# verses

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One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘You be king over us!’


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“But the olive tree said, ‘Men and gods are honored by my oil. Should I stop making it just to go and sway over the other trees?’


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“But the fig tree answered, ‘Should I stop making my sweet and good fruit? Should I stop just to go and sway over the other trees?’


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“But the vine answered, ‘My wine makes men and gods happy. Should I stop making it just to go and sway over the trees?’


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“But the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to appoint me king over you, come and find shelter in my shade! But if you do not want to do this, let fire come out of the thornbush. Let the fire burn up the cedars of Lebanon!’


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“Now, were you completely honest and sincere when you made Abimelech king? Have you been fair to Gideon and his family? Have you treated Gideon as you should?


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Remember, my father fought for you. He risked his life to save you from the power of the Midianites.


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But now you have turned against my father’s family. You have killed my father’s 70 sons on one stone. You have made Abimelech king over the people of Shechem. He is the son of my father’s slave girl! You have made Abimelech king just because he is your relative.


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So then, if you have been honest and sincere to Gideon and his family today, be happy with Abimelech as your king. And may he be happy with you!


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But if you have not acted right, may fire come out of Abimelech! May that fire completely burn you leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! Also may fire come out of the leaders of Shechem and burn up Abimelech!”


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Then Jotham ran away. He escaped to the city of Beer. He lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.


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Then God sent an evil spirit to make trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. So the leaders of Shechem turned against him.


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Abimelech had killed Gideon’s 70 sons. They were Abimelech’s own brothers. And the leaders of Shechem had helped him kill them. So God sent the evil spirit to punish them.


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The leaders of Shechem were against Abimelech then. They put men on the hilltops. These men attacked and robbed everyone who went by. Abimelech was told about these attacks.


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A man named Gaal and his brothers moved into Shechem. He was the son of Ebed. The leaders of Shechem decided to trust and follow Gaal.


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The people of Shechem went out to the vineyards to pick grapes. They walked on the grapes to make wine. Then they had a feast in the temple of their god. The people ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.


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Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “We are the men of Shechem. Why should we obey Abimelech? Who does he think he is? Isn’t Abimelech one of Gideon’s sons? Didn’t Abimelech make Zebul his officer? We should not obey Abimelech! We should obey the men of Hamor, Shechem’s father. Why should we obey Abimelech?


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If you made me commander of these people, I would get rid of Abimelech! I would say to him, ‘Get your army ready and come out to battle!’”


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Now Zebul was the ruler of Shechem. He heard what Gaal son of Ebed said. And Zebul became very angry.


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He sent messengers to Abimelech in the city of Arumah. The message said, “Gaal son of Ebed and Gaal’s brothers have come to Shechem. Gaal is turning the city against you!


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When the sun comes up in the morning, attack the city. Gaal and his men will come out to fight you. Then do what you can to them.”


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So Abimelech and all his soldiers got up during the night. They went near Shechem and separated into four groups. There they hid.


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Gaal son of Ebed went out and was standing at the entrance to the city gate. As he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places.


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When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, “Look! There are people coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul said, “You are seeing the shadows of the mountains. The shadows just look like people.”


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But again Gaal said, “Look, there are people coming down from the center of the land. And there is a group coming from the fortune-tellers’ tree!”


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Zebul said to Gaal, “Where is your bragging now? You said, ‘Who is Abimelech? Why should we obey him?’ You made fun of these men. Now go out and fight them.”


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Abimelech and his men chased them. Many of Gaal’s men were killed before they could get back to the city gate.


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So he separated his men into three groups. And he hid them in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he jumped up and attacked them.


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Abimelech and his group ran to the entrance gate to the city. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and killed them.


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Abimelech and his men fought the city of Shechem all day. They captured it and killed its people. Then Abimelech tore down the city. And he threw salt over the ruins so nothing would ever grow there.


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The Tower of Shechem The people who lived at the nearby Tower of Shechem heard what had happened to Shechem. So the leaders gathered in the safest room of the temple of the god Baal-of-the-Agreement.


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So he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon, near Shechem. Abimelech took an ax and cut some branches. Then he put them on his shoulders. He said to all his men with him, “Hurry! Do what I have done!”


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So all those men cut branches and followed Abimelech. They piled the branches against the safest room of the temple. Then they set them on fire and burned the people in the room. So all the people who lived at the Tower of Shechem also died. There were about 1,000 men and women.


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Abimelech’s Death Then Abimelech went to the city of Thebez. He surrounded the city, attacked it and captured it.


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But inside the city was a strong tower. All the men and women of that city ran to the tower. When they got inside, they locked the door behind them. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower.


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As Abimelech came near, a woman dropped a large stone for grinding grain on his head. The stone crushed Abimelech’s skull.


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He quickly called to the officer who carried his armor. He said, “Take out your sword and kill me. I don’t want people to say, ‘A woman killed Abimelech.’” So the officer stabbed Abimelech, and he died.


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In that way God punished Abimelech for all the evil he had done. Abimelech had sinned against his own father by killing his 70 brothers.


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God also punished the men of Shechem for the evil they had done. So the curse Jotham had spoken came true. (Jotham was the youngest son of Gideon.)


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Tola, the Judge After Abimelech died, another judge came to save the people of Israel. He was Tola son of Puah. (Puah was the son of Dodo.) Tola was from the people of Issachar. He lived in the city of Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim.


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Jair, the Judge After Tola died, Jair became judge. He lived in the region of Gilead. He was a judge for Israel for 22 years.


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Jair had 30 sons, who rode 30 donkeys. These 30 sons controlled 30 towns in Gilead. These towns are called the Towns of Jair to this day.


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The Ammonites Trouble Israel Again the Israelites did what the Lord said was wrong. They worshiped the Baal and Ashtoreth idols. They also worshiped the gods of the peoples of Aram, Sidon, Moab and Ammon. And they worshiped the gods of the Philistines. The Israelites left the Lord and stopped serving him.


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In the same year those people destroyed the Israelites who lived east of the Jordan River. This is in the region of Gilead, where the Amorites lived. The Israelites suffered for 18 years.


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The Ammonites then crossed the Jordan River to fight the people of Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim. The Ammonites caused much trouble to the people of Israel.


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So the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you. We left our God and worshiped the Baal idols.”


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The Lord answered the Israelites, “You cried to me when the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites and the Philistines hurt you. I saved you from these people.


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You cried to me when the Sidonians, Amalekites and Maonites hurt you. I also saved you from those people.


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You have chosen those gods. So go call to them for help. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”


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But the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do to us whatever you want, but please save us today!”


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Then the Israelites threw away the foreign gods among them. And they worshiped the Lord again. So he felt sorry for them when he saw their suffering.


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The Ammonite people gathered for war and camped in Gilead. The Israelites gathered and camped at Mizpah.


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The leaders of the people of Gilead said, “Who will lead us to attack the people of Ammon? He will become the head of all those who live in Gilead.”


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Jephthah Is Chosen as Leader Jephthah was from the people of Gilead. He was a strong soldier. His father was named Gilead, and his mother was a prostitute.


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Gilead’s wife had several sons. When they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave his home. They said to him, “You will not get any of our father’s property. You are the son of another woman.”


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So Jephthah ran away from his brothers. He lived in the land of Tob. There some worthless men began to follow Jephthah.


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The Ammonites made war against Israel. At that time the elders of Gilead came to Jephthah. They wanted him to come back to Gilead.


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But Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me? You forced me to leave my father’s house! Why are you coming to me now that you are in trouble?”


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The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is the reason we come to you now. Please come with us and fight against the Ammonites! You will be the ruler over everyone who lives in Gilead.”


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Then Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to Gilead to fight the Ammonites. If the Lord helps me win, I will be your ruler.”


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The elders of Gilead said to him, “The Lord is listening to everything we are saying. We promise to do all that you tell us to do.”


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So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. The people made him their leader and commander of their army. Jephthah repeated all of his words in front of the Lord at Mizpah.


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Jephthah Sends Messengers to the Ammonite King Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites. The messengers asked the king, “What have you got against Israel? Why have you come to attack our land?”


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The king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah. He said, “We are fighting Israel because you took our land when you came up from Egypt. You took our land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River to the Jordan River. Now tell the people of Israel to give our land back to us in peace.”


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They took this message: “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of the people of Moab or Ammon.


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When the people of Israel came out of Egypt, they went into the desert. They went to the Gulf of Aqaba and then to Kadesh.


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Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom. They asked, ‘Let the people of Israel go across your land.’ But the king of Edom didn’t let us. We sent the same message to the king of Moab. But he would not let us go across his land either. So the Israelites stayed at Kadesh.


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“Then the Israelites went into the desert. They went around the borders of the lands of Edom and Moab. Israel walked east of the land of Moab. They camped on the other side of the Arnon River. It was the border of the land of Moab. They did not cross it to go into the land of Moab.


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“Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites. Sihon was the king of the city of Heshbon. The messengers asked Sihon, ‘Let the people of Israel pass through your land. We want to go to our land.’


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But Sihon would not let the Israelites cross his land. He gathered all of his people and camped at Jahaz. Then the Amorites fought with Israel.


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“But the Lord, the God of Israel, helped the Israelites to defeat Sihon and his army. All the land of the Amorites became the property of Israel.


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So Israel took all the land of the Amorites. It went from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. It also went from the desert to the Jordan River.


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“It was the Lord, the God of Israel, who forced out the Amorites ahead of the people of Israel. So do you think you can make the people of Israel leave this land?


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Surely you can live in the land which your god Chemosh has given you. So we will live in the land the Lord our God has given us!


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“Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor? He was the king of Moab. Did he ever quarrel or fight with the people of Israel?


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For 300 years the Israelites have lived in Heshbon and Aroer and the towns around them. They have lived for 300 years in all the cities along the Arnon River. Why have you not taken these cities back in all that time?


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I have not sinned against you. But you are sinning against me by making war on me! May the Lord, the Judge, decide whether the Israelites or Ammonites are right.”


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Jephthah’s Promise Then the Spirit of the Lord entered Jephthah. Jephthah passed through Gilead and Manasseh. He came to the city of Mizpah in Gilead. From there, Jephthah passed through to the land of the Ammonites.


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I will give you a burnt offering. I will sacrifice the first thing that comes out of my house to meet me when I return from the victory. It will be the Lord’s.”


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Jephthah defeated them from the city of Aroer to the area of Minnith. He defeated them as far as the city of Abel Keramim. He defeated 20 cities in this area. The defeat was great. So the Ammonites were defeated by the Israelites.


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When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him. She was playing a tambourine and dancing. She was his only child. Jephthah did not have any other sons or daughters.


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When Jephthah saw his daughter, he tore his clothes to show how upset he was. He said, “My daughter! You have made me so sad! This is because I have made a promise to the Lord, and I cannot break it!”


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Then his daughter said, “Father, you made a promise to the Lord. So do to me just what you promised. The Lord helped you defeat your enemies, the Ammonites.”


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Then she said, “But let me do one thing. Let me be alone for two months to go to the mountains. I will never marry. So let me and my friends go and cry together.”


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Jephthah said, “Go.” He sent her away for two months. She and her friends stayed in the mountains. There they cried for her because she would never marry.


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After two months she returned to her father. Jephthah did to her what he promised to the Lord. Now Jephthah’s daughter had never had a husband. So this became a custom in Israel.


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Every year the women of Israel would go out for four days. They did this to remember the daughter of Jephthah from Gilead.


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Jephthah and Ephraim The men of Ephraim called all their soldiers together. Then they crossed the river to the town of Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why didn’t you call us to help you fight the Ammonites? We will burn your house down with you in it!”


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Jephthah answered them, “My people and I fought a great battle against the Ammonites. I called you, but you didn’t come to help me.


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I saw that you would not help me. So I risked my own life! I went over to fight against the Ammonites. The Lord helped me to defeat them. Now why have you come to fight against me today?”


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Then Jephthah called the men of Gilead together. They fought the men of Ephraim. The men of Gilead attacked them because the Ephraimites had insulted them. They had said, “You men of Gilead are nothing but deserters from Ephraim and Manasseh.”


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The men of Gilead captured the crossing places of the Jordan River. Those places led to the country of Ephraim. A man from Ephraim trying to escape would say, “Let me cross the river.” Then the men of Gilead would ask him, “Are you from Ephraim?” If he said, “No,”


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they would say to him, “Say the word ‘Shibboleth.’” The men of Ephraim could not say that word correctly. They pronounced it “Sibboleth.” If the man from Ephraim said, “Sibboleth,” the men of Gilead would kill him at the crossing place. So 42,000 men from Ephraim were killed at that time.


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Jephthah was a judge for the people of Israel for six years. Then Jephthah, the man from Gilead, died. He was buried in a town in Gilead.


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He had 30 sons and 30 daughters. He let his daughters marry men who were not in his family group. And he brought 30 women who were not in his tribe to be wives for his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years.


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Elon, the Judge After Ibzan died, Elon was a judge for Israel. He was from the tribe of Zebulun. He judged Israel for ten years.


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Abdon, the Judge After Elon died, Abdon was a judge for Israel. He was the son of Hillel. Abdon was from the city of Pirathon.


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Then Abdon son of Hillel died. He was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim. This is in the mountains where the Amalekites lived.


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The Birth of Samson Again the people of Israel did what the Lord said was wrong. So he let the Philistines rule over them for 40 years.


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There was a man named Manoah from the city of Zorah. Manoah was from the tribe of Dan. He had a wife, but she could not have children.


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The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife. He said, “You have not been able to have children. But you will become pregnant and have a son!


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You will become pregnant and have a son. You must never cut his hair because he will be a Nazirite. He will be given to God from birth. He will begin the work of saving Israel from the power of the Philistines.”


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Then Manoah’s wife went to him and told him what had happened. She said, “A man from God came to me. He looked like an angel from God. His appearance was frightening. I didn’t ask him where he was from. And he didn’t tell me his name.


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But he said to me, ‘You will be pregnant and will have a son. Don’t drink wine or beer. Don’t eat anything that is unclean. The reason is that the boy will be a Nazirite to God. He will be that from his birth until the day of his death.’”


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Then Manoah said a prayer to the Lord: “Lord, I beg you to let the man of God come to us again. Let him teach us what we should do for the boy who will be born to us.”


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God heard Manoah’s prayer. The angel of God came to Manoah’s wife again. This was while she was sitting in a field. But her husband Manoah was not with her.


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Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?” The man said, “I am.”


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So Manoah asked, “When what you say happens, what kind of life should the boy live? What should he do?”


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She must not eat anything that grows on a grapevine. She must not drink any wine or beer. She must not eat anything that is unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her to do.”


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Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We would like you to stay awhile. We want to cook a young goat for you.”


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The angel of the Lord answered, “Even if I stay awhile, I would not eat your food. But if you want to prepare something, offer a burnt offering to the Lord.” (Manoah did not understand that the man was really the angel of the Lord.)


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Then Manoah asked the angel of the Lord, “What is your name? We want to know. Then we may honor you when what you have said really happens.”


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Then Manoah sacrificed a young goat on a rock. He also offered some grain as a gift to the Lord. The Lord did an amazing thing. Manoah and his wife watched what happened.


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The flames went up to the sky from the altar. As the fire burned, the angel of the Lord went up to heaven in the fire! When Manoah and his wife saw that, they bowed facedown on the ground.


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The angel of the Lord did not appear to them again. Then Manoah understood that the man was really the angel of the Lord.


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But his wife said to him, “The Lord does not want to kill us. If he wanted to kill us, he would not have accepted our burnt offering or grain offering. He would not have shown us all these things. And he would not have told us all this.”


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The Spirit of the Lord began to work in Samson. This was while he was in the city of Mahaneh Dan. It is between the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol.


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When he returned home, he said to his father and mother, “I saw a Philistine woman in Timnah. I want you to get her for me. I want to marry her.”


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His father and mother answered, “Surely there is a woman from Israel you can marry. Do you have to marry a woman from the Philistines? The Philistines are not even circumcised.” But Samson said, “Get that woman for me! She is the one I want!”


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(Samson’s parents did not know that the Lord wanted this to happen. He was looking for a way to start a fight with the Philistines. They were ruling over Israel at this time.)


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Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah. They went as far as the vineyard near there. Suddenly, a young lion came roaring toward Samson!


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The Spirit of the Lord entered Samson with great power. Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands. For him it was as easy as tearing apart a young goat. But Samson did not tell his father or mother what he had done.


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Several days later Samson went back to marry her. On his way he went over to look at the body of the dead lion. He found a swarm of bees in it. They had made some honey.


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Samson got some of the honey with his hands. He walked along eating it. When he came to his parents, he gave some to them. They ate it, too. But Samson did not tell them he had taken the honey from the body of the dead lion.


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Samson’s father went down to see the Philistine woman. The custom was for the bridegroom to give a feast. So Samson gave a feast.


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Samson’s Riddle Then Samson said to the 30 men, “Let me tell you a riddle. This feast will last for seven days. Try to find the answer during that time. If you can, I will give you 30 linen shirts. I will also give you 30 changes of clothes.


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But if you can’t tell me the answer, you must pay me. You must give me 30 linen shirts and 30 changes of clothes.” So they said, “Tell us your riddle. We want to hear it.”


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Samson said, “Out of the eater comes something to eat. Out of the strong comes something sweet.” The 30 men tried for three days to figure it out. But they could not find the answer.


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On the fourth day, they came to Samson’s wife. They said, “Did you invite us here to make us poor? Trick your husband into telling us the answer to the riddle. If you don’t, we will burn you and everyone in your father’s house!”


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So Samson’s wife went to him and began crying. She said, “You hate me! You don’t really love me! You told my people a riddle, but you won’t tell me the answer.” Samson said, “I haven’t even told my father or mother. Why should I tell you?”


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Samson’s wife cried for the rest of the seven days of the feast. So he finally gave her the answer on the seventh day. He told her because she kept bothering him. Then she told her people the answer to the riddle.


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Before sunset on the seventh day of the feast, the Philistine men had the answer. They came to Samson and said, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Then Samson said to them, “If you had not plowed with my little cow, you would not have solved my riddle!”


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The Spirit of the Lord entered Samson and gave him great power. Samson went down to the city of Ashkelon. He killed 30 of their men and took all their clothes and property. He gave those clothes to the men who had answered his riddle. Then he went to his father’s house very angry.


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Samson Troubles the Philistines At the time of the wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife. He took a young goat with him. He said, “I’m going to my wife’s room.” But her father would not let Samson go in.


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He said to Samson, “I thought you really hated your wife. So I gave her to the best man from the wedding. Her younger sister is more beautiful. Take her.”


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So Samson went out and caught 300 foxes. He took 2 foxes at a time and tied their tails together. Then he tied a torch to the tails of each pair of foxes.


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Samson lit the torches. Then he let the foxes loose in the grainfields of the Philistines. In this way he burned up their standing grain and the piles of grain. He also burned up their vineyards and their olive trees.


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The Philistines asked, “Who did this?” Someone told them, “Samson, the son-in-law of the man from Timnah, did. He did this because his father-in-law gave his wife to his best man.” So the Philistines burned Samson’s wife and her father to death.


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Then Samson said to the Philistines, “Since you did this, I will hurt you, too! I won’t stop until I pay you back!”


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Samson attacked the Philistines and killed many of them. Then he went down and stayed in a cave. It was in the rock of Etam.


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The men of Judah asked them, “Why have you come here to fight us?” They answered, “We have come to make Samson our prisoner. We want to pay him back for what he did to our people.”


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Then 3,000 men of Judah went to the cave in the rock of Etam. They said to Samson, “What have you done to us? Don’t you know that the Philistines rule over us?” Samson answered, “I only paid them back for what they did to me!”


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Then they said to him, “We have come to tie you up. We will give you to the Philistines.” Samson said to them, “Promise me you will not hurt me yourselves.”


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The men from Judah said, “We agree. We will just tie you up and give you to the Philistines. We will not kill you.” So they tied Samson with two new ropes. Then they led him up from the cave in the rock.


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When Samson came to the place named Lehi, the Philistines came to meet him. They were shouting for joy. Then the Spirit of the Lord entered Samson and gave him great power. The ropes on him became weak like strings that had been burned. They fell off his hands!


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Then Samson said, “With a donkey’s jawbone I have made donkeys out of them. With a donkey’s jawbone I have killed 1,000 men!”


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Samson was very thirsty. So he cried out to the Lord. He said, “I am your servant. You gave me this great victory. Do I have to die of thirst now? Do I have to be captured by people who are not circumcised?”


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Then God opened up a hole in the ground at Lehi, and water came out. When Samson drank that water, he felt better. He felt strong again. So he named that spring Caller’s Spring. It is still there in Lehi to this day.


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Samson Goes to the City of Gaza One day Samson went to Gaza. He saw a prostitute there. He went in to spend the night with her.


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Someone told the people of Gaza, “Samson has come here!” So they surrounded the place and hid and waited for him. Remaining very quiet, they stayed near the city gate all night. They said to each other, “When dawn comes, we will kill Samson!”


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But Samson only stayed with the prostitute until midnight. Then he got up and took hold of the doors and the two posts of the city gate. He tore them loose, along with the bar. Then he put them on his shoulders. And he carried them to the top of the hill that faces the city of Hebron!


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Samson and Delilah After this, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah. She lived in the Valley of Sorek.


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The kings of the Philistines went to Delilah. They said, “Try to find out what makes Samson so strong. Try to trick him into telling you. Find out how we could capture him and tie him up. Then we will be able to control him. If you do this, each one of us will give you 28 pounds of silver.”


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So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me why you are so strong. How could someone tie you up and take control of you?”


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Samson answered, “Someone would have to tie me up. He would have to use seven new bowstrings that have not been dried. If he did that, I would be as weak as any other man.”


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Then the kings of the Philistines brought seven new bowstrings to Delilah. They had not been dried. She tied Samson with them.


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Some men were hiding in another room. Delilah said to Samson, “Samson, the Philistines are about to capture you!” But Samson easily broke the bowstrings. They broke like pieces of string burned in a fire. So the Philistines did not find out the secret of Samson’s strength.


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Then Delilah said to Samson, “You’ve made me look foolish. You lied to me. Please tell me. How could someone tie you up?”


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Samson said, “They would have to tie me with new ropes that have not been used before. Then I would become as weak as any other man.”


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So Delilah took new ropes and tied Samson. Some men were hiding in another room. Then she called out to him, “Samson, the Philistines are about to capture you!” But he broke the ropes as easily as if they were threads.


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Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now, you have made me look foolish. You have lied to me. Tell me how someone could tie you up.” He said, “Use the loom. Weave the seven braids of my hair into the cloth. Tighten it with a pin. Then I will become as weak as any other man.” Then Samson went to sleep. So Delilah wove the seven braids of his hair into the cloth.


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Then she fastened it with a pin. Again she called out to him, “Samson, the Philistines are about to capture you!” Samson woke up and pulled up the pin and the loom with the cloth.


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Then Delilah said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t even trust me? This is the third time you have made me look foolish. You haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.”


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She kept bothering Samson about his secret day after day. He became so tired of it he felt he was going to die!


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So he told her everything. He said, “I have never had my hair cut. I have been set apart to God as a Nazirite since I was born. If someone shaved my head, then I would lose my strength. I would become as weak as any other man.”


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Delilah saw that he had told her everything sincerely. So she sent a message to the kings of the Philistines. She said, “Come back one more time. He has told me everything.” So the kings of the Philistines came back to Delilah. They brought the silver they had promised to give her.


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Delilah got Samson to go to sleep. He was lying in her lap. Then she called in a man to shave off the seven braids of Samson’s hair. In this way she began to make him weak. And Samson’s strength left him.


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Then she called out to him, “Samson, the Philistines are about to capture you!” He woke up and thought, “I’ll get loose as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.


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Then the Philistines captured Samson. They tore out his eyes. And they took him down to Gaza. They put bronze chains on him. They put him in prison and made him grind grain.


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Samson Dies The kings of the Philistines gathered to celebrate. They were going to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They said, “Our god has given us Samson our enemy.”


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When they saw him, they praised their god. They said, “This man destroyed our country. He killed many of us! But our god helped us capture our enemy.”


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The people were having a good time at the celebration. They said, “Bring Samson out to perform for us.” So they brought Samson from the prison. He performed for them. They made him stand between the pillars of the temple of Dagon.


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A servant was holding his hand. Samson said to him, “Let me feel the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to lean against them.”


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Now the temple was full of men and women. All the kings of the Philistines were there. There were about 3,000 men and women on the roof. They watched Samson perform.


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Then Samson prayed to the Lord. He said, “Lord God, remember me. God, please give me strength one more time. Let me pay these Philistines back for putting out my two eyes!”


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Then Samson held the two center pillars of the temple. These two pillars supported the whole temple. He braced himself between the two pillars. His right hand was on one, and his left hand was on the other.


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Samson said, “Let me die with these Philistines!” Then he pushed as hard as he could. And the temple fell on the kings and all the people in it. So Samson killed more of the Philistines when he died than when he was alive.


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Samson’s brothers and his whole family went down to get his body. They brought him back and buried him in the tomb of Manoah, his father. That tomb is between the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol. Samson was a judge for the people of Israel for 20 years.


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He said to his mother, “You remember the 28 pounds of silver that were taken from you. I heard you say a curse about it. I have the silver with me. I took it.” His mother said, “The Lord bless you, my son!”


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Micah gave the 28 pounds of silver to his mother. Then she said, “I will give this silver to the Lord. I will have my son make a carved idol and an idol of melted silver. So I will give the silver back to you.”


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So he gave the silver back to his mother. She took about 5 pounds of the silver and gave it to a silversmith. He used it to make a carved idol and an idol of melted silver. The idols were put in Micah’s house.


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Micah had a temple for worshiping idols. He made a vest for a priest and some household idols. Then Micah chose one of his sons to be his priest.


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There was a young man who was a Levite. He was from the city of Bethlehem in the land of Judah. He had been living with the people of Judah.


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He left Bethlehem to look for another place to live. On his way he came to Micah’s house. It was in the mountains of Ephraim.


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Micah asked him, “Where have you come from?” He answered, “I’m a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. I’m looking for a place to live.”


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Then Micah said to him, “Live with me. Be my father and my priest. I will give you 4 ounces of silver each year. I will also give you clothes and food.” So the Levite went in.


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Then Micah said, “Now I know the Lord will be good to me. I know this because I have a Levite as my priest!”


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Dan’s Family Captures Laish At that time the Israelites did not have a king. The people of Dan were still looking for a land where they could live. They wanted a land of their own. The other tribes of Israel already had their own lands. But the Danites did not yet have their own land.


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So they chose five soldiers from all their family groups. These five men were from the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol. They sent the men to spy out and explore the land. They were told, “Go, explore the land.” So they came to the mountains of Ephraim. They came to Micah’s house, where they spent the night.


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When they came near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. So they stopped at Micah’s house. They asked the young Levite, “Who brought you to this place? What are you doing here? Why are you here?”


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They said to him, “Please ask God something for us. Will our search for a place to live be successful?”


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So the five men left. They came to the city of Laish. They saw that the people there lived in safety. They were like the people of Sidon. They lived in peace and were not afraid of others. They had plenty of everything. They lived a long way from the Sidonians. And they had no dealings with anyone else.


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They answered, “We have seen the land. And it is very good. We should attack them. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t wait! Let’s go and take that land!


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When you go, you will see there is plenty of land. There is plenty of everything! The people are not expecting an attack. Surely God has given that land to us!”


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On their way they stopped near the city of Kiriath Jearim in Judah. They set up camp there. That is why the place is named Mahaneh Dan to this very day. It is west of Kiriath Jearim.


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So the five men who had explored the land around Laish spoke. They said to their relatives, “There is a vest for a priest in one of these houses. And there are household gods in these houses. There are also a carved idol and an idol of melted silver in these houses. You know what to do.”


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The five spies went into the house. They took the carved idol, the vest for a priest, the household idols and the silver idol. The priest and the 600 men ready for war stood by the gate entrance.


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When the spies went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the vest for a priest, the household idols and the silver idol, the priest asked them, “What are you doing?”


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They answered, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us. Be our father and our priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for the people in one man’s house? Or is it better for you to be a priest for a tribe and family group in Israel?”


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This made the Levite happy. So he took the vest for a priest, the household idols and the carved idol. And he went with the men of Dan.


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They left Micah’s house. They put their little children, their animals and everything they owned in front of them.


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The men of Dan went a long way from Micah’s house. Then the men who lived near Micah were called out. They chased the men of Dan and caught up with them.


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The men with Micah shouted at the men of Dan. The men of Dan turned around. They said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you? Why have you called out your men to fight?”


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Micah answered, “You took my idols! I made those idols. You have also taken my priest. What do I have left? How can you ask me, ‘What’s the matter?’”


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The men of Dan answered, “You should not argue with us. Some of our men have hot tempers. If you shout at us, they might attack you. You and your family might be killed.”


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Then the men of Dan went on their way. Micah knew they were too strong for him. So he turned and went back home.


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So the men of Dan took what Micah had made. They also took his priest and went on to Laish. They attacked those peaceful people. The people of Laish had not expected an attack. The men of Dan killed them with their swords. Then they burned the city.


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There was no one to save the people of Laish. They lived too far from Sidon. And they had no dealings with anyone else. Laish was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The people of Dan rebuilt the city in that place. And they lived there.


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They changed the name of Laish to Dan. They named it after their ancestor Dan. He was one of the sons of Israel.


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The people of Dan set up the idols in the city of Dan. They made Jonathan son of Gershom their priest. Gershom was the son of Moses. Jonathan and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan. They served as priests until the Israelites were taken captive.


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The people of Dan worshiped the idols Micah had made. They worshiped them as long as the Holy Tent of God was in Shiloh.


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A Levite and His Servant At that time the people of Israel did not have a king. There was a Levite who lived in the faraway part of the mountains of Ephraim. He had taken a slave woman. She was from the city of Bethlehem in the land of Judah.


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But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her father’s house. It was in Bethlehem in Judah. She stayed there for four months.


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Then her husband went to ask her to come back to him. He took with him his servant and two donkeys. The Levite came to her father’s house. And she invited the Levite to come in. Her father was happy to see him.


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The father-in-law, the young woman’s father, asked him to stay. So he stayed for three days. He ate, drank and slept there.


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On the fourth day they got up early in the morning. The Levite was getting ready to leave. But the woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh yourself by eating something. Then you may go.”


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So the two men sat down to eat and drink together. After that, the father said to him, “Please stay tonight. Relax and enjoy yourself.”


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On the fifth day the man got up early in the morning to leave. The woman’s father said, “Refresh yourself. Wait until this afternoon.” So the two men ate together.


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Then the Levite, his slave woman and his servant got up to leave. His father-in-law, the young woman’s father, said, “It’s almost night. The day is almost gone. So spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow morning you may get up early and go on your way home.”


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But the Levite did not want to stay another night. He took his two saddled donkeys and his slave woman. He traveled toward the city of Jebus. (Jebus is another name for Jerusalem.)


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The day was almost over. They were near Jebus. So the servant said to his master, “Let’s stop at this city. It’s the city of the Jebusite people. Let’s spend the night here.”


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But his master said, “No. We won’t go inside a strange city. Those people are not Israelites. We will go on to the city of Gibeah.”


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Then he said, “Come on. Let’s try to make it to Gibeah or Ramah. We can spend the night in one of those cities.”


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So they went on. And the sun went down as they came near Gibeah. Gibeah belongs to the tribe of Benjamin.


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So they stopped there to spend the night. They came to the public square in the middle of the city and sat down. But no one invited them home to spend the night.


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That evening an old man came into the city from his work in the fields. His home was in the mountains of Ephraim. But now he was living in Gibeah. (The men of Gibeah were from the tribe of Benjamin.)


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He saw the traveler, the Levite, in the public square. He asked, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?”


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The Levite answered, “We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah. We’re going to my home. I’m from a faraway part of the mountains of Ephraim. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah. Now I am going to the Holy Tent of the Lord. No one has invited me to stay in his house.


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We already have straw and food for our donkeys. There is bread and wine for me, the young woman and my servant. We don’t need anything.”


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The old man said, “You are welcome to stay at my house. Let me give you anything you need. But don’t spend the night in the public square.”


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So the old man took the Levite into his house. He fed their donkeys, and they washed their feet. Then he gave them something to eat and drink.


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While they were enjoying themselves, some wicked men of the city surrounded the house. They beat on the door. They shouted to the old man who owned the house. They said, “Bring out the man who came to your house. We want to force him to have physical relations with us.”


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The owner of the house went outside. And he said to them, “No, my friends. Don’t be so evil. This man is a guest in my house. Don’t do this terrible thing!


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Look, here is my daughter. She is a virgin. And here is the man’s slave woman. I will bring them out to you now. Do anything you want with them. But don’t do such a terrible thing to this man.”


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But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite took his slave woman and sent her outside to them. They raped her. They treated her very badly all night long. Then, at dawn, they let her go.


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She came back to the house where her master was staying. She fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.


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In the morning the Levite got up. He opened the door of the house. He went outside to go on his way. But there lay his slave woman. She had fallen down at the doorway of the house. Her hands were on the doorsill.


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Then the Levite said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But she did not answer. So he put her on his donkey and went home.


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When the Levite got home, he took a knife and cut his slave woman into 12 parts. Then he sent a part to each of the areas where the people of Israel lived.


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Everyone who saw this said, “Nothing like this has ever happened before. It has never happened since the people of Israel came out of Egypt. Think about it. Tell us what to do.”


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The War Between Israel and Benjamin So all the Israelites joined together. They came to stand before the Lord in the city of Mizpah. They came from as far away as the cities of Dan and Beersheba. Even the Israelites from the land of Gilead were there.


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The leaders of all the tribes of Israel were there. They took their places in the meeting of the people of God. There were 400,000 soldiers with swords.


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(The people of Benjamin heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said to the Levite, “Tell us how this evil thing happened.”


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So the husband of the murdered woman answered: “My slave woman and I came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.


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During the night the men of Gibeah came after me. They surrounded the house and wanted to kill me. They raped my slave woman. And she died!


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So I took her and cut her into parts. Then I sent one part to each area of Israel’s land. I did it because the people of Benjamin have done this wicked and terrible thing in Israel.


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Then all the people stood up at the same time. They said, “None of us will go home. Not one of us will go back to his house!


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We will choose 10 men from each 100 men. They will be from all the tribes of Israel. And we will choose 100 men from each 1,000. We will choose 1,000 men from each 10,000. These men will find supplies for the army. Then the army will go to the city of Gibeah of Benjamin. They will repay those people for the terrible thing they have done in Israel.”


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The tribes of Israel sent men to all the family groups of Benjamin with a message. They said, “What is this evil thing some of your men have done?


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Give up the evil men in Gibeah so that we can put them to death. We must remove this evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to their relatives, the people of Israel.


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The Benjaminites left their own cities and met at Gibeah. They went to fight against the Israelites.


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In only one day the Benjaminites got 26,000 soldiers together. These soldiers were trained with swords. They also had 700 chosen men from Gibeah.


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Seven hundred of these trained soldiers were left-handed. Each of these left-handed soldiers could sling a stone at a hair and not miss!


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The Israelites, except for the Benjaminites, gathered 400,000 fighting men. These 400,000 men used swords and were trained soldiers.


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The Israelites went up to the city of Bethel. They asked God, “Which tribe shall be first to attack the Benjaminites?” The Lord answered, “Judah shall go first.”


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Then the men of Israel went out to fight the Benjaminites. The Israelites got into battle position at Gibeah.


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The Israelites went before the Lord. They cried until evening. They asked the Lord, “Shall we go to fight our relatives, the Benjaminites, again?” The Lord answered, “Go up and fight them.” The men of Israel encouraged each other. So they took the same battle positions they had taken the first day.


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The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah to attack the Israelites. This time, the Benjaminites killed 18,000 Israelites. All of these Israelites had been trained with swords.


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Then the Israelites went up to Bethel. There they sat down and cried to the Lord. They went without food all day until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.


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The Israelites asked the Lord a question. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant with God was there at Bethel.


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A priest named Phinehas served before the Ark of the Covenant. He was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron.) The people of Israel asked, “Shall we again go to fight against our relatives the Benjaminites? Or shall we stop fighting?” The Lord answered, “Go, because tomorrow I will help you defeat them.”


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They went to fight against the Benjaminites at Gibeah on the third day. They got into position for battle, as they had done before.


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Then the Benjaminites came out of the city to fight them. The Israelites backed up and led the Benjaminites away from the city. The Benjaminites began to kill some of the Israelites as they had done before. About 30 men from Israel were killed. Some of them were killed in the fields and some on the roads. One road led to Bethel. Another road led to Gibeah.


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The Benjaminites said, “We are winning as before!” But the Israelites said, “Let’s run. Let’s trick them into going farther away from their city and onto the roads.”


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All the men of Israel moved from their places. They got into battle positions at a place named Baal Tamar. Then the Israelites ran out from their hiding places west of Gibeah.


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Ten thousand of the best trained soldiers from the army of Israel attacked Gibeah. The battle was very hard. The Benjaminites did not know disaster was about to come to them.


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The Lord used the Israelites to defeat the Benjaminites. On that day the Israelites killed 25,100 Benjaminites. All these men were armed with swords.


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Then the Benjaminites saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel had moved back. They backed up because they were depending on the surprise attack. They had set it up near Gibeah.


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The men in hiding rushed into Gibeah. They spread out and killed everyone in the city with their swords.


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Now the men of Israel had made a plan with the men in hiding. The men in the surprise attack were to send up a signal. It was to be a big cloud of smoke from the city.


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So the army of Israel turned around in the battle. The Benjaminites had killed about 30 Israelites. They were saying, “We are winning, as in the first battle!”


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But then the big cloud of smoke began to rise from the city. The Benjaminites turned around and saw it. The whole city was full of smoke that went up into the sky.


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Then the Israelites turned and began to fight. The Benjaminites were terrified. Now they knew that disaster was coming to them.


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So the Benjaminites ran away from the Israelites. They ran toward the desert. But they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the cities killed them.


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The Benjaminites ran toward the desert. They ran to a place called the rock of Rimmon. But the Israelites killed 5,000 Benjaminites along the roads. They kept chasing them as far as a place named Gidom. And they killed 2,000 more Benjaminites there.


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Then the men of Israel went back to the land of Benjamin. They killed the people in every city. They also killed the animals. They destroyed everything they could find. And they burned every city they found.


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Wives for the Men of Benjamin At Mizpah the men of Israel had made a promise. This was their promise: “Not one of us will let his daughter marry a man from the tribe of Benjamin.”


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They said, “Lord, you are the God of Israel. Why has this terrible thing happened to us? Why has one tribe of Israel been taken away?”


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Early the next day the people built an altar. They put burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to God on it.


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Then the Israelites asked, “Did any tribe of Israel not come here to meet with us before the Lord?” They asked this question because they had made a great promise. They had promised that anyone who did not meet with them at Mizpah would be killed.


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The Israelites felt sorry for their relatives, the Benjaminites. They said, “Today one tribe has been separated from Israel.


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We made a promise before the Lord. We will not allow our daughters to marry a Benjaminite. How can we make sure that the men of Benjamin will have wives?”


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Then they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel did not come here to Mizpah?” They found that no one from the city of Jabesh Gilead was there.


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So the whole group of Israelites sent 12,000 soldiers to Jabesh Gilead. They told the soldiers to kill the people in Jabesh Gilead with their swords. Even the women and children were to be killed.


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“This is what you must do: Kill every man in Jabesh Gilead. Also kill every woman who is not a virgin.”


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The soldiers found 400 young women in Jabesh Gilead who were virgins. They brought these women to the camp at Shiloh in Canaan.


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Then the whole group of Israelites sent a message to the men of Benjamin. They offered to make peace with them. The men of Benjamin were at the rock of Rimmon.


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So the men of Benjamin came back at that time. The Israelites gave them the women from Jabesh Gilead who had not been killed. But there were not enough women for all of them.


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The people of Israel felt sorry for the Benjaminites. This was because the Lord had separated the tribes of Israel.


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The elders of the Israelites spoke. They said, “The women of Benjamin have been killed. Where can we get wives for the men of Benjamin who are still alive?


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These men must have children to continue their families. This is so a tribe in Israel will not die out.


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But we cannot allow our daughters to marry them. We have made this promise: ‘Anyone who gives a wife to a man of Benjamin is cursed.’


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We have an idea! There is a yearly festival of the Lord at Shiloh. Shiloh is north of the city of Bethel. It is east of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem. And it is south of the city of Lebonah.”


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Watch for the young women from Shiloh to come out. They will come to join the dancing. Then run out from the vineyards. Each of you take one of the young Shiloh women and go to the land of Benjamin.


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The fathers or brothers of those young women will come to us. They will complain, but we will say: ‘Be kind to the men of Benjamin. We did not get wives for Benjamin during the war. And you did not give the women to the men from Benjamin. So you are not guilty.’”


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So that is what the Benjaminites did. While the young women were dancing, each man caught one of them. They took them away and married them. Then they went back to the land God had given them. They rebuilt their cities and lived there.


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Then the Israelites went home. They went to their own tribes and family groups. They went to their own land that God had given them.


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The Story of a Girl from Moab Long ago the judges ruled Israel. During their rule, there was a time in the land when there was not enough food to eat. A man named Elimelech left Bethlehem in Judah and moved to the country of Moab. He took his wife and his two sons with him. His wife was named Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Kilion. These people were from the Ephrathah district around Bethlehem in Judah. The family traveled to Moab and lived there.


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These sons married women from Moab. The name of one wife was Orpah. The name of the other wife was Ruth. Naomi and her sons lived in Moab about ten years.


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While Naomi was in Moab, she heard that the Lord had taken care of his people. He had given food to them in Judah. So Naomi got ready to leave Moab and go back home. The wives of Naomi’s sons also got ready to go with her.


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But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back home. Each of you go to your own mother’s house. You have been very kind to me and to my sons who are now dead. I hope the Lord will also be kind to you in the same way.


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I hope the Lord will give you another home and a new husband.” Then Naomi kissed the women. And they began to cry out loud.


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But Naomi said, “My daughters, go back to your own homes. Why do you want to go with me? I cannot give birth to more sons to give you new husbands.


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So go back to your own homes. I am too old to have another husband. But even if I had another husband tonight and if I had more sons, it wouldn’t help!


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Would you wait until the babies were grown into men? Would you live for so many years without husbands? Don’t do this thing. My life is much too sad for you to share. This is because the Lord is against me!”


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Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her own people and her own gods. Go back with her.”


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Ruth Stays with Naomi But Ruth said, “Don’t ask me to leave you! Don’t beg me not to follow you! Every place you go, I will go. Every place you live, I will live. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God.


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And where you die, I will die. And there I will be buried. I ask the Lord to punish me terribly if I do not keep this promise: Only death will separate us.”


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Naomi and Ruth went on until they came to the town of Bethlehem. When the two women entered Bethlehem, all the people became very excited. The women of the town said, “Is this Naomi?”


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But Naomi told the people, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, because God All-Powerful has made my life very sad.


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When I left, I had all I wanted. But now, the Lord has brought me home with nothing. So why should you call me Naomi when the Lord has spoken against me? God All-Powerful has given me much trouble.”


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So Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth, the woman from Moab, came back from Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.


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Ruth Meets Boaz Now there was a rich man living in Bethlehem whose name was Boaz. Boaz was one of Naomi’s close relatives from Elimelech’s family.


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One day Ruth, the woman from Moab, said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields. Maybe someone will be kind and let me gather the grain he leaves in his field.” Naomi said, “Go, my daughter.”


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So Ruth went to the fields. She followed the workers who were cutting the grain. And she gathered the grain that they had left. It just so happened that the field belonged to Boaz. He was a close relative from Elimelech’s family.


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When Boaz came from Bethlehem, he spoke to his workers: “The Lord be with you!” And the workers answered, “May the Lord bless you!”


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She said, ‘Please let me follow the workers and gather the grain that they leave on the ground.’ She came and has remained here. From morning until just now, she has stopped only a few moments to rest in the shelter.”


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Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay here in my field to gather grain for yourself. Do not go to any other person’s field. Continue following behind my women workers.


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Watch to see which fields they go to and follow them. I have warned the young men not to bother you. When you are thirsty, you may go and drink. Take water from the water jugs that the servants have filled.”


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Then Ruth bowed low with her face to the ground. She said to Boaz, “I am a stranger. Why have you been so kind to notice me?”


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Boaz answered her, “I know about all the help you have given to Naomi, your mother-in-law. You helped her even after your husband died. You left your father and mother and your own country. You came to this nation where you did not know anyone.


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The Lord will reward you for all you have done. You will be paid in full by the Lord, the God of Israel. You have come to him as a little bird finds shelter under the wings of its mother.”


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Then Ruth said, “You are very kind to me, sir. You have said kind words to me, your servant. You have given me hope. And I am not even good enough to be one of your servants.”


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At mealtime Boaz told Ruth, “Come here! Eat some of our bread. Here, dip your bread in our vinegar.” So Ruth sat down with the workers. Boaz gave her some roasted grain. Ruth ate until she was full, and there was some food left over.


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Ruth rose and went back to work. Then Boaz told his servants, “Let her gather even around the bundles of grain. Don’t tell her to go away.


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So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. Then she separated the grain from the chaff. There was about one-half bushel of barley.


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Ruth carried the grain into town. And her mother-in-law saw what she had gathered. Ruth also gave her the food that was left over from lunch.


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Naomi asked her, “Where did you gather all this grain today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who noticed you!” Ruth told her about whose field she had worked in. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.”


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Naomi told her daughter-in-law, “The Lord bless him! The Lord still continues to be kind to all people—the living and the dead!” Then Naomi told Ruth, “Boaz is one of our close relatives, one who will take care of us.”


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Then Ruth said, “Boaz also told me to come back and continue working. He said, ‘Keep close by my servants until they have finished the harvest.’”


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Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It is good for you to continue working with his women servants. If you work in another field, someone might hurt you.”


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So Ruth continued working closely with the women servants of Boaz. She gathered grain until the barley harvest was finished. She also worked there through the end of the wheat harvest. And Ruth continued to live with Naomi, her mother-in-law.


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Naomi’s Plan Then Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, I must find a suitable home for you. That would be good for you.


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Now Boaz is our close relative. You worked with his women servants. Tonight he will be working at the threshing floor.


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Go wash yourself and put on perfume. Change your clothes, and go down to the threshing floor. But don’t let him see you until he has finished eating and drinking.


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Then he will lie down. Watch him so you will know the place where he lies down. Go there and lift the cover off his feet and lie down. He will tell you what you should do.”


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After eating and drinking, Boaz was feeling good. He went to lie down beside the pile of grain. Then Ruth went to him quietly. She lifted the cover from his feet and lay down.


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About midnight Boaz woke up suddenly and rolled over. He was startled! There was a woman lying near his feet!


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Boaz asked, “Who are you?” She said, “I am Ruth, your servant girl. Spread your cover over me because you are the one who is to take care of me.”


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Then Boaz said, “The Lord bless you, my daughter. Your kindness to me is greater than the kindness you showed to Naomi in the beginning. You didn’t look for a young man to marry, either rich or poor.


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Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do everything you ask. All the people in our town know you are a very good woman.


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And it is true, I am a relative who is to take care of you. But there is a man who is a closer relative to you than I.


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But stay here tonight. In the morning we will see if he will take care of you. If he decides to take care of you, that is fine. If he refuses to take care of you, I myself will marry you. Then I will buy back Elimelech’s land for you. As surely as the Lord lives, I promise to do this. So lie here until morning.”


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So Ruth lay near his feet until the morning. She rose while it was still too dark to be recognized. Boaz said to his servants, “Don’t tell anyone that the woman came here to the threshing floor.”


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Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Bring me your shawl. Now, hold it open.” So Ruth held her shawl open, and Boaz poured six portions of barley into it. Boaz then put it on her back, and she went to the city.


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Ruth went to the home of her mother-in-law. And Naomi asked, “How did you do, my daughter?” So Ruth told Naomi everything that Boaz did for her.


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She said, “Boaz gave me these six portions of barley. He said, ‘You must not go home without a gift for your mother-in-law.’”


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Naomi answered, “Ruth, my daughter, wait until you hear what happens. Boaz will not rest until he has finished doing what he should do this day.”


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Boaz Marries Ruth Boaz went to the city gate. He sat there until the close relative he had mentioned passed by. Boaz called to him, “Come here, friend! Sit down here!” So the man came over and sat down.


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Boaz gathered ten of the old men who were leaders of the city. He told them, “Sit down here!” So they sat down.


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Then Boaz spoke to the close relative. He said, “Naomi has come back from the country of Moab. She wants to sell the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.


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So I decided to say this to you: If you want to buy back the land, then buy it! Buy it in front of the people who live here and in front of the elders of my people. If you don’t want to buy it, tell me. I am the only person after you who can buy back the land. If you don’t buy it back, I will.” And the close relative said, “I will buy back the land.”


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Then Boaz said, “When you buy the land from Naomi, you must marry Ruth, the dead man’s wife. She is the woman from Moab. That way, the land will stay in her dead husband’s family.”


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The close relative answered, “Then I can’t buy back the land. If I did, I might lose what I can pass on to my own sons. I cannot buy the land back. So you buy it yourself.”


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Long ago in Israel when people traded or bought back something, one person took off his sandal and gave it to the other person. This was their proof of purchase.


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Then Boaz spoke to the elders and to all the people. He said, “You are witnesses today of what I am buying from Naomi. I am buying everything that belonged to Elimelech and Kilion and Mahlon.


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I am also taking Ruth as my wife. She is the Moabite who was the wife of Mahlon. I am doing this so her dead husband’s property will stay with his family. This way, his name will not be separated from his family and his land. You are witnesses this day.”


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So all the people and elders who were at the city gate said, “We are witnesses. This woman will be coming into your home. We hope the Lord will make her like Rachel and Leah. They had many children. So the people of Israel grew in number. May you become powerful in the district of Ephrathah. May you become famous in Bethlehem!


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Tamar gave birth to Judah’s son Perez. In the same way, may the Lord give you many children through Ruth. And may your family be great like his.”


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The women told Naomi, “Praise the Lord who gave you this grandson. And may he become famous in Israel.


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He will give you new life. And he will take care of you in your old age. This happened because of your daughter-in-law. She loves you. And she is better for you than seven sons. She has given birth to your grandson.”


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The neighbors gave the boy his name. These women said, “This boy was born for Naomi.” The neighbors named him Obed. Obed was Jesse’s father. And Jesse was the father of David.


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Samuel’s Birth There was a man named Elkanah son of Jeroham. He was from Ramathaim in the mountains of Ephraim. Elkanah was from the family of Zuph. (Jeroham was Elihu’s son. Elihu was Tohu’s son. And Tohu was the son of Zuph from the family group of Ephraim.)


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Elkanah had two wives. One was named Hannah, and the other was named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.


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Every year Elkanah left his town Ramah and went up to Shiloh. There he worshiped the Lord of heaven’s armies and offered sacrifices to him. Shiloh was where Hophni and Phinehas served as priests of the Lord. They were the sons of Eli.


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When Elkanah offered sacrifices, he always gave a share of the meat to his wife Peninnah. He also gave shares of the meat to her sons and daughters.


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But Elkanah always gave a special share of the meat to Hannah. He did this because he loved Hannah and because the Lord had made Hannah unable to have children.


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Peninnah would upset Hannah and make her feel bad. She did this because the Lord had made Hannah unable to have children.


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This happened every year when they went up to the Tent of the Lord at Shiloh. Peninnah would upset Hannah until Hannah would cry and not eat anything.


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Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why are you sad? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”


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Once, after they had eaten their meal in Shiloh, Hannah got up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the entrance to the Lord’s Holy Tent.


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She made a promise. She said, “Lord of heaven’s armies, see how bad I feel. Remember me! Don’t forget me. If you will give me a son, I will give him back to you all his life. And no one will ever use a razor to cut his hair.”


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She was praying in her heart. Her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.


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Hannah answered, “No, master, I have not drunk any wine or beer. I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I was telling the Lord about all my problems.


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Don’t think of me as an evil woman. I have been praying because of my many troubles and much sadness.”


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Hannah said, “I want to be pleasing to you always.” Then she left and ate something. She was not sad anymore.


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Early the next morning Elkanah’s family got up and worshiped the Lord. Then they went back home to Ramah. Elkanah had intimate relations with his wife Hannah. And the Lord remembered her.


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So Hannah became pregnant, and in time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel. She said, “His name is Samuel because I asked the Lord for him.”


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Hannah Gives Samuel to God Every year Elkanah went to Shiloh to offer sacrifices. He went to keep the promise he had made to God. He brought his whole family with him. So once again he went up to Shiloh.


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But Hannah did not go with him. She told him, “When the boy is old enough to eat solid food, I will take him to Shiloh. Then I will give him to the Lord. He will become a Nazirite. He will always live there at Shiloh.”


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Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, said to her, “Do what you think is best. You may stay home until the boy is old enough to eat. May the Lord do what you have said.” So Hannah stayed at home to nurse her son until he was old enough to eat.


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When Samuel was old enough to eat, Hannah took him to the Tent of the Lord at Shiloh. She also took a three-year-old bull, one-half bushel of flour and a leather bag filled with wine.


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She said to Eli, “As surely as you live, my master, I am the same woman who stood near you praying to the Lord.


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Now I give him back to the Lord. He will belong to the Lord all his life.” And he worshiped the Lord there.


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Hannah Gives Thanks Hannah said: “The Lord has filled my heart with joy. I feel very strong in the Lord. I can laugh at my enemies. I am glad because you have helped me!


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“Don’t continue bragging. Don’t speak proud words. The Lord is a God who knows everything. He judges what people do.


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Those who once had plenty of food now must work for food. But people who once were hungry now grow fat on food. The woman who was unable to have children now has had seven. But the woman who had many sons now is sad.


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“The Lord causes people to die, and he causes them to live. He brings people down to where the dead are, and he raises them to life again.


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The Lord makes people poor, and he makes people rich. He makes people humble, and he makes people great.


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The Lord raises the poor up from the dust. And he picks needy people up from the ashes. He lets the poor sit with princes. He lets them sit on a throne of honor. “The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord. The Lord set the world upon them.


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He protects his holy people. But those who do evil will be silenced in darkness. Their power will not help them win.


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The Lord destroys his enemies. He will thunder in heaven against them. The Lord will judge all the earth. He will give power to his king. He will make his appointed king strong.”


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Eli’s Evil Sons Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. But the boy continued to serve the Lord under Eli the priest.


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This is what the priests would do to the people: Every time someone brought a sacrifice, the meat would be cooked in a pot. The priest’s servant would then come with a fork in his hand. The fork had three prongs.


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He would plunge the fork into the pot or the kettle. Whatever the fork brought out of the pot belonged to the priest. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh to offer sacrifices.


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But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come to the person offering sacrifices. The servant would say, “Give the priest some meat to roast. The priest won’t accept boiled meat from you. He will only accept raw meat.”


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But the man who offered the sacrifice might say, “Let the fat be burned up first as usual. Then you may take anything you want.” If so, the priest’s servant would answer, “No, give me the meat now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”


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The Lord saw that the sin of the servants was very great. They did not show respect for the offerings made to the Lord.


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Every year Samuel’s mother would make a little coat for him. She would take it to him when she went to Shiloh. She went there with her husband for the sacrifice.


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Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife. Eli would say, “May the Lord repay you with children through Hannah. They will take the place of the boy Hannah prayed for and gave back to the Lord.” Then Elkanah and Hannah would go home.


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The Lord was kind to Hannah. She became the mother of three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew up serving the Lord.


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Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all the Israelites. He also heard about how his sons had physical relations with the women who served at the entrance to the Meeting Tent.


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Eli said to his sons, “The people here tell me about the evil you do. Why do you do these evil things?


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If someone sins against another person, God can help him. But if he sins against the Lord himself, no one can help him!” But Eli’s sons would not listen to him. This was because the Lord had decided to put them to death.


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A man of God came to Eli. He said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I clearly showed myself to the family of your ancestor Aaron. This was when they were slaves to the king of Egypt.


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I chose them from all the tribes of Israel to be my priests. I wanted them to go up to my altar, to burn incense and to wear the holy vest. I also let the family of your ancestor have part of all the offerings sacrificed by the Israelites.


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So why don’t you respect the sacrifices and gifts? You honor your sons more than me. You become fat on the best parts of the meat the Israelites bring to me.’


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“Here’s what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I promised that your family and your ancestor’s family would serve me forever.’ But now the Lord says this: ‘That will never be! I will honor those who honor me. But I will take honor away from those who do not honor me.


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The time is coming when I will destroy the descendants of both you and your ancestors. No man will grow old in your family.


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You will see trouble in my house. Good things will be done to Israel. But there will never be an old man in your family.


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I will save one man to serve as priest at my altar. He will wear out his eyes and use up his strength. The rest of your descendants will die by the sword.


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I will choose a loyal priest for myself. He will listen to me and do what I want. I will make his family strong. He will always serve before my appointed king.


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Then everyone left in your family will come and bow down before him. They will beg for a little money or a little food. They will say, “Please give me a job as priest so I can have food to eat.”’”


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God Calls Samuel The boy Samuel served the Lord under Eli. In those days the Lord did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions.


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Samuel was also in bed in the Lord’s Holy Tent. The Ark of the Covenant was in the Holy Tent. God’s lamp was still burning.


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He ran to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed.


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The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel again went to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.” Again Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”


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The Lord called Samuel for the third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “I am here. You called me.” Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy.


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So he told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in bed.


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The Lord came and stood there. He called as he had before. He said, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.”


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The Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am going to do something in Israel. It will shock those who hear about it.


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At that time I will do to Eli and his family everything I promised. I will not stop until I have finished.


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I told Eli I would punish his family forever. I will do it because Eli knew his sons were evil. They spoke against me, but he did not control them.


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So here is what I promised Eli’s family: ‘Your guilt will never be removed by sacrifice or offering.’”


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Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the Tent of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.


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Eli asked, “What did the Lord say to you? Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you terribly if you hide from me anything he said to you.”


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So Samuel told Eli everything. He did not hide anything from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is best.”


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And the Lord continued to show himself to Samuel at Shiloh. He also showed himself to Samuel through his word.


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News about Samuel spread through all of Israel. The Philistines Capture the Ark of the Covenant At that time the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines camped at Aphek.


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The Philistines went to meet the Israelites in battle. And as the battle spread, the Philistines defeated the Israelites. They killed about 4,000 soldiers of the Israelite army.


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Then some Israelite soldiers went back to their camp. The elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord let the Philistines defeat us? Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant with the Lord here from Shiloh. In this way God will go with us into battle. He will save us from our enemies.”


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So the people sent men to Shiloh. They brought back the Ark of the Covenant with the Lord of heaven’s armies. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the Ark of the Covenant.


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The Ark of the Covenant with the Lord came into the camp. And all the Israelites gave a great shout of joy. It made the ground shake.


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The Philistines heard Israel’s shout. They asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” Then the Philistines found out that the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord had come into the Hebrew camp.


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They were afraid and said, “A god has come into the Hebrew camp! We’re in trouble! This has never happened before!


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How terrible it will be for us! Who can save us from these powerful gods? They are the ones who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of disasters in the desert.


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Be brave, Philistines! Fight like men! In the past they were our slaves. So fight like men, or you will become their slaves.”


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So the Philistines fought hard and defeated the Israelites. Every Israelite soldier ran away to his own home. It was a great defeat for Israel, because 30,000 Israelite soldiers were killed.


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The Ark of the Covenant of God was taken by the Philistines. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.


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That same day a man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battle. He tore his clothes and put dust on his head to show his great sadness.


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When he arrived in Shiloh, Eli was by the side of the road. Eli was sitting there in a chair, watching. He was worried about the Ark of the Covenant of God. When the Benjaminite entered Shiloh, he told the bad news. Then all the people in town cried loudly.


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Eli heard the crying and asked, “What’s all this noise?” The Benjaminite ran to Eli and told him what had happened.


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The Benjaminite told him, “I have come from the battle. I ran all the way here today.” Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”


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The Benjaminite answered, “Israel ran away from the Philistines. The Israelite army has lost many soldiers. Your two sons are both dead. And the Philistines have taken the Ark of the Covenant of God.”


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When he mentioned the Ark of the Covenant of God, Eli fell backward off his chair. He fell beside the gate and broke his neck, because he was old and fat. And Eli died. He had led Israel for 40 years.


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The Glory Is Gone Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant. It was nearly time for her baby to be born. She heard the news that the Ark of the Covenant of God had been taken. She heard also that Eli, her father-in-law, and Phinehas, her husband, were both dead. So she began to give birth to her child. The child was born, but the mother had much trouble in giving birth.


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As she was dying, the women who helped her give birth said, “Don’t worry! You’ve given birth to a son!” But she did not answer or pay attention. She named the baby Ichabod.


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She named him Ichabod and said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” She said this because the Ark of the Covenant of God had been taken. It was also because her father-in-law and husband were dead.


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Trouble for the Philistines After the Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.


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The people of Ashdod rose early the next morning. They found that Dagon had fallen on his face on the ground. He was lying before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. So the people of Ashdod put Dagon back in his place.


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The next morning the people of Ashdod rose from sleep. And again they found Dagon on the ground! He had fallen down before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. His head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only his body was still in one piece.


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So, even today, Dagon’s priests and others who enter his temple at Ashdod refuse to step on the doorsill.


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The Lord punished the people of Ashdod and their neighbors. He gave them much trouble. He gave them growths on their skin.


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The people of Ashdod saw what was happening. They said, “The Ark of the Covenant of the God of Israel can’t stay with us. God is punishing us and Dagon our god.”


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The people of Ashdod called all five Philistine kings together. They asked them, “What should we do with the Ark of the Covenant of the God of Israel?” The rulers answered, “Move the Ark of the Covenant of the God of Israel to Gath.” So the Philistines moved it to Gath.


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But after they had moved it to Gath, the Lord punished that city also. He made the people very afraid. God troubled both old and young people in Gath. He caused them to have growths on their skin.


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Then the Philistines sent the Ark of the Covenant of God to Ekron. But when it came into Ekron, the people of Ekron yelled. They said, “Why are you bringing the Ark of the Covenant of the God of Israel to our city? Do you want to kill us and our people?”


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The people of Ekron called all the kings of the Philistines together. They said to the kings, “Send the Ark of the Covenant of the God of Israel back to its place. Do it before it kills us and our people!” They were very afraid. God’s punishment was very terrible there.


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The people who did not die were troubled with growths on their skin. So the people of Ekron cried loudly to heaven.


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The Ark of the Covenant of God Is Sent Home The Philistines kept the Ark of the Covenant of God in their land seven months.


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Then they called for their priests and magicians. They said, “What should we do with the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord? Tell us how to send it back home!”


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The priests and magicians answered them. They said, “If you send back the Ark of the Covenant of the God of Israel, don’t send it away empty. You must offer a penalty offering so the God of Israel will forgive your sins. Then you will be healed. When God has forgiven you, he will stop punishing you.”


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The Philistines asked, “What kind of penalty offering should we send to Israel’s God?” The priests and magicians answered, “Make five gold models of the growths on your skin. Also make five gold models of rats. The number of models must be the same as the number of Philistine kings. This is because the same sickness has come on you and your kings.


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Make models of the growths and the rats that are ruining the country. Give them to Israel’s God and honor him. Then maybe Israel’s God will stop punishing you, your gods and your land.


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Don’t be stubborn like the king of Egypt and the Egyptians. God punished them terribly. That is why the Egyptians let the Israelites leave Egypt.


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“You must build a new cart. And get two cows that have just had calves. These must be cows that have never had yokes on their necks. Then hitch the cows to the cart. Take the calves home. Don’t let them follow their mothers.


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Put the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord on the cart. And put the gold models in a box beside the Ark of the Covenant. They are your penalty offerings for God to forgive your sins. Send the cart straight on its way.


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Watch the cart. It may go toward Beth Shemesh in Israel’s own land. If so, the Lord has given us this great sickness. But it may not go toward Beth Shemesh. Then we will know that Israel’s God has not punished us. We will know that our sickness just happened by chance.”


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The Philistines did what the priests and magicians said. They took two cows that had just had calves. They hitched them to the cart. But they kept their calves at home.


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They put the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord on the cart. And they put the box with the gold rats and models of growths on the cart.


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Then the cows went straight toward Beth Shemesh. They stayed on the road, mooing all the way. They did not turn right or left. The Philistine kings followed the cows as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.


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Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley. They looked up and saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. They were very happy to see it again.


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The cart came to the field belonging to Joshua of Beth Shemesh. The cart stopped in this field near a large rock. The people of Beth Shemesh chopped up the wood of the cart. Then they killed the cows and sacrificed them to the Lord.


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The Levites took down the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. They also took down the box that had the gold models. They put both on the large rock. That day the people of Beth Shemesh offered whole burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord.


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The five Philistine kings watched them do all these things. Then they went back to Ekron the same day.


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The Philistines sent these gold models of the growths. They were penalty offerings to the Lord for their sins. They sent one model for each Philistine town. These towns were Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron.


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And the Philistines also sent gold models of rats. The number of rats was the same as the number of towns belonging to the Philistine kings. These towns included strong, walled cities and country villages. The large rock on which they put the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord is still there. It is in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.


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But some of the men of Beth Shemesh looked into the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. So God killed 70 of them. The people of Beth Shemesh cried because the Lord had punished them so terribly.


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They said, “Who can stand before the Lord, this holy God? Where can the Ark of the Covenant go from here?”


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Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim. The messengers said, “The Philistines have brought back the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. Come down and take it to your city.”


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The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. They took it to Abinadab’s house on a hill. There they made Abinadab’s son Eleazar holy for the Lord so he could guard the Ark of the Covenant.


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The Lord Saves the Israelites The Ark of the Covenant stayed at Kiriath Jearim a long time—20 years in all. And the people of Israel began to follow the Lord again.


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Samuel spoke to the whole group of Israel. He said, “If you’re turning back to the Lord with all your hearts, you must remove your foreign gods. You must remove your idols of Ashtoreth. You must give yourselves fully to the Lord and serve only him. Then he will save you from the Philistines.”


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So the Israelites met together at Mizpah. They drew water from the ground and poured it out before the Lord. They did not eat that day. They confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel served as judge of Israel at Mizpah.


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The Philistines heard the Israelites were meeting at Mizpah. So the Philistine kings came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard they were coming, they were afraid.


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They said to Samuel, “Don’t stop praying to the Lord our God for us! Ask the Lord to save us from the Philistines!”


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Then Samuel took a baby lamb. He offered the lamb to the Lord as a whole burnt offering. He called to the Lord for Israel’s sake. And the Lord answered him.


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While Samuel was burning the offering, the Philistines came near. They were going to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered against the Philistines with loud thunder. They were so frightened they became confused. So the Israelites defeated the Philistines in battle.


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The men of Israel ran out of Mizpah and chased the Philistines. They went almost to Beth Car, killing the Philistines along the way.


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Peace Comes to Israel After this happened Samuel took a stone. He set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named the stone Ebenezer. Samuel said, “The Lord has helped us to this point.”


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So the Philistines were defeated. They did not enter the Israelites’ land again. The Lord was against the Philistines all Samuel’s life.


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Earlier the Philistines had taken towns from the Israelites. But the Israelites won them back, from Ekron to Gath. They also took back from the Philistines the neighboring lands of these towns. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.


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But Samuel always went back to Ramah, where his home was. He also judged Israel there. And there he built an altar to the Lord.


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His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. Joel and Abijah were judges in Beersheba.


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But Samuel’s sons did not live as he did. They tried to get money dishonestly. They took money secretly to be dishonest in their judging.


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They said to him, “You’re old, and your sons don’t live as you do. Give us a king to rule over us like all the other nations.”


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The Lord told Samuel, “Listen to whatever the people say to you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me from being their king.


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They are doing as they have always done. When I took them out of Egypt, they left me. They served other gods. They are doing the same to you.


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Now listen to the people. But give them a warning. Tell them what the king who rules over them will do.”


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Samuel said, “If you have a king ruling over you, this is what he will do: He will take your sons. He will make them serve with his chariots and his horses. They will run in front of the king’s chariot.


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The king will make some of your sons commanders over 1,000 men or over 50 men. He will make some of your other sons plow his ground and reap his harvest. He will take others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.


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This king will take your daughters. Some of your daughters will make perfume. Others will cook and bake for him.


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He will take your men servants and girl servants. He will take your best cattle and your donkeys. He will use them all for his own work.


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When that time comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose. The Lord will not answer you then.”


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Then we will be the same as all the other nations. Our king will judge us. He will go with us and fight our battles.”


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The Lord answered, “You must listen to them. Give them a king.” Then Samuel told the people of Israel, “Everyone go back to his town.”


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Saul Looks for His Father’s Donkeys Kish son of Abiel was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was an important man. (Abiel was the son of Zeror. And Zeror was the son of Becorath. He was the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.)


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Kish had a son named Saul. Saul was a fine young man. There was no Israelite better than he. Saul stood a head taller than any other man in Israel.


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Now the donkeys of Saul’s father, Kish, were lost. So Kish said to Saul, his son, “Take one of the servants. Go and look for the donkeys.”


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Saul went through the mountains of Ephraim. And he went through the land of Shalisha. But he and the servant could not find the donkeys. They went into the land of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. They went through the land of Benjamin. But they still did not find the donkeys.


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They arrived in the area of Zuph. Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go back. My father will stop thinking about the donkeys. He will start worrying about us.”


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But the servant answered, “A man of God is in this town. People respect him because everything he says comes true. Let’s go into the town now. Maybe he can tell us something about the journey we have taken.”


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Saul said to his servant, “If we go into the town, what can we give him? The food in our bags is gone. We have no gift to give him. Do we have anything at all to give him?”


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Again the servant answered Saul. “Look, I have one-tenth of an ounce of silver. Give it to the man of God. Then he will tell us about our journey.”


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(In the past, someone in Israel might want to ask something from God. If so, he would say, “Let’s go to the seer.” We call the person a man of God today. But in the past he was called a “seer.”)


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Saul said to his servant, “That is a good idea. Come, let’s go.” So they went toward the town where the man of God was.


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Saul and the servant were going up the hill to the town. On the way they met some young women coming out to get water. Saul and the servant asked them, “Is the seer here?”


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The young women answered, “Yes, he’s here. He’s ahead of you. Hurry now. He has just come to our town today. This is because the people will offer a sacrifice at the place of worship.


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When you enter the town, you will find him. He will be there before he goes up to the place of worship to eat. The people will not begin eating until the seer comes. He must bless the sacrifice. After that, the guests will eat. Go now, and you should find him.”


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Saul Meets Samuel Saul and the servant went up to the town. Just as they entered the town, they saw Samuel. He was on his way up to the place of worship. So he was coming out of the city toward them.


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“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man. He will be from Benjamin. You must appoint him as leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines. I have seen the suffering of my people. I have listened to their cry.”


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When Samuel first saw Saul, the Lord spoke to Samuel. He said, “This is the man I told you about. He will rule my people.”


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Samuel answered, “I am the seer. Go ahead of me to the place of worship. Today you and your servant are to eat with me. Tomorrow morning I will send you home. And I will answer all your questions.


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Don’t worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago. They have been found. Israel now wants you and all your father’s family.”


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Saul answered, “But I am from the tribe of Benjamin. It’s the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family group is the smallest in the tribe of Benjamin. Why do you say Israel wants me?”


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Then Samuel took Saul and his servant into a large room. He gave them a chief place at the table. About 30 guests were there.


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So the cook took the thigh and put it on the table in front of Saul. Samuel said, “This is the meat saved for you. Eat it because it was set aside for you for this special time. As I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.


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After they finished eating, they came down from the place of worship. They went to the town. Then Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house.


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At dawn they got up, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof. He said, “Get up, and I will send you on your way.” So Saul got up. He went out of the house with Samuel.


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Saul, his servant and Samuel were getting near the edge of the city. Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us. I have a message from God for you.”


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Samuel Appoints Saul Samuel took a jar of olive oil. He poured the oil on Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “The Lord has appointed you to be leader of his people Israel. You will rule over the people of the Lord. You will save them from their enemies all around. This will be the sign that the Lord has appointed you as leader of his people.


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After you leave me today, you will meet two men. They will be near Rachel’s tomb on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you were looking for have been found. But now your father has stopped thinking about his donkeys. He is worrying about you. He is asking, “What will I do about my son?”’


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“Then you will go on until you reach the great tree at Tabor. There three men will meet you. They will be on their way to worship God at Bethel. One man will be carrying three young goats. The second man will be carrying three loaves of bread. And the third one will have a leather bag full of wine.


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Then you will go to Gibeah of God. There is a Philistine camp there. When you come near this town, a group of prophets will come out. They will be coming from the place of worship. And they will be playing harps, tambourines, flutes and lyres. And they will be prophesying.


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The Spirit of the Lord will enter you with power. You will prophesy with these prophets. You will be changed into a different man.


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“Go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come down to you. Then I will offer whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. But you must wait seven days. Then I will come and tell you what to do.”


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Saul Made King When Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart. All these signs came true that day.


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When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, Saul met a group of prophets. The Spirit of God entered him. And he prophesied with the prophets.


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People who had known Saul before saw him prophesying with the prophets. They asked each other, “What has happened to Kish’s son? Is even Saul one of the prophets?”


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A man who lived there said, “Who is the father of these prophets?” This became a famous saying: “Is even Saul one of the prophets?”


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Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?” Saul said, “We were looking for the donkeys. When we couldn’t find them, we went to talk to Samuel.”


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Saul answered, “He told us the donkeys had already been found.” But Saul did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about his becoming king.


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He said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I led Israel out of Egypt. I saved you from Egypt’s control. And I saved you from other kingdoms that were troubling you.’


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But now you have rejected your God. He saves you from all your troubles and problems. But you said, ‘No! We want a king to rule over us.’ Now come, stand before the Lord in your tribes and family groups.”


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Samuel had them pass by in family groups, and Matri’s family was chosen. Then he had each man of Matri’s family pass by. And Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for Saul, they could not find him.


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Then they asked the Lord, “Has Saul come here yet?” The Lord said, “Yes. He’s hiding behind the baggage.”


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So they ran and brought him out. When Saul stood among the people, he was a head taller than anyone else.


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Then Samuel said to the people, “See the man the Lord has chosen. There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”


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Samuel explained the rights and duties of the king. He wrote the rules in a book and put the book before the Lord. Then he told the people to go to their homes.


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Saul also went to his home in Gibeah. God touched the hearts of certain brave men who went along with him.


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But some troublemakers said, “How can this man save us?” They hated Saul and refused to bring gifts to him. But Saul kept quiet.


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Nahash Troubles Jabesh Gilead About a month later Nahash the Ammonite and his army surrounded the city of Jabesh in Gilead. All the people of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us. And we will serve you.”


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But he answered, “I will make a treaty with you. But I will only do it if I’m allowed to tear out the right eye of each of you. Then all Israel will be ashamed!”


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The elders of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Let us have seven days. We will send messengers through all Israel. If no one comes to help us, we will give ourselves up to you.”


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The messengers came to Gibeah where Saul lived. When they told the people the news, the people cried loudly.


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Saul had finished plowing in the fields with his oxen. He was coming home when he heard the people crying. He asked, “What’s wrong with the people? Why are they crying?” Then they told Saul what the messengers from Jabesh had said.


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So he took a pair of oxen and cut them into pieces. Then he gave the pieces of the oxen to messengers. He ordered them to carry the pieces through all the land of Israel. The messengers made an announcement to the people. They said, “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” So the people became very afraid of the Lord. They all came together as if they were one person.


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Saul gathered the people together at Bezek. There were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.


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They spoke to the messengers who had come. They said, “Tell the people at Jabesh Gilead this: ‘Before the day becomes hot tomorrow, you will be saved.’” So the messengers went and reported this to the people at Jabesh. They were very happy.


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The people said to Nahash the Ammonite, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you. Then you can do anything you want to us.”


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The next morning Saul divided his soldiers into three groups. At dawn they entered the Ammonite camp. And they defeated the Ammonites before the heat of the day. The Ammonites who were left alive were scattered. Not even two of them were still together.


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Then the people said to Samuel, “Who was it that didn’t want Saul as king? Bring them here, and we will kill them!”


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Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal. At Gilgal we will again promise to obey the king.”


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All the people went to Gilgal. And there, before the Lord, the people made Saul king. They offered fellowship offerings to the Lord. Saul and all the Israelites had a great celebration.


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Samuel’s Farewell Speech Samuel said to all Israel, “I have done everything you wanted me to do. I have put a king over you.


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Now you have a king to lead you. I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader since I was young.


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Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, you must testify against me. Do this before the Lord and his appointed king. Did I steal anyone’s ox or donkey? Did I hurt or cheat anyone? Did I ever secretly take money to pretend not to see something wrong? If I did any of these things, I will make it right.”


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The Israelites answered, “You have not cheated us. You have not hurt us. You have not taken anything unfairly from anyone.”


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Samuel said to them, “The Lord is a witness to what you have said. His appointed king is also a witness today. They are both witnesses that you did not find anything wrong in me.” “He is our witness,” they said.


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Then Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is our witness. He chose Moses and Aaron. He brought your ancestors out of Egypt.


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Now, stand there. And I will talk with you about all the good things the Lord did for you and your ancestors.


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“After Jacob entered Egypt, his descendants cried to the Lord for help. So the Lord sent Moses and Aaron. They took your ancestors out of Egypt and brought them to live in this place.


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“But they forgot the Lord their God. So he let them become the slaves of Sisera. He was the commander of the army of Hazor. The Lord let them become the slaves of the Philistines and the king of Moab. They all fought against your ancestors.


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Then your ancestors cried to the Lord. They said, ‘We have sinned. We have left the Lord. We served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now save us from our enemies, and we will serve you.’


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The Lord sent Gideon, who is also called Jerub-Baal. And he sent Barak, Jephthah and Samuel. Then he saved you from your enemies around you. And you lived in safety.


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But then you saw Nahash king of the Ammonites coming against you. You said, ‘No! We want a king to rule over us!’


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You must honor the Lord and serve him. You must obey his commands. Both you and the king ruling over you must follow the Lord your God. If you do, it will be well with you.


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But if you don’t obey the Lord, and if you fight against his commands, he will be against you. He will do to you what he did to your ancestors.


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It is now the time of the wheat harvest. I will pray for the Lord to send thunder and rain. Then you will know what an evil thing you did against the Lord when you asked for a king.”


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Then Samuel prayed to the Lord. That same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. And the people became very afraid of the Lord and Samuel.


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They said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for us, your servants! Don’t let us die! We’ve added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”


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Samuel answered, “Don’t be afraid. It’s true that you did wrong. But don’t turn away from the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart.


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For his own sake, the Lord won’t leave his people. Instead, he was pleased to make you his own people.


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I will surely not stop praying for you. If I did, I would be sinning against the Lord. I will teach you what is good and right.


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But you must honor the Lord. You must always serve him with all your heart. Remember the wonderful things he did for you!


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Saul chose 3,000 men from Israel. There were 2,000 men who stayed with him at Micmash in the mountains of Bethel. And 1,000 men stayed with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul sent the other men in the army back home.


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Jonathan attacked the Philistine camp in Geba. And the other Philistines heard about it. Saul said, “Let the Hebrew people hear what happened.” So he told the men to blow trumpets through all the land of Israel.


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All the Israelites heard the news. The men said, “Saul has defeated the Philistine camp. Now the Philistines really hate us!” Then the Israelites were called to join Saul at Gilgal.


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The Philistines gathered to fight Israel. They had 3,000 chariots and 6,000 men to ride in the chariots. Their soldiers were many in number, like the grains of sand on the seashore. The Philistines went and camped at Micmash which is east of Beth Aven.


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The Israelites saw that they were in trouble. So they went to hide in caves and bushes. They also hid among the rocks and in pits and wells.


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Some Hebrews even went across the Jordan River to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul stayed at Gilgal. All the men in his army were shaking with fear.


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Saul waited seven days, because Samuel had said he would meet him then. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal. And the soldiers began to leave.


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So Saul said, “Bring me the whole burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then Saul offered the whole burnt offering.


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Samuel asked, “What have you done?” Saul answered, “I saw the soldiers leaving me, and you were not here. The Philistines were gathering at Micmash.


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Then I thought, ‘The Philistines will come against me at Gilgal. And I haven’t asked for the Lord’s approval.’ So I forced myself to offer the whole burnt offering.”


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Samuel said, “You acted foolishly! You haven’t obeyed God’s command. If you had obeyed him, God would make your kingdom continue in Israel forever.


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But now your kingdom will not continue. The Lord has looked for the kind of man he wants. The Lord has appointed him to become ruler of his people. He is doing this because you haven’t obeyed his command.”


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Then Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the army followed Saul into battle. Saul counted the men still with him, and there were about 600.


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Hard Times for Israel Saul and his son Jonathan stayed in Geba in the land of Benjamin. The soldiers with them also stayed there. The Philistines made their camp at Micmash.


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Three groups went out from their camp to attack. One group went on the Ophrah road in the land of Shual.


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The second group went on the Beth Horon road. And the third group went on the border road. It overlooked the Valley of Zeboim toward the desert.


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The whole land of Israel had no blacksmith. This is because the Philistines had said, “The Hebrews might make swords and spears.”


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So all the Israelites went down to the Philistines. They went to have their plows, hoes, axes and sickles sharpened.


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The Philistine blacksmiths charged about one-fourth of an ounce of silver for sharpening plows and hoes. And they charged one-eighth of an ounce of silver for sharpening picks, axes and the sticks used to guide oxen.


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So when the battle came, the soldiers with Saul and Jonathan had no swords or spears. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.


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Israel Defeats the Philistines A group from the Philistine army had gone out to the mountain pass at Micmash.


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One day Jonathan, Saul’s son, spoke to the officer who carried his armor. Jonathan said, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine camp on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.


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Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree at the threshing floor near Gibeah. He had about 600 men with him.


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One man was Ahijah, who was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub. Ichabod was the son of Phinehas, Eli’s son. Eli was the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. He wore the holy vest. No one knew Jonathan had left.


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There was a steep slope on each side of the pass. Jonathan planned to go through the pass to the Philistine camp. The cliff on one side was named Bozez. The other cliff was named Seneh.


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Jonathan said to his officer who carried his armor, “Come. Let’s go to the camp of those men who are not circumcised. Maybe the Lord will help us. It doesn’t matter if we have many people, or just a few. Nothing can keep the Lord from giving us victory.”


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The officer who carried Jonathan’s armor said to him, “Do whatever you think is best. Go ahead. I’m with you.”


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They may say to us, ‘Stay there until we come to you.’ If they do, we will stay where we are. We won’t go up to them.


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But they may say, ‘Come up to us.’ If so, we will climb up. And the Lord will allow us to defeat them. This will be the sign for us.”


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Both Jonathan and his officer let the Philistines see them. The Philistines said, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in!”


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The Philistines in the camp shouted to Jonathan and his officer, “Come up to us. We’ll teach you a lesson!” Jonathan said to his officer, “Climb up behind me. The Lord has given the Philistines to Israel!”


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So Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet. His officer climbed just behind him. Jonathan cut down the Philistines as he went. And his officer killed them as he followed behind Jonathan.


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All the Philistine soldiers panicked. Those in the camp and those in the raiding party were frightened. The ground itself shook! God caused the panic.


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Saul’s guards were at Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. They saw the Philistine soldiers running in every direction.


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Saul said to his army, “Check and find who has left our camp.” When they checked, they learned that Jonathan and his officer were gone.


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So Saul said to Ahijah the priest, “Bring the Ark of the Covenant of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)


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While Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp was growing. Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Stop. There’s not time to pray now!”


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Then Saul and the army with him gathered and entered the battle. They found the Philistines confused, even striking each other with their swords!


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Earlier, there were Hebrews who had served the Philistines and had stayed in their camp. They now joined the Israelites with Saul and Jonathan.


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All the Israelites hidden in the mountains of Ephraim heard that the Philistine soldiers were running away. They too joined the battle and chased the Philistines.


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Saul Makes Another Mistake The men of Israel were miserable that day. This was because Saul had made an oath for all of them. He had said, “No one should eat food before evening and before I finish defeating my enemies. If he does, he will be cursed!” So no Israelite soldier ate food.


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But Jonathan had not heard the oath Saul had put on the people. So Jonathan dipped the end of his stick into the honey. He pulled out the honey and ate it. Then he felt better.


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So one of the soldiers told Jonathan, “Your father made an oath for all the soldiers. He said any man who eats today will be cursed! That’s why they are weak.”


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Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the land! See how much better I feel after just tasting a little of this honey!


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It would have been much better for the men to eat the food they took from their enemies today. We could have killed many more Philistines!”


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That day the Israelites defeated the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon. After they did this, they were very tired.


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They had taken sheep, cattle and calves from the Philistines. Now they were so hungry they killed the animals on the ground and ate them. But the blood was still in the animals!


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Someone said to Saul, “Look! The men are sinning against the Lord. They’re eating meat that still has blood in it!” Saul said, “You have sinned! Roll a large stone over here now!”


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Then he said, “Go to the men. Tell them that each person must bring his ox and sheep to me. They must kill and eat their ox and sheep here. Don’t sin against the Lord. Don’t eat meat with the blood still in it.” That night everyone brought his animals and killed them there.


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Saul said, “Let’s go after the Philistines tonight. Let’s take what they own. We won’t let any of them live!” The men answered, “Do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God.”


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So Saul asked God, “Should I chase the Philistines? Will you let us defeat them?” But that day God did not answer Saul.


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That is why Saul said to all the leaders of his army, “Come here. Let’s find what sin has been done today.


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As surely as the Lord lives, even if my son Jonathan did the sin, he must die.” But no one in the army answered.


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Then Saul said to all the Israelites, “You stand on this side. I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side.” The men answered, “Do whatever you think is best.”


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Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give me the right answer.” And Saul and Jonathan were chosen by throwing lots. The other men went free.


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Saul said, “Throw the lot. It will show if it is I or Jonathan my son who is guilty.” And Jonathan was chosen.


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Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told Saul, “I only tasted a little honey from the end of my stick. And must I die now?”


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But the soldiers said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die? Never! He is responsible for saving Israel today! As surely as the Lord lives, not even a hair of his head will fall to the ground! Today Jonathan fought against the Philistines with God’s help!” So the army saved Jonathan, and he did not die.


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Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies When Saul became king over Israel, he fought against Israel’s enemies all around. He fought Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the king of Zobah and the Philistines. Everywhere Saul went he defeated Israel’s enemies.


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He became strong. He fought bravely and defeated the Amalekites. He saved Israel from the enemies who had taken what the Israelites owned.


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Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. His older daughter was named Merab. His younger daughter was named Michal.


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Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of his army was Abner son of Ner. Ner was Saul’s uncle.


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All Saul’s life he fought hard against the Philistines. When he saw strong or brave men, he took them into his army.


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Saul Rejected as King Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to appoint you king over Israel. Now listen to his message.


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This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: ‘The Israelites came out of Egypt. But the Amalekites tried to stop them from going to Canaan. I saw what they did.


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Now go, attack the Amalekites. Destroy everything that belongs to them as an offering to the Lord. Don’t let anything live. Put to death men and women, children and small babies. Kill the cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”


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He said to the Kenites, “Go away. Leave the Amalekites so that I won’t destroy you with them. You showed kindness to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.


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Then Saul defeated the Amalekites. He fought them all the way from Havilah to Shur, at the border of Egypt.


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But Saul and the army let Agag live. They also let the best sheep, fat cattle and lambs live. They let every good animal live. They did not want to destroy them. But when they found an animal that was weak or useless, they killed it.


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“Saul has stopped following me. And I am sorry I made him king. He has not obeyed my commands.” Samuel was upset, and he cried out to the Lord all night long.


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Early the next morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul. But the people told Samuel, “Saul has gone to Carmel. He has put up a monument in his own honor. Now he has gone down to Gilgal.”


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Then Samuel came to Saul. And Saul said, “May the Lord bless you! I have obeyed the Lord’s commands.”


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Saul answered, “The soldiers took them from the Amalekites. They saved the best sheep and cattle to offer as sacrifices to the Lord your God. But we destroyed all the other animals.”


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Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” Saul answered, “Tell me.”


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Samuel said, “Once you didn’t think much of yourself. But now you have become the leader of the tribes of Israel. The Lord appointed you to be king over Israel.


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And he told you to do something. He said, ‘Go and destroy those evil people, the Amalekites. Make war on them until all of them are dead.’


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Why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you take the best things? Why did you do what the Lord said was wrong?”


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Saul said, “But I did obey the Lord. I did what the Lord told me to do. I destroyed all the Amalekites. And I brought back Agag their king.


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But Samuel answered, “What pleases the Lord more: burnt offerings and sacrifices or obedience? It is better to obey God than to offer a sacrifice. It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of male sheep.


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Refusing to obey is as bad as the sin of sorcery. Being stubborn is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols. You have rejected the Lord’s command. For this reason, he now rejects you as king.”


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Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I didn’t obey the Lord’s commands. I didn’t do what you told me. I was afraid of the people, and I did what they said.


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But Samuel said to Saul, “I won’t go back with you. You refused the Lord’s command. And now he rejects you as king of Israel.”


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Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today. He has given it to one of your neighbors. He has given it to one better than you.


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The Lord is the Eternal One of Israel. He does not lie or change his mind. He is not a man. So he does not change his mind as men do.”


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Saul answered, “I have sinned. But please honor me in front of my people’s elders. Please honor me in front of the Israelites. Come back with me so that I may worship the Lord your God.”


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Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to Samuel in chains. Yet Agag thought, “Surely the threat of death has passed.”


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Samuel said to him, “Your sword caused mothers to be without their children. Now your mother will have no children.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.


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And Samuel never saw Saul again all the rest of his life. But he was sorry for Saul. And the Lord was very sorry he had made Saul king of Israel.


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Samuel Goes to Bethlehem The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you continue to feel sorry for Saul? I have rejected him as king of Israel. Fill your container with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse who lives in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”


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But Samuel said, “If I go, Saul will hear the news. And he will try to kill me.” The Lord said, “Take a young calf with you. Say, ‘I have come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.’


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Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. Then I will show you what to do. You must appoint the one I show you.”


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Samuel did what the Lord told him to do. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of Bethlehem shook with fear. They met him and asked, “Are you coming in peace?”


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Samuel answered, “Yes, I come in peace. I have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Make yourselves holy for the Lord and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he made Jesse and his sons holy for the Lord. And he invited them to come to the sacrifice.


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When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. Samuel thought, “Surely the Lord has appointed this person standing here before him.”


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But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t look at how handsome Eliab is. Don’t look at how tall he is. I have not chosen him. God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.”


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Then Jesse called Abinadab and told him to pass by Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this man either.”


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Jesse had seven of his sons pass by Samuel. But Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”


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Then he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse answered, “I still have the youngest son. He is out taking care of the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him. We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”


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So Jesse sent and had his youngest son brought in. He was a fine boy, tanned and handsome. The Lord said to Samuel, “Go! Appoint him. He is the one.”


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So Samuel took the container of olive oil. Then he poured oil on Jesse’s youngest son to appoint him in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Lord’s Spirit entered David with power. Samuel then went back to Ramah.


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David Serves Saul But the Lord’s Spirit had gone out of Saul. And an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.


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Give us the command. We will look for someone who can play the harp. When the evil spirit from the Lord enters you, he will play. Then the evil spirit will leave you alone. And you will feel better.”


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One of the servants said, “Jesse of Bethlehem has a son who plays the harp. I have seen him play it. He is a brave man and fights well. He is a good speaker and handsome. And the Lord is with him.”


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Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse. The message said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”


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So Jesse loaded a donkey with bread and a leather bag full of wine. He also took a young goat. He sent them all with his son David to Saul.


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When David came to Saul, he began to serve him. Saul loved David very much. And David became the officer who carried Saul’s armor.


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When the evil spirit from God entered Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then the evil spirit would go out of him. And Saul would feel relief. He would feel better again.


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David and Goliath The Philistines gathered their armies for war. They met at Socoh in Judah. Their camp was at Ephes Dammim between Socoh and Azekah.


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Saul and the Israelites gathered in the Valley of Elah. And they camped there. They took their positions to fight the Philistines.


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The Philistines controlled one hill. The Israelites controlled another. The valley was between them.


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The Philistines had a champion fighter named Goliath. He was from Gath. He was about nine feet four inches tall. He came out of the Philistine camp.


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He had a bronze helmet on his head. And he wore a coat of scale armor. It was made of bronze and weighed about 125 pounds.


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The wooden part of his larger spear was like a weaver’s rod. And its blade weighed about 15 pounds. The officer who carried his shield walked in front of him.


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Goliath stood and shouted to the Israelite soldiers, “Why have you taken positions for battle? I am a Philistine, and you are Saul’s servants! Choose a man and send him to fight me.


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If he can fight and kill me, we will become your servants. But if I defeat and kill him, you will become our servants.”


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Now David was the son of Jesse, an Ephrathite. Jesse was from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons. In Saul’s time Jesse was an old man.


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His three oldest sons followed Saul to the war. The first son was Eliab. The second son was Abinadab. And the third son was Shammah.


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The Philistine Goliath came out every morning and evening. He stood before the Israelite army. This continued for 40 days.


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Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this half bushel of cooked grain. And take ten loaves of bread. Take them to your brothers in the camp.


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Also take ten pieces of cheese. Give them to the commander of your brothers’ group of 1,000 soldiers. See how your brothers are. Bring back something to show me they are all right.


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Your brothers are with Saul and the army in the Valley of Elah. They are fighting against the Philistines.”


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Early in the morning David left the sheep with another shepherd. He took the food and left as Jesse had told him. When David arrived at the camp, the army was leaving. They were going out to their battle positions. The soldiers were shouting their war cry.


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David left the food with the man who kept the supplies. Then he ran to the battle line and talked to his brothers.


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While he was talking with them, Goliath came out. He was the Philistine champion from Gath. He shouted things against Israel as usual, and David heard it.


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They said, “Look at this man Goliath. He keeps coming out to speak against Israel. The king will give much money to the man who kills Goliath. He will also give his daughter in marriage to whoever kills him. And his father’s family will not have to pay taxes in Israel.”


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David asked the men who stood near him, “What will be done to reward the man who kills this Philistine? What will be done for whoever takes away the shame from Israel? Goliath is a Philistine. He is not circumcised. Why does he think he can speak against the armies of the living God?”


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The Israelites told David what they had been saying. They said, “This is what will be done for the man who kills Goliath.”


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David’s oldest brother Eliab heard David talking with the soldiers. He became angry with David. He asked David, “Why did you come here? Who’s taking care of those few sheep of yours in the desert? I know you are proud. Your attitude is very bad. You came down here just to watch the battle!”


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He then turned to other people and asked the same questions. And they gave him the same answer as before.


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David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged. I, your servant, will go and fight this Philistine!”


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Saul answered, “You can’t go out against this Philistine and fight him. You’re only a boy. Goliath has been a warrior since he was a young man.”


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But David said to Saul, “I, your servant, have been keeping my father’s sheep. When a lion or bear came and took a sheep from the flock,


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I would chase it. I would attack it and save the sheep from its mouth. When it attacked me, I caught it by its fur. I would hit it and kill it.


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I, your servant, have killed both a lion and a bear! Goliath, the Philistine who is not circumcised, will be like the lion or bear I killed. He will die because he has stood against the armies of the living God.


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The Lord saved me from a lion and a bear. He will also save me from this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”


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David put on Saul’s sword and tried to walk around. But he was not used to all the armor Saul had put on him. He said to Saul, “I can’t go in this. I’m not used to it.” Then David took it all off.


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He took his stick in his hand. And he chose five smooth stones from a stream. He put them in his pouch and held his sling in his hand. Then he went to meet Goliath.


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At the same time, the Philistine was coming closer to David. The man who held his shield walked in front of him.


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Goliath looked at David. He saw that David was only a boy, tanned and handsome. He looked down at David with disgust.


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He said, “Do you think I am a dog, that you come at me with a stick?” He used his gods’ names to curse David.


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But David said to him, “You come to me using a sword, a large spear and a small spear. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of heaven’s armies. He’s the God of the armies of Israel! You have spoken out against him.


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Today the Lord will give you to me. I’ll kill you, and I’ll cut off your head. Today I’ll feed the bodies of the Philistine soldiers to the birds of the air and the wild animals. Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel!


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Everyone gathered here will know the Lord does not need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to him! And he will help us defeat all of you.”


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He took a stone from his pouch. He put it into his sling and slung it. The stone hit the Philistine on his forehead and sank into it. Goliath fell facedown on the ground.


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So David defeated the Philistine with only a sling and a stone! He hit him and killed him. He did not even have a sword in his hand.


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David ran and stood beside the Philistine. He took Goliath’s sword out of its holder and killed him. Then he cut off Goliath’s head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.


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The men of Israel and Judah shouted and started chasing the Philistines. They chased them all the way to the entrance to the city of Gath. And they chased them to the gates of Ekron. Many of the Philistines died. Their bodies lay on the Shaaraim road as far as Gath and Ekron.


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The Israelites returned after chasing the Philistines. Then they took many things from the Philistine camp.


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Saul had watched David go out to meet Goliath. Saul spoke to Abner, commander of the army. He said, “Abner, who is that young man’s father?” Abner answered, “As surely as you live, my king, I don’t know.”


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When David came back from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul. David still held Goliath’s head.


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Saul asked him, “Young man, who is your father?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”


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Saul Fears David When David finished talking with Saul, Jonathan felt very close to David. He loved David as much as he loved himself.


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He took off his coat and gave it to David. He also gave David his uniform, including his sword, bow and belt.


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Saul sent David to fight in different battles. And David was very successful. Then Saul put David over the soldiers. When he did this, Saul’s officers and all the other people were pleased.


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After David had killed the Philistine, he and the men returned home. Women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul. They sang songs of joy, danced and played tambourines and stringed instruments.


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As they played, they sang, “Saul has killed thousands of his enemies. But David has killed tens of thousands!”


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The women’s song upset Saul, and he became very angry. He thought, “The women say David has killed tens of thousands of enemies. But they say I killed only thousands of enemies. The only thing left for him to have is the kingdom!”


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The next day an evil spirit from God entered Saul with power. And he prophesied in his house. David was playing the harp as he usually did. But Saul had a spear in his hand.


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He raised the spear and thought, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David got away from him two times.


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He sent David away from him. He made David commander of 1,000 soldiers. So David led them in battle.


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Saul’s Daughter and David Saul said to David, “You’re a brave soldier. And you fight the Lord’s battles. Here is my older daughter Merab. I will let you marry her.” Saul had decided, “I won’t have to kill David. The Philistines will do that!”


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But David said, “I am not good enough for this honor. And my family is not important enough for me to become the king’s son-in-law.”


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So when the time came for Saul’s daughter Merab to marry David, Saul gave her instead to Adriel of Meholah.


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Now Saul’s other daughter Michal loved David. When they told Saul about Michal loving David, he was pleased.


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He thought, “I will let Michal marry David. Then she will become a trap for him. And the Philistines will defeat him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You may become my son-in-law.”


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And Saul gave an order to his servants. He told them, “Speak to David in private. Say, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you. His servants like you. You should become his son-in-law.’”


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Saul’s servants said these words to David. But David answered, “Do you think it is easy to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man. Nobody knows me.”


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Saul said, “Say to David, ‘The king doesn’t want you to pay a large price for the bride. All he wants is 100 Philistine foreskins. Then he will be even with his enemies.’” Saul planned to let the Philistines kill David.


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Saul’s servants told David these words. David was pleased that he could become the king’s son-in-law.


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So he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. David took all their foreskins and brought them to Saul. He wanted to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal for his wife.


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The Philistine commanders continued to go out to fight the Israelites. But every time, David defeated them. He had more success than Saul’s officers. And he became famous.


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Saul Plans to Kill David Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan cared very much for David.


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So he warned David, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Watch out in the morning. Hide in a secret place.


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I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are hiding. I’ll talk to him about you. Then I’ll let you know what I find out.”


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Jonathan talked to Saul his father. He said good things about David. Jonathan said, “You are the king. Don’t do wrong to your servant David. He did nothing wrong to you. What he did has helped you greatly.


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David risked his life when he killed Goliath the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and you were happy. Why would you do wrong against David? He’s innocent. There’s no reason to kill him!”


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Saul listened to Jonathan. Then he made this promise: “As surely as the Lord lives, David won’t be put to death.”


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So Jonathan called to David. He told David everything that had been said. And he brought David to Saul. So David was with Saul as before.


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When war broke out again, David went out to fight the Philistines. He defeated them, and they ran away from him.


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But once again an evil spirit from the Lord entered Saul. He was sitting in his house, and he had his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp.


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Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear. But David moved away from him. So Saul’s spear went into the wall. And David ran away that night.


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Saul sent men to David’s house. They watched it, wanting to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him. She said, “Tonight you must run away to save your own life. If you don’t, you will be killed tomorrow morning.”


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Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed. She covered it with clothes and put goats’ hair at its head.


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The men went and told Saul, but he sent them back to see David. He told them, “Bring him to me on his bed so I can kill him.”


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But when the messengers entered David’s house, they found it was just an idol on the bed. Its hair was goats’ hair.


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Saul said to Michal, “Why did you trick me this way? You let my enemy go. He has run away!” Michal answered Saul, “David told me if I did not help him escape, he would kill me.”


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After David had escaped from Saul, he went to Samuel at Ramah. He told Samuel everything Saul had done to him. Then David and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.


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So he sent men to capture him. But they met a group of prophets prophesying. Samuel was leading this group and was standing there. The Spirit of God entered Saul’s men, and they also prophesied.


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Saul heard the news. So he sent other men, but they also prophesied. Then he sent men a third time, but they also prophesied.


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Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah. He came to the well at Secu. He asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” The people answered, “In Naioth at Ramah.”


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Then Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God also entered him. And he walked on, prophesying until he came to Naioth at Ramah.


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He took off his robes and prophesied in front of Samuel. He lay that way all day and all night. That is why people ask, “Is even Saul one of the prophets?”


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David and Jonathan Then David ran away from Naioth in Ramah. He went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I sinned against your father so that he’s trying to kill me?”


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Jonathan answered, “No! You won’t die! See, my father doesn’t do anything without first telling me. It doesn’t matter if it is very important or just a small thing. Why would he refuse to tell me he wants to kill you? No, it’s not true!”


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But David took an oath. He said, “Your father knows very well that I’m your friend. He has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know about it. If he knows, he will tell David.’ But as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I am very close to death!”


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So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon festival. I am supposed to eat with the king. But let me hide in the field until the third evening.


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Your father may notice I am gone. If he does, tell him, ‘David begged me to let him go to his hometown of Bethlehem. Every year at this time, his family group offers a sacrifice.’


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If your father says, ‘Fine,’ I am safe. But if he becomes angry, you can believe he wants to hurt me.


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Jonathan, be kind to me, your servant. You have made an agreement with me before the Lord. If I am guilty, you may kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”


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Then Jonathan said, “Come, let’s go out into the field.” So Jonathan and David went together into the field.


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Jonathan said to David, “I promise this before the Lord, the God of Israel: At this same time day after tomorrow, I will find out how my father feels. If he feels good toward you, I’ll send word to you. I’ll let you know.


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But my father may mean to hurt you. If so, I will let you know and send you away safely. May the Lord punish me terribly if I don’t do this. And may the Lord be with you as he has been with my father.


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You must not stop showing your kindness to my family. Don’t do this, even when the Lord has destroyed all your enemies from the earth.”


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And Jonathan asked David to repeat his promise of love for him. He did this because he loved David as much as he loved himself.


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Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon festival. Your seat will be empty. So my father will notice you’re gone.


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On the third day I will shoot three arrows to the side of the rock. I will shoot as if I am shooting at a target.


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Then I will send a boy and tell him to go find the arrows. I may say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you. Bring them here.’ If so, you may come out of hiding. You may do this as surely as the Lord lives because you are safe. There is no danger.


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But I may say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you.’ If I do, you must go, because the Lord has sent you away.


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He sat where he always sat, near the wall. Jonathan sat across from him, and Abner sat next to him. But David’s place was empty.


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That day Saul said nothing. He thought, “Maybe something has happened to David so that he is unclean.”


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But the next day was the second day of the month. And David’s place was empty again. So Saul said to Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the festival yesterday or today?”


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He said, ‘Let me go, because our family has a sacrifice in the town. And my brother has ordered me to be there. Now if I am your friend, please let me go and see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”


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Then Saul became very angry with Jonathan. He said, “You son of an evil and disobedient woman! I know you are on the side of David son of Jesse! You bring shame on yourself and on your mother who gave birth to you.


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As long as Jesse’s son lives, you’ll never be king or have a kingdom. Now send for David and bring him to me. He must die!”


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Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan, trying to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father really wanted to kill David.


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Jonathan was very angry and left the table. That second day of the month he refused to eat. He was upset about what his father wanted to do to David.


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The next morning Jonathan went out to the field. He went to meet David as they had agreed. He had a young boy with him.


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Jonathan said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” When he ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.


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The boy ran to the place where Jonathan’s arrow fell. But Jonathan called, “The arrow is beyond you!”


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Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and brought it back to his master.


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When the boy left, David came out from the south side of the rock. He bowed facedown on the ground before Jonathan. He did this three times. Then David and Jonathan kissed each other. They cried together, but David cried the most.


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Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace. We have promised by the Lord that we will be friends. We said, ‘The Lord will be a witness between you and me, and between our descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to town.


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David Goes to See Ahimelech David went to Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech shook with fear when he saw David. He asked David, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”


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David answered him, “The king gave me a special order. He told me, ‘No one must know about the work I am sending you to do. And no one must know what I told you to do.’ I told my men where to meet me.


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The priest said to David, “I don’t have any plain bread here. But I do have some holy bread here. You may eat it if your men have kept themselves from women.”


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David answered, “Women have been kept from us. My men always keep their bodies holy, even when we do ordinary work. And this is especially true when the work is holy.”


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There was no bread except the bread made holy for the Lord. So the priest gave David the bread that showed the people were in the presence of God. This was the bread the priests had taken from the holy table before the Lord. Each day they took this bread away and put hot bread in its place.


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Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day. He had been held there before the Lord. He was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s shepherds.


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David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword here? The king’s business was very important. I had to leave quickly, and I didn’t bring my sword or any other weapon.”


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The priest answered, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine is here. He is the one you killed in the Valley of Elah. His sword is wrapped in a cloth. It is behind the holy vest. If you want it, you may take it. There’s no other sword here but that one.” David said, “There is no other sword like Goliath’s. Give it to me.”


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But the servants of Achish said to him, “This is David king of the Israelites. He’s the man the Israelite women sing about when they dance. They sing: ‘Saul has killed thousands of his enemies. But David has killed tens of thousands.’”


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So he pretended to be insane in front of Achish and his servants. While he was with them, he acted like a madman. He made marks on the doors of the gate. He let spit run down his beard.


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I have enough madmen. I don’t need you to bring him here to act like this in front of me! Don’t leave him in my house!”


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David at Adullam and Mizpah David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and other relatives heard that he was there. And they went to see him.


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Many people joined David. All those who were in trouble, who owed money or who were unsatisfied gathered around him. And he became their leader. He had about 400 men with him.


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From there David went to Mizpah in Moab. He spoke to the king of Moab. He said, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you. Let them stay until I learn what God is going to do for me.”


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So he left them with the king of Moab. And they stayed with the king as long as David was hiding in the protected place.


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But the prophet Gad said to David, “Don’t stay in the protected place. Go to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.


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Saul Destroys Ahimelech’s Family Saul heard that David and his men had been seen. He sat under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah. All his officers were standing around him. He had a spear in his hand.


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Saul said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Do you think the son of Jesse will give all of you fields and vineyards? Will David make you commanders over thousands of men or hundreds of men?


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You have all made plans against me! No one tells me when my son makes an agreement with the son of Jesse! No one cares about me! No one tells me my son has encouraged my servant to ambush me! And David is doing this now!”


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Doeg the Edomite was standing there with Saul’s officers. He said, “I saw the son of Jesse. He came to see Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.


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Ahimelech prayed to the Lord for David. He also gave him food. And he gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”


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Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub. He sent for all of Ahimelech’s relatives who were priests at Nob. And they all came to the king.


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Saul said, “Why have you and Jesse’s son made plans against me? You gave him bread and a sword! You prayed to God for him. David is waiting to attack me. He is doing this now!”


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Ahimelech answered, “David is very loyal to you. You have no other servant who is as loyal as David. He is your own son-in-law and captain of your bodyguards. All the people in your house respect him.


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That was not the first time I prayed to God for David. Not at all! Don’t blame me or any of my relatives. We are your servants. I know nothing about what is going on.”


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Then he told the guards at his side, “Go and kill the priests of the Lord. Do this because they are on David’s side. They knew he was running away, but they didn’t tell me!” But the king’s officers refused to hurt the priests of the Lord.


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Then the king ordered Doeg, “Go and kill the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite went and killed the priests. That day he killed 85 men who wore the linen holy vest.


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He also killed the people of Nob, the city of the priests. With the sword he killed men, women, children and small babies. And he killed cattle, donkeys and sheep.


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But Abiathar escaped. He was a son of Ahimelech, who was the son of Ahitub. Abiathar ran away and joined David.


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Then David told him, “Doeg the Edomite was there at Nob that day. I knew he would surely tell Saul. So I am responsible for the death of all your father’s family.


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The man who wants to kill you also wants to kill me. Stay with me. Don’t be afraid. You will be safe with me.”


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David at Keilah Someone told David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah. They are robbing grain from the threshing floors.”


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David asked the Lord, “Should I go and fight these Philistines?” The Lord answered him, “Go. Attack them, and save Keilah.”


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But David’s men said to him, “We’re afraid here in Judah. We will be much more afraid if we go to Keilah where the Philistine army is.”


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David again asked the Lord. And the Lord answered, “Go down to Keilah. I will help you defeat the Philistines.”


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So David and his men went to Keilah. They fought the Philistines and took their cattle. David killed many Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.


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(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the holy vest with him. He brought it when he came to David at Keilah.)


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Saul Chases David Someone told Saul that David was now at Keilah. Saul said, “God has given David to me! He has trapped himself because he has entered a town with gates and bars.”


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Saul called all his army together for battle. They prepared to go down to Keilah to attack David and his men.


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David learned Saul was making evil plans against him. So he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the holy vest.”


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David prayed, “Lord, God of Israel, I have heard about Saul’s plans. He is coming to Keilah to destroy the town because of me.


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Will the people of Keilah give me to Saul? Will Saul come to Keilah, as I heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell me, your servant!” The Lord answered, “Saul will come down.”


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Again David asked, “Will the people of Keilah give me and my men to Saul?” The Lord answered, “They will.”


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So David and his men left Keilah. There were about 600 men who went with him. And they kept moving from place to place. When Saul found that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.


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David stayed in the protected places in the desert. He also stayed in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Every day Saul looked for David. But the Lord did not let him take David.


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Jonathan told him, “Don’t be afraid. My father won’t touch you. You will become king of Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”


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The two of them made an agreement before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home. But David stayed at Horesh.


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The people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah. They told him, “David is hiding in our land. He’s at the protected places of Horesh. They are on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon.


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Go and learn more about him. Find out where he is staying. Find out who has seen him there. I have heard that he is clever.


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Find all the hiding places he uses. And come back and tell me everything. Then I’ll go with you. If David is in the area, I will find him. I will track him down among all the families in Judah.”


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So they went back to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the Desert of Maon. This was in the desert area south of Jeshimon.


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Saul and his men went to look for David. But people warned David that Saul was looking for him. David then went down to a rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. Saul heard that David had gone there. So he went after him into the Desert of Maon.


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Saul was going along one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul. Saul and his soldiers were closing in on David and his men.


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So Saul stopped chasing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why people call this place Rock of Parting.


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David Shames Saul Now Saul had chased the Philistines away. Then he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”


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So he chose 3,000 men from all Israel. He took these men and began looking for David and his men. They looked near the Rocks of the Wild Goats.


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Saul came to the sheep pens beside the road. A cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were hiding far back in the cave.


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The men said to David, “Today is the day the Lord talked about! The Lord told you, ‘I will give your enemy to you. You can do anything you want with him.’” Then David crawled near Saul. He cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. But Saul did not notice him.


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He said to his men, “May the Lord keep me from doing such a thing to my master! Saul is the Lord’s appointed king. I should not do anything against him, because he is the Lord’s appointed king!”


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David used these words to stop his men. He did not let them attack Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went his way.


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When David came out of the cave, he shouted to Saul, “My master and king!” Saul looked back, and David bowed facedown on the ground.


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You have seen something with your own eyes today. You have seen how the Lord put you in my power in the cave. But I refused to kill you. I was merciful to you. I said, ‘I won’t harm my master, because he is the Lord’s appointed king.’


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My father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe, but I didn’t kill you. Now understand and know I am not planning any evil against you. I did nothing wrong to you, but you are hunting me to kill me.


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May the Lord judge between us. And may he punish you for the wrong you have done to me! But I won’t fight you.


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Whom is the king of Israel coming out against? Whom are you chasing? You’re not chasing someone who will hurt you! It’s as if you are chasing a dead dog or a flea.


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May the Lord be our judge and decide between you and me. May the Lord support me and show that I am right. May he save me from you!”


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David finished saying these words. Then Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he cried loudly.


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If a man finds his enemy, he won’t send him away with goodness, will he? May the Lord reward you because you were good to me today.


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Now make a promise to me. Promise in the name of the Lord that you will not kill my descendants. Promise me that you won’t wipe out my name from my father’s family.”


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So David made the promise to Saul. Then Saul went back home. David and his men went up to the protected place.


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David and Nabal Now Samuel died. All the Israelites met and had a time of sadness for him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved to the Desert of Maon.


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A man in Maon who had land at Carmel was very rich. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. He was cutting the wool off his sheep at Carmel.


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His name was Nabal, and he was a descendant of Caleb. His wife was named Abigail. She was a wise and beautiful woman. But Nabal was cruel and mean.


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Say to Nabal, ‘May you and your family have good health! And may all who belong to you have good health.


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I have heard that you are cutting the wool from your sheep. When your shepherds were with us, we did nothing wrong to them. All the time your shepherds were at Carmel, we stole nothing from them.


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Ask your servants, and they will tell you. We come at a happy time. So for this reason, be kind to my young men. Please give them anything you can find for them. Please do this for your son David.’”


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He answered them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many slaves are running away from their masters today!


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I have bread and water. And I have meat that I killed for my servants who cut the wool. But I won’t give it to men I don’t know.”


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Then David said to them, “Put on your swords!” So they put on their swords, and David put on his also. About 400 men went with David. But 200 men stayed with the supplies.


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One of Nabal’s servants spoke to Abigail, Nabal’s wife. He said, “David sent messengers from the desert to greet our master. But Nabal insulted them.


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These men were very good to us. They did nothing wrong to us. They stole nothing from us during all the time we were out in the field with them.


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Night and day they protected us. They were like a wall around us while we were with them caring for the sheep.


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Now think about it, and decide what you can do. Terrible trouble is coming to our master and all his family. Nabal is such a wicked man that no one can even talk to him.”


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Abigail hurried. She took 200 loaves of bread, 2 leather bags full of wine and 5 cooked sheep. She took about a bushel of cooked grain, 100 cakes of raisins and 200 cakes of pressed figs. She put all these on donkeys.


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Abigail rode her donkey and came down into the mountain ravine. There she met David and his men coming down toward her.


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David had just said, “It’s been useless! I watched over Nabal’s property in the desert. I made sure none of his sheep were missing. I did good to him, but he has paid me back with evil.


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When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey. She bowed facedown on the ground before David.


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She lay at David’s feet. She said, “My master, let the blame be on me! Please let me talk to you! Listen to what I say.


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My master, don’t pay attention to this worthless man Nabal. He is the same as his name. His name means ‘fool,’ and he is truly foolish. But I, your servant, didn’t see the men you sent.


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The Lord has kept you from killing and punishing people yourself. As surely as the Lord lives and as surely as you live, may your enemies become like Nabal!


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Please forgive my wrong. The Lord will certainly let your family have many kings. He will do this because you fight his battles. As long as you live, people will find nothing bad in you.


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A man might chase you to kill you. But the Lord your God will keep you alive. He will throw away your enemies’ lives as he would throw a stone from a sling.


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Then you won’t feel guilty. You won’t have problems about killing innocent people and punishing them yourself. Please remember me when the Lord brings you success.”


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As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, he has kept me from hurting you. If you hadn’t come quickly to meet me, no one belonging to Nabal would have lived until tomorrow.”


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Then David accepted Abigail’s gifts. He told her, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words, and I will do what you have asked.”


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Nabal’s Death When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was in the house. He was eating like a king. He was very drunk and in a good mood. So she told him nothing until the next morning.


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In the morning he was not drunk. Then his wife told him everything. His heart failed him, and he became like a stone.


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When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the Lord! Nabal insulted me, but the Lord has supported me! He has kept me from doing wrong. And the Lord caused Nabal to die because he did wrong.” Then David sent a message to Abigail. He asked her to become his wife.


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His servants went to Carmel and spoke to Abigail. They said, “David sent us to take you so you can become his wife.”


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Abigail bowed facedown on the ground. She said, “I am your servant. I’m ready to serve you. I’m ready to wash the feet of my master’s servants.”


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Abigail quickly got on a donkey and went with David’s messengers. She had five maids following her. And she became David’s wife.


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Saul’s daughter Michal was also David’s wife. But Saul had given her to Paltiel son of Laish. Paltiel was from Gallim.


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David Shames Saul Again The people of Ziph went to see Saul at Gibeah. They said to him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah opposite Jeshimon.”


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So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph. His 3,000 chosen men of Israel went with him. They looked for David in the Desert of Ziph.


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Saul made his camp on the hill of Hakilah, beside the road opposite Jeshimon. But David stayed in the desert. He heard Saul had followed him.


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Then David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner were sleeping. Abner was the commander of Saul’s army. Saul was sleeping in the middle of the camp with all the army around him.


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David talked to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah. Abishai was Joab’s brother. He asked them, “Who will go down into Saul’s camp with me?” Abishai answered, “I’ll go with you.”


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So that night David and Abishai went into Saul’s camp. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the army were sleeping around Saul.


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Abishai said to David, “Today God has let you defeat your enemy! Let me pin Saul to the ground with the spear. I’ll only do it once! I won’t hit him twice.”


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But David said to Abishai, “Don’t kill Saul! No one can harm the Lord’s appointed king and still be innocent!


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As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord himself will punish Saul. Maybe Saul will die naturally. Or maybe he will go into battle and be killed.


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But may the Lord keep me from harming his appointed king! Now pick up the spear and water jug that are near Saul’s head. Then let’s go.”


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So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul’s head. They left, and no one saw them. No one knew about it or woke up. The Lord had made them stay asleep.


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David crossed over to the other side of the hill. He stood on top of the mountain far from Saul’s camp. David’s and Saul’s camps were far apart.


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David shouted to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Answer me, Abner!” Abner answered, “Who is calling for the king? Who are you?”


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David said, “You’re the greatest man in Israel. Isn’t that true? Then why didn’t you guard your master the king? Someone came into your camp to kill your master the king!


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What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men should die. You haven’t guarded your master, the Lord’s appointed king. Look! Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”


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Saul knew David’s voice. He said, “Is that your voice, David my son?” David answered, “Yes, it is, my master and king.”


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David also said, “Why are you chasing me, my master? What wrong have I done? What evil am I guilty of?


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My master and king, listen to me. If the Lord caused you to be angry with me, let him accept an offering. But if men caused you to be angry with me, let the Lord curse them! They have made me leave the land the Lord gave me. They have told me, ‘Go and serve other gods.’


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Now don’t let me die far away from the Lord’s presence. The king of Israel has come out looking for a flea! You’re like a man hunting a partridge bird in the mountains!”


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Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Today you respected my life. So I will not try to hurt you. I have acted foolishly. I have made a big mistake.”


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The Lord rewards every man for the things he does right and for his loyalty to him. The Lord put you into my power today. But I wouldn’t harm the Lord’s appointed king.


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I respected your life today. Surely, in the same way, the Lord will respect my life. Surely he will save me from all trouble.”


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Then Saul said to David, “You are blessed, my son David. You will do great things and succeed.” So David went on his way, and Saul went back home.


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David and the Philistines But David thought to himself, “Saul will catch me someday. The best thing I can do is escape to the land of the Philistines. Then he will give up looking for me in Israel. That way I can get away from him.”


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David, his men and their families made their home in Gath with Achish. David had his two wives with him. Their names were Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel. Abigail was the widow of Nabal.


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Then David said to Achish, “If you are pleased with me, give me a place in one of the country towns. I can live there. I don’t need to live in the royal city with you.”


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That day Achish gave David the town of Ziklag. That is why Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since.


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David and his men went to raid the people of Geshur, Girzi and Amalek. (These people had lived for a long time in the land that reached to Shur and Egypt.)


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When David fought them, he killed all the men and women. He took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.


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Many times Achish would ask David, “Where did you go raiding today?” And David would tell him that he had gone to the southern part of Judah. Or he would say he had gone to the territory of the Jerahmeelites or of the Kenites.


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David never brought a man or woman alive to Gath. He thought, “If we bring anyone alive, he may tell Achish, ‘This is what David really did.’” David did this all the time he lived in the Philistine land.


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Achish trusted David. He said to himself, “David’s own people, the Israelites, now hate David very much. So David will serve me forever.”


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Saul and the Medium of Endor Later, the Philistines gathered their armies to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You understand that you and your men must join with me in my army.”


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David answered, “Certainly! Then you can see for yourself what I, your servant, can do!” Achish said, “Fine, I’ll make you my bodyguard for life.”


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Now Samuel was dead, and all the Israelites had shown their sadness for him. They had buried Samuel in his hometown of Ramah. And Saul had forced out the mediums and fortune-tellers from the land of Israel.


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The Philistines came together and made camp at Shunem. Saul gathered all the Israelites and made camp at Gilboa.


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Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium. I’ll go and ask her what will happen.” His servants answered, “There is a medium in Endor.”


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Then Saul put on other clothes so no one would know who he was. At night Saul and two of his men went to see the woman. Saul said to her, “Talk to a spirit for me. Call up the person I name.”


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But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has forced the mediums and fortune-tellers out from the land of Israel. You are trying to trap me and kill me.”


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Saul made a promise to the woman in the name of the Lord. He said, “As surely as the Lord lives, you won’t be punished for doing this.”


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The king said to the woman, “Don’t be afraid! What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a spirit coming up out of the ground.”


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Saul asked, “What does he look like?” The woman answered, “An old man wearing a coat is coming up.” Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown on the ground.


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Samuel asked Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul said, “I am greatly troubled. The Philistines are fighting against me. God has left me. He won’t answer me anymore, either by prophets or in dreams. That’s why I called you. I want you to tell me what to do.”


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He has done what he said he would do. He said these things through me. He has torn the kingdom out of your hands. He has given it to one of your neighbors, David.


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You did not obey the Lord. You did not show the Amalekites how angry he was with them. That’s why he has done this to you today.


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The Lord will give both Israel and you to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will let the Philistines defeat the army of Israel.”


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Saul quickly fell to the ground and lay there. He was afraid because of what Samuel had said. He was also very weak because he had eaten nothing all that day and night.


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Then the woman came to Saul. She saw that he was really frightened. She said, “Look, I, your servant, have obeyed you. I have risked my life and done what you told me to do.


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Now please listen to me. Let me give you some food. Then you may eat and have enough strength to go on your way.”


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But Saul refused. He said, “I won’t eat.” His servants joined the woman in asking him to eat. And he listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.


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The woman had a fat calf at the house. She quickly killed it. She took some flour and mixed dough with her hands. Then she baked some bread without yeast.


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David Goes Back to Ziklag The Philistines gathered all their soldiers at Aphek. Israel camped by the spring at Jezreel.


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The Philistine kings were marching with their groups of 100 and 1,000 men. David and his men were marching at the back with Achish.


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The Philistine commanders asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish told them, “This is David. He was an officer to Saul king of Israel. But he has been with me for over a year now. I have found nothing wrong in David since the time he left Saul and came to me.”


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But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish. They said, “Send David back! He must go back to the city you gave him. He can’t go with us into battle. If he’s here, we’ll have an enemy in our own camp. He would please his king by killing our own men.


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David is the one the Israelites sing about in their dances: ‘Saul has killed thousands of his enemies. But David has killed tens of thousands.’”


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So Achish called David. He said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you are loyal. I would be pleased to have you serve in my army. Since the day you came to me, I have found no wrong in you. But the Philistine kings don’t trust you.


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David asked, “What wrong have I done? What evil have you found in me from the day I came to you until now? Why won’t you allow me to fight your enemies, my lord and king?”


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Achish answered, “I know you are as pleasing to me as an angel from God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘David can’t go with us into battle.’


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Early in the morning you and your master’s servants, the Israelites, should go back. Go back to the city I gave you. Leave as soon as the sun comes up.”


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So David and his men got up early in the morning. They went back to the country of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.


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David’s War with the Amalekites On the third day David and his men arrived at Ziklag. The Amalekites had raided southern Judah and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it.


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They took the women and everyone in Ziklag as prisoners, both young and old. But they did not kill any of the people. They only took them away.


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When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found the town had been burned. Their wives, sons and daughters had been taken as prisoners.


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David’s two wives had also been taken. They were Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal from Carmel.


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The men in the army were threatening to kill David with stones. This upset David very much. Each man was sad and angry because his sons and daughters had been taken as prisoners. But David found strength in the Lord his God.


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Then David prayed to the Lord. He said, “Should I chase the people who took our families? Will I catch them?” The Lord answered, “Chase them. You will catch them. You will succeed in saving your families.”


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David and 400 men kept up the chase. The other 200 men stayed behind because they were too tired and weak to cross the ravine.


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David’s men found an Egyptian in a field. They took him to David. They gave the Egyptian some water to drink and some food to eat.


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They gave him a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. He felt better after eating. He had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and nights.


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David asked him, “Who is your master? Where do you come from?” He answered, “I’m an Egyptian. I’m the slave of an Amalekite. Three days ago my master left me, because I became sick.


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We attacked the southern area of the Kerethites. We attacked the land of Judah and the southern area belonging to Caleb. We burned Ziklag, as well.


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David asked him, “Will you lead me to the people who took our families?” He answered, “Yes, if you will make a promise to me before God. Promise that you won’t kill me or give me back to my master. Then I will take you to them.”


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So the Egyptian led David to the Amalekites. They were lying around on the ground, eating and drinking. They were celebrating with the things they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.


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David fought them from sunset until evening the next day. None of them escaped, except 400 young men who rode off on their camels.


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Nothing was missing. David brought back everything: the young and old people, the sons and daughters, the valuable things and everything the Amalekites had taken.


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David took all the sheep and cattle. His men made these animals go in front. They said, “They are David’s prize.”


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Then David came to the 200 men who had been too tired and weak to follow him. He had made them stay at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the army with him. When he came near, the men at the ravine greeted David and his army.


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But there were evil men and troublemakers in the group that followed David. They said, “These 200 men didn’t go with us. So we won’t give them any of the things we took. But each man may take his wife and children and go.”


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David answered, “No, my brothers. Don’t do that after what the Lord has given us. He has given us the enemy who attacked us.


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Who will listen to what you say? The share will be the same for the man who stayed with the supplies as for the man who went into battle. All will share alike.”


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David arrived in Ziklag. Then he sent some of the things he had taken from the Amalekites to his friends, the leaders of Judah. He said, “Here is a present for you from the things we took from the Lord’s enemies.”


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David sent some things from the Amalekites to the leaders in Bethel, Ramoth in the southern part of Judah, Jattir,


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and Hebron. He sent some things to the people in all the other places where he and his men had been.


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The Death of Saul The Philistines fought against Israel, and the Israelites ran away from them. Many Israelites were killed at Mount Gilboa.


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The Philistines fought hard against Saul and his sons. They killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.


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He said to the officer who carried his armor, “Pull out your sword and kill me. Then those uncircumcised men won’t make fun of me and kill me.” But Saul’s officer refused, because he was afraid. So Saul took his own sword and threw himself on it.


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Now there were Israelites who lived on the other side of Jezreel Valley. And some lived across the Jordan River. They saw how the Israelite army had run away. And they saw that Saul and his sons were dead. So they left their cities and ran away. Then the Philistines came and lived there.


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The next day the Philistines came to take all the valuable things from the dead soldiers. They found Saul and his three sons dead on Mount Gilboa.


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They cut off Saul’s head and took off his armor. Then they sent men to tell the news through all the land of the Philistines. They told it in the temple of their idols and to their people.


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They put Saul’s armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths. They also hung his body on the wall of Beth Shan.


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So the brave soldiers of Jabesh marched all night and came to Beth Shan. They took the bodies of Saul and his sons off the wall of Beth Shan. Then they took them to Jabesh. There the people of Jabesh burned the bodies.


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They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh. Then the people of Jabesh gave up eating for seven days.


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David Learns About Saul’s Death Now Saul was dead. And after David had defeated the Amalekites, he returned to Ziklag. He stayed there two days.


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On the third day a young man came to Ziklag. He came from Saul’s camp. To show his sadness his clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head. He came and bowed facedown on the ground before David.


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David asked him, “Where did you come from?” The man answered him, “I escaped from the Israelite camp.”


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David asked him, “What happened? Please tell me!” The man answered, “The people have run away from the battle. Many of them have fallen dead. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead also.”


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The young man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. There I saw Saul leaning on his spear. The Philistine chariots and the men riding in them were coming closer to Saul.


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“So I went over and killed him. He had been hurt so badly I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm. I have brought them here to you, my master.”


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They were very sad and cried. They did not eat until evening. They cried for Saul and his son Jonathan. And they cried for the Israelites who had been killed with swords.


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David Orders the Amalekite Killed David asked the young man who brought the report, “Where are you from?” The young man answered, “I am the son of a foreigner. I am an Amalekite.”


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Then David called one of his men. David told him, “Go! Kill the Amalekite!” So the Israelite killed the Amalekite.


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David had said to the Amalekite, “You are responsible for your own death. You have spoken against yourself! You said, ‘I have killed the Lord’s appointed king.’”


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David ordered that the people of Judah be taught this song. It is called “The Bow.” This song is written in the Book of Jashar:


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Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t announce it in the streets of Ashkelon. If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be happy. The daughters of the Philistines will rejoice.


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“May there be no dew or rain on the mountains of Gilboa. May their fields produce no grain. This is because there the mighty warrior’s shield was dishonored. Saul’s shield was no longer rubbed with oil.


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Jonathan’s bow killed its share of enemies. And Saul’s sword killed its share, too. Their weapons are stained with the blood of dead men. Their weapons have stabbed the flesh of strong men.


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“We loved Saul and Jonathan. We enjoyed them while they lived. Saul and Jonathan are together even in death. They were faster than eagles. They were stronger than lions.


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“You daughters of Israel, cry for Saul. Saul clothed you with red dresses. He put gold decorations on your dresses.


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I cry for you, my brother Jonathan. I enjoyed your friendship so much. Your love to me was wonderful, more wonderful than the love of women.


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David Is Made King of Judah Later, David prayed to the Lord. David said, “Should I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” The Lord said to David, “Go.” David asked, “Where should I go?” The Lord answered, “To Hebron.”


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So David went up to Hebron with his two wives. One was Ahinoam from Jezreel. The other was Abigail, the widow of Nabal in Carmel.


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Then the men of Judah came to Hebron. They appointed David king over Judah. They told David that the men of Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul.


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So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead. They told David’s message to the men in Jabesh: “The Lord bless you. You have shown kindness to your master Saul by burying him.


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Now be strong and brave. Saul your master is dead. The people of Judah have appointed me their king.”


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War Between Judah and Israel Now Abner son of Ner was the commander of Saul’s army. Abner took Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim.


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Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth was 40 years old when he became king over Israel. He ruled two years. But the people of Judah followed David.


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Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men also went there. They met Abner and Ish-Bosheth’s men at the pool of Gibeon. Abner’s group sat on one side of the pool. Joab’s group sat on the other side.


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Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and have a contest here.” Joab said, “Yes, let them have a contest.”


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Then the young men got up. The two groups counted their men for the contest. Twelve men were chosen from the people of Benjamin for Ish-Bosheth son of Saul. Twelve men were chosen from David’s men.


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Each man grabbed his enemy’s head. Then he stabbed his enemy’s side with a knife. And the men fell down together. So that place in Gibeon is called The Field of the Sharp Knives.


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Abner Kills Asahel Zeruiah’s three sons, Joab, Abishai and Asahel, were there. Now Asahel was a fast runner. He was as fast as a deer in the field.


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Then Abner said to Asahel, “Turn to your right or left. Catch one of the young men and take his armor.” But Asahel refused to stop chasing him.


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Abner again said to Asahel, “Stop chasing me! If you don’t stop, I’ll have to kill you! Then I won’t be able to face your brother Joab again!”


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But Asahel refused to stop chasing Abner. So Abner used the back end of his spear. He stabbed it into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out of his back. Asahel died right there. Everyone stopped when they came to the place where Asahel’s body lay.


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But Joab and Abishai continued chasing Abner. The sun was going down when they arrived at the hill of Ammah. This is near Giah on the way to the empty land near Gibeon.


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Abner shouted to Joab, “Must the sword kill forever? Surely you must know this will only end in sadness! Tell the people to stop chasing their own brothers!”


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Then Joab said, “If you had not said anything, the people would have chased their brothers until morning. This is as sure as God is alive.”


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Then Joab blew a trumpet, and his people stopped chasing the Israelites. They did not try to fight them anymore.


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Abner and his men marched all night through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River. After marching all day, they arrived at Mahanaim.


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Joab came back after he had stopped chasing Abner. Then Joab gathered the people together. Asahel and 19 of David’s men were missing.


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David’s men took Asahel and buried him. They put him in the tomb of his father at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night. The sun came up as they reached Hebron.


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There was a long war between the people who supported Saul’s family and those who supported David’s family. The supporters of David’s family became stronger and stronger. And the supporters of Saul’s family became weaker and weaker.


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David’s Sons Sons were born to David at Hebron. The first son was Amnon. Amnon’s mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.


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The second son was Kileab. Kileab’s mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third son was Absalom. Absalom’s mother was Maacah daughter of Talmai. Talmai was king of Geshur.


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The fourth son was Adonijah. His mother was Haggith. The fifth son was Shephatiah. His mother was Abital.


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The sixth son was Ithream. His mother was Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were born to David at Hebron.


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Abner Joins David Abner made himself a main leader among the supporters of Saul. He did this during the war between the supporters of Saul’s family and the supporters of David’s family.


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Now Saul had once had a slave woman named Rizpah. She was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you have physical relations with my father’s slave woman?”


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Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. Abner said, “I have been loyal to Saul and his family and friends! I didn’t hand you over to David. I am not a traitor working for Judah! But now you are saying I did something wrong with this woman!


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May God punish me terribly if I don’t help David. I will make sure that what God promised does happen!


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I will take the kingdom from the family of Saul. I will make David king of Israel and Judah! He will rule from Dan to Beersheba.”


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Then Abner sent messengers to David. Abner said, “Who is going to rule the land? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you become the king of all Israel.”


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David answered, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. But I ask you one thing. I will not meet with you unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal to me.”


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Then David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth. David said, “Give me my wife Michal. She was promised to me. I killed 100 Philistines to get her.”


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Michal’s husband went with her, crying as he followed her to Bahurim. But Abner said to Paltiel, “Go back home.” So he went home.


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Abner sent a message to the elders of Israel. He said, “You have been wanting to make David your king.


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Now do it! The Lord has spoken about David. The Lord said, ‘I will save my people the Israelites. I will save them from the Philistines and all their enemies. I will do this through my servant David.’”


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Abner also said these things to the people of Benjamin. He then went to Hebron to tell David what the Benjaminites and Israel wanted to do.


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Then Abner said to David, “My master and king, I will go and bring all the Israelites to you. Then they will make an agreement with you. You will rule over all Israel as you wanted.” So David let Abner go, and he left in peace.


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Abner’s Death Just then Joab and David’s men came from a battle. They had many valuable things they had taken from the enemy. David had let Abner leave in peace. So he was not with David at Hebron.


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Joab and all his army arrived at Hebron. The army said to Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to King David. And David let him leave in peace.”


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Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he’s gone.


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Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought Abner back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know this.


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When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway. Joab acted as though he wanted to talk with him in private. But Joab stabbed Abner in the stomach, and Abner died. Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel. So Joab killed Abner to pay him back.


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Later David heard the news. He said, “My kingdom and I are innocent forever. We did not kill Abner son of Ner. The Lord knows this.


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Joab and his family are responsible for this. I hope many troubles will come to his family. May his family always have someone with sores or with a harmful skin disease. May they always have someone who must lean on a crutch. May some of his family be killed in war. May they always have someone without food to eat.”


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(Joab and his brother Abishai had killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel. This was in the battle at Gibeon.)


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Then David spoke to Joab and to all the people with Joab. He said, “Tear your clothes and put on rough cloth to show how sad you are. Cry for Abner.” King David himself followed behind the body of Abner.


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His hands were not tied. His feet were not in chains. He fell as a person falls before evil men.” Then all the people cried again for Abner.


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They came to encourage David to eat while it was still day. But he made a promise. He said, “May God punish me terribly if I eat bread or any other food before the sun sets!”


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That day all the people of Judah and all the Israelites understood. They knew it was not David who had killed Abner son of Ner.


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Even though I am the appointed king, I am weak today. These sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord give them the punishment they should have.”


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Ish-Bosheth’s Death Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died at Hebron. Then Ish-Bosheth and all Israel became very frightened.


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Two men who were captains in Saul’s army came to Ish-Bosheth. One man was named Baanah, and the other was named Recab. They were the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, who was a Benjaminite. (The town Beeroth belonged to the tribe of Benjamin.)


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(Now Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was crippled in both feet. His name was Mephibosheth. He was five years old when the news came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan were dead. Mephibosheth’s nurse picked him up and ran away. But as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled.)


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They came into the middle of the house. Recab and Baanah came as if they were going to get some wheat. Ish-Bosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom. Recab and Baanah stabbed him in the stomach. Then they cut off his head and took it with them. They traveled all night through the Jordan Valley.


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When they arrived at Hebron, they gave his head to David. They said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul. He was your enemy. He tried to kill you! Today the Lord has paid back Saul and his family for what they did to you!”


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David answered Recab and his brother Baanah sons of Rimmon of Beeroth. David said, “As surely as the Lord lives, he has saved me from all trouble!


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Once a man thought he was bringing me good news. He told me, ‘Look! Saul is dead!’ But I took hold of him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!


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So even more I must require your death. This is because evil men have killed an innocent man. And he was on his own bed in his own house!”


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So David commanded his men to kill Recab and Baanah. Then they cut off the hands and feet of Recab and Baanah. They hung their hands and feet over the pool of Hebron. Then they took Ish-Bosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.


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David Is Made King of Israel Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They said to him, “Look, we are your own family.


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In the past Saul was king over us. But you were the one leading us in battle for Israel. The Lord said to you, ‘You will be like a shepherd for my people, the Israelites. You will become their ruler.’”


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All the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. Then he made an agreement with them in Hebron in front of the Lord. Then they poured oil on David to make him king over Israel.


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He was king over Judah in Hebron for 7 years and 6 months. And he was king over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem for 33 years.


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The king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You can’t come into our city. Even our people who are blind and crippled can stop you.” They said this because they thought David could not enter their city.


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That day David said to his men, “To defeat the Jebusites you must go through the water tunnel. Then you can reach those ‘crippled’ and ‘blind’ enemies. This is why people say, ‘The blind and the crippled cannot enter the palace.’”


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So David lived in the city with its strong walls. He called it the City of David. David built more buildings around it. He began where the land was filled in on the east side of the city. He also built more buildings inside the city.


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Hiram king of the city of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar logs, carpenters and men to cut stone. They built a palace for David.


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Then David knew the Lord really had made him king of Israel. And he knew the Lord had made his kingdom very important. This was because the Lord loved his people, the Israelites.


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In Jerusalem David took for himself more slave women and wives. This was after he moved there from Hebron. More sons and daughters were born to David.


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David Defeats the Philistines Now the Philistines heard that David had been made king over Israel. So all the Philistines went to look for him. But when David heard the news, he went down to a safe place.


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So the Philistines came and camped in the Valley of Rephaim. David asked the Lord, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help me defeat them?”


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So David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines there. David said, “Like a flood of water, the Lord has broken through my enemies.” So David named the place Baal Perazim.


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The Philistines left their idols behind at Baal Perazim. And David and his men carried these idols away.


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David prayed to the Lord. This time the Lord told David, “Don’t attack the Philistines from the front. Instead, go around them. Attack them opposite the balsam trees.


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You will hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. Then you must act quickly. I, the Lord, will have gone ahead of you and defeated the Philistine army.”


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So David did what the Lord commanded. He defeated the Philistines and chased them all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.


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The Ark of the Covenant Is Brought to Jerusalem David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel. There were 30,000 of them.


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Then David and all his people went to Baalah in Judah. They took the Ark of the Covenant of God from Baalah in Judah and moved it to Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant is called by the Name, the name of the Lord of heaven’s armies. His throne is between the gold creatures with wings that are on the Ark of the Covenant.


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David’s men put the Ark of the Covenant of God on a new cart. Then they brought the Ark of the Covenant out of Abinadab’s house on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, led the new cart.


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David and all the Israelites were playing all kinds of musical instruments before the Lord. They were made of pine wood. There were lyres, harps, tambourines, rattles and cymbals.


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When David’s men came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled. The Ark of the Covenant of God began to fall off the cart. So Uzzah reached out and took hold of it.


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The Lord was angry with Uzzah and killed him. Uzzah had not honored God when he touched the Ark of the Covenant. So Uzzah died there beside it.


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David was angry because the Lord had killed Uzzah. So that place is called The Punishment of Uzzah even today.


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David was afraid of the Lord that day. He said, “How can the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord come to me now?”


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So David would not move the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to be with him in Jerusalem. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom, a man from Gath.


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The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stayed in Obed-Edom’s house for three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his family.


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The people told David, “The Lord has blessed the family of Obed-Edom. And all his things are blessed. This is because the Ark of the Covenant of God is there.” So David went and brought it up from Obed-Edom’s house to Jerusalem with joy.


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When the men carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord had walked six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fat calf.


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David and all the Israelites shouted with joy. They blew the trumpets as they brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to the city.


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Saul’s daughter Michal was looking out the window. She watched as the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came into the city. When she saw David jumping and dancing before the Lord, she hated him.


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David put up a tent for the Ark of the Covenant. Then the Israelites put it in its place inside the tent. David offered whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.


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When David finished offering the whole burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of heaven’s armies.


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David gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to everyone. He gave them to all the Israelites, both men and women. Then all the people went home.


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David went back to bless the people in his home. But Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. She said, “The king of Israel did not honor himself today! You took off your clothes in front of the servant girls of your officers. You were like a foolish man who takes off his clothes without shame!”


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Then David said to Michal, “I did it before the Lord. The Lord chose me, not your father. He didn’t choose anyone from Saul’s family. The Lord appointed me to be leader of his people, the Israelites. So I will celebrate in front of the Lord.


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Maybe I will lose even more honor. And you may think little of me. But the girls you talk about will honor me!”


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David Wants to Build a Temple King David was living in his palace. And the Lord gave him peace from all his enemies around him.


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David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood. But the Ark of the Covenant of God is still kept in a tent!”


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“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the person to build a house for me to live in.


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I did not live in a house when I brought the Israelites out of Egypt. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home.


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I have continued to move with the tribes of Israel. But I have never asked their leaders who take care of them to build me a house of cedar wood.’


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“You must tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: I took you from the pasture when you were following the sheep. I took you to become leader of my people, the Israelites.


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I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I have defeated your enemies for you. I will make you as famous as any of the great men on the earth.


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Also I will choose a place for my people, the Israelites. I will plant them so they can live in their own home. They will not be bothered anymore. Wicked people will no longer make them suffer as they have in the past.


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Wicked people continued to do this even when I appointed judges. But I will give you peace from all your enemies. I also tell you that I will make your descendants kings of Israel after you.


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“‘Your days will come to an end, and you will die. At that time I will make one of your sons the next king.


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I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he sins, I will use other people to punish him. They will be my whips.


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But I will not stop loving him. I took away my love and kindness from Saul. I removed Saul when I turned to you.


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David Prays to God Then King David went in the tent and sat in front of the Lord. David said, “Lord God, why have you made me so important to you? Why have you made my family important?


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But that was not enough for you, Lord God. You have also said these kind things about my future family. I am your servant. Lord God, this is not the usual way you talk to people.


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You have done this wonderful thing because you said you would. You have done it because you wanted to. And you have decided to let me know all these great things.


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This is why you are great, Lord God! There is no one like you. There is no God except you. We have heard all this ourselves!


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And there are no others like your people, the Israelites. They are the one nation on earth that God chose to be his people. You used them to make your name well-known. You did great and wonderful miracles for them. You went ahead of them and forced other nations and their gods out of the land. You freed your people from slavery in Egypt.


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“Now, Lord God, keep the promise you made about my family and me, your servant. Do what you have promised.


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Then you will be honored forever. And people will say, ‘The Lord of heaven’s armies is God over Israel!’ And the family of your servant David will continue before you.


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“Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel, you have shown things to me. You have said, ‘I will make your family great.’ So I, your servant, am brave enough to pray to you.


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Lord God, you are God, and your words are true. And you have promised these good things to me, your servant.


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Please, bless my family. Let it continue before you forever. Lord God, you have said these wonderful things. With your blessing let my family be blessed forever.”


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David Wins Many Wars Later, David defeated the Philistines. And he took control of their capital city.


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He also defeated the people of Moab. He forced them to lie on the ground. Then he used a rope to measure them. When two men were measured, David ordered them killed. But every third man was allowed to live. So the people of Moab became servants of David. They gave him the payments he demanded.


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As David went to take control again at the Euphrates River, he defeated Hadadezer. Hadadezer son of Rehob was king of Zobah.


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David took from Hadadezer 1,700 men who rode in his chariots. He also captured 20,000 foot soldiers. David crippled all but 100 of the chariot horses. He saved those horses to pull chariots.


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Arameans from Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah. But David defeated those 22,000 Arameans.


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Then David put groups of soldiers in Damascus in Aram. The Arameans became David’s servants and gave him the payments he demanded. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.


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David took the shields of gold that had belonged to Hadadezer’s officers. He brought them to Jerusalem.


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David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah and Berothai. (They were cities that had belonged to Hadadezer.)


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So Toi sent his son Joram to greet and congratulate King David. Joram congratulated David for defeating Hadadezer. (Hadadezer had fought wars against Toi before.) Joram brought things made of silver, gold and bronze.


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David took these things and gave them to the Lord. He also had given other silver and gold to the Lord. He had taken it from the nations he had defeated.


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These nations were Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia and Amalek. David also defeated the king of Zobah who was Hadadezer son of Rehob.


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David put groups of soldiers through all the land of Edom. All the people of Edom became servants for him. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.


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Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites, the king’s bodyguards. And David’s sons were important leaders.


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David Helps Saul’s Family David asked, “Is there anyone still left in Saul’s family? I want to show kindness to this person for Jonathan’s sake!”


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Now there was a servant named Ziba from Saul’s family. So David’s servants called Ziba to him. King David said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He answered, “Yes, I am Ziba, your servant.”


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The king asked, “Is there anyone left in Saul’s family? I want to show God’s kindness to this person.” Ziba answered the king, “Jonathan has a son still living. He is crippled in both feet.”


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The king asked Ziba, “Where is this son?” Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”


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Then King David had servants bring Jonathan’s son from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.


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Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, came before David and bowed facedown on the floor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” Mephibosheth said, “I am your servant.”


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David said to him, “Don’t be afraid. I will be kind to you for your father Jonathan’s sake. I will give you back all the land of your grandfather Saul. And you will always be able to eat at my table.”


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Mephibosheth bowed to David again. Mephibosheth said, “You are being very kind to me, your servant! And I am no better than a dead dog!”


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Then King David called Saul’s servant Ziba. David said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.


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You, your sons and your servants will farm the land for Mephibosheth. You will harvest the crops. Then your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always be able to eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.)


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Ziba said to King David, “I am your servant. I will do everything my master, the king, commands me.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as if he were one of the king’s sons.


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War with Ammonites and Arameans Later Nahash king of the Ammonites died. His son Hanun became king after him.


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David said, “Nahash was kind to me. So I will be kind to his son Hanun.” So David sent his officers to comfort Hanun about his father’s death. David’s servants went to the land of the Ammonites.


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But the important men of Ammon spoke to Hanun, their master. They said, “Do you think David wants to honor your father by sending men to comfort you? No! David sent them to study the city and to spy it out. They plan to capture it!”


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So Hanun took David’s officers and shaved off half their beards to shame them. He cut their clothes off at the hips to insult them. Then he sent them away.


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When the people told David, he sent messengers to meet his officers. He did this because these men were very ashamed. King David said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown out. Then come back to Jerusalem.”


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Now the Ammonites saw that they had become David’s enemies. So they hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers from Beth Rehob and Zobah. They also hired the king of Maacah with 1,000 men. And they hired 12,000 men from Tob.


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The Ammonites came out and got ready for the battle. They stood at the city gate. The Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah were out in the field. They were standing away from the Ammonites.


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Joab saw that there were enemies both in front of him and behind him. So he chose some of the best men from the Israelites. He got them ready for battle against the Arameans.


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Joab said to Abishai, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, come help me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.


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Be strong. Let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. The Lord will do what he decides is right.”


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The Ammonites saw that the Arameans were running away. So they ran away from Abishai and went back to their city. So Joab returned from the battle with the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.


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Hadadezer sent messengers to bring the Arameans who lived on the other side of the Euphrates River. These Arameans went to Helam. Their leader was Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army.


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When David heard about this, he gathered all the Israelites together. They crossed over the Jordan River and went to Helam. There the Arameans prepared for battle and attacked.


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But David defeated the Arameans, and they ran away from the Israelites. David killed 700 Aramean chariot drivers and 40,000 Aramean horsemen. He also killed Shobach, the commander of the Aramean army.


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The kings who served Hadadezer saw that the Israelites had defeated them. So they made peace with the Israelites and served them. And the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites again.


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David and Bathsheba In the spring the kings would go out to war. So in the spring David sent out Joab, his servants and all the Israelites. They destroyed the Ammonites and attacked the city of Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.


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One evening David got up from his bed. He walked around on the roof of his palace. While he was on the roof, he saw a woman bathing. She was very beautiful.


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So David sent his servants to find out who she was. A servant answered, “That woman is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam. She is the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”


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David sent messengers to bring Bathsheba to him. When she came to him, he had physical relations with her. (Now Bathsheba had purified herself from her monthly period.) Then she went back to her house.


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Uriah came to David. And David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going.


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Then David said to Uriah, “Go home and rest.” So Uriah left the palace. The king also sent a gift to him.


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But Uriah did not go home. He slept outside the door of the palace. He slept there as all the king’s officers did.


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The officers told David, “Uriah did not go home.” Then David said to Uriah, “You came from a long trip. Why didn’t you go home?”


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Uriah said to him, “The Ark of the Covenant and the soldiers of Israel and Judah are staying in tents. My master Joab and his officers are camping out in the fields. It isn’t right for me to go home to eat and drink and have intimate relations with my wife!”


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David said to Uriah, “Stay here today. Tomorrow I’ll send you back to the battle.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.


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Then David called Uriah to come to see him. Uriah ate and drank with David. David made Uriah drunk, but he still did not go home. That evening Uriah went to sleep with the king’s officers outside the king’s door.


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In the letter David wrote, “Put Uriah on the front lines where the fighting is worst. Then leave him there alone. Let him be killed in battle.”


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The men of the city came out to fight against Joab. Some of David’s men were killed. And Uriah the Hittite was one of them.


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After you finish, the king may become angry. He may ask you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the city wall?


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Do you remember who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth? It was a woman on the city wall. She threw a large stone for grinding grain on Abimelech. She killed him there in Thebez. Why did you go so near the wall?’ If King David asks that, you must answer, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.’”


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The messenger told David, “The men of Ammon were winning. They came out and attacked us in the field. But we fought them back to the city gate.


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The men on the city wall shot arrows at your servants. Some of your men were killed. Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.”


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David said to the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t be upset about this. The sword kills everyone the same. Make a stronger attack against the city and capture it.’ Encourage Joab with these words.”


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After she finished her time of sadness, David sent servants to bring her to his house. She became David’s wife and gave birth to his son. But the Lord did not like what David had done.


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David’s Son Dies The Lord sent Nathan to David. When Nathan came to David, Nathan said, “There were two men in a city. One man was rich, but the other was poor.


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But the poor man had nothing except one little female lamb he had bought. The poor man fed the lamb. It grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup. It slept in his arms. The lamb was like a daughter to him.


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“Then a traveler stopped to visit the rich man. The rich man wanted to give food to the traveler. But he didn’t want to take one of his own sheep or cattle to feed the traveler. Instead, he took the lamb from the poor man. The rich man killed the lamb and cooked it for his visitor.”


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David became very angry at the rich man. He said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this should die!


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Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I appointed you king of Israel. I saved you from Saul.


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I gave you his kingdom and his wives. And I made you king of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you even more.


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So why did you ignore the Lord’s command? Why did you do what he says is wrong? You killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites! And you took his wife to become your wife!


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So there will always be people in your family who will be killed by a sword. This is because you showed that you did not respect me! And you took the wife of Uriah the Hittite!’


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“This is what the Lord says: ‘I am bringing trouble to you from your own family. While you watch, I will take your wives from you. And I will give them to someone who is very close to you. He will have physical relations with your wives, and everyone will know it.


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You had physical relations with Bathsheba in secret. But I will do this so all the people of Israel can see it.’”


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Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answered, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You will not die.


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But what you did caused the Lord’s enemies to lose all respect for him. For this reason the son who was born to you will die.”


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Then Nathan went home. And the Lord caused the son of David and Bathsheba, Uriah’s widow, to become very sick.


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David prayed to God for the baby. David refused to eat or drink. He went into his house and stayed there. He lay on the ground all night.


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The elders of David’s family came to him. They tried to pull him up from the ground. But he refused to get up. And he refused to eat food with them.


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On the seventh day the baby died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the baby was dead. They said, “Look, we tried to talk to David while the baby was alive. But he refused to listen to us. If we tell him the baby is dead, he may harm himself.”


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But David saw his servants whispering. Then he understood that the baby was dead. So he asked them, “Is the baby dead?” They answered, “Yes, he is dead.”


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Then David got up from the floor. He washed himself, put lotions on himself and changed his clothes. Then he went into the Lord’s house to worship. After that, he went home and asked for something to eat. His servants gave him some food, and he ate.


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David’s servants said to him, “Why are you doing this? When the baby was still alive, you refused to eat. You cried. But when the baby died, you got up and ate food.”


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David said, “While the baby was still alive, I refused to eat, and I cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the Lord will feel sorry for me and let the baby live.’


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But now the baby is dead. So why should I go without food? I can’t bring him back to life. Some day I will go to him. But he cannot come back to me.”


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Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife. He slept with her and had intimate relations with her. She became pregnant again and had another son. David named the boy Solomon. The Lord loved Solomon.


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The Lord sent word through Nathan the prophet to name the baby Jedidiah. This was because the Lord loved the child.


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David Captures Rabbah Now Joab fought against Rabbah, a city of the Ammonites. And he was about to capture the royal city.


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Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah. I have captured its water supply.


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Now bring the other soldiers together and attack this city. Capture it before I capture it myself. If I capture this city, it will be called by my name!”


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David took the crown off their king’s head. It was gold and weighed about 75 pounds. It also had gems in it. They put the crown on David’s head. And David took many valuable things out of the city.


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He also brought out the people of the city. He made them work with saws, iron picks and axes. He also forced them to build with bricks. David did this to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his army went back to Jerusalem.


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Amnon and Tamar Now David had a son named Absalom and a son named Amnon. Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon loved her.


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Tamar was a virgin. Amnon did not think he should do anything bad to her. But he wanted her very much. He made himself sick just thinking about her.


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Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah. (Shimeah was David’s brother.) Jonadab was a very clever man.


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He asked Amnon, “Why do you look so sad day after day? You are the king’s son! Tell me what’s wrong!” Amnon told him, “I love Tamar. But she is the sister of my half-brother Absalom.”


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Jonadab said to Amnon, “Go to bed. Act as if you are sick. Then your father will come to see you. Tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come in and give me food to eat. Let her make the food in front of me. Then I will see it and eat it from her hand.’”


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So Amnon lay down in bed and acted as if he were sick. King David came in to see him. Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come in. Let her make two of her special cakes for me while I watch. Then I will eat them from her hands.”


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David sent messengers to Tamar in the palace. They told her, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and make some food for him.”


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So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house. He was in bed. Tamar took some dough and pressed it together with her hands. She made some special cakes while Amnon watched. Then she baked them.


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Next she took the pan and took out the cakes for Amnon. But he refused to eat. He said to his servants, “All of you, leave me alone!” So all his servants left the room.


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Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the inner room. Then I’ll eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made. And she brought them to her brother Amnon in the inner room.


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She went to him so he could eat from her hands. But Amnon grabbed her. He said, “Sister, come and have physical relations with me.”


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Tamar said to him, “No, brother! Don’t force me! This should never be done in Israel! Don’t do this shameful thing!


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I could never get rid of my shame! And you will become like the shameful fools in Israel! Please talk with the king. He will let you marry me.”


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After that, Amnon hated Tamar. He hated her much more than he had loved her before. Amnon said to her, “Get up and leave!”


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Tamar said to him, “No! Sending me away would be an even greater evil. That would be worse than what you’ve already done!” But he refused to listen to her.


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He called his young servant back in. Amnon said, “Get this girl out of here right now! Lock the door after her.”


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So his servant led her out of the room. And he bolted the door after her. Now Tamar was wearing a special robe with long sleeves. The king’s virgin daughters wore this kind of robe.


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To show how upset she was Tamar took ashes and put them on her head. She tore her special robe. And she put her hand on her head. Then she went away, crying loudly.


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Absalom, Tamar’s brother, said to her, “Has Amnon, that brother of yours, violated you? He is your brother. So for now, sister, be quiet. Don’t let this upset you so much!” So Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house. She was sad and lonely.


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Absalom’s Revenge Two years later Absalom had some men come to Baal Hazor, near Ephraim. They were to cut the wool from his sheep. Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come also.


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Absalom went to the king and said, “I have men coming to cut the wool. Please come with your officers and join me.”


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King David said to Absalom, “No, my son. We won’t all go. It would be too much trouble for you.” Absalom begged David to go. David did not go, but he did give his blessing.


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Absalom said, “If you don’t want to go, then please let my brother Amnon go with me.” King David asked Absalom, “Why should he go with you?”


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Then Absalom gave a command to his servants. He said, “Watch Amnon. When he is drunk, I will tell you, ‘Kill Amnon.’ Right then, kill him! Don’t be afraid. I have commanded you! Be strong and brave!”


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So Absalom’s young men killed Amnon as Absalom commanded. But all of David’s other sons got on their mules and escaped.


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While the king’s sons were on their way, the news came to David. The message was, “Absalom has killed all of the king’s sons! Not one of them is left alive!”


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King David tore his clothes and lay on the ground to show his sadness. All his servants standing nearby tore their clothes also.


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Jonadab was the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab said to David, “Don’t think all the young men, your sons, are killed. No, only Amnon is dead! Absalom planned this because Amnon raped his sister Tamar.


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In the meantime Absalom had run away. There was a guard standing on the city wall. He saw many people coming from the other side of the hill.


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As soon as Jonadab had said this, the king’s sons arrived. They were crying loudly. David and all his servants began crying also. They all cried very much.


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David cried for his son every day. But Absalom ran away to Talmai son of Ammihud. Talmai was king of Geshur.


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So Joab sent messengers to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. Joab said to her, “Please pretend to be very sad for someone. Put on clothes to show your sadness. Don’t put lotion on yourself. Act like a woman who has been crying many days for someone who died.


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Go to the king. Talk to him using the words that I tell you.” Then Joab told the wise woman what to say.


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So the woman from Tekoa talked to the king. She bowed facedown on the ground to show respect. She said, “My king, help me!”


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I had two sons. They were out in the field fighting. No one was there to stop them. So one son killed the other son.


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Now all the family group is against me. They said to me, ‘Bring the son who killed his brother. Then we will kill him for killing his brother. That way we will also get rid of the one who would receive what belonged to his father.’ My son is like the last spark of a fire. He is all I have left. If they kill him, my husband’s name and property will be gone from the earth.”


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The woman of Tekoa said to him, “Let the blame be on me. My father’s family and I are to blame, my master and king. But you and your throne are innocent.”


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The woman said, “Please promise in the name of the Lord your God. Then my relative who has the duty of punishing a murderer won’t add to the destruction. And he won’t kill my son.” David said, “As surely as the Lord lives, no one will hurt your son. Not even one hair from your son’s head will fall to the ground.”


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Then the woman said, “Why have you planned this? It is against the people of God. When you say this, you show that you are guilty. You have not brought back your son whom you forced to leave home.


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We will all die some day. We’re like water spilled on the ground. No one can gather it back. But God doesn’t take away life. Instead, he plans ways that those who have been sent away will not have to stay away from him!


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My master and king, I came to say this to you because the people have made me afraid! I thought, ‘Let me talk to the king. Maybe he will do what I ask.


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Maybe he will listen. Perhaps he will save me from the man who wants to kill both me and my son. That man is trying to keep us from getting what God gave us.’


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“Now I say, ‘May the words of my master the king give me rest. Like an angel of God, you know what is good and what is bad. May the Lord your God be with you!’”


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Then King David said, “You must answer the question I will ask you.” The woman said, “My master the king, please ask your question.”


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The king said, “Did Joab tell you to say all these things?” The woman answered, “As you live, my master the king, you are right. Your servant Joab did tell me to say these things.


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Joab did it so you would see things differently. My master, you are wise like an angel of God. You know everything that happens on earth.”


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Absalom Returns to Jerusalem The king said to Joab, “Look, I will do what I promised. Now please bring back the young man Absalom.”


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Joab bowed facedown on the ground. He blessed the king. Then he said, “Today I know you are pleased with me. I know because you have done what I asked.”


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But King David said, “Absalom must go to his own house. He may not come to see me.” So Absalom went to his own house. He did not go to see the king.


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Now Absalom was greatly praised for his handsome appearance. No man in Israel was as handsome as Absalom. No blemish was on him from his head to his foot.


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At the end of every year, Absalom would cut the hair on his head. He cut it because it became too heavy. He would weigh it, and it would weigh about five pounds by the royal measure.


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Then Absalom sent for Joab. Absalom wanted to send Joab to the king. But Joab would not come. Absalom sent a message a second time. But Joab still refused to come.


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Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine. He has barley growing there. Go burn it.” So Absalom’s servants set fire to Joab’s field.


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Absalom said to Joab, “I sent a message to you, asking you to come here. I wanted to send you to the king. I wanted you to ask him why he brought me home from Geshur. It would have been better for me to stay there! Now let me see the king. If I have sinned, he can kill me!”


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So Joab went to the king and told him Absalom’s words. The king called for Absalom, and Absalom came. He bowed facedown on the ground before the king. And the king kissed him.


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Absalom Plans to Take David’s Kingdom After this, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself. He got 50 men to run before him.


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Absalom would get up early and stand near the city gate. If anyone had a problem he wanted the king to settle, he would come here. When he came, Absalom would call to the man. Absalom would say, “What city are you from?” The man would answer, “I’m from one of the tribes of Israel.”


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Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are right. But the king has no one to listen to you.”


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Absalom would also say, “I wish someone would make me judge in this land! Then I could help everyone who comes with a problem. I could help him get a fair decision for his problem!”


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People would come near Absalom to bow to him. When they did, Absalom would reach out his hand and take hold of them. Then he would kiss them.


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Absalom did that to all the Israelites who came to King David for decisions. In this way, Absalom won the hearts of all Israel.


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After four years Absalom said to King David, “Please let me go to Hebron. I want to carry out my promise that I made to the Lord.


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I made it while I was living in Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship him in Hebron.’”


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But he sent secret messengers through all the tribes of Israel. They told the people, “When you hear the trumpets, say this: ‘Absalom has become the king at Hebron!’”


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Absalom had invited 200 men to go with him. So they went from Jerusalem with him. But they didn’t know what he was planning.


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Ahithophel was one of the people who advised David. He was from the town of Giloh. While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he called Ahithophel to come from his hometown of Giloh. So Absalom’s plans were working very well. More and more people began to support him.


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A man came in to tell the news to David. The man said, “The Israelites are beginning to follow Absalom.”


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Then David spoke to all his officers who were with him in Jerusalem. He said, “We must leave quickly! If we don’t, we won’t be able to get away from Absalom. We must hurry before he catches us. He would destroy us and kill the people of Jerusalem.”


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The king set out with everyone in his house. But he left ten slave women to take care of the palace.


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All the king’s servants passed by him. All the Kerethites and Pelethites, the king’s bodyguards, passed by him. All those from Gath, the 600 men who had followed him, passed by him.


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The king spoke to Ittai, a man from Gath. He said, “Why are you also going with us? Turn back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner. This is not your homeland.


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Only a short time ago you came to join me. Today should I make you go with us to other places? I don’t even know where I’m going. Turn back, and take your brothers with you. May kindness and loyalty be shown to you.”


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But Ittai said to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will stay with you. I’ll be with you wherever you are. I’ll be with you whether it means life or death.”


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David said to Ittai, “Go, march on.” So Ittai from Gath and all his people with their children marched on.


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All the people cried loudly as everyone passed by. King David also crossed the Kidron Valley. Then all the people went on to the desert.


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Zadok and all the Levites with him were carrying the Ark of the Covenant with God. They set down the Ark of the Covenant. And Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had left the city.


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The king said to Zadok, “Take the Ark of the Covenant of God back into the city. If the Lord is pleased with me, he will bring me back. He will let me see both it and Jerusalem again.


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The king also said to Zadok the priest, “You are a seer. Go back to the city in peace. Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you.


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David went up the Mount of Olives crying as he went. He covered his head and went barefoot. All the people with David covered their heads also. And they were crying as they went.


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Someone told David, “Ahithophel is one of the people with Absalom who made secret plans against you.” So David prayed, “Lord, please make Ahithophel’s advice foolish.”


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David came to the top of the mountain. This was where he used to worship God. Hushai the Arkite came to meet him. Hushai’s coat was torn, and there was dirt on his head to show how sad he was.


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But if you return to the city, you can make Ahithophel’s advice useless. Tell Absalom, ‘I am your servant, my king. In the past I served your father. But now I will serve you.’


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The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be with you. You must tell them everything you hear in the king’s palace.


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Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are with them. Send them to tell me everything you hear.”


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Ziba Meets David David passed a short way over the top of the Mount of Olives. There Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, met David. Ziba had two donkeys with saddles on them. They carried 200 loaves of bread, 100 cakes of raisins and 100 cakes of figs. They also carried leather bags full of wine.


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The king asked Ziba, “What are these things for?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for your family to ride. The bread and cakes of figs are for the servants to eat. And the wine is for anyone to drink who becomes weak in the desert.”


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The king asked, “Where is Mephibosheth?” Ziba answered him, “Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem. He thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will give my father’s kingdom back to me!’”


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Then the king said to Ziba, “All right. Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth, I now give to you!” Ziba said, “I bow to you. I hope I will always be able to please you.”


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Shimei Curses David As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out from there. He was from Saul’s family group. His name was Shimei son of Gera. Shimei came out, cursing David as he came.


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He began throwing stones at David and his officers. But the people and soldiers gathered all around David.


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The Lord is punishing you for the people in Saul’s family you killed! You took Saul’s place as king! But now the Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom! Now you are ruined because you are a murderer!”


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Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse you, the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”


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But the king answered, “This does not concern you, sons of Zeruiah! If he is cursing me because the Lord told him to, who can question him?”


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David also said to Abishai and all his officers, “My own son is trying to kill me! This man is a Benjaminite and has more right to kill me! Leave him alone. Let him curse me. The Lord told him to do this.


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Maybe the Lord will see my misery. Then maybe he will repay me with something good for the curses Shimei says today!”


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So David and his men went on down the road. But Shimei kept following David. Shimei walked on the hillside on the other side of the road. He kept cursing David and throwing stones and dirt at him.


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David’s friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom. He said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”


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Absalom asked, “Why are you not loyal to your friend David? Why didn’t you leave Jerusalem with your friend?”


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Hushai said, “I belong to the one chosen by the Lord and by these people and all the men of Israel. I will stay with you.


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Ahithophel said, “Your father left behind some of his slave women who give birth to his children. He left them here to take care of the palace. Have physical relations with them. Then all the Israelites will hear that your father is your enemy. And all your people will be encouraged to give you more support.”


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So they put up a tent for Absalom on the flat roof of the palace. Everyone in Israel could see it. And Absalom had physical relations with his father’s slave women.


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At that time people thought Ahithophel’s advice was as reliable as God’s own word. Both David and Absalom thought it was that reliable.


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I’ll catch him while he is tired and weak. I’ll frighten him so all his people will run away. But I’ll kill only King David.


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Then I’ll bring everyone back to you. If the man you are looking for is dead, everyone else will return safely.”


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So Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom said to him, “This is the plan Ahithophel gave. Should we follow it? If not, tell us.”


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Hushai added, “You know your father and his men are strong. They are as angry as a bear that is robbed of its babies. Your father is a skilled fighter. He won’t stay all night with the people.


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He is probably already hiding in a cave or some other place. If your father attacks your men first, people will hear the news. And they will think, ‘Absalom’s followers are losing!’


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Then even the men who are as brave as a lion will become frightened. This is because all the Israelites know your father is a fighter. They know his men are brave!


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“This is what I suggest: Gather all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba. There will be as many people as grains of sand by the sea. Then you yourself must go into the battle.


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We will catch David where he is hiding. We will fall on him as dew falls on the ground. We will kill him and all of his men. No one will be left alive.


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What if David escapes into a city? Then all the Israelites will bring ropes to that city. We’ll pull that city into the valley. There won’t be even a small stone left there!”


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Absalom and all the Israelites said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” They said this because the Lord had planned to destroy the good advice of Ahithophel. In this way the Lord could bring disaster on Absalom.


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Hushai told these things to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He told them what Ahithophel had suggested to Absalom and the elders of Israel. He also reported to them what he himself had suggested. Hushai said,


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“Quickly! Send a message to David. Tell him not to stay tonight at the crossings into the desert. Tell him to cross over the Jordan River at once. If he crosses the river, he and all his people won’t be caught.”


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Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. They did not want to be seen going into the town. So a servant girl would go out to them and give them messages. Then Jonathan and Ahimaaz would go and tell King David.


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But a boy saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz ran away quickly. They went to a man’s house in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.


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The man’s wife spread a sheet over the opening of the well. Then she covered it with grain. No one could tell that Jonathan and Ahimaaz were hiding there.


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Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house. They asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” She said to them, “They have already crossed the brook.” Absalom’s servants then went to look for Jonathan and Ahimaaz. But they could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.


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After Absalom’s servants had left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out of the well. Then they went to tell King David. They said, “Hurry, cross over the river! Ahithophel has said these things against you!”


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Now Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not accept his advice. So he saddled his donkey and went to his hometown. He gave orders for his family and property. Then he hung himself. After Ahithophel died, he was buried in his father’s tomb.


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War Between David and Absalom David arrived at Mahanaim. And Absalom and all his Israelites crossed over the Jordan River.


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Now Absalom had made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether the Ishmaelite. Amasa’s mother was Abigail daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah. Zeruiah was Joab’s mother.


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Shobi, Makir and Barzillai were at Mahanaim when David arrived. Shobi son of Nahash was from the Ammonite town of Rabbah. Makir son of Ammiel was from Lo Debar. And Barzillai was from Rogelim in Gilead.


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They brought beds, bowls and clay pots. They brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans and small peas.


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They also brought honey and milk curds, sheep, and cheese made from cows’ milk. They brought these things for David and his people. They had said, “The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.”


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He sent the troops out in three groups. Joab commanded one-third of the men. Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah commanded another third. And Ittai from Gath commanded the last third. King David said to them, “I will also go with you.”


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But the men said, “No! You must not go with us! If we run away in the battle, Absalom’s men won’t care. Even if half of us are killed, Absalom’s men won’t care. But you’re worth 10,000 of us! It is better for you to stay in the city. Then, if we need help, you can send it.”


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The king said to his people, “I will do what you think is best.” So the king stood at the side of the gate as the army went out. They went out in groups of 100 and 1,000.


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The king gave a command to Joab, Abishai and Ittai. He said, “Be gentle with young Absalom for my sake.” Everyone heard the king’s orders about Absalom to the commanders.


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David’s army went out into the field against Absalom’s Israelites. They fought in the forest of Ephraim.


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The battle spread through all the country. But that day more men died in the forest than in the fighting.


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Absalom Dies Then Absalom happened to meet David’s troops. As Absalom was riding his mule, it went under a large oak tree. The branches were thick, and Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. His mule ran out from under him. So Absalom was left hanging above the ground.


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Joab said to him, “You saw him? Why didn’t you kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you a belt and four ounces of silver!”


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The man answered, “I wouldn’t try to hurt the king’s son. I wouldn’t even if you gave me 25 pounds of silver. We heard the king’s command to you, Abishai and Ittai. The king said, ‘Be careful not to hurt young Absalom.’


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Joab said, “I won’t waste time here with you!” Now Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. So Joab took three spears and stabbed him in the heart.


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Ten young men who carried Joab’s armor also gathered around Absalom. They struck him and killed him.


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Then Joab’s men took Absalom’s body. They threw it into a large pit in the forest. Then they filled the pit with many stones. All the Israelites who followed Absalom ran away and went home.


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When Absalom was alive, he had put up a pillar in the King’s Valley. It was a monument to himself. He said, “I have no son to keep my name alive.” So he named the pillar after himself. That pillar is called Absalom’s Monument even today.


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Ahimaaz son of Zadok spoke to Joab. He said, “Let me run and take the news to King David. I’ll tell him the Lord has destroyed the enemy for him.”


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Joab answered Ahimaaz, “No, you are not the one to take the news today. You may do it another time. But do not take it today, because the king’s son is dead.”


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Then Joab said to a man from Cush, “Go. Tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran to tell David.


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But Ahimaaz son of Zadok begged Joab again. He said, “No matter what happens, please let me go, along with the Cushite!” Joab said, “Son, why do you want to carry the news? You won’t get any reward for the news you bring!”


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Ahimaaz answered, “No matter what happens, I will run.” So Joab said to Ahimaaz, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the Jordan Valley and passed the Cushite.


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Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman went up to the roof by the gate walls. As he looked up, he saw a man running alone.


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He shouted to tell King David. The king said, “If he is alone, he is bringing good news!” The man came nearer and nearer to the city.


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Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” The king said, “He is also bringing good news!”


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The watchman said, “I think the first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said, “Ahimaaz is a good man. He must be bringing good news!”


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Then Ahimaaz called a greeting to the king. He bowed facedown on the ground to the king. He said, “Praise the Lord your God! The Lord has defeated the men who were against you, my king.”


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The king asked, “Is young Absalom all right?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent me, I saw some great excitement. But I don’t know what it was.”


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Then the Cushite arrived. He said, “Master and king, hear the good news! Today the Lord has punished the people who were against you!”


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The king asked the Cushite, “Is young Absalom all right?” The Cushite answered, “May your enemies be like that young man. May all who come to hurt you be like that young man!”


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Then the king knew Absalom was dead. He was very upset. He went to the room over the city gate and cried. As he went, he cried out, “My son Absalom, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you. Absalom, my son, my son!”


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David’s army had won the battle that day. But it became a very sad day for all the people. This was because they heard, “The king is very sad for his son.”


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The people came into the city quietly. They were like people who had been defeated in battle and had run away.


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Then Joab went into the king’s house. He said to the king, “Today you have shamed all your men. They saved your life today! They saved the lives of your sons, daughters, wives and slave women.


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You have shamed them because you love those who hate you. And you hate those people who love you. Today you’ve made it clear that your commanders and men mean nothing to you. What if Absalom had lived and all of us were dead? I can see you would be very pleased.


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Now go out and encourage your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, no man will be left with you by tonight! That will be worse than all the troubles you have had from your youth until today.”


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So the king went to the city gate. The news spread that the king was at the gate. So everyone came to see him. David Goes Back to Jerusalem All the Israelites who had followed Absalom had run away to their homes.


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People in all the tribes of Israel began to argue. They said, “The king saved us from the Philistines and our other enemies. But he left the country because of Absalom.


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We appointed Absalom to rule us, but now he has died in battle. We should make David the king again.”


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King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. David said, “Speak to the elders of Judah. Say, ‘Even in my house I have heard what all the Israelites are saying. So why are you the last tribe to bring the king back to his palace?


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And say to Amasa, ‘You are part of my own family. May God punish me terribly if I don’t make you commander of the army in Joab’s place!’”


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David touched the hearts of all the people of Judah. They agreed as if they were one man. They sent a message to the king. They said, “Return with all your men.”


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Then the king returned as far as the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him. They wanted to bring the king across the Jordan River.


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Shimei son of Gera was a Benjaminite. He lived in Bahurim. He hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.


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With Shimei came 1,000 Benjaminites. Ziba, the servant from Saul’s family, also came. He brought his 15 sons and 20 servants with him. They all hurried to the Jordan River to meet the king.


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The people went across the Jordan River to help bring the king’s family back to Judah. They did whatever the king wanted. As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei son of Gera came to him. Shimei bowed facedown on the ground in front of the king.


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He said to the king, “My master, don’t hold me guilty. Don’t remember the wrong things I did when you left Jerusalem! Don’t hold it against me.


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I know I have sinned. That is why I am the first person from Joseph’s family to come down and meet you today, my master and king!”


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David said, “This does not concern you, sons of Zeruiah! Today you’re against me! No one will be put to death in Israel today. Today I know I am king over Israel!”


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Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet King David. Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet, cut his beard or washed his clothes while David was gone. He had not done this from the time the king had left Jerusalem until he returned safely.


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Mephibosheth came from Jerusalem to meet the king. The king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you go with me?”


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He answered, “My master, my servant Ziba tricked me! I said to Ziba, ‘I am crippled. So saddle a donkey. Then I will ride it so I can go with the king.’


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But he lied about me to you. You, my master and king, are like an angel from God. Do what you think is good.


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You could have killed all my grandfather’s family. Instead, you put me with the people who eat at your own table. So I don’t have a right to ask anything more from the king!”


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The king said to him, “Don’t say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba may divide the land.”


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Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let Ziba take all the land. I’m just happy that my master the king has arrived in peace at his own house.”


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Now Barzillai was a very old man. He was 80 years old. He had taken care of the king when David was staying at Mahanaim. Barzillai could do this, because he was a very rich man.


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David said to Barzillai, “Cross the river with me. Come with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you.”


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But Barzillai answered the king, “Do you know how old I am? Do you think I can go with you to Jerusalem?


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I am 80 years old! I am too old to taste what I eat or drink. I am too old to hear the voices of men and women singers. Why should you be bothered with me?


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Then please let me go back so I may die in my own city. Let me die near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Kimham. Let him go with you, my master and king. Do with him whatever you want.”


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The king answered, “Kimham will go with me. I will do for him anything you wish. And I will do anything for you that you wish.”


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The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai returned home. And the king and all the people crossed the Jordan.


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When the king crossed the Jordan to Gilgal, Kimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel led David across the river.


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Soon all the men of Israel came to the king. They said to him, “Our brothers, the men of Judah, stole you away. They brought you and your family across the Jordan River with your men! Why did they do this?”


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All the men of Judah answered the Israelites, “We did this because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry about it? We have not eaten food at the king’s expense! He did not give us any gifts!”


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The men of Israel answered the people of Judah, “We have ten tribes in the kingdom. So we have more right to David than you do! But you ignored us! We were the first ones to talk about bringing our king back!” But the men of Judah spoke even more unkindly than the men of Israel.


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Sheba Leads Israel Away from David It happened that a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri was there. Sheba was from the tribe of Benjamin. He blew the trumpet and said: “We have no share in David! We have no part in the son of Jesse! People of Israel, let’s go to our own homes!”


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So all the Israelites left David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king all the way from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.


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David came to his palace in Jerusalem. Earlier he had left there ten of his slave women who gave birth to his children. He had left them there to take care of the palace. Now he put them in a house where they would be guarded. They were kept there for the rest of their lives. David gave them food, but he did not have physical relations with them. They lived like widows until they died.


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The king said to Amasa, “Tell the men of Judah to meet with me in three days. And you must also be here.”


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So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together. But he took longer than the time the king had told him.


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David said to Abishai, “Sheba son of Bicri is more dangerous to us than Absalom was. Take my men and chase him. Hurry before he finds strong, walled cities. If he gets there, he will escape from us.”


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So Joab’s men, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, who were the king’s bodyguards, and all the soldiers went with Abishai. They went out from Jerusalem to chase Sheba son of Bicri.


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When Joab and the army came to the great rock at Gibeon, Amasa came out to meet them. Joab was wearing his uniform. At his waist he wore a belt. It held his sword in its case. As Joab stepped forward, his sword fell out of its case.


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Joab asked Amasa, “Brother, is everything all right with you?” Then with his right hand he took Amasa by the beard to kiss him.


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Amasa did not guard against the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So Joab pushed the sword into Amasa’s stomach. This caused Amasa’s insides to spill on the ground. Joab did not have to stab Amasa again. He was already dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai continued to chase Sheba son of Bicri.


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One of Joab’s young men stood by Amasa’s body. The young man said, “Everyone who is for Joab and David should follow Joab!”


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Amasa lay in the middle of the road, covered with his own blood. The young man saw that everyone was stopping to look at the body. So he dragged Amasa’s body from the road and laid it in a field. Then he put a cloth over it.


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After Amasa’s body was taken off the road, all the men followed Joab. They went with him to chase Sheba son of Bicri.


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Sheba went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah. All the Berites also came together and followed him.


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So Joab and his men came to Abel Beth Maacah and surrounded it. They piled dirt up against the city wall so they could attack it. And they began digging under the city walls to make them fall down.


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But a wise woman shouted out from the city. She said, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here. I want to talk to him!”


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So Joab came near her. She asked him, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “Yes, I am.” Then she said, “Listen to what I say!” Joab said, “I’m listening.”


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Then the woman said, “In the past people would say, ‘Ask for advice at Abel.’ Then the problem would be solved.


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I am one of the peaceful, loyal people of Israel. You are trying to destroy an important city of Israel. Why must you destroy what belongs to the Lord?”


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That is not what I want. But there is a man here from the mountains of Ephraim. He is named Sheba son of Bicri. He has turned against King David. If you will bring him to me, I will leave the city alone.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown over the wall to you.”


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Then the woman spoke very wisely to all the people of the city. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri. Then they threw it over the wall to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and the army left the city. Every man returned home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.


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Joab was commander of all the army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada led the Kerethites and Pelethites, the king’s bodyguards.


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The Gibeonites Punish Saul’s Family During the time David was king, there was a time of hunger. It continued for three years. So David prayed to the Lord. The Lord answered, “Saul and his family of murderers are the reason for this time of hunger. It has come because Saul killed the Gibeonites.”


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(Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were a group of Amorites who were left alive. The Israelites had promised not to hurt the Gibeonites. But Saul was very eager to help the people of Israel and Judah. So he tried to kill all the Gibeonites.) King David called the Gibeonites together and talked to them.


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He asked them, “What can I do for you? What can I do to take away Israel’s sin so you can bless the Lord’s people?”


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The Gibeonites said to David, “Saul and his family don’t have enough silver and gold to pay for what they did! And we don’t have the right to kill anyone in Israel.” Then David asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”


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The Gibeonites said to him, “Saul made plans against us. He tried to destroy all our people who are left in the land of Israel.


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Saul was the Lord’s chosen king. So bring seven of his sons to us. Then we will kill them and hang them on stakes. We will put them in front of the Lord at Gibeah, Saul’s hometown.” The king said, “I will give them to you.”


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But the king protected Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth. (Jonathan was Saul’s son.) David did this because of the promise he had made to Jonathan in the Lord’s name. So the king did not let them hurt Mephibosheth.


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But the king did take Armoni and Mephibosheth, sons of Rizpah and Saul. (Rizpah was the daughter of Aiah.) And the king took the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab. Adriel was the father of Merab’s five sons. (Adriel was the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.)


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David gave these seven sons to the Gibeonites. Then the Gibeonites killed them and hung them on stakes on a hill before the Lord. All seven sons died together. They were put to death during the first days of the harvest season. (The barley harvest was just beginning.)


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Aiah’s daughter Rizpah took the rough cloth that was worn to show sadness. Then she put it on a rock for herself. She stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until the rain fell on her sons’ bodies. During the day she did not let the birds of the sky touch her sons’ bodies. At night she did not let the wild animals touch them.


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Then David took the bones of Saul and Jonathan from the men of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken these bones secretly from the public square of Beth Shan. The Philistines had hung the bodies of Saul and Jonathan there after they had killed Saul at Gilboa.)


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David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from Gilead. Then the people gathered the bodies of Saul’s seven sons who were hanged on stakes.


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The people buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan at Zela in Benjamin. They buried them in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. The people did everything the king commanded. Then God answered the prayers of the people in the land.


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Wars with the Philistines Again there was war between the Philistines and Israel. David and his men went out to fight the Philistines. But David became tired and weak.


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Ishbi-Benob was one of the sons of Rapha. His bronze spearhead weighed about seven and a half pounds. Ishbi-Benob had a new sword, and he planned to kill David.


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But Abishai son of Zeruiah killed the Philistine. So he saved David’s life. Then David’s men made a promise to David. They said, “Never again will you go out with us to battle. If you were killed, Israel would lose its greatest leader.”


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Later, at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, another one of the sons of Rapha.


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Later, there was another battle at Gob with the Philistines. Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim from Bethlehem killed Goliath from Gath. Goliath’s spear was as large as a weaver’s rod.


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At Gath another battle took place. A very large man was there. He had 6 fingers on each hand. And he had 6 toes on each foot. He had 24 fingers and toes in all. This man also was one of the sons of Rapha.


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David’s Song of Praise David sang this song to the Lord. He sang it when the Lord had saved him from Saul and all his other enemies.


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My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength. The Lord is my high tower and my place of safety. The Lord saves me from those who want to harm me.


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In my trouble I called to the Lord. I cried out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice. My call for help reached his ears.


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“The earth trembled and shook. The foundations of heaven began to shake. They shook because the Lord was angry.


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The Lord spoke strongly. The wind blew from his nose. The valleys of the sea appeared. The foundations of the earth were seen.


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“The ways of God are without fault. The Lord’s words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him.


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They called for help, but no one came to save them. They called to the Lord, but he did not answer them.


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I beat my enemies into pieces. They were like dust on the ground. I pounded them out and walked on them like mud in the streets.


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“You saved me when my people attacked me. You kept me as the leader of nations. People I never knew serve me.


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The Lord gives great victories to his king. He is loyal to his appointed king, to David and his descendants forever.”


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David’s Last Words These are the last words of David. This is the message of David son of Jesse. The man made great by the Most High God speaks. He is the appointed king of the God of Jacob. He is the sweet singer of Israel.


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The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The person who rules fairly over people, the person who rules with respect for God,


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he is like the morning light at dawn. He is like a morning without clouds. He is like sunshine after a rain. The sunshine makes the tender grass grow out of the ground.’


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“This is how God has cared for my family. God made a lasting agreement with me, good in every way and strong. This agreement is my salvation. This agreement is all I want. Truly, the Lord will make it grow.


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Anyone who touches them uses a tool of iron or a spear. They will be thrown in the fire and burned where they lie.”


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David’s Army These are the names of David’s warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite, was head of the Three. He killed 800 men at one time.


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Next there was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. Eleazar was one of the three soldiers who were with David when they challenged the Philistines. The Philistines were gathered for battle, and the Israelites drew back.


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But Eleazar stayed where he was. He fought the Philistines until he was so tired he could not let go of his sword. The Lord gave a great victory for the Israelites that day. The people came back after Eleazar had won the battle. But they came only to take weapons and armor from the enemy.


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Next there was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines came together to fight. They stood where there was a field full of small peas. Israel’s troops ran away from the Philistines.


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But Shammah stood in the middle of the field. He fought for the field and killed the Philistines. And the Lord gave a great victory.


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Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief soldiers, came down to him during harvest. Now David was at the cave of Adullam. The Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim.


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David had a strong desire for some water. He said, “Oh, I wish someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!”


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So the three warriors broke through the Philistine army. They took water out of the well near the city gate of Bethlehem. Then they took it to David. But he refused to drink it. He poured it out on the ground before the Lord.


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David said, “Lord, I can’t drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives!” So David refused to drink the water. These were the brave things that the three warriors did.


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Abishai was the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah. He was captain of the Three. Abishai used his spear against 300 enemies and killed them. He became as famous as the Three.


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Abishai received even more honor than the Three. He became their commander. But he was not a member of them.


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Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel. He did many brave things. He killed two of the best soldiers from Moab. He also went down into a pit when it was snowing. There he killed a lion.


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Benaiah killed a big Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. But Benaiah only had a club. Benaiah grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand. Then Benaiah killed him with his own spear.


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He received more honor than the Thirty. But he did not become a member of the Three. David made him leader of his bodyguard.


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The Thirty Chief Soldiers The following men were among the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;


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David Counts His Army The Lord was angry with Israel again. He caused David to turn against the Israelites. David said, “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”


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King David spoke to Joab, the commander of the army. David said, “Go through all the tribes of Israel. Go from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. Then I will know how many there are.”


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But Joab said to the king, “May the Lord your God give you 100 times more people. And may you live to see this happen. But why do you want to do this?”


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But the king very strongly commanded Joab and the commanders of the army. So they left the king to count the people of Israel.


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After crossing the Jordan River, they camped near Aroer. They camped on the south side of the city in the ravine. They went through Gad and on to Jazer.


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Then they went to Gilead and the land of Tahtim Hodshi. Next they went to Dan Jaan and around to Sidon.


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They went to the strong, walled city of Tyre. They also went to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went to southern Judah, to Beersheba.


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Joab gave the list of the people to the king. There were 800,000 men in Israel who could use the sword. And there were 500,000 men in Judah.


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David felt ashamed after he had counted the people. He said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done! Lord, I beg you, forgive my sin! I have been very foolish.”


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Before David got up in the morning, the Lord spoke his word to Gad. He was a prophet and David’s seer.


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The Lord told Gad, “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I offer you three choices. Choose one for me to do to you.’”


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Gad went to David and told him. Gad said, “Choose one of these three things. Should three years of hunger come to you and your land? Or should your enemies chase you for three months? Or should there be three days of disease in your country? Think about it. Then decide which of these things I should tell the Lord who sent me.”


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David said to Gad, “I am really in trouble. But the Lord is very merciful. So let the Lord punish us. Don’t let my punishment come from people!”


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So the Lord sent disease on Israel. It began in the morning. And it continued until the chosen time to stop. From Dan to Beersheba 70,000 people died.


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The angel raised his arm toward Jerusalem to destroy it also. But the Lord felt very sorry about the terrible things that had happened. He said to the angel who was destroying the people, “That’s enough! Put down your arm!” At this time the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


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David saw the angel that killed the people. Then he said to the Lord, “I’ve sinned! I’ve done wrong! But these people only followed me like sheep! They did nothing wrong! Please let your punishment be against me and my father’s family!”


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That day Gad came to David. Gad told him, “Go and build an altar to the Lord. Build it on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”


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Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming to him. So he went out and bowed facedown on the ground.


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He said, “Why has my master the king come to me?” David answered, “To buy the threshing floor from you. I want to build an altar to the Lord. Then the disease will stop.”


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Araunah said to David, “My master and king, you may take anything you want for a sacrifice. Here are some oxen for the whole burnt offering. Here are the threshing boards and the yokes for the wood!


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My king, I give everything to you!” Araunah also said to the king, “May the Lord your God be pleased with you!”


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But the king answered Araunah, “No. I will pay you for the land. I won’t offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings which cost me nothing!” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for one and one-fourth pounds of silver.


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Then he built an altar to the Lord there. And he offered whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer for the country. And the disease in Israel stopped.


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Adonijah Tries to Become King At this time King David was very old. His servants covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm.


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So they said to him, “We will find a young woman to care for you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm.”


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So the king’s servants looked everywhere in Israel for a beautiful young woman. They found a girl named Abishag from the Shunammite people. They brought her to the king.


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The girl was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him. But King David did not have physical relations with her.


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Adonijah was King David and Haggith’s son. He was born next after Absalom. He was a very handsome man. He said, “I will be the king.” So he got chariots and horses for himself. And he got 50 men to run ahead of him. Now David had never interfered with him by questioning what he did.


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Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah. He also talked with Abiathar the priest. They told him they would help him.


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But several men did not join Adonijah. These men were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei and King David’s special guard.


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Then Adonijah killed some sheep, cows and fat calves for sacrifices. He made these sacrifices at the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring, En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the other sons of King David, to come. He invited all the rulers and leaders of Judah also.


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But Adonijah did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, his father’s special guard or his brother Solomon.


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When Nathan heard about this, he went to Bathsheba. She was the mother of Solomon. Nathan asked her, “Have you heard what Adonijah, Haggith’s son, is doing? He has made himself king. And our real king, David, does not know it.


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Your life and the life of your son Solomon may be in danger. But I will tell you how to save yourselves.


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Go to King David and say to him, ‘My master and king, you made a promise to me. You promised that my son Solomon would be the king after you. You said he would rule on your throne. So why has Adonijah become king?’


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While you are still talking to him, I will come in. I will tell the king that what you have said about Adonijah is true.”


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So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom. He was now very old. Abishag, the girl from Shunam, was caring for him there.


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She answered, “My master, you made a promise to me in the name of the Lord your God. You said, ‘Your son Solomon will become king after me. He will rule on my throne.’


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Adonijah has killed many cows, fat calves and sheep for sacrifices. And he has invited all your sons. He also has invited Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of your army. But he did not invite Solomon, your son who serves you.


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My master and king, all the people of Israel are watching you. They are waiting for you to decide who will be king after you.


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The servants told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So Nathan went to the king and bowed facedown on the ground before him.


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Then Nathan said, “My master and king, have you said that Adonijah will be the king after you? Have you decided he will rule on your throne after you?


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Today he has sacrificed many cows, fat calves and sheep. And he has invited all your other sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him. They are saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’


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Did you do this? We are your servants. Why didn’t you tell us whom you chose to be the king after you?”


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David Makes Solomon King Then King David said, “Tell Bathsheba to come in!” So she came in and stood before the king.


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Then the king said, “The Lord has saved me from all trouble. As surely as he lives, I make this promise to you.


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Today I will do what I promised you in the past. I made that promise in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised that your son Solomon would be king after me. I promised he would rule on my throne after me.”


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Then Bathsheba bowed facedown on the ground before the king. She said, “Long live my master King David!”


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Then King David said, “Tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to come in here.” So they came before the king.


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Then the king said to them, “Take my servants with you and put my son Solomon on my own mule. Take him down to the spring called Gihon.


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There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet should pour olive oil on him and make him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’


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Then come back here with him. He will sit on my throne and rule in my place. I have chosen him to be the ruler over Israel and Judah.”


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The Lord has always helped you, our king. Let the Lord also help Solomon. And let King Solomon be an even greater king than you.”


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So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada went down. The Kerethites and Pelethites, the king’s bodyguards, went with them. They put Solomon on King David’s mule and went with him to the spring called Gihon.


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Zadok the priest took with him the container of olive oil from the Holy Tent. He poured the olive oil on Solomon’s head to show he was the king. Then they blew the trumpet. And all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”


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All the people followed Solomon into the city. They were playing flutes and shouting for joy. They made so much noise the ground shook.


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At this time Adonijah and all the guests with him were finishing their meal. They heard the sound from the trumpet. Joab asked, “What does all that noise from the city mean?”


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While Joab was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in! You are an important man. So you must be bringing good news.”


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King David sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada and all the king’s bodyguards with him. They put Solomon on the king’s own mule.


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And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet poured olive oil on Solomon at Gihon to make him king. Then they went into the city, shouting with joy. Now the whole city is excited. That is the noise you hear.


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All the king’s officers have come to tell King David that he has done a good thing. They are saying, ‘May your God make Solomon even more famous than you. And may your God make Solomon an even greater king than you.’” Jonathan continued, “And King David bowed down on his bed to worship God.


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He said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. Today he has made one of my sons the king and allowed me to see it.’”


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Then someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is afraid of you. He is at the altar, holding on to its corners. He says, ‘Tell King Solomon to promise me today that he will not kill me.’”


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So Solomon answered, “Adonijah must show that he is a man of honor. If he does, I promise that he will not lose even a hair from his head. But if he does anything wrong, he will die.”


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Then King Solomon sent some men to get Adonijah. They brought him to King Solomon. So Adonijah came before King Solomon and bowed down. Then Solomon said, “Go home.”


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The Death of David It was almost time for David to die. So he talked to Solomon and gave him his last commands.


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Obey everything that the Lord commands. Follow the commands he has given us. Obey all his laws, and do what he told us. Obey what is written in the teachings of Moses. If you do these things, you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.


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And if you obey the Lord, he will keep the promise he made to me. He promised: ‘Your descendants must live as I tell them. They must have complete faith in me. If they do this, then a man from your family will always be king over the people of Israel.’


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“Also, you remember what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me. He killed the two commanders of Israel’s armies. He killed Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them as if he and they were at war. But this was in a time of peace. He killed innocent men. And their blood got on his belt and sandals.


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You should punish him in the way you think is wisest. (But do not let him die peacefully of old age.)


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“Be kind to the children of Barzillai of Gilead. Allow them to eat at your table. They helped me when I ran away from your brother Absalom.


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“And remember, Shimei son of Gera is here with you. He is from the people of Benjamin in Bahurim. Remember he cursed me the day I went to Mahanaim. Then he came down to meet me at the Jordan River. I promised him before the Lord, ‘Shimei, I will not kill you.’


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But you should not leave him unpunished. You are a wise man. You will know what to do to him. But you must be sure he is killed.”


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Solomon Takes Control as King Now Solomon became king after David, his father. And he was in control of his kingdom.


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At this time Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked, “Do you come in peace?” Adonijah answered, “Yes. This is a peaceful visit.


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Adonijah said, “You remember that at one time the kingdom was mine. All the people of Israel thought I was their king. But things changed. Now my brother is the king because the Lord chose him.


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So now I have one thing to ask you. Please do not refuse me.” Bathsheba answered, “What do you want?”


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Adonijah said, “I know King Solomon will do anything you ask him. So please ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite woman to be my wife.”


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So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to talk to him for Adonijah. When Solomon saw her, he stood up to meet her. Then he bowed down to her and sat on the throne. He told some servants to bring another throne for his mother. Then she sat down at his right side.


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Bathsheba said to him, “I have one small thing to ask you. Please do not refuse me.” The king answered, “Ask, mother. I will not refuse you.”


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King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask me to give him Abishag? Why don’t you ask for him to become the king also since he is my older brother? Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah will support him!”


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Then King Solomon made a promise in the name of the Lord. He said, “I promise Adonijah will pay for asking me this! May God punish me terribly if it doesn’t cost Adonijah his life!


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The Lord has given me the throne that belonged to my father David. The Lord has kept his promise and given the kingdom to me and my people. As surely as the Lord lives, Adonijah will die today!”


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Then King Solomon said to Abiathar the priest, “I should kill you. But I will allow you to go back to your home in Anathoth. I will not kill you now because you helped to carry the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord God while marching with my father David. And I know you shared in all of the hard times with my father.”


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So Solomon removed Abiathar from being a priest to the Lord. This happened as the Lord had said it would. He had said this about the priest Eli and his family in Shiloh.


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When Joab heard about this, he was afraid. He had supported Adonijah, but not Absalom. So Joab ran to the Tent of the Lord and took hold of the corners of the altar.


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Someone told King Solomon that Joab had run to the Tent of the Lord and was beside the altar. So Solomon ordered Benaiah to go and kill him.


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Benaiah went into the Tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab answered, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah went back to the king and told him what Joab had said.


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Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says! Kill him there and bury him. Then my family and I will be free of the guilt of Joab. Joab is guilty of killing innocent people.


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He killed two men who were much better than he was. They were Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. Abner was the commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa was the commander of Judah’s army. My father David did not know that he killed them. So the Lord will pay him back for those men he killed.


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He and his family will be forever guilty for their deaths. But there will be peace from God for David, his descendants, his family and his rule forever.”


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Solomon then made Benaiah son of Jehoiada commander of the army in Joab’s place. Solomon also made Zadok the new high priest in Abiathar’s place.


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Next the king sent for Shimei. The king said to him, “Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem. Live in the house, and don’t leave the city.


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So Shimei answered the king, “What you have said is good. I will obey you, my master and king.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.


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But three years later two of Shimei’s slaves ran away. They went to Achish king of Gath. He was the son of Maacah. Shimei heard that his slaves were in Gath.


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So he put his saddle on his donkey and left. He went to Achish at Gath to find his slaves. When he found them there, he brought them back to his home.


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So Solomon sent for Shimei. Solomon said, “I made you promise in the name of the Lord not to leave Jerusalem. I warned you that if you went anywhere else you would die. And you agreed to what I said. You said you would obey me.


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You know the many wrong things you did against my father David. Now the Lord will punish you for those wrongs.


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Then the king ordered Benaiah to kill Shimei, and he did. Now Solomon was in full control of his kingdom.


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Solomon Asks for Wisdom Solomon made an agreement with the king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to Jerusalem. At this time Solomon was still building his palace and the Temple of the Lord. He was also building a wall around Jerusalem.


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The Temple had not yet been finished. So people were still offering animal sacrifices at altars in many places of worship.


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Solomon showed that he loved the Lord. He did this by following the commands his father David had given him. But Solomon still used the many places of worship to offer sacrifices and to burn incense.


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King Solomon went to Gibeon to offer a sacrifice. He went there because it was the most important place of worship. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.


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While he was at Gibeon, the Lord came to him in a dream during the night. God said, “Ask for anything you want. I will give it to you.”


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Solomon answered, “You were very kind to your servant, my father David. He obeyed you. He was honest and lived right. And you showed great kindness to him when you allowed his son to be king after him.


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Lord my God, you have allowed me to be king in my father’s place. But I am like a little child. I do not have the wisdom I need to do what I must do.


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So I ask that you give me wisdom. Then I can rule the people in the right way. Then I will know the difference between right and wrong. Without wisdom, it is impossible to rule this great people of yours.”


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So God said to him, “You did not ask for a long life. And you did not ask for riches for yourself. You did not ask for the death of your enemies. Since you asked for wisdom to make the right decisions,


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I will give you what you asked. I will give you wisdom and understanding. Your wisdom will be greater than anyone has had in the past. And there will never be anyone in the future like you.


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Also, I will give you what you did not ask for. You will have riches and honor. During your life no other king will be as great as you.


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I ask you to follow me and obey my laws and commands. Do this as your father David did. If you do, I will also give you a long life.”


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Then Solomon woke up. He knew that God had talked to him in the dream. Then he went to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Covenant with the Lord. There he gave burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. After that, he gave a feast for all of his leaders and officers.


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Solomon Makes a Wise Decision One day two women who were prostitutes came to Solomon. They stood before him.


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One of the women said, “My master, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby while she was there with me.


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Three days later this woman also gave birth to a baby. No one else was in the house with us. There were only the two of us.


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So during the night she took my son from my bed while I was asleep. She carried him to her bed. Then she put the dead baby in my bed.


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The next morning I got up to feed my baby. But I saw that he was dead! Then I looked at him more closely. I saw that he was not my son.”


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But the other woman said, “No! The living baby is my son. The dead baby is yours!” But the first woman said, “No! The dead baby is yours, and the living one is mine!” So the two women argued before the king.


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Then King Solomon said, “Each of you says the living baby is your own. And each of you says the dead baby belongs to the other woman.”


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The real mother of the living child was full of love for her son. She said to the king, “Please, my master, don’t kill him! Give the baby to her!” But the other woman said, “Neither of us will have him. Cut him into two pieces!”


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When the people of Israel heard about King Solomon’s decision, they respected him very much. They saw he had wisdom from God to make the right decisions.


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Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha, recorded what happened in the courts; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud recorded the history of the people;


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Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the district governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;


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Ahishar was responsible for everything in the palace; Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the slaves.


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Solomon placed 12 governors over the districts of Israel. They had to gather food from their districts. Then they were to give it to the king and his family. Each governor was responsible for giving food to the king one month of each year.


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Baana son of Ahilud was governor over Taanach, Megiddo and all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan. (This was below Jezreel from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across Jokmeam.)


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Ben-Geber was governor over Ramoth in Gilead. (He was governor over all the Towns of Jair in Gilead. Jair was the son of Manasseh. Ben-Geber was also over the district of Argob in Bashan. It had 60 large, walled cities with bronze bars on their gates.)


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Geber son of Uri was governor over Gilead. (Gilead was the country where Sihon king of the Amorite people lived. Og king of Bashan also lived there.) But Geber was the only governor over the district.


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Solomon’s Kingdom There were many people in Judah and Israel. There were as many people as there were grains of sand on the seashore. The people ate, drank and were happy.


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Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistine people. His kingdom went as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought Solomon the payments he demanded. And they obeyed him all his life.


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Solomon needed much food each day to feed himself and all the people who ate at his table. It took 185 bushels of fine flour and 375 bushels of meal.


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It also took 10 cows that were fed good grain, 20 cows that were raised in the fields and 100 sheep. And it took 3 different kinds of deer and fat birds.


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Solomon ruled over all the countries west of the Euphrates River. This was the land from Tiphsah to Gaza. And Solomon had peace on all sides of his kingdom.


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During Solomon’s life Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in peace. Each man was able to sit under his own fig trees and grapevines.


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Each month one of the district governors gave King Solomon all the food he needed. This was enough for every person who ate at the king’s table. The governors made sure he had everything he needed.


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They also gave the king enough barley and straw for the chariot and work horses. Each person brought this grain to the required places.


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Solomon’s Wisdom God gave great wisdom to Solomon. Solomon could understand many things. His wisdom was as hard to measure as the sand on the seashore.


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His wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men in the East. And his wisdom was greater than all the wisdom of the men in Egypt.


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He was wiser than any other man on earth. He was even wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite. He was wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda. They were the sons of Mahol. King Solomon became famous in all the countries around Israel and Judah.


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He taught about many different kinds of plants. He taught about everything from the great cedar trees of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the walls. He also taught about animals, birds, crawling things and fish.


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People from all nations came to listen to King Solomon’s wisdom. The kings of all nations sent them to listen to him. These kings had heard of Solomon’s wisdom.


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Solomon Prepares to Build the Temple Now King Hiram was the king of Tyre. He had always been a friend of David. Hiram heard that Solomon had been made king in David’s place. So he sent his messengers to Solomon.


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“You remember that my father David had to fight many wars with the countries around him. So he was never able to build a temple for worship to the Lord his God. David was waiting until the Lord allowed him to defeat all his enemies.


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But now the Lord my God has given me peace. There is peace on all sides of my country. I have no enemies now. My people are in no danger.


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“The Lord made a promise to my father David. The Lord said, ‘I will make your son king after you. And he will build a temple for worship to me.’ Now, I plan to build that temple for worship to the Lord my God.


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And so I ask for your help. Send your men to cut down cedar trees for me from Lebanon. My servants will work with yours. I will pay your servants whatever wages you decide. We don’t have anyone who can cut down trees as well as the people of Sidon can.”


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When Hiram heard what Solomon asked, he was very happy. He said, “I thank the Lord today! He has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation!”


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Then Hiram sent back this message to Solomon: “I received the message you sent. I will give you all the cedar and pine trees you want.


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My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. There I will tie them together. Then I will float them down the shore to the place you choose. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. In return you will give food to all those who live with me.”


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And Solomon gave Hiram about 125,000 bushels of wheat each year. It was to feed all those who lived with Hiram. And Solomon gave him about 115,000 gallons of pure olive oil every year.


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The Lord gave wisdom to Solomon as he had promised. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon. These two kings made a treaty between themselves.


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He put a man named Adoniram over them. Solomon sent a group of 10,000 men each month to Lebanon. So each group worked in Lebanon one month. Then it went home for two months.


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Solomon forced 80,000 men to work in the hill country, cutting stone. And he had 70,000 men to carry the stones.


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King Solomon commanded them to cut large blocks of fine stone. These were to be used for the foundation of the Temple.


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Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders and the men from Byblos carved the stones. They prepared the stones and the logs for building the Temple.


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Solomon Builds the Temple So Solomon began to build the Temple. This was 480 years after the people of Israel had left Egypt. (This was the fourth year of King Solomon’s rule over Israel.) It was the second month, the month of Ziv.


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The porch in front of the main room of the Temple was 15 feet deep and 30 feet wide. The room ran along the front of the Temple itself. Its width was equal to the width of the Temple.


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There were narrow windows in the Temple. These windows were narrow on the outside and larger on the inside.


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Then Solomon built some side rooms against the walls of the main room of the Temple. These rooms were built on top of each other.


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The rooms on the bottom floor were 7½ feet wide. The rooms on the middle floor were 9 feet wide. The rooms above that were 10½ feet wide. The Temple wall which made the side of each room was thinner than the wall in the room below. The rooms were pushed against the wall but did not have their main beams built into the wall.


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The stones were prepared at the same place they were cut from the ground. Only these stones were used to build the Temple. So there was no noise of hammers, axes or any other iron tools at the Temple.


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The entrance to the bottom rooms built beside the Temple was on the south side. From there, stairs went up to the second floor rooms. And from there, they went on to the third floor rooms.


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Solomon put a roof made from beams and cedar boards on the Temple. So he finished building the Temple.


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He also finished building the bottom floor that was beside the Temple. It was 7½ feet high. It was attached to the Temple by cedar beams.


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And I will live among the children of Israel in this Temple you are building. I will never leave the people of Israel.”


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The inside walls were covered from floor to ceiling with cedar boards. The floor was made from pine boards.


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A room 30 feet long was built in the back part of the Temple. It was divided from the rest of the Temple by cedar boards reaching from floor to ceiling. It was called the Most Holy Place.


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Inside the Temple was cedar. It was carved with pictures of flowers and plants. Everything inside was covered with cedar. So a person could not see the stones of the wall.


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This inner room was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide and 30 feet high. Solomon covered this room with pure gold. He built an altar of cedar and covered it also.


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He covered the inside of the Temple with pure gold. And he placed gold chains across the front of the inner room. It was covered with gold.


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So all the inside of the Temple was covered with gold. Also the altar in the Most Holy Place was covered with gold.


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Solomon made two creatures with wings from olive wood. Each creature was 15 feet tall. They were put in the Most Holy Place.


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Each creature had two wings. Each wing was 7½ feet long. So it was 15 feet from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing.


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These creatures were put beside each other in the Most Holy Place. Their wings were spread out. So one creature’s wing touched one wall. The other creature’s wing touched the other wall. And their wings touched each other in the middle of the room.


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All the walls around the Temple were carved. They were carved with pictures of creatures with wings, palm trees and flowers. This was true for both the main room and the inner room.


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Doors made from olive wood were put at the entrance to the Most Holy Place. The doors were made to fit into an area with five sides.


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Creatures with wings, palm trees and flowers were carved on the two olive wood doors. Then the doors were covered with gold. And the creatures and the palm trees were covered with gold.


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The doors were covered with pictures of creatures with wings, palm trees and flowers. And all of the carvings were covered with gold. The gold was smoothed over the carvings.


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The inner courtyard was built and enclosed with walls. The walls were made of three rows of cut stones and one row of cedar boards.


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Work began on the Temple in Ziv, the second month. This was during the fourth year Solomon ruled over Israel.


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The Temple was finished during the eleventh year Solomon ruled. It was finished in the eighth month, the month of Bul. It was finished exactly as it was planned. Solomon had worked seven years to build the Temple.


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Solomon’s Palace King Solomon also built a palace for himself. It took him 13 years to finish building it.


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He built the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. It had four rows of cedar columns. They supported the cedar beams.


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The ceiling was covered with cedar above the beams. There were 45 beams on the roof, with 15 beams in each row.


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Solomon also built the porch of pillars. It was 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. Along the front of the porch, there was a covering supported by pillars.


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Solomon also built a throne room where he judged people. He called this the Hall of Justice. The room was covered with cedar from the floor to the ceiling.


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The palace where Solomon was to live was behind the Hall of Justice. And it was built like the Hall of Justice. Solomon also built the same kind of palace for his wife. She was the daughter of the king of Egypt.


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All these buildings were made with blocks of carefully cut fine stone. Then they were trimmed with a saw in the front and back. These fine stones went from the foundations of the buildings to the top of the walls. Even the courtyard was made with blocks of stone.


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The foundations were made with large blocks of fine stone. Some of the stones were 15 feet long. Others were 12 feet long.


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The palace courtyard, the courtyard inside the Temple and the porch to the Temple were surrounded by walls. All of these walls had three rows of cut stone blocks and one row of cedar beams.


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Huram’s mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali. His father was from Tyre and had been skilled in making things from bronze. Huram was also very skilled and experienced in bronze work. So he came to King Solomon. And he did all the bronze work Solomon wanted.


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Then he made a net of seven chains for each capital. They covered the capitals on top of the two pillars.


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Then he made two rows of bronze pomegranates to go on the nets. They were to cover the capitals at the top of the pillars.


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The capitals were on top of both pillars. They were above the bowl-shaped section and next to the nets. At that place there were 200 pomegranates in rows all around the capitals.


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Huram put these two bronze pillars at the porch of the Temple. He named the south pillar He Establishes. And he named the north pillar In Him Is Strength.


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The capitals on top of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the work on the pillars was finished.


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Then Huram made a large round bowl from bronze, which was called the Sea. It was 45 feet around. It was 15 feet across and 7½ feet deep.


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There was a rim around the outer edge of the bowl. Under this rim there were two rows of bronze plants surrounding the bowl. There were ten plants in every 18 inches. They were made in one piece with the bowl.


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The bowl rested on the backs of 12 bronze bulls. They faced outward from the center of the bowl. Three bulls faced north, 3 faced east, 3 faced south and 3 faced west.


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The sides of the bowl were 4 inches thick. The rim was like the rim of a cup or like a lily blossom. The bowl held about 11,000 gallons.


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On the sides were bronze lions, bulls and creatures with wings. On the frames above and below the lions and bulls there were designs of flowers hammered into the bronze.


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Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. At the corners there were bronze supports for a large bowl. The supports had designs of flowers.


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There was a frame on top of the bowls. It was 18 inches high above the bowls. The opening of the bowl was round, 27 inches deep. There were designs carved into the bronze on the frame. The frame was square, not round.


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The four wheels were under the frame. They were 27 inches high. The axles between the wheels were made as one piece with the stand.


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The wheels were like a chariot’s wheels. Everything on the wheels was made of bronze. The axles, rims, spokes and hubs were made of bronze.


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The four supports were on the four corners of each stand. They were made as one piece with the stand.


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There was a strip of bronze around the top of each stand. It was 9 inches deep. It was made as one piece with the stand.


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The sides of the stand and the frames were totally covered with carvings. They were carved with pictures of creatures with wings, lions and palm trees. There were also flowers carved all around.


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So this is the way Huram made the ten stands. The bronze for each stand was melted and poured into a mold. So all of the stands were the same size and shape.


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Huram also made ten bronze bowls. There was one bowl for each of the ten stands. Each bowl was six feet across and could hold about 230 gallons.


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Huram put five of the stands on the south side of the Temple. And he put the other five stands on the north side. He put the large bowl in the southeast corner of the Temple.


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Huram also made bowls, shovels and small bowls. So Huram finished making everything King Solomon wanted him to make. Here is a list of what Huram made for the Temple of the Lord:


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two pillars; two large bowls for the capitals on top of the pillars; two nets to cover the two large bowls for the capitals on top of the pillars;


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400 pomegranates for the two nets (there were two rows of pomegranates for each net covering the bowls for the capitals on top of the pillars);


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the pots, shovels, small bowls and all the dishes for the Temple of the Lord. Huram made everything King Solomon wanted. They were all made from polished bronze.


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The king ordered these things to be made near the Jordan River between Succoth and Zarethan. They were made by melting and pouring bronze into clay molds.


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Solomon never weighed the bronze used to make these things. There was too much to weigh. So the total weight of all the bronze was never known.


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Solomon also commanded that many things be made of gold for the Temple: the golden altar; the golden table which held the bread that shows God’s people are in his presence;


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the lampstands of pure gold (five on the right side and five on the left side in front of the Most Holy Place); the gold flowers, lamps and tongs;


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the pure gold bowls, wick trimmers, small bowls, pans and dishes used to carry coals; the hinges for the doors of the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple.


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So the work King Solomon did for the Temple of the Lord was finished. David, Solomon’s father, had saved silver, gold and other articles for the Temple. So Solomon brought these things into the Temple. And he put them into the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord.


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The Ark of the Covenant Is Brought into the Temple Then King Solomon called for all the leaders of Israel to come to him in Jerusalem. He called for the elders, the heads of the tribes and the leaders of the families. He wanted them to bring the Ark of the Covenant with the Lord from the older part of the city.


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So all the men of Israel came together with King Solomon. This was during a festival in the month of Ethanim. That is the seventh month.


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They carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, the Meeting Tent and the holy things in it. The Levites helped the priests carry these things.


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King Solomon and all the people of Israel gathered before the Ark of the Covenant. They sacrificed so many sheep and cattle no one could count them all.


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Then the priests put the Ark of the Covenant with the Lord in its right place. This was inside the Most Holy Place in the Temple. The Ark of the Covenant was put under the wings of the golden creatures.


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The wings of the creatures were spread out over the place of the Ark of the Covenant. So they covered it and its carrying poles.


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The carrying poles were very long. Anyone standing in the Holy Place in front of the Most Holy Place could see the ends of the poles. But no one could see them from outside the Holy Place. The poles are still there today.


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The only things inside the Ark of the Covenant were two stone tablets. Moses had put them in the Ark of the Covenant at Mount Sinai. That was where the Lord made his agreement with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.


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The priests could not continue their work. This was because the Temple was filled with the glory of the Lord.


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Then he prayed: “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He himself has done what he promised to my father David. The Lord told my father,


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‘I brought my people Israel out of Egypt. But I have not yet chosen a city in any tribe of Israel where a temple will be built for worshiping me. But I have chosen David to rule over my people Israel.’


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But the Lord said to my father David, ‘I know you want to build a temple for worshiping me. And this is good.


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But you are not the one to build the temple. It will be your son, who comes from your own body. He is the one who will build my temple.’


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“So the Lord has kept the promise that he gave. I am the king now in place of David my father. Now I rule Israel as the Lord promised. And I have built the Temple for worshiping the Lord, the God of Israel.


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I have made a place in the Temple for the Ark of the Covenant. Inside that Ark is the agreement the Lord made with our ancestors. He made that agreement when he brought them out of Egypt.”


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Solomon’s Prayer Then Solomon stood facing the Lord’s altar. All of the people of Israel were standing behind him. He spread out his hands and looked toward the sky.


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He said: “Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you. There is no god like you in heaven above or on the earth below. You make agreements with your people because you love them. And you keep your agreements with those who truly follow you.


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You have kept the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth. And with your great power you have made it come true today.


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Now Lord, God of Israel, keep the other promises you made to your servant David, my father. You said, ‘Your sons must be careful to obey me as you have obeyed me. If they do this, there will always be someone from your family ruling Israel.’


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“But, God, can you really live here on the earth? Even the sky and the highest place in heaven cannot contain you. Certainly this house which I have built cannot contain you either.


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But please listen to my prayer and my request. I am your servant, and you are the Lord my God. Hear this prayer I am praying to you today.


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In the past you said, ‘I will be worshiped there.’ So please watch over this Temple night and day. Hear the prayer I pray to you here.


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Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people Israel. Please hear us when we pray facing this place. Hear us from your home in heaven. And when you hear us, forgive us.


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“If a person does something wrong against someone else, he will be brought to the altar in this Temple. If he swears an oath that he is not guilty,


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then hear in heaven. Judge the man. Punish the guilty person for what he has done. And declare that the innocent person is not guilty.


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“Sometimes your people of Israel will sin against you. Because of this their enemies will defeat them. Then the people will come back to you and praise you. They will pray to you in this Temple.


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Please hear them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your people Israel. Allow them to have their land again. This is the land you gave to their ancestors.


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“Sometimes when they sin against you, you will stop the rain from falling on their land. Then they will pray, facing this place. They will praise you. They will stop sinning when you make them suffer.


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When this happens, please hear their prayer in heaven. Then forgive the sins of your servant. And forgive the sins of the people of Israel. Teach them to do what is right. Then please send rain to this land you gave them.


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“At times the land will become so dry that no food will grow. Or, a great sickness will spread among the people. Sometimes all the crops will be destroyed by locusts or grasshoppers. Your people will be attacked in their cities by their enemies. Your people will become sick.


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When any of these things happen, the people will become truly sorry. If anyone of your people Israel spreads his hands in prayer toward this Temple,


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please hear his prayer. Hear it from your home in heaven. Then forgive the people and help them. Only you know what people are really thinking. So judge each person, and do to him what is right.


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Do this so your people will respect you all the time they live in this land. This is the land you gave to our ancestors.


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“People who are not Israelites, who come from other lands, will hear about your greatness and power. They will come from far away to pray at this Temple.


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Please hear their prayers from your home in heaven. Please do whatever they ask you. Then people everywhere will know you and respect you, as your people in Israel do. Then everyone will know I built this Temple for worship to you.


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“Sometimes you will command your people to go and fight against their enemies. Then your people will pray to you facing this city which you have chosen. They will pray facing the Temple I have built for your worship.


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“Everyone sins. So your people will also sin against you. And you will become angry with your people. You will let their enemies defeat them. Their enemies will make them prisoners and carry them away to their own countries.


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Your people might be sorry for their sins when they are held as prisoners in another country. Perhaps they will be sorry and pray to you in the land where they are held as prisoners. They might say, ‘We have sinned and done wrong.’


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They may truly turn back to you in the land of their enemies. Perhaps they will pray to you, facing this land you gave their fathers. They may pray to you, facing this city you have chosen. They may face this Temple I have built for your worship.


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If they do, then please hear them from your home in heaven. Hear their prayers and do what is right.


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Forgive your people of all their sins. And forgive them for turning against you. Make those who have taken them as prisoners show them mercy.


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Remember that they are your people. Remember that you brought them out of Egypt. It was as if you pulled them out of a blazing furnace!


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“Please give your attention to my prayers. And please give your attention to the prayers of your people Israel. Listen to their prayers anytime they ask you for help.


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You chose them from all the nations on earth to be your very own people. This is what you promised through Moses your servant. You promised it when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, Lord God.”


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Solomon prayed this prayer to the Lord. He had been kneeling in front of the altar. And his arms had been raised toward heaven. When Solomon finished praying, he stood up.


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“Praise the Lord! He promised he would give rest to his people Israel. And he has given us rest! The Lord has kept all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.


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I ask that the Lord our God be with us. May he be with us as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us.


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May he cause us to turn to him and follow him. May we obey all the laws and commands he gave our ancestors.


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I ask that the Lord our God always remember this prayer. I pray that he will help his servant and his people Israel. I pray he will help us every day as we need it.


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So you must fully obey the Lord our God. You must follow all his laws and commands. You must continue to obey in the future as you do now.”


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Solomon killed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. These were fellowship offerings. In this way the king and the Israelites showed they had given the Temple to the Lord.


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Also that day King Solomon made the courtyard before the Temple holy. He offered whole burnt sacrifices and grain offerings. He also offered the fat from the fellowship offerings. He had to make these offerings in the courtyard. This was because the bronze altar before the Lord was too small. It could not hold all the offerings.


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So King Solomon and all the people of Israel also celebrated the other festival that came at that time. People came from as far away as Lebo Hamath in the north. And they came from as far as the brook of Egypt in the south. A great many people were there. They ate, drank and rejoiced before the Lord for a total of 14 days.


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On the following day Solomon sent the people home. So they blessed the king and went home. They were happy because of all the good things the Lord had done for his servant David and for his people, Israel.


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The Lord Appears to Solomon Again So Solomon finished building the Temple of the Lord and his royal palace. Solomon finished building everything he wanted to build.


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The Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer. I have heard what you asked me to do. You built this Temple. And I have made it a holy place. So I will be worshiped there forever. I will watch over it and protect it always.


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“But you must serve me as your father David did. He was fair and sincere. You must obey my laws and do everything I command.


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If you do these things, I will allow your family to rule Israel forever. I made this promise to your father David. I told him that someone from his family would always be king over Israel.


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“But you and your children must follow me. You must obey the laws and commands I have given you. You must not go off to serve or worship other gods.


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If you do, I will force Israel to leave the land I have given them. I made the Temple holy for people to worship me there. But if you don’t obey me, I will tear it down. Then Israel will become a bad example, a joke, to other people.


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If the Temple is destroyed, everyone who sees it will be shocked. They will make fun of you and ask, ‘Why did the Lord do this? Why did he do this terrible thing to this land and this Temple?’


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Other people will answer, ‘This happened because they left the Lord their God. He brought their ancestors out of Egypt. But they decided to follow other gods. They worshiped and served those gods. That is why the Lord brought all this disaster to them.’”


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Solomon’s Other Activities By the end of 20 years, King Solomon had built the Temple of the Lord. And he had built the royal palace.


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At that time King Solomon gave 20 towns in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre. Solomon did this because Hiram had helped with the buildings. Hiram had given him all the cedar, pine and gold he wanted.


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So Hiram traveled from Tyre to see the towns Solomon had given him. When Hiram saw them, he was not pleased.


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He asked, “What are these towns you have given me, my brother?” So he named that land the Land of Cabul. And it is still called that today.


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King Solomon had forced slaves to build the Temple and the palace. Then he had them fill in the land on the east side of the city. And he had them build the wall around Jerusalem. He also had them rebuild the cities of Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer.


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(In the past the king of Egypt had attacked Gezer and captured it. He had burned it and killed the Canaanites who lived there. Then he gave it to his daughter as a wedding present. His daughter married Solomon.


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King Solomon also built cities where he could store grain and supplies. And he built cities for his chariots and chariot soldiers. Solomon built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon and everywhere he ruled.


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There were people in the land who were not Israelites. There were some Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.


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The Israelites had not been able to destroy them from the land. So Solomon forced them to work for him as slaves. And they are still slaves today.


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But Solomon did not force any Israelites to be his slaves. The Israelites were his soldiers, government leaders, officers, captains and chariot commanders and drivers.


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There were 550 supervisors over Solomon’s projects. They were supervisors over the men who did the work.


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The daughter of the king of Egypt moved from the old part of Jerusalem to the palace. This was the palace Solomon had built for her. Then Solomon filled in the land on the east side of the city.


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Three times each year Solomon offered whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar. This is the altar he had built for the Lord. Solomon also burned incense before the Lord. So he finished the work on the Temple.


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Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber. This town is near Elath. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba, in the land of Edom.


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King Hiram had sailors who knew much about the sea. So he sent them to serve in Solomon’s ships with Solomon’s men.


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Solomon’s ships sailed to Ophir. From there they brought back about 32,000 pounds of gold to King Solomon.


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The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon Now the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s fame. So she came to test him with hard questions.


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She traveled to Jerusalem with a very large group of servants. There were many camels carrying spices, jewels and much gold. She came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had in mind.


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She saw his many officers and the food on his table. She saw the palace servants and their good clothes. She was shown the servants who served him at feasts. And she was shown the whole burnt offerings he made in the Temple of the Lord. All these things amazed her.


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So she said to King Solomon, “I heard in my own country about your achievements and wisdom. And all of it is true.


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I could not believe it then. But now I have come and seen it with my own eyes. I was not told even half of it! Your wisdom and wealth are much greater than I had heard.


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Praise the Lord your God! He was pleased to make you king of Israel. The Lord has constant love for Israel. So he made you king to keep justice and to rule fairly.”


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Then the queen of Sheba gave the king about 9,000 pounds of gold. She also gave him many spices and jewels. No one since that time has brought more spices into Israel than the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.


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(Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir. They also brought from there very much juniper wood and jewels.


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Solomon used the juniper wood to build supports for the Temple of the Lord and the palace. He also used it to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Such fine juniper wood has not been brought in or seen since that time.)


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King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba many gifts. He gave her gifts that a king would give to another ruler. Then he gave her whatever else she wanted and asked for. After this, she and her servants went back to her own country.


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Besides that he also received gold from the traders and merchants. And he received gold from the kings of Arabia and governors of the land.


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King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold. Each shield contained about seven and one-half pounds of gold.


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He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold. They each contained about three and three-fourths pounds of gold. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.


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There were six steps leading up to the throne. The back of the throne was round at the top. There were armrests on both sides of the chair. And beside each armrest was a statue of a lion.


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Twelve lions stood on the six steps. There was one lion at each end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any other kingdom.


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All of Solomon’s drinking cups were made of gold. All of the dishes in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made from silver. In Solomon’s time people did not think silver was valuable.


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King Solomon also had many trading ships at sea, along with Hiram’s ships. Every three years the ships returned. They brought back gold, silver, ivory, apes and baboons.


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Every year everyone who came brought a gift. They brought things made of gold and silver, along with clothes, weapons, spices, horses and mules.


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So Solomon had many chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 chariot soldiers. He kept some in special cities for the chariots. And he kept some with him in Jerusalem.


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In Jerusalem silver was as common as stones while Solomon was king. Cedar trees were as common as the fig trees growing on the mountain slopes.


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Solomon brought in horses from Egypt and Kue. His traders bought them in Kue and brought them to Israel.


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A chariot from Egypt cost about 15 pounds of silver. And a horse cost about 3¾ pounds of silver. The traders also sold horses and chariots to the kings of the Hittites and the Arameans.


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Solomon’s Many Wives But King Solomon loved many women who were not from Israel. He loved the daughter of the king of Egypt. He also loved women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.


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The Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not marry people of other nations. If you do, they will cause you to follow their gods.” But Solomon fell in love with these women.


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He had 700 wives who were from royal families. He also had 300 slave women who gave birth to his children. His wives caused him to turn away from God.


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As Solomon grew old, his wives caused him to follow other gods. He did not follow the Lord completely as his father David had done.


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Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the people of Sidon. And he worshiped Molech, the hated god of the Ammonites.


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So Solomon did what the Lord said was wrong. He did not follow the Lord completely as his father David had done.


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On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built two places for worship. He built a place to worship Chemosh, the hated god of the Moabites. And he built a place to worship Molech, the hated god of the Ammonites.


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Solomon did the same thing for all of his foreign wives. So they burned incense and gave sacrifices to their gods.


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The Lord had appeared to Solomon twice. But Solomon turned away from following the Lord, the God of Israel. So the Lord was angry with him.


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The Lord had commanded Solomon not to follow other gods. But Solomon did not obey the Lord’s command.


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So the Lord said to Solomon, “You have chosen to break your agreement with me. You have not obeyed my commands. So I promise I will tear your kingdom away from you. I will give it to one of your officers.


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But I will not take it away while you are alive. This is because of my love for your father David. I will tear it away from your son when he becomes king.


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But I will not tear away all the kingdom from him. I will leave him one tribe to rule. I will do this because of David, my servant. And I will do it because of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen.”


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Solomon’s Enemies Now Hadad was a member of the family of the king of Edom. And the Lord caused Hadad the Edomite to become Solomon’s enemy.


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Earlier, David had defeated Edom. Joab, the commander of David’s army, went into Edom to bury the dead. While he was there, he killed all the males.


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Joab and all the Israelites stayed in Edom for six months. During that time they killed every male in Edom.


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But at that time Hadad was only a young boy. So he ran away to Egypt with some of his father’s officers.


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They left Midian and went to Paran. In Paran other men joined them. Then they all went to Egypt to see the king. He gave Hadad a house, some land and food to eat.


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They had a son named Genubath. Queen Tahpenes allowed him to grow up in the royal palace. So he grew up with the king’s own children.


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While he was in Egypt, Hadad heard that David had died. He also heard that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead. So Hadad said to the king, “Let me go home. Let me return to my own country.”


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But the king said, “Why do you want to go back to your own country? What haven’t I given you here?” Hadad answered, “Nothing. But please, let me go.”


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God also caused another man to be an enemy to Solomon. This man was Rezon son of Eliada. Rezon had run away from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah.


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After David defeated the army of Zobah, Rezon gathered some men. He became the leader of a small army. They went to Damascus and settled there. And Rezon became king of Damascus.


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Rezon ruled Aram, and he hated Israel. So he was an enemy of Israel all the time Solomon was alive. Rezon and Hadad caused some trouble for Israel.


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Jeroboam son of Nebat was one of Solomon’s officers. Jeroboam was one of the Ephraimite people. He was from the town of Zeredah. His mother was a widow named Zeruah. He turned against the king.


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This is the story of how Jeroboam turned against the king. Solomon was filling in the land on the east side of Jerusalem. He was also repairing the wall of Jerusalem. It was the city of David, his ancestor.


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Jeroboam was a capable man. Solomon saw that this young man was a good worker. So Solomon put him over all the workers from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.


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One day Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem. Ahijah, the prophet from Shiloh, met him on the road. Ahijah was wearing a new coat. The two men were alone out in the country.


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Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take 10 pieces of this coat for yourself. The Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will tear the kingdom away from Solomon. Then I will give you 10 tribes.


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But I will allow the family of David to control 1 tribe. I will do this for my servant David and for Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel.


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I will do this because Solomon has stopped following me. He worships the Sidonian god Ashtoreth and the Moabite god Chemosh. He also worships Molech, the Ammonite god. Solomon has not obeyed me. He has not done what I said is right. He has not obeyed my laws and commands. He is not living the way his father David lived.


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“‘But I will not take all the kingdom away from Solomon. I will let him rule all his life. I will do this because of my servant David. I chose David, and he obeyed all my commands and laws.


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But I will take the kingdom away from his son. Jeroboam, I will allow you to rule over the 10 tribes.


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I will allow Solomon’s son to continue to rule over 1 tribe. I will do this so that David, my servant, will always have a king before me in Jerusalem. It is the city where I chose to be worshiped.


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I will always be with you if you do what I say is right. You must obey all my commands. If you obey my laws and commands as David did, I will be with you. I will make your family a family of kings, as I did for David. I will give Israel to you.


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Solomon’s Death Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam ran away to Egypt. He went to Shishak king of Egypt. And Jeroboam stayed there until Solomon died.


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Everything else Solomon did is written down. He showed much wisdom. It is written in the book of the history of Solomon.


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Then he died and was buried in Jerusalem, the city of David, his father. And his son Rehoboam became king after him.


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Israel Turns Against Rehoboam Rehoboam went to Shechem because all the Israelites had gone there to make him king.


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Jeroboam son of Nebat was still in Egypt. He had gone there to escape from Solomon. When Jeroboam heard about Rehoboam being made king, Jeroboam returned from Egypt.


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“Your father forced us to work very hard. Now, make it easier for us. Don’t make us work as hard as your father did. Then we will serve you.”


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Some of the elders had helped Solomon make decisions during his lifetime. So King Rehoboam asked them what he should do. He said, “How do you think I should answer these people?”


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They answered, “You should be like a servant to them today. Serve them, and give them a kind answer. If you do, they will serve you always.”


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But Rehoboam did not listen to this advice. He asked the young men who had grown up with him. They advised him in making decisions.


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Rehoboam said, “The people said, ‘Don’t make us work as hard as your father did.’ How do you think I should answer them? What is your advice?”


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The young men answered, “Those people came to you and said, ‘Your father forced us to work very hard. Now make our work easier.’ So you should tell them, ‘My little finger is bigger than my father’s whole body.


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My father forced you to work hard. But I will make you work even harder! My father beat you with whips. But I will beat you with whips that have sharp points.’”


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Rehoboam had told the people, “Come back to me in three days.” So after three days all the people returned to Rehoboam.


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At that time King Rehoboam spoke cruel words to them. He did not listen to the advice that the elders had given him.


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He did what the young men had told him to do. Rehoboam said, “My father forced you to work hard. So I will give you even more work. My father beat you with whips. But I will beat you with whips that have sharp points.”


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So the king did not do what the people wanted. The Lord caused this to happen. He did this to keep the promise he had made to Jeroboam son of Nebat. He had made this promise through Ahijah, the prophet from Shiloh.


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All the people of Israel saw that the new king refused to listen to them. So they said to the king, “We have no share in David! We have no part in the son of Jesse! People of Israel, let’s go to our own homes! Let David’s son rule his own people!” So the Israelites went home.


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Adoniram was in charge of the people who were forced to work. King Rehoboam sent him to the people. But they threw stones at him until he died. But King Rehoboam ran to his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem.


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All the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned. So they called him to a meeting. And they made him king over all Israel. But the tribe of Judah continued to follow the family of David.


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When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he gathered the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. This was an army of 180,000 men. Rehoboam wanted to fight against the people of Israel. He wanted to take back his kingdom.


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“Talk to Solomon’s son Rehoboam, the king of Judah. Talk also to all the people of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people.


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Say to them, ‘The Lord says you must not go to war against your brothers, the Israelites. Every one of you should go home. I made all these things happen!’” So the men in Rehoboam’s army obeyed the Lord’s command. They all went home as the Lord had commanded.


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Then Jeroboam made Shechem a very strong city. It is in the mountains of Ephraim. And Jeroboam lived there. He also went to the city of Peniel and made it stronger.


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Jeroboam Builds Golden Calves Jeroboam said to himself, “The kingdom will probably go back to David’s family.


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The people will continue going to the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. If they do, they will want to be ruled again by Rehoboam. Then they will kill me and follow Rehoboam king of Judah.”


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King Jeroboam asked his men for advice. So he made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too hard for you to go to Jerusalem to worship. Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.”


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Jeroboam built temples on the places of worship. He chose priests from all the people. (He did not choose priests only from the tribe of Levi.)


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And he started a new festival. It was the fifteenth day of the eighth month. This was like the festival in Judah. During that time the king offered sacrifices on the altar. He offered sacrifices to the calves in Bethel he had made. He also chose priests in Bethel to serve at the places of worship he had made.


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So Jeroboam chose his own time for a festival for the Israelites. It was the fifteenth day of the eighth month. During that time he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built in Bethel. So he set up a festival for the Israelites. And he offered sacrifices on the altar.


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The Man of God Speaks Against Bethel The Lord commanded a man of God from Judah to go to Bethel. When he arrived, Jeroboam was standing by the altar to offer a sacrifice.


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The Lord had commanded the man of God to speak against the altar. The man said, “Altar, the Lord says to you: ‘David’s family will have a son named Josiah. He will kill the priests of the places of worship. They now make their sacrifices on you. But Josiah will sacrifice those priests on you. Human bones will be burned on you.’”


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The man of God gave proof that these things would happen. He said, “This is God’s sign that this will happen. This altar will break apart. And the ashes on it will fall onto the ground.”


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King Jeroboam heard what the man of God said about the altar in Bethel. So Jeroboam raised his hand from the altar and pointed at the man. “Capture him!” he said. But when the king said this, his arm became paralyzed. He could not move it.


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Also, the altar broke into pieces. All its ashes fell onto the ground. This was the sign the Lord had told the man of God to give.


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Then the king said to the man of God, “Please pray to the Lord your God for me. Ask him to heal my arm.” So the man of God prayed to the Lord. And the king’s arm was healed. It became as it was before.


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But the man of God answered the king, “I will not go home with you! Even if you gave me half of your kingdom, I would not go! I will not eat or drink anything in this place.


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The Lord commanded me not to eat or drink anything. He also commanded me not to return on the same road by which I came.”


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So he traveled on a different road. He did not return on the same road by which he had come to Bethel.


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Now there was an old prophet living in Bethel. His sons came and told him what the man of God had done there that day. They told their father what he had said to King Jeroboam.


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The father asked, “Which road did he use when he left?” So his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken.


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He went after the man of God. He found the man sitting under an oak tree. The prophet asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” The man answered, “Yes, I am.”


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But the man of God answered, “I can’t go home with you. I can’t eat or drink with you in this place.


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The Lord said to me, ‘You must not eat or drink anything there. And you must not return on the same road by which you came.’”


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Then the old prophet said, “But I also am a prophet like you.” Then he told a lie. He said, “An angel from the Lord came to me. He told me to bring you to my home. He said you should eat and drink with me.”


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The old prophet cried out to the man of God from Judah. He said, “The Lord said you did not obey him! He said you did not do what the Lord your God commanded you.


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The Lord commanded you not to eat or drink anything in this place. But you came back and ate and drank. So your body will not be buried in your family grave.”


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The man of God finished eating. Then the prophet put a saddle on his donkey for him. And the man left.


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As he was traveling on the road home, a lion attacked and killed him. His body lay on the road. The donkey and the lion stood near it.


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Some men were traveling on that road. They saw the body and the lion standing near it. So they went to the city where the old prophet lived. And they told what they had seen.


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The old prophet who had brought the man of God back heard about what had happened. He said, “It is the man of God who did not obey the Lord’s command. So the Lord sent a lion to kill him. The Lord said he would do this.”


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The old prophet went out and found the body lying on the road. The donkey and the lion were still standing near it. The lion had not eaten the body. And it had not hurt the donkey.


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So the prophet put the body on his donkey. And he carried it back to the city. There he would have a time of sadness for him and bury him.


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The prophet buried the body in his own family grave. And he was sad for the man of God. He said, “Oh, my brother.”


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So the prophet buried the body. Then he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in this same grave. Put my bones next to his.


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Through him the Lord spoke against the altar at Bethel. And he spoke against the places of worship in the towns of Samaria. And what the Lord spoke through him will certainly come true.”


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But King Jeroboam did not stop doing evil things. He continued to choose priests for the places of worship from all the people. Anyone who wanted to be a priest for the places of worship was allowed.


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In this way the kingdom of Jeroboam sinned. And that sin caused its ruin and destruction from the earth.


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So Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go to Shiloh. Go to see the prophet Ahijah. He is the one who said I would become king of Israel. But dress yourself so people won’t know you are my wife.


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Give the prophet ten loaves of bread, some cakes and a jar of honey. Then ask him what will happen to our son. And he will tell you.”


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So the king’s wife did as he said. She went to Ahijah’s home in Shiloh. Now Ahijah was very old and had become blind.


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But the Lord had said to him, “Jeroboam’s son is sick. So Jeroboam’s wife is coming to ask you about him. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else.” Then the Lord told Ahijah what to say.


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When Ahijah heard her walking to the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why are you pretending to be someone else? I have bad news for you.


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Go back and tell Jeroboam that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jeroboam, I chose you from among all the people of Israel. I made you the leader of my people.


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I took the kingdom away from David’s family. And I gave it to you. But you are not like my servant David. He always obeyed my commands. He followed me with all his heart. He did only the things I said were right.


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But you have done more evil things than anyone who ruled before you. You have quit following me. You have made other gods and idols of metal. This has made me very angry.


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So I will bring disaster to the family of Jeroboam. I will kill all of the men in your family, both slaves and free men. I will destroy your family as completely as fire burns up manure.


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Anyone from your family who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs. And anyone from your family who dies in the fields will be eaten by the birds. The Lord has spoken!’”


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Then Ahijah said to Jeroboam’s wife, “Now go home. When you enter your city gate, your son will die.


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All Israel will be sad for him and bury him. He will be the only one of Jeroboam’s family who will be buried. This is because he is the only one in Jeroboam’s family who pleased the Lord, the God of Israel.


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“The Lord will put a new king over Israel. That king will destroy Jeroboam’s family. This will happen soon.


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Then the Lord will punish Israel. The people of Israel will be like grass moving in the water. The Lord will pull up Israel from this good land. This is the land he gave their ancestors. But he will scatter Israel beyond the Euphrates River. This will happen because the Lord is angry with the people. They made him angry when they made idols to worship Asherah.


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Jeroboam sinned, and then he made the people of Israel sin. So the Lord will let the people of Israel be defeated.”


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They buried him. And all Israel had a time of sadness for him. This happened as the Lord said it would. The Lord had said these things through his servant, the prophet Ahijah.


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Everything else Jeroboam did is written down. He fought wars and continued to rule the people. It is all written in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.


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The Death of Rehoboam Solomon’s son Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king of Judah. His mother was Naamah from the land of Ammon. Rehoboam ruled in Jerusalem for 17 years. (The Lord had chosen that city from all the land of Israel. He chose to be worshiped there.)


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The people of Judah did what the Lord said was wrong. The people’s sins made the Lord very angry at them. They made the Lord even more angry than their ancestors had done.


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The people built stone pillars and places to worship false gods and Asherah idols. They built them on every high hill and under every green tree.


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There were even male prostitutes at the places of worship to the gods. The people who had lived in the land before the Israelites had done many evil things. And God had taken the land away from them. Now the people of Judah were doing the same evil things.


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He took the treasures from the Temple of the Lord and the king’s palace. He took everything, even the gold shields Solomon had made.


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So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to put in their place. He gave them to the men who were guarding the palace gates.


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Whenever the king went to the Temple of the Lord, the guards carried the shields. After they were finished, they put the shields back in the guardroom.


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Everything else King Rehoboam did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Judah.


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Rehoboam died and was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem. His mother was Naamah from Ammon. And Rehoboam’s son Abijam became king in his place.


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Abijam King of Judah Abijam became king of Judah. This was during the eighteenth year Jeroboam son of Nebat ruled Israel.


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He did all the same sins his father before him had done. Abijam was not faithful to the Lord his God. In this way he was not like David, his great-grandfather.


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Because the Lord had loved David, the Lord gave Abijam a kingdom in Jerusalem. And the Lord allowed him to have a son to be king after him. The Lord also kept Jerusalem safe.


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David had always done what the Lord said was right. All his life he had always obeyed the Lord’s commands. There was only one time David did not obey the Lord. This was when he sinned against Uriah the Hittite.


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Everything else Abijam did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. During the time Abijam ruled, there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.


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Asa ruled in Jerusalem for 41 years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah. She was the daughter of Abishalom.


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There were male prostitutes at the places where false gods were worshiped. Asa forced them to leave the country. He also took away the idols that his ancestors had made.


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His grandmother Maacah had made a terrible Asherah idol. So Asa removed her from being queen. He cut down this idol and burned it in the Kidron Valley.


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Asa was faithful to the Lord all his life. But he did not destroy the places where false gods were worshiped.


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Asa and his father had given some things to God. They had given gifts of gold, silver and other objects. Asa put all these things in the Temple.


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Baasha fought against Judah. He wanted to stop people from leaving or entering Asa’s country, Judah. So he made the city of Ramah very strong.


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Then Asa took all the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and his own palace. He gave it to his officers. And he sent them to Ben-Hadad king of Aram. (Ben-Hadad was the son of Tabrimmon. And he was the son of Hezion.) Ben-Hadad was ruling in the city of Damascus.


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Asa sent this message: “My father and your father had a peace agreement. I am sending you a gift of gold and silver. Break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will leave my land.”


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Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa. So he sent his army to fight against the towns of Israel. He defeated the towns of Ijon, Dan and Abel Bethmaacah. And he defeated all the land near Lake Galilee and the area of Naphtali.


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Then King Asa gave an order to all the people of Judah. Everyone had to help. They carried away all the stones and wood Baasha had been using in Ramah. King Asa used those things to build up Geba and Mizpah. (Geba was in the land of Benjamin.)


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Everything else Asa did is written down. His victories and the cities he built are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. When he became old, he got a disease in his feet.


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Then Asa died. And he was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem. It was the city of David, his ancestor. Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became king in his place.


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Nadab King of Israel Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel. This was during the second year Asa was king of Judah. And Nadab was king of Israel for two years.


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He did what the Lord said was wrong. Jeroboam had caused the people of Israel to sin. Nadab sinned in the same way his father Jeroboam had sinned.


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Baasha son of Ahijah was from the tribe of Issachar. He made plans to kill Nadab. Nadab and all Israel were attacking the Philistine town of Gibbethon. So Baasha killed Nadab there.


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Baasha King of Israel As soon as Baasha became king, he killed all of Jeroboam’s family. He left no one in Jeroboam’s family alive. This happened as the Lord had said it would. The Lord had said this through his servant Ahijah from Shiloh.


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This happened because King Jeroboam had sinned very much. And he had caused the people of Israel to sin. Jeroboam had made the Lord, the God of Israel, very angry.


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Baasha son of Ahijah became king of Israel. This was during Asa’s third year as king of Judah. And Baasha ruled in Tirzah for 24 years.


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But Baasha did what the Lord said was wrong. Jeroboam had caused the people of Israel to sin. And Baasha sinned in the same way Jeroboam had sinned.


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The Lord said, “You were nothing. Then I took you and made you a leader over my people Israel. But you have followed the ways of Jeroboam. You have caused my people Israel to sin. Their sins have made me angry.


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So, Baasha, I will destroy you and your family. I will do to you what I did to the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat.


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Anyone from your family who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs. And anyone from your family who dies in the fields will be eaten by birds.”


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Everything else Baasha did and all his victories are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.


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The Lord spoke his word through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani. The Lord’s message was against Baasha and his family. Baasha had done many things the Lord said were wrong. This made the Lord very angry. Baasha did the same things that Jeroboam’s family had done before him. The Lord was also angry because Baasha killed all of Jeroboam’s family.


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Elah King of Israel Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel. This was during Asa’s twenty-sixth year as king of Judah. And Elah ruled in Tirzah for two years.


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Zimri was one of Elah’s officers. He commanded half of Elah’s chariots. But Zimri made plans against Elah. Elah was in Tirzah, getting drunk at Arza’s home. (Arza was the man in charge of the palace at Tirzah.)


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So Zimri went into Arza’s house and killed Elah. This was during Asa’s twenty-seventh year as king of Judah. Then Zimri became king of Israel in Elah’s place.


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Zimri King of Israel As soon as Zimri became king, he killed all of Baasha’s family. He did not let any man of Baasha’s family or friends live.


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So Zimri destroyed all of Baasha’s family. This happened as the Lord had said it would. The Lord had spoken this against Baasha through the prophet Jehu.


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This happened because of all the sins of Baasha and his son Elah. They sinned and caused the people of Israel to sin. They also made the Lord, the God of Israel, angry because they had made worthless idols.


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So Zimri became king of Israel. This was during Asa’s twenty-seventh year as king of Judah. Zimri ruled in Tirzah seven days. This is what happened: The army of Israel was camped near Gibbethon, a Philistine town.


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The men in the camp heard that Zimri had made secret plans against the king. And they heard that Zimri had killed him. So that day in the camp they made Omri king over Israel. (Omri was commander of the army.)


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Zimri saw that the city had been captured. So he went into the palace and set it on fire. He burned the palace and himself with it.


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So Zimri died because he had sinned. He did what the Lord said was wrong. Jeroboam had caused the people of Israel to sin. And Zimri sinned in the same way Jeroboam had sinned.


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Everything else Zimri did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. The story of how Zimri turned against King Elah is also written there.


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Omri King of Israel The people of Israel were divided into two groups. Half of the people wanted Tibni to be king. He was the son of Ginath. The other half of the people wanted Omri.


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But Omri’s followers were stronger than the followers of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king.


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Omri became king of Israel. This was during the thirty-first year Asa was king of Judah. And Omri ruled Israel for 12 years. Six of those years he ruled in the town of Tirzah.


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Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer. He paid about 150 pounds of silver for it. Omri built a city on that hill. And he called it Samaria after the name of its earlier owner, Shemer.


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Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused the people of Israel to sin. And Omri sinned in the same way Jeroboam had sinned. So the Israelites made the Lord, the God of Israel, very angry. He was angry because they worshiped worthless idols.


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Everything else Omri did and all his successes are written down. They are all in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.


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Ahab King of Israel So Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel. This was during Asa’s thirty-eighth year as king of Judah. Ahab ruled Israel in the town of Samaria for 22 years.


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Ahab did many things that the Lord said were wrong. He did more evil than any of the kings before him.


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He sinned in the same ways that Jeroboam son of Nebat had sinned. But he did even worse things. He married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal. (Ethbaal was king of the city of Sidon.) Then Ahab began to serve Baal and worship him.


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Ahab also made an idol for worshiping Asherah. He did more things to make the Lord, the God of Israel, angry than all the other kings before him.


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During the time of Ahab, Hiel from Bethel rebuilt the town of Jericho. It cost Hiel the life of Abiram, his oldest son, to begin work on the city. And it cost the life of Segub, his youngest son, to build the city gates. The Lord had said, through Joshua, that this would happen. (Joshua was the son of Nun.)


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Elijah Stops the Rain Now Elijah was a prophet from the town of Tishbe in Gilead. Elijah said to King Ahab, “I serve the Lord, the God of Israel. As surely as the Lord lives, I tell you the truth. No rain or dew will fall during the next few years unless I command it.”


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So Elijah did what the Lord told him to do. He went to Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and lived there.


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The birds brought Elijah bread and meat every morning and every evening. And he drank water from the brook.


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So Elijah went to Zarephath. When he reached the town gate, he saw a widow there. She was gathering wood for a fire. Elijah asked her, “Would you bring me a little water in a cup? I would like to have a drink.”


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The woman answered, “As surely as the Lord your God lives, I tell you the truth. I have no bread. I have only a handful of flour in a jar. And I have only a little olive oil in a jug. I came here to gather some wood. I will take it home and cook our last meal. My son and I will eat it and then die from hunger.”


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Elijah said to her, “Don’t worry. Go home and cook your food as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread from the flour you have. Bring it to me. Then cook something for yourself and your son.


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The Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘That jar of flour will never become empty. The jug will always have oil in it. This will continue until the day the Lord sends rain to the land.’”


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So the woman went home. And she did what Elijah told her to do. So Elijah, the woman and her son had enough food every day.


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The jar of flour and the jug of oil were never empty. This happened just as the Lord, through Elijah, said it would.


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Elijah Brings a Boy Back to Life Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. He grew worse and worse. Finally he stopped breathing.


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So the woman said to Elijah, “You are a man of God. What have you done to me? Did you come here to remind me of my sin? Did you come here to kill my son?”


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Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So Elijah took the boy from her and carried him upstairs. Elijah laid the boy on the bed in the room where he was staying.


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Then he prayed to the Lord. He said, “Lord my God, this widow is letting me stay in her house. Why have you done this terrible thing to her? Why have you caused her son to die?”


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Then Elijah lay on top of the boy three times. Elijah prayed to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy live again!”


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Elijah carried the boy downstairs. He gave the boy to his mother and said, “See! Your son is alive!”


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The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you really are a man from God. I know that the Lord truly speaks through you!”


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Elijah and the Prophets of Baal During the third year without rain, the Lord spoke his word to Elijah. The Lord said, “Go and meet King Ahab. I will soon send rain.”


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So King Ahab sent for Obadiah. Obadiah was in charge of the king’s palace. (Obadiah was a true follower of the Lord.


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One time Jezebel was killing all the Lord’s prophets. So Obadiah took 100 of them and hid them in two caves. He put 50 in one cave and 50 in another cave. And he brought them food and water.)


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King Ahab said to Obadiah, “Let’s look at every spring and valley in the land. Maybe we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules alive. Then we will not have to kill our animals.”


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So each one chose a part of the country to search. Ahab went in one direction. Obadiah went in another direction.


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While Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah knew who Elijah was. So he bowed down to the ground before Elijah. He said, “Elijah? Is it really you, master?”


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Then Obadiah said, “If I tell Ahab that, he will kill me! I have done nothing wrong that I should be killed!


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As surely as the Lord your God lives, the king has looked everywhere for you! He has sent people to every country to look for you. If the ruler said you were not there, that was not enough. Ahab then forced the ruler to swear you could not be found in his country.


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The Spirit of the Lord may carry you to some other place after I leave. If I go tell King Ahab you are here, he will come. If he doesn’t find you, he will kill me! I have followed the Lord since I was a boy.


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Haven’t you heard what I did? When Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets, I hid 100 of them. I put 50 prophets in one cave and 50 prophets in another cave. I brought them food and water.


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Elijah answered, “I serve the Lord of heaven’s armies. As surely as the Lord lives, I will stand before Ahab today.”


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Elijah answered, “I have not caused trouble in Israel. You and your father’s family have caused all this trouble. You have not obeyed the Lord’s commands. You have followed the Baals.


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Now tell all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. Also bring the 450 prophets of Baal there. And bring the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”


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Elijah stood before the people. He said, “How long will you try to serve both Baal and the Lord? If the Lord is the true God, follow him. But if Baal is the true God, follow him!” But the people said nothing.


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So bring two bulls. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull. Let them kill it and cut it into pieces. Then let them put the meat on the wood. But they are not to set fire to it. Then I will do the same with the other bull. And I will put it on the wood. But I will not set fire to it.


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You prophets of Baal, pray to your god. And I will pray to the Lord. The god who answers the prayer will set fire to his wood. He is the true God.” All the people agreed that this was a good idea.


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Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “There are many of you. So you go first. Choose a bull and prepare it. Pray to your god, but don’t start the fire.”


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So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it. They prayed to Baal from morning until noon. They shouted, “Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound. No one answered. They danced around the altar they had built.


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At noon Elijah began to make fun of them. He said, “Pray louder! If Baal really is a god, maybe he is thinking. Or maybe he is busy or traveling! Maybe he is sleeping so you will have to wake him!”


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So the prophets prayed louder. They cut themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed. (This was the way they worshiped.)


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The afternoon passed, and the prophets continued to act wildly. They continued until it was time for the evening sacrifice. But no voice was heard. Baal did not answer. No one paid attention.


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Then Elijah said to all the people, “Now come to me.” So they gathered around him. Elijah rebuilt the altar of the Lord because it had been torn down.


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He took 12 stones. He took 1 stone for each of the 12 tribes. These 12 tribes were named for the 12 sons of Jacob. (Jacob was the man the Lord had called Israel.)


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Elijah used these stones to rebuild the altar in honor of the Lord. Then he dug a small ditch around it. It was big enough to hold about 13 quarts of seed.


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Elijah put the wood on the altar. He cut the bull into pieces and laid them on the wood. Then he said, “Fill four jars with water. Put the water on the meat and on the wood.”


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Then Elijah said, “Do it again.” And they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it the third time.


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It was time for the evening sacrifice. So the prophet Elijah went near the altar. He prayed, “Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. I ask you now to prove that you are the God of Israel. And prove that I am your servant. Show these people that you commanded me to do all these things.


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Lord, answer my prayer. Show these people that you, Lord, are God. Then the people will know that you are bringing them back to you.”


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Then fire from the Lord came down. It burned the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the ground around the altar. It also dried up the water in the ditch.


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When all the people saw this, they fell down to the ground. They cried, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!”


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Then Elijah said, “Capture the prophets of Baal! Don’t let any of them run away!” So the people captured all the prophets. Then Elijah led them down to Kishon Valley. There he killed all the prophets.


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So King Ahab went to eat and drink. At the same time Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel. There he bent down to the ground with his head between his knees.


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Then Elijah said to his servant, “Go and look toward the sea.” The servant went and looked. He said, “I see nothing.” Elijah told him to go and look again. This happened seven times.


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The seventh time, the servant said, “I see a small cloud. It’s the size of a man’s fist. It’s coming from the sea.” Elijah told the servant, “Go to Ahab. Tell him to get his chariot ready and to go home now. If he doesn’t leave now, the rain will stop him.”


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After a short time the sky was covered with dark clouds. The wind began to blow. Then a heavy rain began to fall. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel.


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The Lord gave his power to Elijah. Elijah tightened his clothes around him. Then he ran ahead of King Ahab all the way to Jezreel.


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Elijah at Mount Sinai King Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done. Ahab told her how Elijah had killed all the prophets with a sword.


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So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah. Jezebel said, “By this time tomorrow I will kill you. I will kill you as you killed those prophets. If I don’t succeed, may the gods punish me terribly.”


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When Elijah heard this, he was afraid. So he ran away to save his life. He took his servant with him. When they came to Beersheba in Judah, Elijah left his servant there.


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Then Elijah walked for a whole day into the desert. He sat down under a bush and asked to die. Elijah prayed, “I have had enough, Lord. Let me die. I am no better than my ancestors.”


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Then Elijah lay down under the tree and slept. Suddenly an angel came to him and touched him. The angel said, “Get up and eat.”


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Elijah saw near his head a loaf baked over coals and a jar of water. So he ate and drank. Then he went back to sleep.


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Later the Lord’s angel came to him a second time. The angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat. If you don’t, the journey will be too hard for you.”


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So Elijah got up and ate and drank. The food made him strong enough to walk for 40 days and nights. He walked to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.


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There Elijah went into a cave and stayed all night. Then the Lord spoke his word to him: “Elijah! Why are you here?”


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Elijah answered, “Lord, God of heaven’s armies, I have always served you the best I could. But the people of Israel have broken their agreement with you. They have destroyed your altars. They have killed your prophets with swords. I am the only prophet left. And now they are trying to kill me, too!”


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Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go. Stand in front of me on the mountain. I will pass by you.” Then a very strong wind blew. It caused the mountains to break apart. It broke apart large rocks in front of the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake.


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After the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle voice.


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When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his coat. He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice said to him, “Elijah! Why are you here?”


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Elijah answered, “Lord, God of heaven’s armies, I have always served you the best I could. But the people of Israel have broken their agreement with you. They have destroyed your altars. They have killed your prophets with swords. I am the only prophet left. And now they are trying to kill me, too.”


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The Lord said to him, “Go back on the road that leads to the desert around Damascus. Enter that city. There pour olive oil on Hazael to make him king over Aram.


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Then pour oil on Jehu son of Nimshi to make him king over Israel. Next, pour oil on Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah. He will be a prophet in your place.


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Jehu will kill anyone who escapes from Hazael’s sword. And Elisha will kill anyone who escapes from Jehu’s sword.


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But I have left 7,000 people living in Israel. Those 7,000 have never bowed down before Baal. Their mouths have never kissed his idol.”


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Elisha Becomes a Prophet So Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing a field with a team of oxen. There were 11 teams ahead of him. Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team of oxen. Elijah came up to Elisha. Elijah took off his coat and put it on Elisha.


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Then Elisha left his oxen and ran to follow Elijah. Elisha said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother good-bye. Then I will go with you.” Elijah answered, “That is fine. Go back. I won’t stop you.”


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So Elisha went back. He took his pair of oxen and killed them. He used the wooden yoke for the fire. Then he cooked the meat and gave it to the people. And they ate it. Then Elisha went and followed Elijah and became his helper.


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Ben-Hadad and Ahab Go to War Now Ben-Hadad was king of Aram. He gathered together all his army. There were 32 kings with their horses and chariots. They went with him and surrounded Samaria and attacked it.


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This was his message: “Ben-Hadad says, ‘You must give me your silver and gold and the best of your wives and children.’”


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Ahab king of Israel answered, “My master and king, I agree to what you say. I and everything I have belongs to you.”


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Then the messengers came to Ahab again. They said, “Ben-Hadad says, ‘I told you before that you must give me your silver and gold, your wives and your children.


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About this time tomorrow I am going to send my men to you. They are to search everywhere in your palace. And they are to search the homes of the men who rule under you. My men will take anything they want.’”


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So Ahab called a meeting of all the elders of his country. He said, “Ben-Hadad is looking for trouble. First he said I had to give him my wives, my children, my silver and my gold. I agreed to that.”


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So Ahab said to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell my master the king this: ‘I will do what you said at first. But I will not obey your second command.’” So King Ben-Hadad’s men carried the message back to him.


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Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: “I will completely destroy Samaria. There won’t be even enough left for each of my men to get a handful of dust. May the gods punish me terribly if I don’t do this!”


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Ahab answered, “Tell Ben-Hadad this: ‘The man who puts on his armor should not brag too soon. It’s the man who lives long enough to take it off who has the right to brag.’”


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Now Ben-Hadad was drinking in his tent with the other rulers. The messengers came and gave him the message from Ahab. Ben-Hadad commanded his men to prepare to attack the city. So they moved into their places for the battle.


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At the same time a prophet came to Ahab, king of Israel. The prophet said, “Ahab, the Lord says to you, ‘Do you see that big army? I will let you defeat it today. Then you will know I am the Lord.’”


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Ahab said, “Who will you use to defeat them?” The prophet answered, “The Lord says, ‘The young officers of the district governors will defeat them.’” Then the king asked, “Who will command the main army?” The prophet answered, “You will.”


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So Ahab gathered the young officers of the district governors. There were 232 of them. Then he called together the army of Israel. There were 7,000 of them.


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At noon Ben-Hadad and the 32 rulers helping him were getting drunk in their tents. At this time Ahab attacked them.


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The young officers of the district governors attacked first. Ben-Hadad’s scouts told him that soldiers were coming from Samaria.


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So Ben-Hadad said, “They may be coming to fight. Or they may be coming to ask for peace. In either case capture them alive.”


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Then each officer of Israel killed the man who came against him. So the men from Aram ran away as Israel chased them. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with some of his horsemen.


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Ahab king of Israel led the army. He captured the Arameans’ horses and chariots. So King Ahab caused a great defeat of the Aramean army.


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Then the prophet went to Ahab king of Israel and said, “The king of Aram will attack you again next spring. So you should go home now and make your army stronger. Make plans to defend yourself.”


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The officers of Ben-Hadad king of Aram said to him, “The gods of Israel are mountain gods. Since we fought in a mountain area, Israel won. So let’s fight them on the flat land. Then we will win.


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This is what you should do. Don’t allow the 32 rulers to command the armies. Put commanders in their places.


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Gather an army like the one that was destroyed. Gather as many horses and chariots as it had. We will fight the Israelites on flat land. Then we will win.” Ben-Hadad agreed with their advice and did what they said.


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The Israelites also prepared for war. They marched out to meet the Arameans and camped opposite them. They looked like two small groups of goats. But the Arameans covered the area.


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A man of God came to the king of Israel with this message: “The Lord says, ‘The people of Aram say that I, the Lord, am a god of the mountains. They think I am not a god of the valleys. So I will allow you to defeat this big army. Then you will know I am the Lord.’”


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The armies were camped across from each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 Aramean soldiers in one day.


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The rest of them ran away to the city of Aphek. There a city wall fell on 27,000 of them. Ben-Hadad also ran away to the city and hid in a room.


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His officers said to him, “We have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let’s dress in rough cloth to show our sadness. And let’s wear ropes on our heads as a sign of surrender. Then let’s go to the king of Israel. Maybe he will let you live.”


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So they dressed in rough cloth and wore ropes on their heads. Then they went to the king of Israel. They said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” Ahab answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”


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Now Ben-Hadad’s men had wanted a sign from Ahab. They wanted to know he would not kill Ben-Hadad. So when Ahab called Ben-Hadad his brother, they quickly said, “Yes! Ben-Hadad is your brother.” Ahab said, “Bring him to me.” When Ben-Hadad came, Ahab asked him to join him in the chariot.


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Ben-Hadad said to him, “Ahab, I will give you back the towns my father took from your father. And you may put shops in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Ahab said, “If you agree to this, I will allow you to go free.” So the two kings made a peace agreement. Then Ahab let Ben-Hadad go free.


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A Prophet Speaks Against Ahab One of the prophets told another prophet, “Hit me!” He told him to do this because the Lord had commanded it. But the other prophet refused.


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So the first prophet said, “You did not obey the Lord’s command. So a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.” When the second prophet left, a lion found him and killed him.


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Then the prophet wrapped his face in a cloth. This way no one could tell who he was. Then he went and waited by the road for the king.


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As Ahab king of Israel passed by, the prophet called out to him. The prophet said, “I went to fight in the battle. One of our men brought an enemy soldier to me. Our man said, ‘Guard this man. If he runs away, you will have to give your life in his place. Or, you will have to pay a fine of 75 pounds of silver.’


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But I became busy doing other things. So the man ran away.” The king of Israel answered, “You have said what the punishment is. You must do what the man said.”


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Then the prophet quickly took the cloth from his face. When the king of Israel saw him, he knew he was one of the prophets.


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Then the prophet said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You set free the man I said should die. So your life will be taken in his place. And the lives of your people will be taken in place of the lives of his people.’”


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Naboth’s Vineyard A man named Naboth owned a vineyard. It was in Jezreel, near the palace of Ahab king of Israel.


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One day Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard. It is near my palace. I want to make it into a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in its place. Or, if you prefer, I will pay you what it is worth.”


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So Ahab went home, angry and upset. He did not like what Naboth from Jezreel had said. (Naboth had said, “I will not give you my family’s land.”) So Ahab lay down on his bed. He turned his face to the wall and refused to eat.


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Ahab answered, “I talked to Naboth, the man from Jezreel. I said, ‘Sell me your vineyard. Or, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ But Naboth refused.”


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Jezebel answered, “Is this how you rule as king over Israel? Get out of bed. Eat something. Cheer up. I will get Naboth’s vineyard for you.”


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So Jezebel wrote some letters and signed Ahab’s name to them. And she used his own seal to seal them. Then she sent them to the elders and important men who lived in Naboth’s town.


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The letter she wrote said: “Declare a day during which the people are to give up eating. Call the people together. And give Naboth a place of honor among them.


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Seat two troublemakers across from him. Have them say they heard Naboth speak against God and the king. Then take Naboth out of the city and kill him with stones.”


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They declared a special day. On that day the people were to give up eating. They called the people together. And they put Naboth in a place of honor before the people.


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Then two troublemakers sat across from Naboth. They said they had heard Naboth speak against God and the king. So the people carried Naboth out of the city. And they killed him with stones.


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When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been killed, she told Ahab. She said, “Naboth of Jezreel is dead. Now you may go and take for yourself his vineyard you wanted.”


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At this time the Lord spoke his word to Elijah. (Elijah was the prophet from Tishbe.) The Lord said,


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Tell Ahab that I, the Lord, say to him, ‘Ahab! You have murdered Naboth and have taken his land. So I tell you this! In the same place that Naboth died, you will also die. The dogs that licked up Naboth’s blood will lick up your blood in the same place!’”


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When Ahab saw Elijah, he said, “So you have found me, my enemy!” Elijah answered, “Yes, I have found you. You have always chosen to do what the Lord says is wrong.


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So the Lord says to you, ‘I will destroy you. I will kill you and every male in your family, both slave and free.


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Your family will be like the family of King Jeroboam son of Nebat. And it will be like the family of King Baasha son of Ahijah. Both of these families were completely destroyed. I will do this to you because you have made me angry. And you have caused the people of Israel to sin.’


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“Anyone in your family who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs. Anyone who dies in the fields will be eaten by birds.”


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There was no one like Ahab. No one had so often chosen to do what the Lord said was wrong. His wife Jezebel influenced him to do evil.


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Ahab sinned terribly by worshiping idols. This was the same thing the Amorite people did. So the Lord took their land away from them. And he gave it to the people of Israel.


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After Elijah finished speaking, Ahab tore his clothes. He put on rough cloth and refused to eat. He even slept in the rough cloth. He did this to show how sad and upset he was.


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“I see that Ahab is now sorry for what he has done. So I will not cause the trouble to come to him during his life. I will wait until his son is king. Then I will bring this trouble to Ahab’s family.”


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At this same time Ahab asked his officers, “Remember that the king of Aram took Ramoth in Gilead from us? Why have we done nothing to get it back?”


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So Ahab asked King Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with us? Will you fight against the army of Aram at Ramoth in Gilead?” Jehoshaphat answered, “I will go with you. My soldiers and my horses are ready to join with your army.


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So Ahab called the prophets together. There were about 400 men. He asked them, “Should I go to war against the army of Aram at Ramoth in Gilead? Or should I wait?” The prophets answered, “Go, because the Lord will let you defeat them.”


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King Ahab answered, “There is one other prophet. We could ask the Lord through him. But I hate him. When he prophesies, he never says anything good about me. He always says something bad. He is Micaiah, Imlah’s son.” Jehoshaphat said, “King Ahab, you shouldn’t say that!”


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Ahab king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah had on their royal robes. They were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor. This was near the entrance to the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were standing before them, speaking messages from the Lord.


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One of the prophets was Zedekiah son of Kenaanah. He had made some iron horns. He said to Ahab, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You will use these horns to fight the Arameans. And you will destroy them.’”


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All the other prophets said the same thing. They said, “Attack Ramoth in Gilead and win. The Lord will let you defeat the Arameans.”


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The messenger who had gone to get Micaiah found him. He said to Micaiah, “All the other prophets are saying the king will succeed. You should agree with them. Give the king a good answer.”


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Then Micaiah came to Ahab. The king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth in Gilead or not?” Micaiah answered, “Attack and win! The Lord will let you defeat them.”


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But Ahab said to Micaiah, “Tell me only the truth in the name of the Lord. How many times do I have to tell you this?”


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So Micaiah answered, “I saw the army of Israel. They were scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘They have no leader. They should go home and not fight.’”


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Then Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I told you! This prophet never says anything good about me. He only says bad things about me.”


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But Micaiah continued to speak. He said, “Hear the message from the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne. His heavenly army was standing near him on his right and on his left.


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The Lord said, ‘Who will trick Ahab into attacking Ramoth in Gilead? Do this so he will go and be killed.’ “The spirits did not agree about what they should do.


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“The Lord asked, ‘How will you trick Ahab?’ “The spirit answered, ‘I will go to Ahab’s prophets. I will make them tell lies.’ “So the Lord said, ‘You will succeed in tricking him. Go and do it.’”


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Micaiah said, “Ahab, this has now happened. The Lord has caused your prophets to lie to you. The Lord has decided that great trouble should come to you.”


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Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up to Micaiah. And he hit Micaiah in the face. Zedekiah said, “Do you really believe the Lord’s spirit has left me and is now speaking through you?”


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Then Ahab king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah. Send him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son.


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Tell them I said to put Micaiah in prison. Give him only bread and water for food. Keep him there until I come home from the battle.”


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Micaiah said, “Ahab, if you come back safely from battle, the Lord has not spoken through me. Remember my words, all you people.”


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Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “I will go into battle. But I will change my appearance so that no one will recognize me. But you wear your royal clothes.” So Ahab changed his appearance and went into battle.


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The king of Aram had 32 chariot commanders. He ordered them, “Don’t fight with anyone but the king of Israel. It doesn’t matter if they are important or unimportant.”


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When these commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he was the king of Israel. So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat began shouting.


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A soldier shot an arrow without aiming at anyone. But he hit Ahab king of Israel. The arrow hit him in a place not covered by his armor. King Ahab said to his chariot driver, “Turn the chariot around. Take me out of the battle. I am hurt!”


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The battle continued all day. King Ahab was in his chariot, leaning against it to hold himself up. He was facing the Arameans. His blood flowed down and covered the bottom of the chariot. That evening he died.


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Near sunset a cry went out through the army of Israel: “Each man go back to his own country and city.”


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The men cleaned Ahab’s chariot at a pool in Samaria. This was a pool where prostitutes bathed. And the dogs licked King Ahab’s blood from the chariot. These things happened as the Lord had said they would.


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Everything else Ahab did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. That book also tells about the palace Ahab built and decorated with ivory. And it tells about the cities he built.


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Jehoshaphat King of Judah Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah. This was during Ahab’s fourth year as king over Israel.


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Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king. And he ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother was the daughter of Shilhi. She was named Azubah.


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Jehoshaphat was good like his father before him. He did what the Lord said was right. But Jehoshaphat did not destroy the places where false gods were worshiped. So the people continued offering sacrifices and burning incense there.


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Jehoshaphat fought many wars. These wars and his successes are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Judah.


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There were prostitutes in the places where false gods were worshiped. Jehoshaphat’s father, Asa, had not forced all of them out. But Jehoshaphat forced the rest of them to leave.


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King Jehoshaphat built trading ships to sail to Ophir for gold. But the ships were destroyed at Ezion Geber. So they never set sail.


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Ahaziah son of Ahab went to help Jehoshaphat. Ahaziah said he would give Jehoshaphat some men to sail with his men. But Jehoshaphat refused.


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Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his ancestors. He was buried in Jerusalem, the city of David, his ancestor. And his son Jehoram became king.


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Ahaziah King of Israel Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria. This was during Jehoshaphat’s seventeenth year as king over Judah. Ahaziah ruled Israel for two years.


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Ahaziah did what the Lord said was wrong. He did the same things his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel and Jeroboam son of Nebat had done. All these rulers led the people of Israel into more sin.


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Ahaziah worshiped and served the god Baal. So Ahaziah made the Lord, the God of Israel, very angry. In these ways Ahaziah did what his father had done.


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Ahaziah fell down through the wooden bars in his upstairs room in Samaria. He was badly hurt. He sent messengers and told them, “Go. Ask Baal-Zebub god of Ekron if I will get well from my injuries.”


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But the Lord’s angel said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Get up. Go meet the messengers sent by the king of Samaria. Say to them, ‘Why are you going to ask questions of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no God in Israel?’


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So this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not get up from the bed you are lying on. You will die.’” Then Elijah left.


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They said, “A man came to meet us. He said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you. Tell him what the Lord says: “Why do you send men to ask questions of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no God in Israel? This is why you will not get up from your bed. You will die.”’”


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They answered, “He wore a hairy coat and a leather belt around his waist.” Ahaziah said, “It was Elijah the Tishbite.”


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Then he sent a captain with his 50 men to Elijah. The captain went to Elijah, who was sitting on top of the hill. He said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’”


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Elijah answered the captain, “I am a man of God. So let fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men.” Then fire came down from heaven. It burned up the captain and his 50 men.


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Ahaziah sent another captain and 50 men to Elijah. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down quickly!’”


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Elijah answered, “I am a man of God. So let fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men!” Then fire came down from heaven. It burned up the captain and his 50 men.


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Ahaziah sent a third captain with his 50 men. The third captain came and fell down on his knees before Elijah. He begged Elijah, “Man of God, I ask you. Please let my life and the lives of your 50 servants be valuable to you!


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See, fire came down from heaven. It burned up the first two captains of 50 with all their men. But now, let my life be valuable to you.”


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The Lord’s angel said to Elijah, “Go with him. Don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to see the king.


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Elijah told Ahaziah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have sent messengers to ask questions of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron. Is it because you think there is no God in Israel to ask? Because of this, you will not get up from your bed. You will die.’”


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So he died, just as the Lord, through Elijah, had said he would. Joram became king in Ahaziah’s place. This was during the second year Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Joram ruled because Ahaziah had no son to take his place.


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The other things Ahaziah did are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Israel.


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Elijah Is Taken to Heaven It was near the time for the Lord to take Elijah. He was going to take him by a whirlwind up into heaven. Elijah and Elisha were at Gilgal.


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Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here. The Lord has told me to go to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you live, I won’t leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.


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A group of the prophets at Bethel came to Elisha. They said to him, “Do you know the Lord will take your master away from you today?” Elisha said, “Yes, I know. But don’t talk about it.”


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Elijah said to him, “Stay here, because the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you live, I won’t leave you.” So they went to Jericho.


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A group of the prophets at Jericho came to Elisha. They said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” Elisha answered, “Yes, I know. But don’t talk about it.”


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Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here. The Lord has sent me to the Jordan River.” Elisha answered, “As the Lord lives, and as you live, I won’t leave you.” So the two of them went on.


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Fifty men from a group of the prophets came. They stood far from where Elijah and Elisha were by the Jordan.


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Elijah took off his coat. Then he rolled it up and hit the water. The water divided to the right and to the left. Then Elijah and Elisha crossed over on dry ground.


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After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you before I am taken from you?” Elisha said, “Leave me a double share of your spirit.”


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Elijah said, “You have asked a hard thing. But if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours. If you don’t, it won’t happen.”


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Elijah and Elisha were still walking and talking. Then a chariot and horses of fire appeared. The chariot and horses of fire separated Elijah from Elisha. Then Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.


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Elisha saw it and shouted, “My father! My father! The chariots of Israel and their horsemen!” Elisha did not see him anymore. Elisha grabbed his own clothes and tore them to show how sad he was.


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He picked up Elijah’s coat that had fallen from him. Then Elisha returned and stood on the bank of the Jordan.


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Elisha hit the water with Elijah’s coat. He said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he hit the water, it divided to the right and to the left. Then Elisha crossed over.


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A group of the prophets at Jericho were watching. They said, “Elisha now has the spirit Elijah had.” They came to meet him. And they bowed down to the ground before him.


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They said to him, “There are 50 strong men with us! Please let them go and look for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the Lord has taken Elijah up and set him down. He may be on some mountain or in some valley.” But Elisha answered, “No. Don’t send them.”


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The group of prophets begged Elisha until he hated to refuse them anymore. Then he said, “Send them.” So they sent 50 men who looked for three days. But they could not find Elijah.


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Then they came back to Elisha at Jericho where he was staying. He said to them, “I told you not to go, didn’t I?”


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Elisha Makes the Water Pure The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, master, this city is a nice place to live. You can see that. But the water is bad. That’s why the land cannot grow crops.”


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Then Elisha went out to the spring of water and threw the salt in it. He said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. From now on it won’t cause death. And it won’t keep the land from growing crops.’”


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Young People Make Fun of Elisha From there Elisha went up to Bethel. On the way some young men came out of the city. They made fun of Elisha. They said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”


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Elisha turned around and looked at them. He put a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came out of the woods. They tore to pieces 42 of the young men.


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War Between Israel and Moab Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria. He began to rule in Jehoshaphat’s eighteenth year as king of Judah. Joram ruled 12 years.


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Joram did what the Lord said was wrong. But he was not like his father and mother. He removed the stone pillars his father had made for Baal.


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But he continued to do the same sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had done. Jeroboam had caused the people of Israel to sin. And Joram did not stop doing these same sins.


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Mesha king of Moab raised sheep. He had to give 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 male sheep to the king of Israel.


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He sent messengers to Jehoshaphat king of Judah. He said, “The king of Moab has turned against me. Will you go with me against Moab in battle?” Jehoshaphat said, “I will go with you. I am ready to join you. My soldiers and my horses are ready to join with your army.”


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Jehoshaphat asked, “Which way should we go to attack?” Joram answered, “Through the Desert of Edom.”


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So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. They marched seven days. There was no more water for the army or for their animals that were with them.


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The king of Israel said, “How terrible this is! Has the Lord called us three kings together so the Moabites can defeat us?”


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But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there a prophet of the Lord here? We can ask the Lord through a prophet.” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He was Elijah’s servant.”


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Jehoshaphat said, “He speaks the Lord’s truth.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to see Elisha.


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Elisha spoke to the king of Israel. He said, “I have nothing to do with you! Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother!” The king of Israel said to Elisha, “No. The Lord has called us three kings together to let the Moabites defeat us.”


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Elisha said, “I serve the Lord of heaven’s armies. As surely as he lives, I tell you the truth. I wouldn’t even look at you or notice you if Jehoshaphat king of Judah were not here. I respect him!


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Now bring me someone who plays the harp.” While the harp was being played, the Lord gave Elisha power.


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He says that you won’t see wind or rain. But the valley will be filled with water. Then you, your cattle and other animals will drink.


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You will destroy every strong, walled city and every important town. You will cut down every good tree. You will stop up all springs of water. You will ruin every good field with rocks.”


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The next morning, about the time the sacrifice was offered, there was water! It came from the direction of Edom and filled the valley.


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All the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. They gathered everyone old enough to put on armor. And they waited at the border.


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But when the Moabites got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. They saw the water across from them. It looked as red as blood.


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The Moabites said, “This is blood! Surely the kings have fought and killed each other! Come, Moabites, let’s take what is valuable from the dead bodies!”


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The Moabites came to the camp of the Israelites. But the Israelites came out and fought them until they ran away. The Israelites went on into the land to fight the Moabites.


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They tore down the cities. They threw rocks on every good field and filled it. They stopped up all the springs of water. And they cut down all the good trees. Kir Hareseth was the only city with its stones still in place. But the men with slings surrounded Kir Hareseth and conquered it, too.


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The king of Moab saw that the battle was too strong for him. So he took 700 men with swords to break through to the king of Edom. But they could not break through.


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Then the king of Moab took his oldest son, who would have become king after him. And he offered his son as a burnt offering on the wall. So there was great anger against the Israelites. They left and went back to their own land.


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A Widow Asks Elisha for Help The wife of a man from a group of the prophets came to Elisha. She said, “Your servant, my husband, is dead! You know he honored the Lord. But now the man he owes money to is coming to take my two boys. He will make them his slaves!”


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Elisha answered, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” The woman said, “I don’t have anything there except a pot of oil.”


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Then you must go into your house and close the door. Only you and your sons will be there. Then pour oil into all the jars. Set the full ones to one side.”


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She left Elisha and shut the door. Only she and her sons were in the house. As they brought the jars to her, she poured the oil.


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When the jars were all full, she said to her son, “Bring me another jar.” But he said, “There are no more jars.” Then the oil stopped flowing.


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She went and told Elisha. Elisha said to her, “Go. Sell the oil and pay what you owe. You and your sons can live on what is left.”


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The Shunammite Woman One day Elisha went to Shunem. An important woman lived there. She begged Elisha to stay and eat. So every time Elisha passed by, he stopped there to eat.


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The woman said to her husband, “I know that Elisha is a holy man of God. He passes by our house all the time.


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Let’s make a small room on the roof. Let’s put a bed in the room for Elisha. And we can put a table, a chair and a lampstand there. Then when he comes by, he can stay there.”


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He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” When the servant called her, she stood in front of him.


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Elisha told his servant, “Now say to her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak to the king or the commander of the army for you?’” The woman answered, “I live among my own people.”


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Elisha said, “But what can we do for her?” Gehazi answered, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”


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Then Elisha said, “About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” The woman said, “No, master, man of God. Don’t lie to me!”


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But the woman became pregnant. And she gave birth to a son at that time the next year as Elisha had told her.


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The boy said to his father, “My head! My head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother!”


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She called to her husband. She said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys. Then I can go quickly to the man of God and come back.”


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The woman’s husband said, “Why do you want to go to him today? It isn’t the New Moon or the Sabbath day.” She said, “It will be all right.”


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Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on. Don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.”


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So she went to Elisha at Mount Carmel. He saw her coming from far away. So he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, there’s the Shunammite woman!


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Run to meet her! Say to her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?’” She answered, “Everything is all right.”


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Then she came to Elisha at the hill. She caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to pull her away. But Elisha said to him, “Let her alone. She’s very upset, and the Lord has not told me about it. He has hidden it from me.”


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Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready. Take my walking stick in your hand and go quickly. If you meet anyone, don’t greet him. If anyone greets you, don’t answer him. Lay my walking stick on the face of the boy.”


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But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I won’t leave you!” So he got up and followed her.


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Gehazi went on ahead. He laid the walking stick on the child’s face. But the child did not talk or move. Then Gehazi went back to meet Elisha. He told Elisha, “The child has not awakened.”


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When Elisha entered the room, he shut the door. Only he and the child were in the room. Then Elisha prayed to the Lord.


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He went to the bed and lay on the child. He put his mouth on the child’s mouth. He put his eyes on the child’s eyes and his hands on the child’s hands. He stretched himself out on top of the child. Then the child’s skin became warm.


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Elisha turned away and walked around the room. Then he went back and put himself on the child again. Then the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.


