, I have listened.'


text:
This is what the Lord has spoken against him: «She despises and mocks you, this virgin daughter of Zion! Behind your back she shakes her head, this daughter of Jerusalem! 


text:
Who are you reproaching and blaspheming? Against whom have you raised your voice? And against whom <n>{The Heb. lacks against whom}</n> have you lifted up your eyes in arrogance? Against the Holy One of Israel! 


text:
By your messengers you have insulted the Lord . You have claimed, "With my many chariots I ascended the heights of the mountains, including the remotest regions of Lebanon; I cut down its tall cedars and the best of its cypress trees. I entered its most remote lodging place and its most fruitful <n>{Or its densest}</n> forest. 


text:
I myself dug for and drank foreign water. With the sole of my foot I dried up all the streams of Egypt!'


text:
«Didn't you hear? I determined it years ago! I planned this from ancient times, and now I've brought it to pass, to turn fortified cities into piles of ruins 


text:
while their inhabitants, lacking strength, stand dismayed and confused. They were like vegetation out in the fields, and like green herbs just as grass that grows on a housetop dries out before it can grow. 


text:
Because of your rage against me, your complacency has reached my ears. I'll put my hook into your nostrils and my bit into your mouth. Then I'll turn you back on the road by which you came. 


text:
"This will serve as a sign for you: you'll eat this year from what grows by itself, in the second year what grows from that, and in the third year you'll sow, reap, plant vineyards, and enjoy <n>{Lit. eat}</n> their fruit. 


text:
Those who survive from Judah's household will again put down deep roots and bear fruit extensively, <n>{Or upwards}</n> 


text:
because a remnant will go out from Jerusalem, and survivors from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord <n>{So MT; LXX and a MT variant read Lord of the Heavenly Armies}</n> will bring this about. 


text:
"Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria: «Not only will he not approach this city or shoot an arrow in its direction, he won't approach it with so much as a shield, nor will he throw up a siege ramp against it. 


text:
<n>{God Destroys the Assyrian Army}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 32:20-21)}</n> d That very night, the angel of the Lord went out to the camp of the Assyrian army and killed 185,000 men. Early the next morning, when the army of Israel <n>{Lit. when they}</n> arose, all 185,000 soldiers <n>{The Heb. lacks 185,000 soldiers}</n> were dead. 


text:
Later on, as he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech <n>{So MT; LXX and a MT variant read his sons Adrammelech}</n> and Sharezer killed him with a sword and fled into the territory of Ararat. Then Sennacherib's <n>{Lit. his}</n> son Esarhaddon became king in his place. 


text:
<n>{Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery}</n> <n>{ (2 Chronicles 32:24-26)}</n> d During this time, Hezekiah became sick with a fatal illness, so Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, approached him and told him, "This is what the Lord says: «Put your household in order, because you are dying. You will not survive.»" 


text:
"Remember me, Lord ," he said, "how I have walked in your presence with integrity, with an undivided heart, and I have accomplished what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept deeply. 


text:
"Return to Hezekiah," he said, "and tell the Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> of my people: «This is what the Lord , the God of your ancestor David, says: "I've heard your prayer and I've observed your tears. Look! I'm healing you. Three days from now you'll go visit the Lord's Temple. 


text:
Furthermore, I'll add fifteen years to your life. I'll deliver you and this city from domination by <n>{Lit. from the hand of}</n> the king of Assyria, and I'll defend this city for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David."»" 


text:
Isaiah said, "Take a fig cake." So some attendants <n>{Lit. So they}</n> took it, laid it on Hezekiah's <n>{Lit. the}</n> boil, and he recovered. 


text:
Now Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, "What is to be the sign that the Lord is healing me and that I'll be going up to the Lord's Temple three days from now?" 


text:
So Isaiah replied, "This will be your sign from the Lord that the Lord will do what he has promised. Shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?" 


text:
Hezekiah answered, "It's an easy thing for a shadow to lengthen ten steps. So let the shadow go backward ten steps." 


text:
So Isaiah cried out to the Lord , who brought the shadow back ten steps after it had gone down the stairway of Ahaz. 


text:
<n>{Hezekiah Shows His Treasure to the Babylonian Envoys}</n> d Some time later, Berodach-baladan, <n>{So MT; LXX and a MT variant read Marodach-baladan}</n> the son of King Baladan of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, because he had heard that Hezekiah had been ill. 


text:
Hezekiah listened to the entourage <n>{Lit. to them}</n> and showed them his entire treasury, including the silver, gold, spices, the precious oil, his armory, and everything that was inventoried in his treasuries. There was nothing in his household or in his holdings that Hezekiah did not show them. 


text:
Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him, "What did these men have to say, and where did they come from?" Hezekiah replied, "They came from a country far away from Babylon." 


text:
He asked, "What did they see in your household?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen everything. In my household there is nothing in my treasuries that I haven't shown them." 


text:
«Watch out! The days are coming when everything that's in your house everything that your ancestors have saved up right to this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,'declares the Lord . 


text:
«Some of your descendants your very own seed, whom you will father will be carried away to become officials <n>{Or court officials ; the position may have mandated castration as a condition of service}</n> in the palace of the king of Babylon.»" 


text:
At this, Hezekiah replied to Isaiah, "What you've spoken from the Lord is good," because he had been thinking, "Why not, as long as there's peace and security <n>{Lit. truth}</n> in my lifetime?" 


text:
Now the rest of Hezekiah's actions, as well as his glorious deeds, including how he constructed the pool and the conduit to bring water into the city, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 


text:
Hezekiah died, as did <n>{Lit. Hezekiah slept with}</n> his ancestors, and his son Manasseh became king in his place. 


text:
<n>{Manasseh Succeeds Hezekiah}</n> d Manasseh began to reign at the age of twelve, and he reigned for 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Hephzibah. 


text:
He did what the Lord considered to be evil, following the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord had expelled in full view of the people of Israel. 


text:
He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He erected altars for Baal, crafted an Asherah, just as King Ahab of Israel had done, and worshipped and served the stars of heaven. 


