# verses

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»Do not be afraid!« Samuel answered. »Even though you have done such an evil thing, do not turn away from Jehovah. Serve him with all your heart.


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»Jehovah made a solemn promise. He will not abandon you. You are his people for his great names sake.


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»As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah by no longer praying for you. Instead, I will teach you what is good and right for you to do.


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»Reverence Jehovah and serve him in truth with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you.


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Saul chose three thousand men from Israel. Two thousand of them were stationed with Saul at Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel. One thousand were stationed with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people home.


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Jonathan defeated the Philistine troops at Geba. The Philistines heard about it. With the sounding of the trumpet throughout the land, Saul announced: »Let the Hebrews listen!«


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All Israel listened as Saul told that he had defeated the Philistine troops. Now Israel has gone on the offensive against the Philistines. All the troops rallied behind Saul at Gilgal.


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The Philistines assembled to fight Israel. They had thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and as many soldiers as the sand on the seashore. They camped at Michmash, east of Beth Aven.


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The Israelite army realized that they were outnumbered and were going to lose the battle. Some of the Israelite men hid in caves, thickets and rocks. Others hid in tombs or in deep dry pits.


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Some of them went to Gad and Gilead on the other side of the Jordan River. Saul stayed at Gilgal. His soldiers trembled with fear.


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They were starting to run off and leave him. Saul waited there seven days, just as Samuel had ordered him to do. But Samuel did not come.


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Saul commanded: »Bring me some animals so we can offer sacrifices to please Jehovah. Then we can ask for his help.« Saul slaughtered one of the animals,


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Samuel asked: »What have you done?« Saul replied: »I saw the troops were scattering. You did not come when you said you would and the Philistines were assembling at Michmash.


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»So I thought the Philistines will come against me at Gilgal. I have not sought Jehovahs favor. I felt pressured into sacrificing the burnt offering.«


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»You did a foolish thing,« Samuel told Saul. »You did not follow the command of Jehovah your God. If you had, Jehovah would have established your kingdom over Israel from generation to generation <i>for a very long time</i> .


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»Your kingdom will not last. Jehovah searched for a man after his own heart. Jehovah appointed him as ruler of his people. This is because you did not follow the command of Jehovah.«


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Samuel left Gilgal. The rest of the people followed Saul to meet the soldiers. They went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul counted the troops who were still with him. There were about six hundred men.


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Saul and his son Jonathan and the troops with them stayed at Geba <i>Gebeah</i> in Benjamin. The Philistines camped at Michmash.


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Raiding parties left the Philistine camp in three companies. One company turned on the road to Ophrah to the region of Shual.


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Another company turned to the road to Beth Horon. Another turned onto the road toward the region that overlooks the valley of Zeboim and the desert.


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No blacksmith could be found in all of Israel. In this way the Philistines kept the Hebrews from making swords and spears.


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Everyone in Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen the blade of his plow, his mattock, ax, or sickle.


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The charge for sharpening plowshares and for the mattocks, and for the mattocks, and for the three-pronged forks, and for the axes was a pim.


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So in the day of battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan. But with Saul and with his son Jonathan there was found sword and spear.


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Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor: »Come and let us go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.« He did not tell his father.


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Saul stayed on the edge of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. There were about six hundred men with him.


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Ahiah son of Ahitub, Ichabods brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, Jehovahs priest in Shiloh, who was wearing an ephod were with him. The people did not know that Jonathan was gone.


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Johathan tried to go over to the Philistines garrison between the passes. There was a rocky crag on each side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other crag was Seneh.


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One cliff was on the north side of the pass facing Michmash. The other was on the south side facing Geba.


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Jonathan said to the young man: »Let us cross over to the camp of those heathen Philistines. Maybe Jehovah will help us. If he does, nothing can keep him from giving us the victory no matter how few of us there are.«


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»If they agree to come to us down the hill and fight where we are, then we will not climb up to their camp.


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»But we will go to them if they tell us to come up the hill and fight. That will mean Jehovah will help us win.«


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So they let the Philistines see them. The Philistines said: »Some Hebrews are coming out of the holes they were hiding in!«


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They called out to Jonathan and the young man: »Come up here! We have something to tell you!« Jonathan said to the young man: »Follow me, for Jehovah gives Israel victory over them.«


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Jonathan climbed out of the pass on his hands and knees. The young man followed him. Jonathan attacked the Philistines and knocked them down. The young man killed them.


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In that first slaughter Jonathan and the young man killed about twenty men in an area of about half an acre.


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There was panic among the army in the field. All the troops in the military post trembled with fear. The raiding party also trembled in fear. The earth shook, and there was a panic sent from God.


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Sauls watchmen at Gibeah of Benjamin could see the crowd in the Philistine camp dispersing in all directions.


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»Call the roll,« Saul told the troops who were with him, »See who has left our camp.« They looked and found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.


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While Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew worse. Then Saul said to the priest: »Remove your hand.«


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Saul and all the people with him came together and went forward to the battle. Every mans sword was turned against the man at his side. There was a very great noise.


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The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines for some time went to their camp. They joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.


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All the men of Israel who had taken cover in the mountains of Ephraim, hearing that the Philistines had been put to flight chased them and attacked them.


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And all the people were with Saul. There were about twenty thousand men. The fight was general through all the mountains of Ephraim. Saul made a great error that day. He put the people under an oath, saying: »Let that man be cursed who eats any food before evening. I have taken vengeance on my enemies.« So the people did not eat.


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When the people entered the woods, the honey was flowing. But no one put his hand to his mouth. The people were afraid of violating their oath.


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Jonathan had not heard that his father forced the people to take an oath. So he stretched out the tip of the staff he had in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he put it to his mouth his eyes lit up.


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Then one of the people told him: »Your father forced the people to take a solemn oath, saying: Cursed is anyone who eats food today.« That is why the people were exhausted.


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Jonathan answered: »My father brought trouble to the country. See how my eyes lit up when I tasted a little of this honey?


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»If only the people had eaten some of the enemies food they found today. We would have killed more Philistines.«


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That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, but the people were thoroughly exhausted.


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They grabbed the food they had captured from the Philistines and started eating. They even killed sheep and cows and calves right on the ground and ate the meat without draining the blood.


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Someone told Saul: »The army is disobeying Jehovah by eating meat before the blood drains out.« »You are right,« Saul answered. »They are being unfaithful to Jehovah! Hurry! Roll a big rock over here.«


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»Then tell everyone in camp to bring their cattle and lambs to me. They can kill the animals on this rock and then eat the meat. That way no one will disobey Jehovah by eating meat with blood still in it.« That night the people brought their cattle over to the big rock and killed them there.


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Saul said: »Let us attack the Philistines again while it is still dark. We can fight them all night. Let us kill them and take everything they own!« The people answered: »We will do whatever you want.« Ahijah the priest said: »Wait! Let us ask God what we should do.«


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Saul asked God: »Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help us win?« This time God did not answer.


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Saul called his army officers together and said: »We have to find out what sin has kept God from answering.


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»I promise by the living Jehovah, who gives Israel victory, that the guilty one will be put to death, even if he is my son Jonathan.« But no one said anything.


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Then Saul said to them: »All of you stand over there. Jonathan and I will stand over here.« »Do whatever you think best,« they answered.


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Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, give a perfect lot. Jonathan and Samuel were taken, but the people escaped.


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Then Saul asked Jonathan: »What have you done?« Jonathan answered: »I ate a little honey with the stick I was holding. Here I am. I am ready to die.«


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But the people said to Saul: »Will Jonathan, who won this great victory for Israel, be put to death?« »No! We promise by the living Jehovah that he will not lose even a hair from his head. What he did today was done with Gods help.« So the people saved Jonathan from being put to death.


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After that, Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines. The Philistines went back to their own territory.


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After Saul became king of Israel, he fought all his enemies everywhere: the people of Moab, of Ammon, and of Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. He was victorious wherever he fought.


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He fought heroically and defeated even the people of Amalek. He saved the Israelites from all attacks.


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Sauls sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab the firstborn daughter and Michal the younger daughter.


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The name of Sauls wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Sauls uncle Ner.


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There was intense warfare with the Philistines as long as Saul lived. Whenever any warrior or any skilled fighting man came to Sauls attention, Saul would enlist him in the army.


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Samuel told Saul: »Jehovah sent me to anoint you king of his people Israel. Now listen to Jehovahs words:


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The Israelites were on their way out of Egypt when the nation of Amalek attacked them. I am Jehovah All-Powerful. I am going to make Amalek pay for what he did to Israel!


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»Go and attack the Amalekites! Destroy them and all their possessions. Do not have any pity. Kill their men, women, children, and even their babies. Slaughter their cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.«


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Saul called his forces together and inspected them at Telem. There were two hundred thousand soldiers from Israel and ten thousand from Judah.


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He sent a warning to the Kenites, a people whose ancestors had been kind to the Israelites when they came from Egypt: »Go away and leave the Amalekites. That way I will not kill you along with them.« So the Kenites left.


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Saul and his men spared Agags life and did not kill the best sheep and cattle, the best calves and lambs, or anything else that was good. They destroyed only what was useless or worthless.


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»I am sorry that I made Saul king. He has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands.« Samuel was angry. All night long he pleaded with Jehovah.


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Early the following morning he went off to find Saul. He heard that Saul had gone to the town of Carmel. There in Carmel he built a monument to himself. Then he went to Gilgal.


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Saul answered: »The army brought them from the Amalekites. They spared the best sheep and cows to sacrifice to Jehovah your God. But the rest they claimed for God and destroyed them.«


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»Be quiet,« Samuel told Saul, »Let me tell you what Jehovah told me last night.« »Speak,« Saul replied.


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Samuel said to Saul: »You are little in your own eyes. Even though you are a leader of all of the tribes of Israel that Jehovah anointed king over Israel.


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»Jehovah sent you on a mission. He said: Go and destroy those sinners, the Amalekites. Fight against them until every one is dead.


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»Why then did you not obey the voice of Jehovah? Why did you pounce on the plunder? Why did you do evil in the sight of Jehovah?«


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Then Saul said to Samuel: »I did obey the voice of Jehovah. I went on the mission Jehovah sent me. I brought back Agag the king of Amalek. I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. »


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The people took from the plunder of the flock the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to Jehovah your God in Gilgal.


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Samuel said: »What is more pleasing to Jehovah, burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obeying is better than sacrifice. To pay attention is better than the fat of rams.


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»The sin of divination is rebellion. Wickedness and idolatry are arrogance. They are evil. Because you rejected the word of Jehovah, he rejects you as king.«


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Then Saul told Samuel: »I have sinned by not following Jehovahs command or your instructions. I was afraid of the people and listened to them.


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»I will not return with you,« Samuel answered. »You rejected Jehovahs command. He has rejected you as king of Israel.«


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Samuel said to him: »Jehovah has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He gave it to someone who is a better man than you.


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Saul replied: »I have sinned! Now please honor me in front of the elders of my people and in front of Israel. Come back with me. Let me worship Jehovah your God!«


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»Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites,« Samuel said. Agag came to him trembling. »Surely, the bitterness of death is past,« Agag said.


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But Samuel said: »As your sword made women childless, so your mother will be made childless among women.« Samuel cut Agag in pieces in the presence of Jehovah at Gilgal.


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Samuel never saw Saul again until the day of his death. Samuel went into mourning for Saul. It was no longer Jehovahs pleasure for Saul to be king over Israel.


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Jehovah said to Samuel: »How long will you mourn for Saul? After all I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Take oil in your vessel and go. I will send you to Jesse, the Beth-lehemite. I have a king from among his sons.«


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»How can I go?« Samuel asked. »When Saul hears about it he will kill me« Jehovah said: »Take a heifer with you and say: I have come to sacrifice to Jehovah.«


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»Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice. I will reveal to you what you should do. You will anoint the one I point out to you.«


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Samuel did what Jehovah told him. When he came to Bethlehem the elders of the city trembled at his coming. They greeted him and said: »May peace be with you.«


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»Greetings,« he replied, »I have come to sacrifice to Jehovah. »Perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy, and come with me to the sacrifice.« He performed the ceremonies for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.


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But Jehovah said to Samuel: »Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature. I have rejected him. God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance. Jehovah looks at the heart <i>inner man</i> .«


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Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. Samuel said: »Jehovah has not chosen this one either.«


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So Jesse brought seven more of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse: »Jehovah has not chosen any of these.«


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»Are these all the sons you have?« Samuel asked. »There is still the youngest one,« Jesse answered. »He is tending sheep.« Samuel responded: »Send someone to get him. We will not continue until he gets here.«


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Jesse sent for him. He was a handsome, healthy young man, and his eyes sparkled. Jehovah said to Samuel: »This is the one. Anoint him!«


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Samuel took the olive oil and anointed David in front of his brothers. Immediately the Spirit of Jehovah took control of David and was with him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.


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»So give us the order and we will look for a man who knows how to play the harp. Then when the distressing spirit comes on you, the man can play his harp, and you will be all right again.«


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One of his attendants said: »Jesse of the town of Bethlehem has a son who is a good musician. He is also a brave and handsome man, a good soldier, and an able speaker. Jehovah is with him.«


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Jesse loaded a donkey with bread and a goatskin full of wine. He told David to take the donkey and a young goat to Saul.


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David went to Saul and worked for him. Saul liked him so much that he put David in charge of carrying his weapons.


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Not long after this, Saul sent another message to Jesse: »I really like David. Please let him stay with me.«


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Whenever the distressing spirit from God bothered Saul, David would play his harp. Saul would relax and feel better. The distressing spirit would go away.


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The Philistines got ready for war and brought their troops together to attack the town of Socoh in Judah. They set up camp at Ephes-Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah.


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Saul and the men of Israel came together and took up their position in the valley of Elah. They drew up in battle array against the Philistines.


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The Philistines were stationed on the mountain on one side. Israel was on the mountain on the other side. There was a valley between them.


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A fighter came out from the tents of the Philistines. His name was Goliath of Gath. He was over nine feet tall.


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He had a headdress of copper on his head. He was dressed in a coat of metal that weighed one hundred twenty five pounds.


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The shaft of his spear was like the beam used by weavers. The head of his spear was made of fifteen pounds of iron. The man who carried his shield walked ahead of him.


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Goliath stood and called to the Israelites: »Why do you form a battle line? Am I not a Philistine? Are you Sauls servants? Choose a man, and let him come down to fight me.


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»If he can fight me and kill me we will be your slaves. But if I overpower him and kill him you will be our slaves and serve us.«


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The Philistine added: »I challenge the Israelite battle line today. Send out a man so we can fight each other.«


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David was a son of a man named Jesse from the region of Ephrath and the city of Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons. In Sauls day he was an old man.


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Jesses three oldest sons joined Sauls army for the battle. The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.


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Jesse told his son David: »Take this half-bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. Take them to your brothers in the camp right away.


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»Also take these ten slices of cheese to the commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are getting along. Bring back something to show that you saw them and that they are well.


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»King Saul, your brothers, and all the other Israelites are in Elah Valley fighting the Philistines.«


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David obeyed his father. He got up early the next morning and left someone else in charge of the sheep. He loaded the supplies and started off. He reached the army camp just as the soldiers were taking their places and shouting the battle cry.


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David left his things with the man in charge of supplies. He ran up to the battle line to ask his brothers if they were well.


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David talked to his brothers. Goliath came out from the line of Philistines and boasted as usual. David heard him.


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They said to each other: »Look how he keeps coming out to insult us. The king offers a big reward to the man who kills Goliath. That man will even get to marry the kings daughter. No one in his family will ever have to pay taxes again.«


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David asked some soldiers standing nearby: »What will a man get for killing this Philistine and stopping him from insulting our people? Who does that worthless Philistine think he is? He makes fun of the army of the living God!«


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Eliab, Davids oldest brother, heard David talking to the men. Then Eliab became angry with David. »Why did you come here,« he asked him,« and with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how overconfident and headstrong you are. You came here just to see the battle.«


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He turned to face another man and asked the same question. The other soldiers gave him the same answer.


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David told Saul: »No one should be discouraged because of this. I will go and fight this Philistine.«


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Saul responded to David: »You cannot fight this Philistine. You are just a boy. He has been a warrior since he was your age.«


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David replied to Saul: »I am a shepherd for my fathers sheep. When a lion or a bear comes and carries off a sheep from the flock,


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»I go after it, attack it, and rescue the lamb. If the lion or bear turns on me, I grab it by the throat and beat it to death.


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»I have killed lions and bears. I will do the same to this heathen Philistine. He has defied the army of the living God.


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»Jehovah saved me from lions and bears. He will save me from this Philistine.« Saul answered: »Go and Jehovah be with you.«


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He gave his own armor to David for him to wear. It consisted of a copper helmet, which he put on Davids head, and a coat of armor.


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David strapped Sauls sword over the armor and tried to walk. But he could not walk. »I cannot fight with all this,« he said to Saul. »I am not used to it.« So he took it all off.


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He took his shepherds stick and picked up five smooth stones from the stream and put them in his bag. With his sling ready, he went out to meet Goliath.


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The Philistine got a good look at David and he despised him. David was only a young man with a healthy complexion and good looks.


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The Philistine asked David: »Am I a dog that you come to attack me with sticks?« So the Philistine called on his gods to curse David.


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David answered: »You come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I come out to fight you in the name of Jehovah of Hosts. He is the Almighty God of Israels army. You have insulted him!


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»Today Jehovah will help me defeat you. I will knock you down and cut off your head! I will feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a real God.


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»Everybody here will see that Jehovah does not need swords or spears to save his people. Jehovah always wins his battles. He will help us defeat you!«


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He put a rock in his sling and swung the sling around by its straps. When he let go of one strap, the rock flew out and hit Goliath on the forehead. It cracked his skull. He fell facedown on the ground.


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So David overcame the Philistine with his leather band and a stone. The Philistine was wounded and laying on the ground. But David had no sword in his hand.


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He ran to him and stood over him. David took Goliaths sword out of its sheath and cut off his head to kill him. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead they ran away.


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The men of Israel and Judah shouted and ran after them. They pursued them all the way to Gath and to the gates of Ekron. The Philistines fell wounded all along the road that leads to Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.


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When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army: »Abner, whose son is this young man?« Abner said: »By your life, O king, I do not know.«


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When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistines head in his hand.


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Saul said: »Whose son are you, young man?« David answered: »I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.«


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David finished talking to Saul. Jonathan became Davids closest friend. He loved David as much as he loved himself.


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Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing. He gave it to David along with his armor, including his sword, his bow and his belt.


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So David did everything Saul sent him to do successfully. Saul made him a commander in his army. This pleased the people and Sauls servants.


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David returned from a campaign against the Philistines. That same day women from all of Israels cities came to meet King Saul. They sang and danced. Tambourines, joyful music, and triangles accompanied them.


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Saul became very angry because he considered this saying to be insulting. He said: »To David they credit tens of thousands but to me they credit only a few thousand. The only thing left for David is my kingdom.«


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The next day Jehovah let a distressing spirit take control of Saul. He began acting like a crazy man inside his house. David came to play the harp for Saul as usual. This time Saul had a spear in his hand.


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Saul balanced the spear in his hand and said: »I will give David a blow! I will pin him to the wall.« David got away from him twice.


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Finally, Saul said to David: »Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife if you prove yourself to be a warrior for me and fight Jehovahs battles.« Saul thought: »I must not lay a hand on him. Let the Philistines do that.«


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The time came for Merab to be given to David. Instead, she was given to a man named Adriel from Meholah.


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He said to himself: »I will give Michal to David. I will use her to trap him. The Philistines will kill him.« So for the second time Saul said to David: »You will be my son-in-law.«


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Saul ordered his officials to speak to David in private. They went to David and said: »Look, the king likes you, and all of his officials are loyal to you. Why not ask the king if you may marry his daughter Michal?«


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Sauls servants said these things to David. And David said: »I am not rich or famous enough to marry Princess Michal.«


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Sauls servants told him: »David asked, do you think it is easy to become the kings son-in-law? I am a poor and unimportant person.«


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Sauls officials reported to David what Saul had said. David was delighted with the thought of becoming the kings son-in-law. Before the day set for the wedding,


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David and his men killed two hundred Philistines. He took their foreskins to the king and counted them all out to him. This was so he might become his son-in-law. So Saul had to give his daughter Michal in marriage to David.


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Knowing those things made Saul even more afraid of David. He was Davids enemy for the rest of his life.


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The Philistine rulers kept coming to fight Israel. David always won when he fought them. He won more battles against the Philistines than any of Sauls other officers. This made him famous.


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Jonathan told David: »My father Saul is seeking to kill you. Please be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself.


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»I will stand beside my father in the field where you will be. I will speak with my father about you. If I find out anything I will tell you.«


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Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. »You should not commit a sin against your servant David,« he said. »He has not sinned against you. He has in fact done some very fine things for you.


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»He risked his life and killed the Philistine Goliath. Jehovah gave all Israel a great victory. You rejoiced when you saw it. Why should you sin by shedding Davids innocent blood for no reason?«


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Jonathan called to David and told him what Saul said. Then he brought David to Saul. David served in Sauls army just as he had done before.


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One night, David was in Sauls home, playing the harp for him. Saul sat there with a spear in his hand. The distressing spirit from Jehovah took control of him.


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Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear. David dodged it, and Sauls spear struck the wall. David escaped from Saul that night.


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Saul sent messengers to watch Davids house and kill him in the morning. Michal, Davids wife advised him: »If you do not save yourself tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!«


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Then Michal took some idols, laid them in the bed, put a goat-hair blanket at its head, and covered the idols with a garment.


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Then Saul sent messengers to see David. They said: »Bring him up to me on his bed. I will put him to death.«


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The messengers entered. There, on the bed was the household idol with the quilt of goats hair at its head.


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Saul said to Michal: »Why have you deceived me like this? You let my enemy go. He has escaped!« Michal said to Saul: »He said to me: Let me go! Why should I kill you?«


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David escaped to Samuel at Ramah. He told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel stayed in Naioth.


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Saul sent messengers to get David. They saw a group of prophets prophesying with their leader Samuel. Gods Spirit came over Sauls messengers so that they also prophesied.


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Saul heard what happened. So he sent another group of messengers, but they prophesied the same way. He sent a third group of messengers, but the same thing happened to them.


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Finally, Saul left for Ramah himself. He went as far as the deep pit at the town of Secu. He asked: »Where are Samuel and David?« The people answered: »At Prophets Village in Ramah.«


text:
He went on from there to Naioth in Ramah. The spirit of God came on him and he acted like a prophet. Then he arrived at Naioth in Ramah.


text:
He even took off his clothes as he prophesied in front of Samuel. He lay there naked all day and all night. The saying: »Is Saul one of the prophets?« came from there.


text:
David fled from the pastures at Ramah. He went to Jonathan and asked: »What have I done? What crime am I guilty of? What sin have I committed against your father that he tries to kill me?«


text:
He said to him: »It will not happen. You will not die! My father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. So why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!«


text:
David again said: »Your father has certainly known that I have found favor in your eyes.« He said: »Do not let Jonathan know this, that he not be grieved. And yet, as Jehovah lives, and you live, there is only a step between death and me.«


text:
»Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival,« David replied, »and I am supposed to eat with the king. But if it is all right with you, I will go and hide in the fields until the evening of the day after tomorrow.


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»If your father notices that I am not at the table, tell him that I begged your permission to hurry home to Bethlehem. It is after all the time for the annual sacrifice there for my whole family.


text:
»If he says: It is well. I will be safe. But if he becomes angry, you will know that he is determined to harm me.


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»Therefore deal kindly with your servant. You brought your servant into a covenant of Jehovah with you. But if there is iniquity in me kill me yourself. Why should you take me to your father?«


text:
Jonathan replied: »Far be it from you! For if I should indeed learn my father decided to bring evil on you then would I not tell you about it?«


text:
»As Jehovah God of Israel is my witness,« Jonathan continued, »I will find out in the next two or three days how my father feels about you. If he does feel kindly toward you I will send someone to tell you.


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»If my father plans to harm you and I do not send you away safely, may Jehovah harm me even more. Jehovah should be with you just as he used to be with my father.


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»Someday Jehovah will wipe out all of your enemies. Then if I am still alive, please be as kind to me as Jehovah has been. But if I am dead, be kind to my family.


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»Show the same kind of loyalty to my family as long as you live. When Jehovah has completely destroyed all your enemies,


text:
Once again Jonathan made David promise to love him. Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.


text:
Jonathan said to him: »Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival. Your absence will be noticed if you are not at the meal.


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»The day after tomorrow you will be missed even more. So go to the place where you hid on that other occasion. Stay by the rock.


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»Then I will send my servant to find the arrows. You will know if it is safe to come out by what I tell him. If it is safe, I swear by the living God Jehovah that I will say: The arrows are on this side of you! Pick them up!


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»If it is not safe, I will say to the boy: The arrows are farther away! This will mean that Jehovah wants you to leave. You must go.


text:
He ate by the wall, just as he always did. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to him. But Davids place was empty.


text:
Saul was in deep thought. So he did not say anything that day. Something must have happened to make David unfit to be at the Festival. Yes, something must have happened.


text:
Davids place was still empty the day after the New Moon Festival. Saul asked Jonathan: »Why has that son of Jesse not come to eat with us? He was not here yesterday, and he still is not here today!«


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»David said to me: Please let me go, since our family must make a sacrifice in the city. My brother has commanded me to attend. If I have found favor in your sight, please let me get away that I may see my brothers. For this reason he has not come to the kings table.«


text:
Saul got angry with Jonathan and he said, »You are Son of a crooked and rebellious woman Jonathan! I know you have sided with Jesses son, Saul accused. You have no shame. You act as if you are your mothers son not mine.


text:
»As long as Jesses son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Send some men to bring him to me. He is a dead man!«


text:
Saul threw his spear at Jonathan and tried to kill him. Then Jonathan was sure that his father really did want to kill David.


text:
Jonathan was angry that his father had insulted David. He got up and left the table. He did not eat anything all that day.


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Jonathan told him: »When I shoot the arrows, you run and find them for me.« The boy started running, and Jonathan shot an arrow so that it would go beyond him.


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When the boy reached the place where the arrow fell Jonathan shouted to him: »The arrow is farther on!


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After the boy left, David got up from behind the pile of stones. He fell on his knees and bowed with his face to the ground three times. Both he and Jonathan cried as they kissed each other. Davids grief was even greater than Jonathans.


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Jonathan said to David: »God be with you. Jehovah will make sure that you and I, and your descendants and mine, will keep the sacred promise we have made to each other for as long as we live.« Then David left and Jonathan went back to town.


text:
David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech was afraid when he met David. »Why are you alone?« He asked David. »Why is no one with you?«


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The king ordered me to do something, David answered the priest Ahimelech, and he told me: »No one must know anything about this mission I am sending you to do. I have stationed my young men at a certain place.«


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The high priest answered David: »I do not have any ordinary bread here. But there is holy bread for the young men if they have not had sexual intercourse today.«


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David answered the priest: »Women have been kept away from us as usual when we go on a mission. The young mens bodies are kept holy even on ordinary campaigns. How much more then are their bodies holy today?«


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The priest gave him holy bread. For he only had the bread of the presence that had been taken from Jehovahs presence and replaced with warm bread that day.


text:
That same day one of Sauls servants who was obligated to stay in Jehovahs presence was there. His name was Doeg. He was chief herdsman for Sauls shepherds from Edom.


text:
David asked Ahimelech: »Do you have a spear or a sword here? I did not take either my spear or any other weapon because the kings business was urgent.«


text:
The high priest answered: »The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Elah Valley, is here. It is wrapped in a cloth behind the priestly ephod. Take it if you want. There is no other weapon here.« David said: »There is none like it. Let me have the sword.«


text:
The officers of King Achish were also there. They asked Achish: »Is David a king back in his own country? Do the Israelites not dance and sing: Saul has killed a thousand enemies; David has killed ten thousand enemies?«


text:
Right there in front of everyone, he pretended to be insane. He acted confused and scratched up the doors of the town gate. He drooled in his beard.


text:
David escaped from the town of Gath and he went to Adullam Cave. Once they found out where he was his brothers and the rest of his family followed him there.


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A lot of other people joined him too. Some were in trouble. Others were angry or in debt. David was soon the leader of four hundred men.


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David went from there to Mizpah in Moab. He said to the king of Moab: »Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.«


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He left them with the king of Moab. So they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.


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»Do not live in your stronghold,« the prophet Gad told David. »Go to the land of Judah. So David went to the forest of Hereth.«


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Saul heard that David and his men were found. Saul stayed in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree at the worship site. He held his spear in his hand. All his officials stood around him.


text:
He said to his officials: »Listen to me men of Benjamin! Will Jesses son give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all officers over a regiment or a battalion of soldiers?


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»All of you are plotting against me. No one informed me when my son entered into a loyalty pledge with Jesses son. No one felt sorry for me. And no one informed me that my son has encouraged my servant David to ambush me, as he is doing now.«


text:
Doeg from Edom, standing with Sauls officials, answered him: »I saw Jesses son when he came to Ahimelech, Ahitubs son, in Nob.


text:
Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitubs and his entire family who were the priests in Nob. All of them came to the king.


text:
Saul asked him: »Why did you and Jesses son plot against me? You gave him bread and a sword. You even prayed to God that he could rise up against me and ambush me, as he is doing now.«


text:
Ahimelech asked the king: »But whom among all your officials can you trust like David? Your Majesty, he is your son-in-law, the commander of your bodyguard. He is honored in your own household.


text:
»Is this the first time I have prayed to God for him? Not at all! You should not blame my family or me for this. I knew nothing at all about this.«


text:
The king said to the guards who were attending him: »Turn around and kill the priests of Jehovah! They are also with David. They knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me. But the servants of the king were not willing to lift a hand to attack the priests of Jehovah.«


text:
The king said to Doeg: »You turn around and attack the priests.« Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.


text:
He also killed the people of Nob, the city of the priests. Using his sword, he killed men and women, children and infants, cows, donkeys, and sheep.


text:
David told Abiathar: »I knew that day when Doeg from Edom was there that he would be certain to tell Saul. I am the one responsible for all the lives of your family.


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»Stay with me. Do not be afraid. The one who is seeking my life is also seeking your life. You will be under my protection.«


text:
David heard that the Philistines attacked the town of Keilah. They robbed the threshing floors of the newly harvested grain.


text:
He asked Jehovah: »Shall I go and attack the Philistines?« Jehovah answered: »Yes, Attack them and save Keilah.«


text:
Davids men said to him: »We have enough to be afraid of here in Judah. It will be worse if we go to Keilah and attack the Philistine forces!«


text:
David consulted Jehovah once again, and Jehovah said to him: »Go attack Keilah! I will give you victory over the Philistines.«


text:
David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. They drove off their livestock, and overwhelmingly defeated them. So David rescued the people who lived in Keilah.


text:
When Saul was told that David went to Keilah, Saul said: »God has delivered him into my hands. He has trapped himself by going into a city which has a gate with a double door held shut by a bar.«


text:
So Saul called all the troops to go to war. They wanted to blockade Keilah, where David and his men were.


text:
Then David said: »Jehovah God of Israel, I have actually heard that Saul is going to come to Keilah and destroy the city on account of me.


text:
»Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come here as I have heard? Jehovah God of Israel, please tell me.« Jehovah answered: »He will come.«


text:
»Will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul?« David asked. Jehovah answered: »They will hand you over.«


text:
David and his men, about six hundred in all, left Keilah. They went wherever they could go. Then Saul was told: »David has escaped from Keilah! So he gave up the campaign.«


text:
David lived in fortified camps in the desert. He lived in fortified camps in the mountains of the desert of Ziph. Saul was always searching for him. But God did not let him capture David.


text:
»Do not be afraid,« Jonathan said. »My father Saul will never get his hands on you. In fact, you are going to be the next king of Israel. I will be your highest official. Even my father knows it is true.«


text:
They both promised Jehovah that they would always be loyal to each other. Then Jonathan went home while David stayed at Horesh.


text:
Some people from the town of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah. They said: »Your Majesty, David has a hideout not far from us! It is near Horesh. It is somewhere on Mount Hachilah south of Jeshimon.


text:
»We know how much you want to capture him. Come to our territory and we will make sure you catch him.«


text:
»Go and make sure once more. Find out for certain where he is and who has seen him there. I hear that he is very cunning.


text:
»Find out exactly the places where he hides. Be sure to bring back a report to me right away. Then I will go with you. If he is still in the region, I will hunt him down, even if I have to search the whole land of Judah.«


text:
So they left and returned to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon. They were in a desolate valley in the southern part of the Judean wilderness.


text:
Saul and his men set out to look for David. David heard about it and went to a rocky hill in the wilderness of Maon and stayed there. When Saul heard about this he went after David.


text:
Saul and his men were on one side of the hill. They were separated from David and his men, who were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul and his men, who were closing in on them and were about to capture them.


text:
Just then a messenger arrived and said to Saul: »Come back at once! The Philistines are invading the country!«


text:
Saul stopped pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why that place is called Separation Hill.


text:
Saul returned from fighting the Philistines. He declared: »I have heard that David is in the desert around En-Gedi.«


text:
Saul led three thousand of Israels best soldiers out to look for David and his men near Wild Goat Rocks at En-Gedi.


text:
There were some sheep pens along the side of the road. One of them was built around the entrance to a cave. So Saul went into the cave to relieve himself. David and his men were hiding at the back of the cave.


text:
They whispered to David: »Jehovah told you he was going to let you defeat your enemies and do whatever you want with them. This must be the day Jehovah was talking about.« David sneaked over and cut off a small piece of Sauls robe and Saul did not notice.


text:
He told his men: »Stop talking foolishly. We are not going to attack Saul. He is my king. I pray that Jehovah will keep me from doing anything to harm his chosen king.«


text:
David stopped his men by saying this to them. He did not let them attack Saul. Saul left the cave and went out onto the road.


text:
Then David got up and left the cave. He called to Saul: »My lord!« When Saul looked back. David knelt down with his face touching the ground.


text:
»Today you saw how Jehovah handed you over to me in the cave. Although I was told to kill you I spared you. I said: I will not raise my hand against my lord because you are Jehovahs anointed.«


text:
»My master, look at this! The border of your robe is in my hand! I cut off the border of your robe and did not kill you. You should know and be able to see I mean no harm or rebellion. I have not sinned against you! But you are trying to ambush me in order to take my life.


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»I will let Jehovah decide which one of us has done right. I pray that Jehovah will punish you for what you are doing to me. However, I will not do anything to you.


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»Why should the king of Israel be out chasing me, anyway? I am as worthless as a dead dog or a flea.


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He said: »David, you are a better person than I am. You treated me with kindness when I was cruel to you.


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»You would not let me live if you were my enemy. I pray that Jehovah will reward you for what you did today.


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»Promise me with Jehovah as your witness, that you will not destroy my descendants. Let them live to keep my family name alive.«


text:
Samuel died. All Israel gathered to mourn him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David went to the desert of Paran.


text:
There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was a very rich man. He had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. He sheared his sheep in Carmel.


text:
His name was Nabal. He was of the family of Caleb. His wifes name was Abigail. She was a woman of good sense and pleasing looks. The man was cruel and dishonest in his dealings.


text:
David sent ten young men to Nabal. David said to them: »Go up to Carmel and go to Nabal, and say kind words to him in my name.


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»I hear that your sheepshearers are with you. Your shepherds have been with us. We have not mistreated them. Nothing of theirs has been missing as long as they have been in Carmel.


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»Ask your shepherds. They will tell you the same thing. My servants are your servants. You are like a father to me. This is a day for celebrating. Please be kind and share some of your food with us.«


text:
This is what he said: »Who does this David think he is? That son of Jesse is just one more slave on the run from his master. There are too many of them now days.


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»What makes you think I would give you the bread and water, and the meat that I cooked for my own servants? I do not even know where you are from.«


text:
David ordered: »Everyone get your swords!« They strapped on their swords. Two hundred men stayed behind to guard the camp. The other four hundred followed David.


text:
One of Nabals servants told Nabals wife Abigail: »Have you heard? David sent some messengers from the wilderness with greetings for our master. He insulted them.


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»Yet they were very good to us. They never bothered us. Nothing belonging to us was stolen at the time we were with them in the fields.


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»Consider what you should do because our master and his whole household are doomed. He is such a worthless man that it is useless to talk to him.«


text:
So Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two full wineskins, five butchered sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, one hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred fig cakes and loaded them on donkeys.


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»Lead the way,« she told her young men, »and I will follow you.« But she did not tell her husband Nabal about it.


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David thought: »I guarded this mans possessions in the desert for nothing! Not one of his possessions was missing. Yet, he paid me back with evil when I was good to him.


text:
Abigail saw David and quickly got down from her donkey. She immediately bowed down in front of David with her face touching the ground.


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She fell at his feet and said: »Let me be held responsible for this wrong. Please let me speak with you. Please listen to me.


text:
»You should not take this worthless person Nabal seriously. He is like his name. His name is Nabal <i>Godless Fool</i> . He is foolish. But I did not see the young men you sent.


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»Jehovah kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. As Jehovah lives and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal.


text:
»Also please forgive the transgression of your maidservant. Jehovah will certainly give you a lasting dynasty, because my lord is fighting the battles of Jehovah. Evil will not be found in you all your days.


text:
»Even if someone pursues you to take your life, your life is wrapped securely in the bundle <i>purse bag</i> of the living from Jehovah your God <i>God will keep you safe</i> . He will dispose of the lives of your enemies. They will be hurled like stones from a sling.


text:
you should not have a troubled conscience because you spilled blood for no good reason and claimed your own victory. When Jehovah gives you success, remember me.«


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»Blessed is your good judgment and blessed are you for keeping me from slaughtering people today and from getting a victory by my own efforts.


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»I solemnly promise as Jehovah the God of Israel lives that if you had not come to meet me Nabal would not have had one of his men alive at dawn.«


text:
Then David accepted what she brought him. He said: »Go home in peace. I have listened to what you said and I grant your request.«


text:
When Abigail came to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his home. It was like a kings banquet. He was in a good mood and very drunk, so she did not tell him anything until dawn.


text:
In the morning after the effects of the wine wore off his wife told him what had happened. Nabal had a stroke. He could not move.


text:
David heard Nabal was dead. He said: »Blessed is Jehovah who defended me against the insults of Nabal. He kept me from doing wrong. Jehovah has turned Nabals own wickedness back on him.« David sent men on his behalf to propose marriage to Abigail.


text:
Davids servants approached Abigail at Carmel. They told her: »David sent us to you to take you to him to be his wife.«


text:
She bowed down with her face touching the ground. »I am ready to serve,« she said. »I am willing to wash the feet of my masters servants.«


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Abigail quickly got up and rode on a donkey with five of her female servants following her. So she went with Davids messengers and became his wife.


text:
Earlier David married Ahinoam from the town of Jezreel. Now both she and Abigail were Davids wives.


text:
Meanwhile, Saul arranged for Michal to marry Palti the son of Laish, who came from the town of Gallim.


text:
Some people from Ziph went to Gibeah to talk with Saul, they said: »David has a hideout on Mount Hachilah near Jeshimon out in the desert.«


text:
Saul went to the desert of Ziph. He took three thousand of Israels best-trained men to search for David.


text:
Saul camped by the road at the hill of Hachilah near Jeshimon. David camped in the desert. He discovered that Saul come to the desert after him.


text:
Then David went to the place where Saul camped. David saw the place where Saul and Ners son Abner, the commander of the army, were lying. Saul was lying in the camp. The troops were camped around him.


text:
David asked Ahimelech the Hittite, and Abishai the brother of Joab: »Who will go to Sauls camp with me?« »I will,« Abishai answered.


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David and Abishai entered Sauls camp at night. They found Saul sleeping in the center of the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the troops were sleeping around him.


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Abishai said to David: »God put your enemy in your power tonight. Let me plunge his own spear through him and pin him to the ground. I will do it with just one blow. I will not have to strike twice!«


text:
»By the living God Jehovah,« David declared, »I know that Jehovah will kill Saul, either when his time comes to die a natural death or when he dies in battle.


text:
»Jehovah forbid that I should try to harm the one Jehovah anointed to be king. Just take his spear and his water jar and go.«


text:
David took the spear and the water jar from beside Sauls head. Then he and Abishai left. No one saw it or knew what happened. No one woke up. They were all sound asleep, because Jehovah sent a heavy sleep on them all.


text:
Then David crossed over to the other side of the valley. He went to the top of the hill a great distance away.


text:
David shouted to Sauls troops and to Abner: »Abner! Can you hear me?« »Who is calling to the king?« Abner asked.


text:
David answered, »Abner, are you the greatest man in Israel? Why are you not protecting your master, the king? Someone entered the camp to kill your master.


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»You failed in your duty, Abner! I swear by the living God Jehovah all of you deserve to die. You have not protected your master, whom Jehovah made king. Look for the kings spear? Where is the water jar that was near his head?«


text:
Saul recognized Davids voice and said: »Is that your voice my son David?« And David said: »It is my voice, my lord the king.


text:
He also said: »Why are you my lord pursuing your servant? What have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?


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»Please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If Jehovah has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. If it is men, cursed are they before Jehovah. They have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of Jehovah, saying: Go serve other gods.«


text:
»Do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of Jehovah. The king of Israel comes to search for a flea. Yet he hunts me down like a partridge on the mountains.«


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»My servant David,« Saul said, »I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again. You valued my life today. I have acted like a fool. I made a terrible mistake.«


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»Jehovah put you in my power today. But you are his chosen king. I would not harm you. Jehovah rewards the righteous and faithful.


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»I valued and saved your life today. I pray that you will value and save my life and that Jehovah will deliver me out of tribulation.«


text:
Saul said: »David, my son, I pray that Jehovah will bless you and make you successful!« Saul went back home. David also left.


text:
David thought to himself: »One of these days Saul will kill me. The best thing for me to do is escape to Philistia. Saul will give up looking for me in Israel. Then I will be safe.«


text:
David and his men and their families lived with Achish at Gath. David brought his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.


text:
David said to Achish: »If it is all right with you, let me live in one of the outlying towns. Why should I live in the royal city with you?«


text:
David and his men raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. Their territory extends from Telaim to Shur and Egypt.


text:
David attacked the territory and left no man or woman alive. He also took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and returned to Achish.


text:
Achish would ask: »Whom did you raid today?« David would answer: »The south country <i>Negev</i> in Judah, or the south country of the Jerahmeelites, or the south country of the Kenites.«


text:
He did not bring a single man or woman back to Gath alive. He thought, they could tell Achish what I really did. This was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.


text:
Achish trusted David and thought: »Davids people must be furious with him. From now on he will have to take orders from me.«


text:
One day the Philistines brought their soldiers together to attack Israel. Achish told David: »You and your men must fight as part of our Philistine army.«


text:
David answered: »That will give you a chance to see for yourself just how well we can fight!« Achish said: »You and your men will always be my bodyguards.«


text:
After Samuel died all the Israelites mourned for him. They buried him in his hometown of Ramah. Saul forced all the fortunetellers and mediums to leave Israel.


text:
The Philistine troops assembled and camped near the town of Shunem. Saul gathered the Israelites and camped at Mount Gilboa.


text:
So he asked Jehovah what to do. But Jehovah did not answer him. He did not answer by dreams or by the use of Urim and Thummim or by prophets.


text:
Saul ordered his officials: »Find me a woman who is a medium. I will go and consult her.« »There is one in Endor,« they answered.


text:
Saul disguised himself. He put on different clothes. After dark he went with two of his men to see the woman. »Consult the spirits for me and tell me what is going to happen,« he said to her: »Call up the spirit of the man I name.«


text:
The woman answered: »You know what King Saul has done? He forced the fortunetellers and mediums to leave Israel. Are you trying to trap me and get me killed?«


text:
Saul made a sacred vow. »By the living God Jehovah I promise that you will not be punished for doing this,« he told her.


text:
»Do not be afraid!« The king said to her. »What do you see?« She answered: »I see a spirit coming up from the earth.«


text:
»The spirit, what does it look like?« He asked. »It is an old man,« she answered. »He wears a cloak.« Saul knew it was Samuel. So he bowed to the ground in respect.


text:
Samuel said to Saul: »Why have you disturbed me? Why did you make me come back?« Saul answered: »I am in great trouble! The Philistines are at war with me. God has abandoned me. He does not answer me any more by prophets or by dreams. Please tell me what to do.«


text:
»Jehovah did to you what he told you through me. He took the kingdom away from you and gave it to David instead.


text:
»You disobeyed Jehovahs command and did not completely destroy the Amalekites. That is why Jehovah is doing this to you.


text:
»He will give you and Israel over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will join me. Jehovah will also give the army of Israel over to the Philistines.«


text:
At once Saul fell down and lay stretched out on the ground. He was terrified by what Samuel said. He was weak because he had not eaten anything all day and all night.


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The woman went to him. She saw that he was terrified. So she said to him: »I risked my life by doing what you asked.


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»Now please do what I ask. Let me fix you some food. You must eat so that you will be strong enough to travel.«


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Saul refused. He said he would not eat. But his officers also urged him to eat. He finally gave in, got up from the ground, and sat on the bed.


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The woman quickly butchered a calf she had fattened. Then she took some flour and prepared it. She baked some bread without yeast.


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The Philistines gathered all their troops at Aphek. The Israelites camped by the spring in Jezreel Valley.


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The five Philistine kings marched with units of a hundred and of a thousand men. David and his men marched in the rear with King Achish.


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The Philistine commanders saw them and asked: »What are these Hebrews doing here?« Achish answered: »This is David. He is the man who ran away from King Saul of Israel. He has been with me for more than a year. He has done nothing I can find fault with since the day he came to me.«


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The Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said to him: »Send that fellow back to the town you gave him. Do not let him go into battle with us. He might turn against us during the fight. What better way is there for him to win back his masters favor than by causing the death of our men?


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»This is David, the one about whom the women sang, as they danced: Saul has killed thousands, but David has killed tens of thousands.«


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Achish called David and said: »I swear by the living God of Israel that you have been loyal to me. I would be pleased to have you go with me and fight in this battle. I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me. But the other kings do not approve of you.


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David answered: »What have I done wrong? As you say, you have not found any fault in me since the day I started serving you. Why should I not go with you, my master and king, and fight your enemies?«


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»I agree,« Achish replied. »I consider you as loyal as an angel of God. But the other kings say you may not go with us into battle.


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»Tomorrow morning all of you who left Saul and came over to me must get up early and leave at first light.«


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David and his men started out early the following morning. They went back to Philistia. The Philistines went on to Jezreel.


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Two days later David and his men came to Ziklag. The Amalekites raided the south country <i>Negev</i> including Ziklag. They attacked Ziklag and burned it.


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They captured the women young and old. However they killed no one. Instead, they took the women as prisoners.


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When David and his men came to Zikleg they found it completely destroyed by fire. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive.


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The Amalekites also captured Davids two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabals widow, from Carmel.


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The people in their bitterness said David should be stoned. This caused him great distress. They were thinking of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in Jehovah his God.


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David told Abiathar the priest: »Please bring me the priestly ephod.« So Abiathar brought David the ephod.


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David asked Jehovah: »Should I pursue these troops? Will I catch up with them?« »Pursue them!« Jehovah told him: »You will certainly catch up with them and rescue the captives.«


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David and four hundred men went in pursuit. Two hundred men who were too exhausted to cross the Besor Valley stayed behind.


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Davids men found an Egyptian in the open country and took him to David. They gave him food to eat and water to drink.


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He also ate some dried figs, and two bunches of raisins. After he ate his strength returned. He had not eaten nor did he drank for three days.


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»Who is your master? Where are you from?« David asked. »I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite,« he answered. »My master left me behind three days ago when I got sick.


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»We raided the territory of the Cherethites in the southern part of Judah. We also raided the territory of the clan of Caleb, and we burned down Ziklag.«


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»Will you lead me to those raiders?« David asked him. He answered, »I will if you promise me in Gods name that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master.«


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He led David to the Amalekites. They were eating, drinking and celebrating because of what they had taken from Philistia and Judah.


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David attacked just before sunrise the next day. They fought until sunset. Four hundred Amalekites rode away on camels. They were the only ones to escape.


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Young and old, sons and daughters alike, no one was missing. David brought back everything that had been stolen.


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They even brought back their livestock. David also took the sheep and cattle that the Amalekites had with them. He kept these separate from the others. Everyone agreed that these would be Davids reward.


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On the way back, David met the two hundred men he left at Besor Gorge. They were too tired to keep up with him. They approached David and the people who were with him. He greeted the two hundred men and asked how they were doing.


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Then every wicked and worthless man who had gone with David said: »Since they did not go with us, they should not be given any of the loot we recovered. Each of them should take only his wife and children and leave.«


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David said: »My brothers, do not do that with the things Jehovah has given us. He kept us safe and helped us defeat the enemy.


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»Besides, who is going to pay attention to what you have to say in this matter? The share of those who go into battle must be like the share of those who stay with the supplies. They will all share alike.«


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When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the goods to the elders of Judah, and to his friends. He said: »Here is an offering for you from the spoil of those who fought against Jehovah.«


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He sent the offering to the people in Bethel, to the people in Ramah in the southern part of Judah, and to the people in the towns of Jattir,


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When the Philistines fought Israel, the men of Israel fled from the Philistines and were killed in battle on Mount Gilboa.


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The Philistines caught up to Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Sauls sons.


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The heaviest fighting was against Saul. When the archers got him in their range, he was badly wounded by them.


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He said to the young man carrying his weapons: »Draw your sword and kill me. That way these godless Philistines will not gloat over me and kill me.« But the young man was too terrified to do it. So Saul took his own sword and threw himself on it.


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The young man saw that Saul was dead. Then he too threw himself on his own sword and died with Saul.


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The Israelites on the other side of Jezreel Valley and east of the Jordan River heard that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had been killed. They abandoned their towns and fled. Then the Philistines came and occupied the towns.


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The next day the Philistines came to strip the dead. They found Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa.


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They cut off his head and stripped off his armor. Then they sent men throughout Philistine territory to tell the people this good news in their idols temples.


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They put his armor in the temple of their goddesses the Asherahs and fastened his corpse to the wall of Beth Shan.


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All the fighting men marched all night and took the dead bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan. They came back to Jabesh and burned the bodies.


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They buried the bones under a small tree in Jabesh. Then for seven days, they went without eating to show their sorrow.


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Three days later a soldier came from Sauls army. His clothes were torn and dirt was on his head. He knelt down in front of David.


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»How did the battle go?« David asked. The man said: »Our army turned and ran. Many were wounded and died. King Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.«


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He answered: »I was on Mount Gilboa. I saw Saul leaning on his spear. The chariots and cavalry of the enemy closed in on him.


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»I went up to him and killed him. I knew that he would die anyway as soon as he fell. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm. Here, I have brought them to you.«


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They grieved and mourned and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan and for Israel, the people of Jehovah, because so many had been killed in battle.


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David asked the young man who brought him the news: »Where are you from?« He answered: »I am an Amalekite, son of a foreign resident.«


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David said to him: »Your blood is on your head. Your mouth has testified against you. For you admit that you killed Jehovahs anointed.«


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»Do not tell the news in Gath. Do not announce the victory in the streets of Ashkelon. The daughters of the Philistines will be glad. The daughters of godless men will celebrate.


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»Let no rain or dew fall on the mountains of Gilboa. Let its fields be barren! For the shields of the mighty lie there in disgrace. The shield of Saul is no longer polished with oil.


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»Jonathans bow was deadly. The sword of Saul was without mercy. He struck down the mighty and killed the enemy.


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»It was easy to love Saul and Jonathan. Together in life, together in death, they were faster than eagles and stronger than lions.


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»I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan. You were dear to me! How wonderful was your love for me. It was better than the love of women.


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Later David asked Jehovah: »Shall I go to the towns of Judah?« »Yes,« Jehovah answered. »Which one?« David asked. »Hebron,« Jehovah told him.


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David went to Hebron. He took his two wives: Ahinoam from Jezreel, and Abigail, Nabals widow from Carmel with him.


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Then the men of Judah came to Hebron. They anointed David as king of Judah. David heard that the people of Jabesh-gilead <i>Jabesh in Gilead</i> buried Saul.


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He sent some men there with the message: »Jehovah blesses you for showing your loyalty to your king by burying him.


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»Be strong and courageous. Your master Saul is dead. Therefore the tribe of Judah has anointed me to be their king.«


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Sauls son Ishbosheth was forty years old when he became king of Israel. He ruled for two years. However the tribe of Judah followed David.


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At that time Joab the son of Zeruiah was leading Davids soldiers. The two groups met at the pool in Gibeon. Abner and his men sat down on one side of the pool and Joab and his men sat on the other side.


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Each one grabbed his opponent by the head. Then he stuck his sword into his opponents side, and they fell down together. That place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies.


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Zeruiahs three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle.


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Abner said: »Soldiers are all around us. Stop chasing me and fight one of them! Kill him and take his clothes and weapons for yourself.« But Asahel refused to stop.


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Abner spoke again to Asahel: »If you do not turn back, I will have to kill you! Then I could never face your brother Joab again.«


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However, Asahel would not turn back. So Abner struck him in the stomach with the back end of his spear. The spear went all the way through and came out of his back. Asahel fell down and died. Everyone who saw Asahel lying dead just stopped and stood still.


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Joab and Abishai ran after Abner. It was sun down when they arrived at the hill of Ammah. This hill is near Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.


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Then Abner called to Joab: Must the sword devour forever? Do you not understand it will be bitter to the end? How long before you command the people to return from chasing their brothers?


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Joab said: »As God lives; if you had not spoken the men would have continued following their brothers.«


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That night Abner and his men marched through the plains. They crossed the Jordan River and passed through the entire Bithron until they came to Mahanaim.


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Joab returned from chasing Abner. He gathered the troops. Nineteen of Davids officers and Asahel were missing.


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They buried Asahel in his fathers tomb in Bethlehem. Joab and his men marched all night. They arrived at Hebron at daybreak.


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There was a long war between the royal families of Saul and David. Davids family became stronger and stronger. Sauls family became weaker and weaker.


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Sons were born to David while he was in Hebron. His first son was Amnon, born to Ahinoam from Jezreel.


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The second was Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, Nabals widow from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur.


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The fourth son was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.


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The fighting continued between Davids forces and the forces loyal to Sauls family. Abner became more and more powerful among Sauls followers.


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Saul had a concubine named Rizpah. She was Aiahs daughter. Ishbosheth asked Abner: »Why did you have sex with my fathers concubine?«


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Ishbosheths question made Abner very angry. »Am I a dog that belongs to Judea?« He asked. »Until now I have been faithful to your father Sauls family, to his relatives and friends. I did not hand you over to David. But now you charge me with a crime because of this woman.


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»May God deal with me harshly if I do not help David get all that Jehovah promised him when he said:


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»I Jehovah will transfer the kingship from Sauls family and establish Davids throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.«


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Abner sent messengers to David to speak on his behalf. »Who owns this country?« He asked. »Make an agreement with me,« he said. »Then I will support you and bring all Israel to you.«


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»Good!« David answered. »I will make an agreement with you. But there is one condition: You may not come to see me unless you bring Michal, Sauls daughter, when you come.«


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David sent messengers to Ishbosheth to give him this message: »Give me back my wife Michal! I bought her for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.«


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Paltiel followed Michal and the men all the way to Bahurim. He cried all the way. But he went back home after Abner ordered him to leave.


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Meanwhile, Abner communicated with the leaders of Israel: »For some time now you wanted to make David your king.


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»Do it now! This is what Jehovah said about David: I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and all their other enemies through my servant David.«


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Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went directly to David in Hebron. He told him everything Israel and the entire tribe of Benjamin had approved.


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Abner told David: »I must go now so that I can gather all Israel for you, Your Majesty. They will make an agreement with you. You will rule over all that your heart desires.« Then David dismissed Abner, who left peacefully.


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Just then Davids men and Joab came home from a raid with a lot of plunder. Abner had been dismissed, so he was no longer with David in Hebron.


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Joab came back with the whole army. He was told: »Ners son Abner came to the king. However David dismissed him and Abner left peacefully.«


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Joab went to the king and asked: »What have you done? Abner came to see you. Why did you send him away?


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»Surely you know that he came to deceive you. He came to find out everything you do and everywhere you go.«


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Joab left David. Then he sent messengers to get Abner, and they brought him back from Sirah Well. David knew nothing about it.


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Abner arrived in Hebron. Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him. There he stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner was murdered because he had killed Joabs brother Asahel.


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When David heard the news, he said: »Jehovah knows that my subjects and I are completely innocent of the murder of Abner.


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»Let the punishment for it fall on Joab and all his family! In every generation may there be some man in his family who has gonorrhea or a dreaded skin disease or is fit only to do a womans work or is killed in battle or does not have enough to eat!«


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Joab and his brother Abishai took revenge and murdered Abner for killing their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.


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David told Joab and everyone with him: »Show your sorrow by tearing your clothes and wearing sackcloth! Walk in front of Abners body and cry!« David walked behind the coffin on which Abners body was being carried.


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»Your hands were not bound. Your feet were not in fetters. You fell as one falls in front of wicked men. And all the people continued to cry for him.«


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David refused to eat anything the day of the funeral even though people tried to persuade him to eat. David vowed: »May God strike me dead if I taste any food or anything else before the sun goes down.«


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The king told his officers: »Do you not know that today a leader, a great man, has fallen in Israel?


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»Today, even though I am the anointed king, these men, Zeruiahs sons, are too strong for me to control. May Jehovah repay these wicked men, as their evil deed deserves.«


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Sauls son Ishbosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron. He lost his courage, and all Israel was alarmed.


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Sauls son had two men who were captains of raiding parties. One was named Baanah, and the other was named Rechab. They were the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth from the tribe of Benjamin. Beeroth was considered a part of Benjamin.


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Sauls son Jonathan had a son who was crippled. When the boy was five years old, the news about the death of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled to Gittaim. She was in a hurry when she left. He fell from her arms and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.


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They came to the middle of the house pretending to get wheat. Once they were inside they stabbed Ishbosheth in the stomach and killed him.


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They took the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, »Here is the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. Jehovah has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants.«


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»I once seized a man who told me that Saul had died. He thought he was bringing good news. I killed him in Ziklag to reward him for his news.


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»How much more should I reward wicked men who kill an innocent man on his own bed in his home? Jehovah has rescued me from every trouble. I solemnly swear, as Jehovah lives, I will now seek revenge for his murder and rid the land of you.«


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David gave the order for his soldiers to kill Rechab and Baanah and cut off their hands and feet. They killed them and hung their hands and feet near the pool in Hebron. They took Ishbosheths head and buried it in Abners tomb there at Hebron.


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»For a long time when Saul was still our king, you led the people of Israel in battle. Jehovah promised you that you would lead his people and be their ruler.«


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All the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made a sacred alliance with them. They anointed him, and he became king of Israel.


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In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he ruled for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.


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The king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived in that region. The Jebusites told David: »You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could turn you away. In other words he could not enter there.«


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That day David said: »Whoever wants to defeat the Jebusites must reach the lame and the blind that hate me by using the water tunnel.« So there is a saying: »The blind and the lame will not get into the palace.«


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David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built the city of Jerusalem around it from the stronghold <i>citadel</i> to the palace.


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King Hiram of Tyre sent some officials to David. Carpenters and stone workers came with them. They brought cedar logs so they could build a palace for David.


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David knew that Jehovah made him king of Israel and that he had made him a powerful ruler for the good of his people.


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David left Hebron and moved to Jerusalem. He married many women from Jerusalem, and he had a lot of children.


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The Philistines heard that David was now king of Israel. They mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David found out and went into his fortress.


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David asked Jehovah: »Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?« Jehovah answered David: »Attack! I will certainly deliver the Philistines to you.«


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David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines. He said: »Jehovah has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood.« That is why that place is called Baal Perazim <i>Master of Breaking Through</i>


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Once again David consulted Jehovah. Jehovah answered David: »Do not attack them from here. Go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees.


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»Attack when you hear the sound of marching in the treetops. I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.«


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He led them to Baalah in Judah, in order to bring the Ark of the Covenant bearing the name of Jehovah of Hosts, whose throne is above the winged creatures.


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They took it from Abinadabs home on the hill and placed it on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart.


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David and all the Israelites danced and sang with all their might to honor Jehovah. They played harps, lyres, drums, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.


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As they came to the threshing place of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Ark of the Covenant.


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At once Jehovah God became angry with Uzzah. He killed him because of his irreverence. Uzzah died there beside the Ark of the Covenant.


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Because of that the place has been called Perez Uzzah <i>breakthrough of Uzzah</i> ever since. David was furious because Jehovah punished Uzzah in anger.


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So he decided not to take it with him to Jerusalem. Instead, he turned off the road and took it to the house of Obed Edom, a native of the city of Gath.


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The Ark of Jehovah stayed at the home of Obed Edom from Gath for three months. Jehovah blessed Obed Edom and his whole family.


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King David was told: »Jehovah has blessed Obed Edoms home and everything he owns because of the Ark of God.« Then David joyfully went to get the Ark of God from Obed Edoms house and bring it to the City of David.


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When those who carried the Ark of Jehovah walked six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.


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He and the entire nation of Israel brought the Ark of Jehovah with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams horns.


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When the Ark of Jehovah came to the City of David, Sauls daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David leaping and dancing in Jehovahs presence. She despised him in her heart.


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The men carrying the Ark set it in its place inside the tent David put up for it. David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in Jehovahs presence.


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David finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings. Then he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of Hosts.


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He also distributed to all the people, to the whole crowd of Israelites, men and women, one loaf of bread, one date cake, and one raisin cake. Then all the people went home.


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David went home so he could ask Jehovah to bless his family. But Sauls daughter Michal went out and started yelling at him: »You were really great today!« She said. »You acted like a dirty old man. You danced around half-naked in front of your servants slave-girls.«


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David answered: »I danced to honor Jehovah. He chose me to be king instead of your father and his family. He made me the leader of his people Israel. I will continue to dance and honor Jehovah.


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The king said to the prophet Nathan: »I live in a house built of cedar. Yet the Ark of God is kept in a tent!«


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»Go tell my servant David that I say to him: You are not the one to build a temple for me to live in.


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»From the time I rescued the people of Israel from Egypt until now, I have never lived in a temple. I have traveled around living in a tent.


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»In all my traveling with the people of Israel I never asked any of the leaders that I appointed why they had not built me a temple made of cedar.«


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»Say this to my servant David: This is what Jehovah of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture where you followed sheep so that you could be the leader of my people Israel.


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»I was with you wherever you went. I destroyed all your enemies in front of you. I will make your name famous like the names of the greatest people on earth.


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»I will make a place for my people Israel and plant them there. They will dwell in their own place and not be troubled anymore. The wicked will not oppress them as they used to do


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when I let judges rule my people. I have kept your enemies from attacking you. Now I promise that you and your descendants will be kings.


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»I will choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I will make him a strong ruler.


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»I will allow no one to take his long lasting kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me.


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»I will be his father. He will be my son. When he does wrong I will correct him just as parents correct children.


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»I will never put an end to my agreement with him. I put an end to my agreement with Saul when he was king before you.


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»I will make sure that one of your descendants will be king for a very long time. Your throne will be established from generation to generation.«


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David went into the tent he set up for the ark. Then he sat there and prayed: »Jehovah All-Powerful, my family and I do not deserve what you have already done for us.


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»Yet this was insignificant in your eyes, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah for you have spoken also of your servants house in the distant future. And this is the law for man, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah.


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»For the sake of your Word and according to your will you have done this great thing. You have made it known to your servant!


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»For this reason you are great, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah. There is none like you. There is no God besides you according to all that we have heard with our ears.


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»There is no other nation on earth like Israel. This is the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here.


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»You will be famous for a very long time! Everyone will say: »Jehovah of Hosts rules Israel. Davids descendants are his chosen kings.


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»Now therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servant that it may continue a long time before you. You O Lord Jehovah have spoken. May the house of your servant be blessed from generation to generation.


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»Lord Jehovah, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise.


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»Please bless my descendants and let them be your chosen kings for a very long time. You have already promised, and I am sure that you will bless my family from generation to generation.«


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King David attacked the Philistines again. He defeated them and ended their control over Methegammah.


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He defeated the Moabites. He made the prisoners lie down on the ground and put two out of every three of them to death. So the Moabites became his subjects and paid taxes to him.


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David defeated the king of the Syrian state of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob. Hadadezer was on his way to restore his control over the territory by the upper Euphrates River.


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David captured seventeen hundred of his cavalry and twenty thousand of his foot soldiers. He kept enough horses for a hundred chariots and crippled <i>hamstrung</i> all the rest.


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The Syrians of Damascus sent an army to help King Hadadezer. David attacked it and killed twenty-two thousand men.


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Then he set up military camps in their territory. They became his subjects and paid taxes to him. Jehovah made David victorious everywhere.


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He sent his son Joram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. There had often been war between Hadadezer and Toi. Joram brought articles of gold, silver, and copper with him.


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King David dedicated these articles to Jehovah, along with the silver and gold he dedicated from all the nations he conquered.


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These nation included: Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the goods taken from Zobahs King Hadadezer, son of Rehob.


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David made a name for himself by killing eighteen thousand Edomites in the Dead Sea region as he returned to Jerusalem.


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He put troops everywhere in Edom. All the Edomites were Davids subjects. Everywhere David went Jehovah gave him victories.


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Joab the son of Zeruiah was the commander in chief of the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud kept the government records.


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Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abiathar the son of Ahimelech, were the priests. Seraiah was the secretary.


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One day, David thought: »I wonder if any of Sauls family is still alive. If they are I will be kind to them. This is because I made a promise to Jonathan.«


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There was a servant of Sauls family named Ziba. He was told to go to David. »Are you Ziba?« The king asked. »I am at your service.« He answered.


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The king asked him: »Is there anyone left of Sauls family to whom I can show loyalty and kindness? I promised God I would.« Ziba answered: »There is still one of Jonathans sons. He is crippled.«


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Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul arrived. He bowed down before David in respect. David said: »Mephibosheth.« He answered: »I am here to serve.«


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David replied: »Do not be afraid. I will be kind to you for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will give you back all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. You will always be welcome at my table.«


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Mephibosheth bowed again and said: »I am no better than a dead dog! Why should you be so good to me?«


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The king called Ziba, Sauls servant, and said: »I am giving Mephibosheth, your masters grandson, everything that belonged to Saul and his family.


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»You, your sons, and your servants will farm the land for your master Sauls family and bring in the harvest. This will provide food for them. Mephibosheth will always be a guest at my table.« Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.


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Ziba answered: »I will do everything Your Majesty commands.« So Mephibosheth ate at the kings table, just like one of the kings sons.


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Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. Everyone who lived at Zibas home became Mephibosheths servant.


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David thought: »I will show kindness to Hanun since his father Nahash showed me kindness.« David sent his servants to comfort Hanun after his fathers death. When Davids servants entered Ammonite territory,


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the Ammonite princes asked their master Hanun: »Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Perhaps David sent his men to explore the city, spy on it, and destroy it.«


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Hanun seized Davids men and shaved off half of each mans beard. He cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away.


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David was told what happened. He sent someone to meet them because they were deeply humiliated. The king said to them: »Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back. Then return to Jerusalem.«


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The Ammonites realized they had made themselves repulsive to David. They hired the Arameans from Beth Rehob and Zobah, with twenty thousand foot soldiers. From the army of the king of Maacah they hired one thousand men, and twelve thousand men of Tob.


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The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the city gate. The Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah remained by themselves in the open country.


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Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind. He took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans.


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Joab told his brother: »If the Arameans are too much for me to handle, you can come and help me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.


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»Be brave and fight hard to protect our people and the cities of our God. I pray that Jehovah will do whatever pleases him.«


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The Ammonites saw the Syrians <i>Arameans</i> running away. They fled from Abishai and retreated into the city. Then Joab turned back from fighting the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem.


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King Hadadezer sent for the Syrians <i>Arameans</i> who were on the east side of the Euphrates River. They came to Helam under the command of Shobach, commander of the army of King Hadadezer of Zobah.


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David heard of it. So he gathered the Israelite troops and crossed the Jordan River. They marched to Helam, where the Syrians took up their position facing him. The fighting began,


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and the Israelites drove the Syrian army back. David and his men killed seven hundred Syrian chariot drivers and forty thousand cavalry. They wounded Shobach, the enemy commander, who died on the battlefield.


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As soon as the kings who were subject to Hadadezer realized that they had been defeated by the Israelites, they made peace with them and became their subjects. The Syrians were afraid to help the Ammonites any more.


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In the spring, at the time of the year when kings usually go to war, David sent out Joab with his officers and the Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged the city of Rabbah. David stayed in Jerusalem.


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Late one afternoon, David got up from his nap and went to the palace roof. He walked around on the roof. He saw a woman taking a bath. She was very beautiful.


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He sent a messenger to find out who she was. He learned that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.


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So David sent messengers to get her. She came to him and they had sexual intercourse. She had just cleansed herself after her monthly period. Then she went home.


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»Go home,« David said to Uriah, »and wash your feet.« Uriah left the royal palace, and the king sent a present to him.


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But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace among his superiors mercenaries. He did not go home.


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Someone told David that Uriah did not go home. So the next morning David asked him: »Why did you not go home? Have you been away for a long time?«


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Uriah answered: »The Ark of the Covenant and the armies of Israel and Judah are camping out somewhere in the fields with our commander Joab and his officers and troops. Do you think I would go home to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? I swear by your life that I would not!«


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David said: »Stay here in Jerusalem and I will send you back tomorrow.« Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next day.


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David invited him for dinner. Uriah ate with David and drank so much that he got drunk. However he still did not go home. He went out and slept on his mat near the palace guards.


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The letter said: »Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is the worst. Pull the troops back from him, so that he will be wounded and die.«


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Joab carefully watched the city of Rabbah. He put Uriah in a place where he knew there were some of the enemys best soldiers.


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The men of the city came out and fought Joab. Some of Davids mercenaries fell and died. This included Uriah the Hittite.


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the king may become angry. He might ask you: Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Did you not know they would shoot from the wall?


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»Who killed Jerubbesheths son Abimelech? Did a woman on the wall of Thebez throw a small millstone at him and kill him? Why did you go so close to the wall? If the king asks this, tell him: Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.«


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The messenger said to David: »Their men overpowered us when they came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate.


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»The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries. Some of Your Majestys mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead.«


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David replied: »This is what you are to say to Joab: Do not let this thing trouble you. After all a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it. Say this to encourage him.«


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When her mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to his home. She became his wife. Then she gave birth to a son. However, Jehovah considered Davids actions evil.


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Jehovah sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said: »There were two men in a certain city. One was rich and the other was poor.


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But the poor man had only one little female lamb that he bought. He raised her, and she grew up in his home with his children. She would eat his food and drink from his cup. She rested in his arms and was like a daughter to him.


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»Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor mans lamb and prepared it for the traveler.«


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David became very angry with the rich man. He said: »I swear by the living God Jehovah that the man who did this should die!


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»For doing such a cruel thing he should pay back four times for the lamb he took, for he had no compassion.«


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»You are that man!« Nathan said to David. »And this is what the Lord Jehovah the God of Israel says: I made you king of Israel and rescued you from Saul.


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»I gave you his kingdom and his wives. Then I made you king over Israel and Judah. If this had not been enough, I would have given you twice as much.


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»Why have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle! You let the Ammonites kill him. Then you took his wife!


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»In every generation some of your descendants will die a violent death because you have disobeyed me and have taken Uriahs wife.


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»I swear to you that I will cause someone from your own family to bring trouble to you. You will see it when I take your wives from you and give them to another man. He will have intercourse with them in broad daylight.


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David said to Nathan: »I have sinned against Jehovah.« Nathan replied: »Jehovah has taken away your sin. You will not die.


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»You have shown total contempt for Jehovah by this affair. Therefore the son that is born to you must die.«


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Nathan went home. Jehovah struck the child that Uriahs wife had given birth to David. The child became sick.


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The elders in his palace stood beside him to raise him up from the ground. But he was unwilling and he would not eat with them.


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On the seventh day the child died. Davids servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. They thought: »While the child was alive, we talked to him, and he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may harm himself.«


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David saw that his servants were whispering to one another. He realized <i>discerned</i> that the child was dead. »Is the child dead?« David asked them. »Yes, he is dead.« They answered.


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David got up from the floor. He took a bath, combed his hair, and changed his clothes. Then he went and worshiped in the Temple of Jehovah. After that he returned to the palace and ate.


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»We do not understand,« his servants said, »while the child was alive you would not eat. As soon as he died, you got up and ate!«


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David replied: »I fasted and cried while the child lived. I thought Jehovah might be gracious to me and let the child live.


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»Why should I fast now that he is dead? Can I bring him back? Someday I will go to him. However he will not come back to me.«


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David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to bed with her, and she later gave birth to a son. David named him Solomon. Jehovah loved the child.


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He sent messengers to tell David: »I fought against Rabbah and captured the fortress guarding its water supply.


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»Assemble the rest of the troops. Surround the city and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city. Then it will be named after me.«


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He removed the crown of their god Milcom from off the head of their king. The crown was made of seventy-five pounds of gold. There was a valuable jewel on it. David put the jewel on his own crown. He also carried off everything else of value.


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David made the people of Rabbah tear down the city walls with iron picks and axes. He also put them to work making bricks. He did the same thing with all the other Ammonite cities. David went back to Jerusalem. The people of Israel returned to their homes.


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David had a beautiful daughter named Tamar. She was Absaloms sister. She was also the half sister of Amnon. Amnon fell in love with her.


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Tamar was a virgin. Amnon could not think of a way to be alone with her. He was so upset about it that he made himself sick.


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Amnon had a friend named Jonadab. He was the son of Davids brother Shimeah. Jonadab usually knew how to get what he wanted.


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Jonadab said to Amnon: »You are the kings son. Even so day after day I see you looking sad. What is the problem?« Amnon answered: »I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my half brother Absalom.«


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Jonadab said: »Pretend that you are sick and go to bed. When your father comes to see you, say to him: Please ask my sister Tamar to come and feed me. I want her to fix the food here where I can see her. Then she can serve it to me.«


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So Amnon went to bed and pretended that he was sick. King David went to see him. Amnon said: »Please have Tamar come and make a few cakes here where I can see her. Then she can serve them to me.«


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She went there and found him in bed. She prepared dough and made some cakes there where he could see her. Then she baked the cakes.


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Tamar emptied them out of the pan for him to eat. But he refused to eat. He said: Send everyone away. So they all left.


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He said to her: »Bring the cakes here to my bed and serve them to me.« She took the cakes and went over to him.


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»How could I ever hold up my head in public again? And you, you would be completely disgraced in Israel. Please speak to the king. I am sure he will give me to you.«


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After that Amnon developed an intense hatred for her. His hatred for her was greater than the lust he felt for her. »Get out of here,« he told her.


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She said: »No, You do a greater wrong by sending me away than the other thing you did to me!« He would not listen to her.


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The servant forced her to leave. He locked the door behind her. The kings unmarried daughters used to wear long robes with sleeves.


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Tamar tore the robe she was wearing. She put ashes on her head. Then she covered her face with her hands. She cried loudly as she walked away.


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Tamars brother Absalom said to her: »How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he is your brother, do not tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.« Tamar soon moved into Absaloms house. She was always sad and lonely.


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Two years later Absalom had sheep sheared at Baal Hazor, near the town of Ephraim. He invited all the kings sons to be there.


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He went to King David and said: »Your Majesty, I am having my sheep sheared. Will you and your officials take part in the festivities?«


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The king answered: No, my son. It would be too much trouble for you if we all went. Absalom insisted, but the king would not give in. So he asked Absalom to leave.


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Absalom insisted until David finally let Amnon and all his other sons go with Absalom. Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king.


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Absalom gave an order to his servants: »Watch now and when Amnon begins to feel good from drinking too much wine, I will tell you, Attack Amnon. Then kill him. Do not be afraid. I give this order. Be strong and courageous.«


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Absaloms servants did to Amnon as Absalom ordered. Then all the kings sons got up, mounted their mules, and fled.


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While they were on their way, David heard this rumor: »Absalom has killed all the kings sons, and not a single one is left.«


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The king stood up and tore his clothes. Then he lay down on the ground. All his servants stood beside him with their clothes torn to show their grief.


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Jonadab son of Davids brother Shimea, said: »Do not think that all the young men are dead. They have not killed all the kings sons. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom decided to do this the day his half brother raped his sister Tamar.


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»You should not burden your heart with the idea that all the kings sons are dead. Your Majesty, only Amnon is dead.«


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Absalom has fled. The servant keeping the watch looked outside. He saw many people coming down the road beside the mountain west of him.


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As soon as he finished speaking, the kings sons arrived. They cried loudly and the king and all his men also cried very bitterly.


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Joab sent someone to Tekoa to get a wise woman from there. He told her: »Please act like a mourner. Dress in mourning clothes. Do not use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.


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The woman from Tekoa came to the king. She immediately bowed down with her face touching the ground. »Help me, Your Majesty,« she said.


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»I had two sons who fought with each other in the field. There was no one to separate them. One killed the other.


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»All my relatives have turned against me and are demanding that I hand my son over to them. They want to kill him for murdering his brother. If they do this, I will be left without a son. They will destroy my last hope. They will leave my husband without a son to keep his name alive.«


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»Your Majesty,« she said, »do whatever you must. My family and I will take the blame. You and the royal family are innocent.«


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She said: »Please pray to Jehovah your God, Your Majesty, so that my relative who is responsible for avenging the death of my son will not commit a greater crime by killing my other son.« »I promise by the living Jehovah,« David replied, »your son will not be harmed.«


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The woman said: »Have you been hurting Gods people? Your own son had to leave the country. When you judged in my favor, it was the same as admitting that you should have let him come back.


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»We each must die and disappear like water poured out on the ground. But God does not take our lives. Instead, he figures out ways of bringing us back when we run away.


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»Your Majesty, I came here to tell you about my problem. I was afraid of what someone might do to me. I decided to come to you, because I thought you could help.


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»In fact, I knew that you would listen and save my son and me from those who want to take the land that God gave us.


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»I can rest easy now that you have given your decision. You know the difference between right and wrong just like an angel of God. I pray that Jehovah your God will be with you.«


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David said: »Now I ask you a question. Do not try to hide the truth!« The woman replied: »Please go ahead, Your Majesty.«


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»Did Joab put you up to this?« The king asked. The woman answered: »I solemnly swear on your life, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right! Yes, your servant Joab ordered me to do this. He told me to say exactly what I said.


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»Your servant Joab has done this to view this matter from a different angle. You are as wise as an angel of God <i>messenger of God</i> , who knows everything on earth.«


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Later on the king said to Joab: »I have decided to do what you want. Go and get the young man Absalom and bring him back here.«


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Joab quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground. He blessed the king. He said: »Today I know that you have been kind to me because you did what I wanted.«


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The king said: »Absalom should return to his own house. Do not let him see me.« So Absalom returned to his house. He did not see the king.


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No one in all Israel was praised for his good looks as much as Absalom was. He had no blemish from head to toe.


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From time to time, he used to cut his hair because it became heavy for him. When he cut the hair on his head and weighed it, it weighed five pounds according to the kings standard.


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So Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king. Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time. He still refused to come.


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Finally, Absalom told his servants: »Joabs barley field is next to mine. Set it on fire!« So they set it on fire.


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Absalom answered: »You did not pay any attention when I sent for you. I want you to ask my father why he told me to come back from Geshur. I was better off there. I want to see my father now! If I am guilty, let him kill me.«


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So Joab went to King David. He told him what Absalom said. The king sent for Absalom. He went to the king and bowed down to the ground in front of him. The king welcomed him with a kiss.


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Absalom provided a chariot and horses for himself. He had an escort of fifty men to run ahead of him.


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He would rise early in the morning and stand by the road at the city gate. When someone came there with a dispute that he wanted the king to settle, Absalom would call him over and ask him where he was from. After the man told him what tribe he was from,


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Absalom would say: »My friend, the law is on your side. However, there is no representative of the king to hear your case.«


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He added: »How I wish I were a judge! Then anyone who had a dispute or a claim could come to me. I would give him justice.«


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The man would approach Absalom and bow down before him. Then Absalom would reach out and hug and kiss him.


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Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment. That way he won their loyalty.


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After four years Absalom said to King David: »My lord let me go to Hebron and keep a promise I made to Jehovah.


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»When I lived at Geshur in Syria <i>Aram</i> , I promised Jehovah that if he would take me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron.«


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He sent messengers to all the tribes of Israel. He told them: »When you hear the sound of trumpets, shout: Absalom is king in Hebron!«


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Absalom had two hundred men who at his invitation traveled from Jerusalem with him. They knew nothing of the plot and went in good faith.


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Absalom was offering sacrifices. He sent for Ahithophel, Davids adviser, to come from his home in Giloh. Meanwhile, the conspiracy grew stronger. The number of people siding with Absalom kept getting larger.


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David told all his men who were with him in Jerusalem: »We must run away quickly, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave right away or he will catch up to us and bring ruin upon us when he massacres the city.«


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The king left on foot. His whole household followed him. The king left ten concubines behind to take care of the palace.


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All his mercenaries passed by him. The Cherethites, all the Pelethites, Ittai, and all six hundred men who had followed him from Gath marched past the king.


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The king asked Ittai from Gath: »Why should you go with us? Go back, and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland.


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»In fact you came to us just yesterday. Should I make you wander around with me when I do not even know where I am going? Go back and take your countrymen with you. May Jehovah always show you kindness.«


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Ittai answered: »Your Majesty, I swear to you in the name of Jehovah that I will always go with you wherever you go, even if it means death.«


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The people cried loudly as Davids followers left. The king crossed Kidron Brook. His men followed him. They went to the wilderness.


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Zadok the priest was there. He had Levites there carrying the sacred Ark of God. They set it down and did not pick it up again until all the people left the city. The priest Abiathar was there too.


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The king said to Zadok: »Take the Ark of the Covenant back to the city. If Jehovah is pleased with me he will let me come back to see it and the place where it stays.


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He also said to Zadok: »You are a seer, are you? Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathars son Jonathan and go back to the city in peace.


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David went up the slope of the Mount of Olives. He was barefoot and crying. He covered his head to show his sorrow. Everyone with him was crying. They covered their heads too.


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Someone told David: »Ahithophel is helping Absalom conspire against you!« David said: »Please Jehovah keep Ahithophels plans from working!«


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David reached the top of the Mount of Olives. He met Hushai the Archite at a place of worship. Hushais robe was torn, and dust was on his head.


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Go back into the city and tell Absalom: »Your Majesty, I am your servant. I will serve you just as I served your father in the past. Hushai, if you do that you can help me ruin Ahithophels plans.


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»Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. You can tell them everything you hear in the palace.


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David started down the other side of the Mount of Olives. He met Ziba, the chief servant of Mephibosheth. Ziba had two donkeys that were carrying two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred figs, and some wine.


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»What is all this?« David asked. Ziba said: »The donkeys are for your family to ride. The bread and fruit are for the people to eat. The wine is for them to drink in the desert when they are tired out.«


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»Where is your master Sauls grandson?« The king asked. »He stayed in Jerusalem,« said Ziba. He said: »Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfathers kingdom.«


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The king told Ziba: »In that case everything that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you. I sincerely thank you,« said Ziba, »I hope to remain in your good graces, Your Majesty.«


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King David arrived at Bahurim. A man who was a distant cousin of Saul came out cursing. His name was Shimei, son of Gera.


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Shimei threw stones at David and his officials. This was in spite of the fact that his men and his bodyguards surrounded David.


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»You took Sauls kingdom. Now Jehovah is punishing you for murdering so many of Sauls family. Jehovah has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. You are ruined, you bloodthirsty murderer!«


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Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king: »Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over there and cut off his head!«


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»What business is this of yours?« The king said to Abishai and his brother Joab. »If Jehovah told him to curse me who am I to stop him?«


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David said to Abishai and to all his officials: »My own son is trying to kill me. Why should you be surprised at this Benjaminite? Jehovah told him to curse. Leave him alone and let him curse.


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David and his men continued along the road. Shimei kept up with them. He walked on the hillside. He cursed and threw stones and dirt at them as he went.


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Davids friend Hushai from Archis family came to Absalom. He said: »Long live the king! Long live the king!«


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Hushai answered: »Jehovah and the people of Israel have chosen you to be king. I cannot leave. I must stay and serve the one they have chosen.


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Ahithophel answered: »Some of your fathers wives were left here to take care of the palace. You should have sex with them. Then everyone will find out that you have publicly disgraced your father. This will make you and your followers even more powerful.«


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They pitched a tent for Absalom on the palace roof. There in the sight of everyone Absalom went in and had intercourse with his fathers concubines.


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Any advice that Ahithophel gave in those days was accepted as though it were the very word of God. David and Absalom followed it.


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Later Ahithophel said to Absalom: »Let me choose twelve thousand men. Tonight I will set out after David.


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»I will attack him while he is tired and discouraged. He will be frightened! All his men will run away. I will kill only the king.


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»Then I will bring back all his men to you. It will be like a bride returning to her husband. Kill one man and the rest of the people return safely.«


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Hushai came to Absalom. He told him what Ahithophel planned. Then Absalom said: »Should we do what he says? If we should not, can you come up with something better?«


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»You know your father and his followers are mighty warriors. They are as fierce as a mother bear whose cubs have just been killed. Your father has a lot of experience in fighting wars. He will not spend the night with the others.


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»He has no doubt already found a hiding place in a cave or somewhere else. When people hear that some of your soldiers have been killed, everyone will think your entire army has been destroyed.


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»Even the bravest man with a heart like a lion would lose his courage. All Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and the men with him are brave.


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»My advice is to gather all Israels troops from Dan to Beersheba. They are as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Lead them into battle yourself.


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»Find him and attack him! We will fall on him as dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive.


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»If he retreats into a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city and drag it into a valley. Not even a pebble will be found there.«


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Absalom and all the people of Israel said: »The advice of Hushai from Archis family is better than Ahithophels advice. Jehovah commanded Ahithophels good advice to be defeated in order to ruin Absalom.«


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Hushai told the priests Zadok and Abiathar: »Ahithophel advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do one thing. But I advised them to do something else.


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»Quickly send messengers to tell David: Do not rest tonight in the river crossings in the desert. Make sure you cross the river. Otherwise Your Majesty and all the troops with him will be wiped out.«


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Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. They could not risk being seen coming into the city. A servant girl was to go and tell them. They were to go and tell King David.


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A young man saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So both of them left quickly. They went to the home of a man in Bahurim who had a cistern in his courtyard. They climbed down into it.


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The mans wife took a covering and spread it over the opening of the cistern. She scattered grain over it so that no one would notice anything.


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Absaloms officials came to the house and asked the woman: »Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?« She answered: »They crossed the river. The men looked for them but could not find them. So they returned to Jerusalem.«


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After they left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan came up out of the cistern. Then they reported to King David. They told him what Ahithophel planned against him. They said: »Hurry up and cross the river.«


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Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed. He saddled his donkey and went back to his hometown. He arranged his affairs in order and he hanged himself. He was buried in the family grave.


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Absalom put Amasa in Joabs place as commander of the army. Amasas father was Ithra from the family of Ishmael, and his mother was Abigal, the daughter of Nahash and the sister of Joabs mother Zeruiah.


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David went to the town of Mahanaim. Shobi son of Nahash came from Rabbah in Ammon, Machir son of Ammiel came from Lo-Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite came from Rogelim.


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Here is a list of what they brought: sleeping mats, blankets, bowls, pottery jars, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,


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Also honey, yogurt, sheep, and cheese. They brought food for David and the others because they knew that everyone would be hungry, tired, and thirsty from being out in the desert.


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David called the troops that were with him. He appointed commanders in charge of regiments and battalions.


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David assigned a third of the troops under Joabs command. He put another third under Joabs brother Abishai son of Zeruiah. Then he placed the last third under Ittai from Gath. »I am going into battle with you,« the king said to the troops.


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»You must not go with us,« they answered. »It will not make any difference to the enemy if the rest of us turn and run. It will not matter even if half of us are killed. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It will be better if you stay here in the city and send us help.«


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»I will do what you think best,« the king answered. Then he stood by the side of the gate as his men marched out in units of a thousand and of a hundred.


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The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: »Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.« All the troops heard him give the commanders this order regarding Absalom.


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Battles were fought all over the forest. Davids soldiers were winning. Twenty thousand soldiers were killed that day.


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Absalom happened to come face to face with some of Davids men. He was riding on a mule. The mule went under the tangled branches of a large tree. Absaloms head became caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair when the mule under him ran away.


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»What! You saw what?« Joab said. »Why did you not strike him to the ground? Then I would have felt obligated to give you four ounces of silver and a belt.«


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The man told Joab: »Even if I felt the weight of twenty pounds of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the kings son. We heard the order the king gave you, Abishai, and Ittai. Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.


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»Would you have stood by me if I did something treacherous to him? There is nothing hidden from the king. You would turn against me.«


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»I will not waste any more time with you,« Joab said. He took three spears and plunged them into Absaloms chest while he was still alive and hanging in the oak tree.


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Joab ordered the trumpet blown to stop the fighting. His troops came back from pursuing the Israelites.


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They took Absaloms body and threw it into a deep pit in the forest. Then they covered it with a huge pile of stones. All the Israelites fled to their own hometowns.


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During his lifetime Absalom built a monument for himself in Kings Valley. He had no son to keep his name alive. So he named it after himself. To this day it is known as Absaloms Monument.


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Ahimaaz son of Zadok said: »Joab let me run and tell King David that Jehovah rescued him from his enemies.«


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Joab answered: »You are not the one to tell the king his son is dead. You can take him a message some other time, but not today.«


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Someone from Ethiopia was standing there. Joab told him: »Go tell the king what you have seen.« The man knelt down in front of Joab and then got up and started running.


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Ahimaaz spoke to Joab again: »No matter what happens, I still want to run. The Ethiopian has already left.« Joab said: »Why should you run? You will not get a reward for the news you have!«


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»I would like to run whatever happens, Let me run,« replied Ahimaaz. Joab told him: »Run!« So Ahimaaz ran along the valley road and got ahead of the Sudanese messenger.


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David was sitting between the two gates. The watchman walked along the roof of the gate by the wall. He looked at the man running alone.


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The watchman called and alerted the king. If he is alone, the king said, »He has good news to tell.« The runner came closer.


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The watchman saw another man running. He called: »There is another man running alone.« The king said: »This one is also bringing good news.«


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The watchman said: »It appears the first one runs like Ahimaaz, Zadoks son. Hes a good man,« the king said. »He must be coming with good news.«


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Ahimaaz approached the king, greeted him, and bowed down in front of him. Ahimaaz said: »May Jehovah your God be praised. He has handed over the men who rebelled against Your Majesty.«


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»Is the young man Absalom all right?« The king asked. Ahimaaz answered: »I saw a lot of confusion when Joab sent me away. I did not know what it meant.«


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Then the Sudanese messenger came. Good news for Your Majesty! He said. Today Jehovah freed you from all who turned against you.


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»Is the young man Absalom all right?« The king asked. The Sudanese messenger answered: »May your enemies and all who turned against you be like that young man!«


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The king was shaken by the news. He went to the room above the gate and cried. »My son Absalom!« He said. »My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!«


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Davids army found out he was crying because his son died. Suddenly their day of victory turned into a day of sadness.


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The troops returned to Mahanaim without celebration. It was as if they ran away from battle and were ashamed.


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David held his hands over his face and kept on crying loudly. »My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!«


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Joab went to the house where David was staying and told him: »You have made your soldiers ashamed! They saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and wives as well.


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»You are more loyal to your enemies than to your friends. You show your officers and soldiers that they do not mean a thing to you. You would be happy if Absalom was still alive even if the rest of us were dead.


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»Now stand up! Go out there and thank them for what they did. If you do not, I swear by Jehovah you will not even have one man left on your side tomorrow morning. You may have had a lot of troubles in the past. But this will be the worst thing that has ever happened to you!«


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The king sat in the gateway. The troops were told: »The king is sitting in the gateway.« So they went to the king. Meanwhile, Israel fled back to their homes.


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All the people in all the tribes of Israel argued with one another. They said: »The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines. Now he has fled from Absalom and left the country.


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»Absalom, whom we anointed to rule us, has died in battle. Why is no one talking about reinstating the king?«


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What all Israel was saying reached the king at his house. So King David sent this message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: »Ask the leaders of Judah, Why should you be the last tribe to reinstate the king back to his palace?


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»Say to Amasa: Are you my flesh and blood? May God strike me dead unless you are given Joabs place to serve me always as the commander of the army.«


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All the people of Judah were in total agreement. So they sent the king this message: »Come back with all your servants.«


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The king returned to the Jordan River. The people of Judah went to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across the Jordan River.


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Shimei son of Gera from the tribe of Benjamin and the town of Bahurim, hurried down with the people of Judah to meet King David.


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One thousand people from Benjamin were with him. Ziba the servant of Sauls family rushed to the Jordan River across from the king. Ziba brought his fifteen sons and twenty servants.


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They brought Davids family and servants back across the river. They did everything he wanted them to do. Shimei crossed the Jordan River and bowed down in front of David.


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He said: »I beg you not to punish me! Please forget what I did when you left Jerusalem. Do not even think about it.


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»I know I was wrong and have sinned. That is why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you.«


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David exclaimed: »Abishai, what will I do with you and your brother Joab? Is it your job to tell me who has done wrong? I have been made king of all Israel today. No one will be put to death!«


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Mephibosheth grandson of Saul also came to meet David. He missed David so much that he did not take a bath or trim his beard or wash his clothes the whole time David was gone.


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They returned to Jerusalem. Mephibosheth came to see David. David asked him: »Why did you not go with me?«


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He answered: »Your Majesty, you know I cannot walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me so I could go with you. But my servant left without me.


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»You could have killed anyone in my entire family. Instead you seated me with those who eat at your table. I no longer have the right to complain to my lord the king.«


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»Let him take it all,« Mephibosheth told the king. »It is enough for me that you have come home safely.«


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Barzillai, the man from Gilead, came from Rogelim with the king to the Jordan River to send him on his way.


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Barzillai was a very old man. He was eighty years old. He was very rich. He supplied the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim.


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»I am already eighty years old. Nothing gives me pleasure any more. I cannot taste what I eat and drink. I cannot hear the voices of singers. I would only be a burden to my lord the king.


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»I will cross the river with you. But I will only go a little way on the other side. You do not have to be so kind to me.


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»Please let me return to my hometown. There I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham can go with you. You can treat him as your own.«


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David said: »I will take Chimham with me. Whatever you ask me to do for him, I will do. If you want anything else I will do it.«


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Davids soldiers went across the river. He stayed behind to tell Barzillai good-by and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home.


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Chimham crossed the river with David. All of Judahs army and half of Israels army were there to help David cross the river.


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All the people of Israel came to the king. They asked: »Why did our brothers, the people of Judah, kidnap you and bring you and your family across the Jordan River?«


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All the people of Judah answered the people of Israel: »Because the king is our relative. Why are you angry about this? Did we eat the kings food, or did he give us any gifts?«


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The Israelites replied: »We have ten times as many claims on King David as you have! We know he is one of you. Why do you look down on us? Do not forget that we were the first to talk about bringing the king back!« The men of Judah were more violent in making their claims than the men of Israel.


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A worthless character named Sheba son of Bikri lived at Gilgal. He was of the tribe of Benjamin. He blew the trumpet and called out: »Down with David! We will not follow him! Men of Israel, let us go home!«


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The Israelites deserted David and went with Sheba. The men of Judah remained loyal and followed David from the Jordan to Jerusalem.


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David left ten of his concubines in Jerusalem to take care of his palace. When he returned, he had them taken to another house. He placed soldiers there to guard them. He gave them what they needed. He never slept with any of them again. They had to live there for the rest of their lives as if they were widows.


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David said to Abishai: »Sheba will hurt us more than Absalom ever did. Take my best soldiers and go after him. We do not want him to take over any walled cities and get away from us.«


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Joabs men, the Cherethites, Pelethites, and all the soldiers went with Abishai. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.


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Amasa met them at the large rock in Gibeon. Joab wore a military uniform. He strapped a sword in a scabbard at his hip. He stepped forward and the sword dropped into his hand.


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»How are you, my brother?« Joab asked Amasa. He took hold of Amasas beard with his right hand to kiss him.


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Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joabs left hand. Joab stabbed him in the stomach. Then he stabbed him in his intestines and they poured out on the ground. He died without being stabbed again. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.


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One of Joabs young men stood beside Amasa and said: »Those who favor Joab and are on Davids side should follow Joab.«


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Amasas body was covered with blood in the middle of the road. Joabs man saw that everybody was stopped. He dragged the body from the road out into the field and threw a blanket over it.


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Sheba went through all of the tribes of Israel when he came to the town of Abel Beth-Maacah. His best soldiers met him there and followed him into the town.


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Joab and his troops surrounded Abel, so no one could go in or come out. They made a dirt ramp <i>rampart</i> up to the town wall. Then they used a battering ram to knock the wall down.


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A wise woman shouted from the top of the wall: »Hear this! Listen to me! I must talk to Joab! Tell him to come here!«


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He came near. She asked: »Are you Joab?« »I am,« He answered. »Listen to what I have to say,« She told him. »I am listening,« He answered.


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She said: »There is an old saying: Be sure to seek guidance from Abel before doing anything. That is the way they settle disputes.


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»We are peaceful and faithful Israelites. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel? Why should you swallow up what belongs to Jehovah?«


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»That is not so. A man from the mountains of Ephraim by the name of Sheba son of Bichri has rebelled against King David. Give him to me and I will withdraw from the city.« The woman told Joab: »Watch, for his head will be thrown to you from the wall.«


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She went to the people of the city with her plan. They cut off Shebas head and threw it over the wall to Joab. He blew the trumpet as a signal for his men to leave the city. They went back home. Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.


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Joab was in command of the army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of Davids bodyguards.


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There was a famine for three successive years during Davids reign. David asked Jehovah for advice about it. Jehovah answered: »It is because of Saul and his family. They are guilty of murder because they killed the people of Gibeon.«


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The Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were left over from the Amorites. The Israelites swore to spare them. Saul, in his eagerness, tried to destroy them for Israel and Judah. The king called the Gibeonites.


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He asked them: »What can I do for you? What shall I give you to make peace with you so that you will bless what belongs to Jehovah?«


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The Gibeonites responded: »Our quarrel with Saul and his family cannot be settled with silver or gold. We do not want to kill any Israelite.« What do you want me to do?« David asked.


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»Hand over seven of his male descendants. We will hang them before Jehovah at Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, Jehovahs chosen king.« The king responded: »I will hand them over to you.«


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David made a promise to Jonathan with Jehovah as his witness. He spared Jonathans son Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul.


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Saul and Rizpah the daughter of Aiah had two sons named Armoni and Mephibosheth. Sauls daughter Merab had five sons whose father was Adriel the son of Barzillai from Meholah. David took Rizpahs two sons and Merabs five sons.


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He turned them over to the Gibeonites. They hanged all seven of them on the mountain near the place where Jehovah was worshiped. This happened right at the beginning of the barley harvest.


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Rizpah daughter of Aiah spread some sackcloth on a nearby rock. She would not let the birds land on the bodies during the day. She kept the wild animals away at night. She stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until it started to rain.


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<i>The Philistines killed Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa and hung their bodies in the town square at Beth-Shan. The people of Jabesh in Gilead secretly took the bodies away.</i> David found out what Sauls wife Rizpah did. So he went to the leaders of Jabesh to get the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan.


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David took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. They had stolen them from the public square of Beth Shean, where the Philistines hung them the day they killed Saul at Gilboa.


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David brought the bones of Saul and Jonathan. His men also gathered the bones of those who had been executed.


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Then they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin, at Zela, in the tomb of Sauls father Kish. They did everything the king ordered. After that God answered the prayers for the land.


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Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David and his men went to fight the Philistines. David became exhausted.


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A descendant of Haraphah named Benob had a copper spear weighing seven and one half pounds. He wore it on a new belt. He captured David and intended to kill him.


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Abishai son of Zeruiah came to Davids rescue. Abishai attacked the giant and killed him. Then Davids men made David promise that he would never again go out with them to battle. »You are the hope of Israel. We do not want to lose you!« They said.


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After this there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Sibbecai from Hushah killed a giant named Saph a descendant of Rapha.


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There was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed Goliath from Gath. Goliaths spear had a shaft as thick as the bar on a weavers loom.


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There was another war, this time in Gath. One of the enemy soldiers was a descendant of the Rephaim. He was as big as a giant and had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.


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David sang this song to Jehovah when Jehovah rescued him from all his enemies, especially from Saul.


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»My God, My rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge. He is my Savior who saved me from violence.


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»I called to Jehovah in my trouble. I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice. He listened to my cry for help.


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»Then the ocean floor could be seen. The foundations of the earth were laid bare at Jehovahs stern warning, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.


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»O Jehovah, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you, and completely good to those who are faultless.


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»Your way is perfect Jehovah. Your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help.


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»They were crushed as small as the dust of the earth. I stamped them down under my feet like the waste of the streets.


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»You rescued me from my stubborn people. You made me the leader of foreign nations. They are now my slaves.


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»You give glorious victories to your anointed king. Your faithful love for David and for his descendants will never end.«


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These are the last words of David: Here is the declaration by David, son of Jesse. The declaration by the man whom God raised up, whom the God of Jacob anointed, the singer of Israels psalms:


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»The God of Israel has spoken. The protector of Israel said to me: The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God.


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»That is how God will bless my descendants. He made an eternal covenant with me. It is an agreement that will not be broken, a promise that will not be changed. That is all I desire. That will be my victory, and God will surely bring it about.


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These are the names of Davids warriors: Ishbosheth son of Hachmon was the leader of the Three Warriors. In one battle, he killed eight hundred men with his spear.


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The next one of the Three Warriors was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite. One time when the Philistines were at war with Israel, he and David dared the Philistines to fight them. Every one of the Israelite soldiers turned and ran.


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Eleazar was the exception. He killed Philistines until his hand was cramped. He could not let go of his sword. When Eleazar finished, all the Israelite troops had to do was come back and take the enemies weapons and armor. Jehovah gave Israel a great victory that day.


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Next in rank to him was Shammah, the son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of ripe lentils. When the troops fled from the Philistines,


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he stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So Jehovah won an impressive victory.


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At harvest time three of the thirty leading men came to David at the cave of Adullam when a troop from the Philistine army was camping in the valley of Rephaim.


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David grew homesick. He said: »I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem!«


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The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp. They then drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it. He poured it out as an offering to Jehovah.


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David said: »Jehovah, I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!« So he refused to drink it. Those were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.


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Joabs brother Abishai led the Thirty Warriors. In one battle he killed three hundred men with his spear. He was as famous as the Three Warriors.


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In fact he was just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. He was the commander of the Thirty Warriors. Yet he still did not become one of the Three Warriors.


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Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave man from Kabzeel who did some amazing things. He killed two of Moabs best fighters. On a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.


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He killed an Egyptian as big as a giant. The Egyptian was armed with a spear. Benaiah only had a club. Benaiah grabbed the spear from the Egyptian and killed him with it.


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Benaiah never became one of the Three Warriors. He was just as famous as they were and certainly just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. David made him the leader of his bodyguard.


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He was honored over the rest of the Thirty Warriors. But he was not equal to the first three. David made him in charge over the fighting men who kept him safe.


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One of the thirty was Joabs brother Asahel. The thirty leading men were Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,


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Jehovah became angry at Israel again. He provoked David to turn against Israel. He said: »Go count the people of Israel and Judah.«


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King David said to Joab the commander of the army: »Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are.«


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Joab answered reluctantly: »Your Majesty, may Jehovah your God make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now. May you live to see him do it. But why does Your Majesty want to do this?«


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The king made Joab and his officers obey his order. They left his presence and went out to count the people of Israel.


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They crossed the Jordan and camped south of Aroer, the city in the middle of the valley, in the territory of Gad. Then they went north to Jazer.


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They went to Gilead and to Kadesh in Syria. Then they went to Dan <i>Dan-jaan</i> , Ijon, and on toward Sidon.


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They came to the fortress of Tyre. They went through every town of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Finally, they went to Beersheba in the Southern Desert of Judah.


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After they went through the whole land, they went back to Jerusalem. It took them nine months and twenty days.


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Joab told David: In Israel there is eight hundred thousand who can serve in the army. In Judah there are five hundred thousand.


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After David had everyone counted, he felt guilty and told Jehovah: »What I did was stupid and terribly wrong. Jehovah, please forgive me.«


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»Go tell David: This is what Jehovah says: »I offer you three choices. Choose the one you want me to do to you.« «


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Gad told David the three choices as follows: »Seven years of famine could come to you and your land. You could flee from your enemies as they pursue you for three months. Or there could be a three-day plague in your land? Think it over, and decide what answer I should give the one who sent me.«


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»I am in a desperate situation,« David told Gad. »Please let us fall into Jehovahs hands because he is very merciful. But do not let me fall into human hands.«


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So Jehovah sent a plague among the Israelites from that morning until the time he had chosen. Of the people from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand died.


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When the angel stretched out his arm to destroy Jerusalem, Jehovah changed his mind about the disaster. »Enough!« He said to the angel who was destroying the people. »Put down your weapon.« The angel of Jehovah was at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


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David saw the angel who had been killing the people. He said to Jehovah: »I have sinned. I have done wrong. What have these sheep done? Please let your punishment be against me and against my fathers family.«


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Gad came to David and said: »Go, set up an altar for Jehovah at Araunah the Jebusites threshing floor.«


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and said: »My lord the king! Why have you come to see me?« David answered: »I came to buy your threshing place. I have to build Jehovah an altar here, so this disease will stop killing the people.«


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Araunah said: »Take what you want and offer your sacrifice. Here are some cattle for the sacrifice. You can use the threshing-boards and the wooden yokes for the fire.«


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»No!« The king said to Araunah. »I must buy it from you at a fair price. I will not offer Jehovah my God burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing.« So David bought the threshing floor and the cattle for one and one quarter pounds of silver.


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David built an altar for Jehovah there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So Jehovah heard the prayers for the country. The plague on Israel stopped.


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His servants said to him: »Your Majesty let us find a young woman to stay with you and take care of you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm.«


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They searched all over Israel for a beautiful young woman, and in Shunem they found such a woman named Abishag, and brought her to the king.


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She was very beautiful. She waited on the king and took care of him. However, he did not have intercourse with her.


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Adonijah, son of Haggith, was very handsome. His mother gave birth to him after Maacah had Absalom. Adonijah boasted about himself, saying, »I will be king.« He got a chariot and horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.


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But Adonijah had discussed his actions with Joab <i>son of Zeruiah</i> and with the priest Abiathar, so they supported him.


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But the priest Zadok, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the prophet Nathan, Shimei, Rei, and David's thirty special guards did not join Adonijah.


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Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves at Zoheleth Rock near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's other sons, all the men of Judah, and the king's officials.


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Then Nathan asked Solomon's mother Bathsheba: »Have you heard that Adonijah, Haggith's son, has become king, and our master David does not even know about it?


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»Go now to King David and ask him: Your Majesty, did you solemnly promise me that my son Solomon would succeed you as king? How is it that Adonijah has become king?


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So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. He was very old, and Abishag, the young woman from Shunem, was taking care of him.


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She answered: »Your Majesty, you made me a solemn promise in the name of Jehovah your God that my son Solomon would be king after you.


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»He has offered a sacrifice of many bulls, sheep, and fattened calves. He invited your sons, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of your army to the feast. However he did not invite your son Solomon.


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»This very day he has gone and offered a sacrifice of many bulls, sheep, and fattened calves. He invited all your sons, Joab the commander of your army, and Abiathar the priest, and right now they are feasting with him and shouting: Long live King Adonijah!


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Then he said to her: »I promise you by the living God Jehovah, who has rescued me from all my troubles,


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that today I will keep the promise I made to you in the name of Jehovah the God of Israel, that your son Solomon would succeed me as king.«


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he said to them: »Take my court officials with you; have my son Solomon ride my own mule, and escort him to Gihon Spring,


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Zadok and Nathan are to anoint him as king of Israel. Then blow the trumpet and shout: Long live King Solomon!


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»Follow him back here when he comes to sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king. He is the one I have chosen to be the ruler over Israel and Judah.«


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»Jehovah has been with Your Majesty. May he also be with Solomon and make his reign even more prosperous than yours.«


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So Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and the royal bodyguards put Solomon on King David's mule and escorted him to Gihon Spring.


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Zadok took the container of olive oil that he had brought from the Tent of Jehovahs presence, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet, and all the people shouted: »Long live King Solomon!«


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All the people followed him. They blew flutes and celebrated so loudly that their voices shook the ground.


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Adonijah and all his guests heard this while they were eating. When Joab heard the sound of the horn, he asked: »Why all this noise in the city?«


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He was still speaking when Jonathan, son of the priest Abiathar, arrived. »Come in,« Adonijah said: »You are an honorable man. You must be bringing good news.«


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»The king sent the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites with him. They placed him on the king's mule.


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»The priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anointed him king at Gihon. They came from there celebrating. The city is excited. That is the sound you heard.


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»Even the royal officials have come to congratulate His Majesty King David, saying: May your God make Solomon's name more famous than yours and his reign greater than your reign. The king himself bowed down on his bed


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and prayed: Let us praise Jehovah the God of Israel. Today he made one of my descendants succeed me as king. He let me live to see it!«


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Adonijah, in great fear of Solomon, went to the Tent of Jehovahs presence and grabbed hold of the corners of the altar.


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King Solomon was told that Adonijah was afraid of him and that he was holding on to the corners of the altar. He heard that he said: »First, I want King Solomon to swear to me that he will not have me put to death.«


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Solomon replied: »If he is loyal, not even a hair on his head will be touched. If he is not, he will die.«


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King Solomon then sent for Adonijah and had him brought down from the altar. Adonijah went to the king and bowed low before him. The king said to him: »You may go home.«


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»Do what Jehovah your God orders you to do. Obey all his laws and commands, as written in the Law of Moses. That way wherever you go you may prosper in everything you do.


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»If you obey Jehovah he will keep the promise he made when he told me, Your descendants will rule Israel as long as they are careful to obey my commands faithfully with all their heart and being.


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»Remember what Joab did to me by killing the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. You remember how he murdered them in time of peace. This was revenge for deaths they had caused in time of war. He killed innocent men. I bear the responsibility for what he did. I suffer the consequences.


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»But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead and take care of them. They were kind to me when I was fleeing from your brother Absalom.


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"There is also Shimei son of Gera, from the town of Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a bitter curse the day I went to Mahanaim. When he met me at the Jordan River, I gave him my solemn promise in the name of Jehovah, saying, I will not have you killed by the sword.«


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»However you must not let him go unpunished. You know what to do. You must make sure he is put to death.«


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He was king of Israel for forty years. He ruled seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.


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Adonijah, son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. »Is this a friendly visit?« She asked. »Yes,« he answered.


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He said: »You know the kingship was mine. All Israel expected me to be their king. But the kingship has been turned over to my brother because Jehovah gave it to him.


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He said: »Will you go to Solomon the king for he will not say No to you. And make my request that he give me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife?«


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So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to talk to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to meet her and bowed down to her. He took his place on the king's throne and she sat at his right hand on the seat made ready for the king's mother.


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Then she said: »I have one small request to make of you. Do not say No to me.« The king replied: »Speak mother for I will not say no to you.«


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Then King Solomon answered: »Why are you requesting me to give Abishag the Shunammite to Adonijah? Take the kingdom for him in addition, for he is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab, the son of Zeruiah, are on his side.«


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King Solomon took an oath by Jehovah, saying: »May God's punishment be on me if Adonijah does not give payment for these words with his life.


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»Now by the living God Jehovah who has given me my throne from David my father. He made me one of a line of kings. He gave me his word. Adonijah will be put to death this day.«


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The king spoke to Abiathar the priest: »Go to your fields at Anathoth. You deserve death. But I will not put you to death now, because you carried the Ark of Jehovah God before David my father. You were with him in all his troubles.«


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Solomon did not allow Abiathar to be priest any longer. So the word of Jehovah came true concerning the sons of Eli in Shiloh.


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Joab received news of this for Joab had been one of Adonijah's supporters. He was not on Absalom's side. Then Joab went in flight to the Tent of Jehovah and put his hands on the corners of the altar.


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Benaiah went to the Tent of Jehovah and told Joab: Come out. Joab said: »No! Let me die here.« So Benaiah returned to the king and gave him the answer Joab gave him.


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The king said: »Do as he said. Kill him there and bury him in the earth. This will remove the guilt of his senseless murders from my fathers family and me.


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»Jehovah will punish Joab for those murders he committed without my father David's knowledge. Joab killed two innocent men who were better men than he: Abner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, commander of the army of Judah.


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»Jehovah will repay him for the blood Joab shed. The blood will fall on Joab and on his descendants as long as they live. Jehovah will always give success to David's descendants who sit on his throne.«


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So Benaiah went to the Tent of Jehovahs presence and killed Joab. He was buried at his home in the wilderness.


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The king made Benaiah commander of the army in Joab's place and put Zadok the priest in Abiathar's place.


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The king sent for Shimei and said to him: »Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem. Live in it and do not leave the city.


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»As you say, Your Majesty,« Shimei answered. »I will do what you say.« So he lived in Jerusalem a long time.


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Three years later, however, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to the king of Gath, Achish son of Maacah. When Shimei heard that they were in Gath,


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he saddled his donkey and went to King Achish in Gath, to find his slaves. He found them and brought them back home.


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he sent for him and said: »I made you promise in Jehovahs name not to leave Jerusalem. I warned you that if you ever did, you would die. Did you not agree to it and say that you would obey me?


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The king gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He killed Shimei. Solomon was now in complete control.


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Solomon made an alliance with the king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. He brought her to live in David's City until he finished building his palace, the Temple, and the wall around Jerusalem.


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A Temple had not yet been built for Jehovah. The people were still offering sacrifices at many different altars.


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Solomon loved Jehovah. He followed the instructions of his father David. He also slaughtered animals and offered them as sacrifices on different altars.


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One time he went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices because that was where the most used altar was. He offered hundreds of burnt offerings there in the past.


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Solomon answered: »You always showed great love for my father David, your servant. He was good, loyal, and honest in his relation with you. You have continued to show him your great and constant love by giving him a son who today rules in his place.


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»O Jehovah God, you allowed me to succeed my father as king, even though I am very young and do not know how to rule.


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»I am among the people you have chosen to be your own. They are a people who are so many that they cannot be counted.


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Give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice. Help me know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?«


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He said to him: »Because you have asked for the wisdom to rule justly, instead of long life for yourself or riches or the death of your enemies,


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»I will do what you have asked. I will give you more wisdom and understanding than anyone has ever had. There has never been nor will ever be anyone like you.


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»I will also give you what you did not ask for. All your life you will have wealth and honor, more than that of any other king.


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»If you obey me and keep my laws and commands, as your father David did, I will give you a long life.«


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Solomon woke up and was aware that God had spoken to him in the dream. Then he went to Jerusalem and stood in front of Jehovahs Ark of the Covenant. He offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to Jehovah. Then he gave a feast for all his officials.


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One of them said: »Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby boy at home while she was there.


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»Two days after my child was born she also gave birth to a baby boy. Only the two of us were there in the house. No one else was there.


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»She got up during the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She took him to her bed and put the dead child in my bed.


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»The next morning I woke up and was going to nurse my baby. It was dead. I looked at it more closely and saw that it was not my child.«


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The other woman said: »The living child is mine, and the dead one is yours!« The first woman answered back: »The dead child is yours, and the living one is mine!« They argued before the king.


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King Solomon said: »Each of you claims that the living child is hers and that the dead child belongs to the other one.«


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With a heart full of love for her son the real mother said: »Please, Your Majesty, do not kill the child! Give it to her!« But the other woman said: »Do not give it to either of us cut it in two.«


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The people of Israel heard of Solomon's decision and were all filled with deep respect for him. They knew then that God had given him the wisdom to settle disputes fairly.


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the court secretaries: Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha In charge of the records: Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud.


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Chief of the district governors: Azariah son of Nathan Royal Adviser: the priest Zabud son of Nathan.


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Solomon appointed twelve men as district governors in Israel. They provided food from their districts for the king and his household, each man being responsible for one month out of the year.


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The following are the names of these twelve officers and the districts they were in charge of: Benhur: the mountains of Ephraim,


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Baana son of Ahilud: the cities of Taanach, Megiddo, and all the region near Beth Shan, near the town of Zarethan, south of the town of Jezreel, as far as the city of Abel Meholah and the city of Jokmeam.


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Bengeber: the city of Ramoth in Gilead, and the villages in Gilead belonging to the clan of Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, and the region of Argob in Bashan, sixty large towns in all, fortified with walls and with bronze bars on the gates.


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Geber son of Uri: the region of Gilead, which had been ruled by King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. Besides these twelve, there was one governor over all the land.


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The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. They ate and drank and were very happy.


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Solomon's kingdom included all the nations from the Euphrates River to Philistia and the Egyptian border. They paid him taxes and were subject to him all his life.


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The supplies Solomon needed each day were one hundred and fifty bushels of fine flour and three hundred bushels of meal.


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Also needed were ten stall-fed cattle, twenty pasture-fed cattle, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fowl <i>cuckoo</i> .


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Solomon ruled over all the land west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah on the Euphrates as far west as the city of Gaza. All the kings west of the Euphrates were subject to him. He was at peace with all the neighboring countries.


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As long as he lived, the people throughout Judah and Israel lived in safety. Each family had its own grapevines and fig trees.


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His twelve governors supplied the food King Solomon needed for all who ate in the palace. They always supplied everything needed, each one in the month assigned.


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Each governor also supplied his share of barley and straw as needed for the chariot horses and the work animals.


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He was the wisest of all men. He was wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, and the sons of Mahol. His fame spread throughout all the neighboring countries.


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He spoke of trees and plants, from the Lebanon cedars to the hyssop that grows on walls. He talked about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.


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When King Hiram of Tyre heard that Solomon succeeded his father as king he sent ambassadors to Solomon. He had always been a friend of David's.


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»You know my father David could not build a Temple for the worship of Jehovah due to the constant wars he had to fight. There were enemies in countries all around him. First Jehovah had to give him victory over all his enemies.


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»Jehovah my God has given me peace on all my borders. I have no enemies, and there is no danger of attack.


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»Jehovah promised my father David: Your son, whom I will make king after you, will build a Temple for me. I have decided to build that Temple for the worship of Jehovah my God.


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»Send your men to Lebanon to cut down cedars for me. My men will work with them. I will pay your men whatever you decide. You may already know, my men do not know how to cut down trees as well as yours do.«


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Hiram was extremely pleased when he received Solomon's message. He said: »Praise Jehovah today for giving David such a wise son to succeed him as king of the great nation of Israel!«


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Then Hiram sent Solomon the following message: »I received your message. I am ready to do what you ask. I will provide the cedars and the pine trees.


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»My men will bring the logs from Lebanon to the sea and will tie them together in rafts to float them down the coast to the place you choose. My men will untie them. There your men will take charge of them. On your part, I would like you to supply the food for my men.«


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Solomon provided Hiram with one hundred thousand bushels of wheat and one hundred and ten thousand gallons of pure olive oil every year to feed his men.


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Jehovah kept his promise and gave Solomon wisdom. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon for they made a treaty with each other.


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He appointed Adoniram to be in charge of them. He divided them into three groups of ten thousand men. Each group spent one month in Lebanon and two months back home.


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Solomon also had eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountains. There were seventy thousand men to carry the stones.


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Solomon's and Hiram's workers and men from the city of Gebal prepared the stones and the timber to build the Temple.


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Solomon began work on the Temple. It was four hundred and eighty years after the people of Israel left Egypt, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the second month, the month of Ziv.


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A third-story annex, seven and one half feet high, was built against the outside walls. It was on the sides and the back of the Temple.


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Each room in the lowest story was seven and one half feet wide. The middle story was nine feet wide. The top story was ten and one half feet wide. The Temple wall on each floor was thinner than on the floor below, so that the rooms could rest on the wall without having their beams built into it.


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The stones with which the Temple was built were prepared at the quarry. That way there was no noise made by hammers, axes, or any other iron tools as the Temple was built.


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The entrance to the lowest story of the annex was on the south side of the Temple. It had stairs leading up to the second and third stories.


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The three-story annex, each story seven and one half feet high, was built against the outside walls of the Temple. Cedar beams were used to join it to them.


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»I will live among my people Israel in this Temple that you are building. I will never abandon them.«


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The inside walls were covered with cedar panels from the floor to the ceiling. The floor was made of pine.


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An inner room, called the Most Holy Place, was built in the rear of the Temple. It was thirty feet long and was partitioned off by cedar boards reaching from the floor to the ceiling.


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The cedar panels were decorated with carvings of gourds and flowers. The entire interior was covered with cedar. The stones of the walls could not be seen.


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This inner room was thirty feet long, thirty feet wide, and thirty feet high, all covered with pure gold. The altar was covered with cedar panels.


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The inside of the Temple was covered with gold. Gold chains were placed across the entrance of the inner room.


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The whole interior of the Temple was covered with gold, as well as the altar in the Most Holy Place.


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Each had two wings, each wing was seven and one half feet long. The distance from one wing tip to the other was fifteen feet.


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They were placed side by side in the Most Holy Place. Their outstretched wings touched each other in the middle of the room, and the other two wings touched the walls.


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The walls of the main room and of the inner room were all decorated with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and flowers.


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A double door made of olive wood was hung at the entrance of the Most Holy Place. There was a pointed arch on top of the doorway.


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The doors were decorated with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and flowers. The doors, the cherubim, and the palm trees were covered with gold.


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and decorated with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and flowers, which were evenly covered with gold.


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An inner court was built in front of the Temple. They enclosed it with walls that had one layer of cedar beams for every three layers of stone.


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The foundation of the Temple was laid in the second month, the month of Ziv, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign.


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In the eighth month, the month of Bul, in the eleventh year of Solomon's reign, the Temple was completely finished exactly as it had been planned. It took Solomon seven years to build it.


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The Hall of the Forest of Lebanon was one hundred and fifty feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high.


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It had three rows of cedar pillars, fifteen in each row, with cedar beams resting on them. The ceiling was of cedar, extending over storerooms, which were supported by the pillars.


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All the doors and doorframes were rectangular. There were three doors facing each other on opposite sides of the palace.


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Solomon made the Hall of Pillars seventy-five feet long and forty-five feet wide. In front of the hall was an entrance hall with pillars.


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He made the hall for the throne. It was a place where he could sit on his throne and judge. The hall was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling.


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His own private quarters were in a different location than the hall containing the throne. They were similar in design. Solomon also built private quarters like this for his wife, Pharaoh's daughter.


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From the foundation to the roof, all these buildings, including the large courtyard, were built with high-grade stone blocks. The stone blocks were cut to size and trimmed with saws on their inner and outer faces.


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The foundation was made with large, high-grade expensive stones. Some were twelve feet and others fifteen feet long.


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Above the foundation were cedar beams and high-grade expensive stone blocks, which were cut to size.


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The large courtyard had three layers of cut stone blocks and a layer of cedar beams, like the inner courtyard of Jehovahs Temple and the entrance hall.


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Huram was knowledgeable and skilled in making things out of copper. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali. His father had been from Tyre. He went to do all of King Solomons work.


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Huram cast two copper columns. Each one was twenty-seven feet tall and eighteen feet in circumference. They were placed at the entrance of the Temple.


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He also made two copper crowns. Each one was seven and one half feet tall. They were to be placed on top of the columns.


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and were placed on a rounded section which was above the chain design. There were two hundred pomegranates in two rows around each crown.


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Huram placed these two copper columns in front of the entrance of the Temple. The column on the south side was named Jachin and the one on the north was named Boaz.


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Hiram made a round tank of copper, seven and one half feet deep, fifteen feet in diameter, and forty-five feet in circumference.


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All around the outer edge of the rim of the tank were two rows of copper gourds. They were all cast in one piece with the rest of the tank.


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The tank rested on the backs of twelve copper bulls that faced outward. Three faced in each direction.


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The sides of the tank were three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup. It curved outward like the petals of a lily. The tank held about ten thousand gallons.


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Huram also made ten copper carts. Each cart was six feet long, six feet wide, and four and one half feet high.


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There were figures of lions, bulls, and cherubim on the panels. And there were spiral relief figures on the frames above and underneath the lions and bulls.


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Each cart had four copper wheels with copper axles. At the four corners were copper supports for a basin. The supports were decorated with spiral relief figures.


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There was a circular frame on top for the basin. It projected eighteen inches upward from the top of the cart and seven inches down into it. It had carvings around it.


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The wheels were under the panels. They were twenty-five inches high. The axles were of one piece with the carts.


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There was a nine-inch band around the top of each cart. Its supports and the panels were of one piece with the cart.


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The supports and panels were decorated with figures of cherubim, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was space for them, with spiral figures all around.


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Huram made ten basins, one for each cart. Each basin was six feet in diameter and held two hundred gallons.


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He placed five of the carts on the south side of the Temple. The other five were placed on the north side. The tank was placed at the southeast corner.


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Huram made the pots and spades and the basins. Huram finished all the work he did for King Solomon in the house of Jehovah.


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The two pillars and the two cups of the crowns which were on the tops of the two pillars; and the network covering the two cups of the crowns on the tops of the pillars,


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The four hundred apples for the network, two lines of apples for every network, covering the two cups of the crowns on the pillars;


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And the pots and the spades and the basins; all the vessels which Huram made for King Solomon, for the house of Jehovah, were of polished brass.


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He made them of liquid metal in the lowland district of the Jordan River. This was at the river crossing at Adama, between Succoth and Zarethan.


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Solomon did not weigh all the utensils because so much copper was used. No one tried to determine how much the copper weighed.


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Solomon made all the furnishings for Jehovahs Temple: the gold altar, the gold table on which the bread of the presence was placed,


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lamps stands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north in front of the inner room, flowers, lamps, gold tongs,


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dishes, snuffers, bowls, saucers, incense burners of pure gold, the gold sockets for the doors of the inner room <i>the Most Holy Place</i> , and the doors of the temple.


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All the work King Solomon did on Jehovahs Temple was finished. He brought the holy things that belonged to his father David: the silver, gold, and utensils and put them in the storerooms of Jehovahs Temple.


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King Solomon summoned all the leaders of the tribes and clans of Israel to come to him in Jerusalem. They were to take Jehovahs Ark of the Covenant from Zion, David's City, to the Temple.


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and carried it to the Temple. The Levites and the priests also moved the Tent of Jehovahs presence and all its equipment to the Temple.


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King Solomon and all the people of Israel assembled in front of the Ark and sacrificed a large number of sheep and cattle, too many to count.


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Then the priests carried the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple and put it in the Most Holy Place, beneath the cherubim <i>angel</i> .


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The ends of the poles could be seen by anyone standing directly in front of the Most Holy Place, but from nowhere else.


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There was nothing inside the Ark of the Covenant except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed there at Mount Sinai, when Jehovah made a covenant with the people of Israel as they were coming from Egypt.


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It shined with the dazzling light of Jehovahs presence. They could not go back in to perform their duties.


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Solomon prayed: »Jehovah, you have placed the sun in the sky, yet you have chosen to live in clouds and darkness.


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He said: »Praise Jehovah the God of Israel! He kept the promise he made to my father David, when he told him:


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»Since the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen any city in all the land of Israel in which a temple should be built where I would be worshiped. But I chose you, David, to rule my people.«


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Solomon continued: »My father David planned to build a temple for the worship of Jehovah the God of Israel,


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»Now Jehovah has kept his promise. I have succeeded my father as king of Israel. And I have built the Temple for the worship of Jehovah the God of Israel.


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»I also provided a place in the Temple for the Ark of the Covenant containing the stone tablets of the covenant Jehovah made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.«


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and prayed: »Jehovah God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you.


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»Jehovah, God of Israel, I pray that you will also keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided they obeyed you as carefully as he did.


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»So now, O God of Israel, let your word come true that you promised to my father David, your servant.


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»Can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even heaven or the heaven of heavens is large enough to hold you. How can this Temple I have built be large enough?


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»Watch over this Temple day and night. For this is the place where you have chosen to be worshiped. Hear me when I face this Temple and pray.


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»When a person is accused of wronging another and is brought to your altar in this Temple to take an oath that he is innocent,


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»O Jehovah, listen in heaven and judge your servants. Punish the guilty one, as he deserves. Justify the one who is innocent.


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»When your people Israel have sinned against you their enemies defeat them. They can turn to you and come to this Temple, humbly praying to you for forgiveness.


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Listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your people and bring them back to the land that you gave to their ancestors.


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»When you hold back the rain because your people have sinned against you. And when they repent in this Temple, humbly praying to you,


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listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of the king and of the people of Israel, and teach them to do what is right. Then, O Jehovah, send rain on this land of yours, which you gave to your people as a permanent possession.


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»When there is famine in the land or an epidemic or scorching winds or swarms of locusts, or when their enemies attack your people, or when disease or sickness among them destroys the crops,


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listen to their prayers. If any of your people Israel, out of heartfelt sorrow, stretch out their hands in prayer toward this Temple,


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hear their prayer. Listen to them in your home in heaven, help them and forgive them. You alone know the thoughts of the human heart. Deal with each person, as he deserves,


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»When a foreigner who lives in a distant land hears of your fame and of the great things you have done for your people and comes to worship you and to pray at this Temple,


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»For they will have news of your great name and your strong hand and your out-stretched arm. When he comes to pray in this house:


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»Listen to him and give him his desire. Let all the peoples of the earth know about your name. Let them worship you as your people Israel, and that they may see that this house which I have built is truly named by your name.


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»When your people go to war against their enemies, they pray to you, O Jehovah, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I built for your name.


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»They may sin against you, for everyone sins. You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy far or near who takes them to another country as captives.


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»If they come to their senses and are sorry for what they have done, and plead with you in the land where they are captives, saying: We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have been wicked.


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»If they change their attitude toward you in the land of their enemies where they are captives, if they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the temple I have built for your name,


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»Forgive your people, who have sinned against you. Forgive all their wrongs when they rebelled against you. Cause those who captured them to have mercy on them.


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»May your eyes always see my plea and your people Israel's plea so that you will listen to them whenever they call on you.


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»You Jehovah set them apart from all the people of the world. They are your own as you promised through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.«


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When Solomon finished praying this prayer for mercy to Jehovah, he stood in front of Jehovahs altar, where he had been kneeling with his hands stretched out toward heaven.


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"THANKS TO JEHOVAH! He has given his people Israel rest, as he has promised. None of the good promises he made through his servant Moses has failed to come true.


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»May he bend our hearts toward him. Then we will follow him and obey his commands, laws, and rules, which he commanded our ancestors to obey.


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»May these words I have prayed to Jehovah be near Jehovah our God day and night. Then he will give his people Israel and me justice every day as it is needed.


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»Let your hearts be committed to Jehovah our God. Then you will live by his laws and keep his commands as you have today.«


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Solomon sacrificed twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep as fellowship offerings to Jehovah. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated Jehovahs Temple.


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On that day the king designated the courtyard in front of Jehovahs Temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat from the fellowship offerings because the copper altar in front of Jehovah was too small to hold all of them.


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At that time Solomon and all Israel celebrated the festival. A large crowd had come from the territory between the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt to be near Jehovah our God for seven days.


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On the eighth day he dismissed the people. They blessed the king and went to their tents. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings Jehovah had given his servant David and his people Israel.


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Solomon finished building Jehovahs Temple, the royal palace, and everything else he wanted to build.


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Jehovah said: »I have heard your prayers and your supplication you made. I have made this house holy. I put my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there at all times.


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»As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father did, uprightly and with a true heart, doing what I have given you orders to do, keeping my laws and my decisions;


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»I will make the seat of your rule over Israel certain forever. I gave my word to David your father. I said: You will never be without a man to be king in Israel.


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»But if you turn from my ways, you or your children, and do not keep my orders and my laws which I have put before you, but go and make yourselves servants to other gods and give them worship:


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»I will have Israel cut off from the land I gave them. I will abandon this house even though I have made it holy for myself. I will put you out of my sight. Israel will be a public example, and a word of shame among all peoples.


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This house will become a mass of broken walls. Everyone who goes by will be overcome with wonder at it and make whistling sounds. They will say: Why has Jehovah done this to this land and to this house?


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»The answer will be: Because they turned away from Jehovah their God. The one who took their fathers out of the land of Egypt. They took for themselves other gods and gave them worship and became their servants: that is why Jehovah has sent this evil on them.«


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Hiram, king of Tyre, had given Solomon cedar-trees and cypress-trees and gold, as much as he needed. King Solomon gave Hiram twenty towns in the land of Galilee.


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But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them.


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He said: »What sort of towns are these you have given me, my brother?« So they were named the land of Cabul, to this day.


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King Solomon used forced labor to build the Temple and the palace, to fill in land on the east side of the city, and to build the city wall. He also used it to rebuild the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.


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The king of Egypt attacked Gezer and captured it. They killed its inhabitants and set fire to the city. He gave it as a wedding present to his daughter when she married Solomon.


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the cities where his supplies were kept, the cities for his horses and chariots, and everything else he wanted to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and elsewhere in his kingdom.


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Solomon used the descendants of the people of Canaan whom the Israelites had not killed when they took possession of their land as his forced labor. These included Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.


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Solomon did not make slaves of Israelites. They served as his soldiers, officers, commanders, chariot captains, and cavalry.


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There were five hundred and fifty officials in charge of the forced labor working on Solomon's various building projects.


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Solomon filled in the land on the east side of the city, after his wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt, had moved from David's City to the palace Solomon built for her.


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Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built to Jehovah. He also burned incense to Jehovah. He finished building the Temple.


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King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Eziongeber. This is near Elath on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba, in the land of Edom.


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The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame. She traveled to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions.


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So she came to Jerusalem with a very large caravan. The camels carried spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she approached Solomon, she talked about everything she had on her mind <i>heart</i> .


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Solomon answered all her questions. Nothing was hidden from the king that he did not explain to her.


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the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of Jehovah, she was overwhelmed.


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»But I had no faith in what was said about you, till I came and saw for myself. Now I see that what I was told was not the half of it! Your wisdom and your wealth are much greater than they said.


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»Happy are your wives, happy are your servants whose place is ever before you, hearing your words of wisdom.


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»Praise Jehovah your God! He delighted in you and made you king of Israel. Jehovahs love for Israel is long lasting, he has made you king, to be their judge in righteousness.«


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She gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a great store of spices and jewels. Never again was such a wealth of spices seen as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.


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Hiram's fleet that brought gold from Ophir also brought a large quantity of sandalwood and precious stones from Ophir.


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With the sandalwood <i>possibly the algum tree</i> the king made supports for Jehovahs Temple and the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the singers. Never again was sandalwood like this imported into Israel, nor has any been seen there to this day.


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King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all her desire. Whatever she requested in addition to what he gave her freely from the impulse of his heart. She and her servants went back to her country.


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This was in addition to what came to him from the business of the traders, and from all the kings of the Arabians, and from the rulers of the country.


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Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold. About fifteen pounds of gold went into each shield.


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He made three hundred smaller body-covers of hammered gold. Three pounds of gold was in every cover. The king put them in the house of the Woods of Lebanon.


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There were six steps going up to it. The top of it was round at the back. There were arms on the two sides of the throne and two lions by the side of the arms.


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Twelve lions were placed on one side and on the other side on the six steps: there was nothing like it in any kingdom.


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All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold. All the vessels of the house of the Woods of Lebanon were of the best gold. Not one was of silver, for no one gave a thought to silver in the days of King Solomon.


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For the king had Tarshish-ships at sea with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years the Tarshish-ships came with gold and silver and ivory and apes <i>monkeys</i> and peacocks.


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They came from all over the earth to see Solomon and to listen to his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.


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Everyone took presents such as vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and robes, and coats of metal, and spices, and horses, and beasts of transport, regularly year by year.


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Solomon gathered war-carriages and horsemen. He had one thousand, four hundred carriages and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he kept, some in the carriage-towns and some with the king at Jerusalem.


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The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem and cedars like the sycamore-trees of the lowlands in number.


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Solomon's string of horses came from Egypt and from Kue. The king's traders got them at a price from Kue.


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A war-carriage might be obtained from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They got them at the same rate for all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.


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Jehovah warned the children of Israel about these nations. He said: »You are not to take wives from them and they are not to take wives from you. They will certainly turn your hearts to go after their gods.« Solomon loved his wives anyway.


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He had seven hundred wives, daughters of kings, and three hundred other wives. His wives influenced his heart to turn away.


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When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been.


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Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom, the disgusting god of the Ammonites.


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Solomon did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not walk in Jehovahs ways with all his heart as David his father did.


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Then Solomon put up a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting god of Moab, in the mountain near Jerusalem. And for Molech, the disgusting god worshipped by the children of Ammon.


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He did likewise for all his strange wives, who made offerings with burning of perfumes to their gods.


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Jehovah was angry with Solomon. This is because his heart turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had twice come to him in a vision.


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Jehovah had given him orders about this very thing that he was not to go after other gods. But he did not obey the orders of Jehovah.


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So Jehovah said to Solomon: »Because you have done this, and have not kept the agreement and laws I gave you, I will take the kingdom away from you by force and will give it to your servant.


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»Still I will not take the entire kingdom from him. I will give one tribe to your son, because of my servant David, and because of Jerusalem, the town of my selection.«


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When David had sent destruction on Edom, and Joab, the commander of the army went to bury the dead. They put to death every male in Edom.


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They left Midian and went to Paran. Taking some men from Paran with them, they went to Pharaoh the king of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Hadad a home, a food allowance, and land.


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Pharaoh approved of Hadad. So he gave Hadad his sister-in-law, the sister of Queen Tahpenes, to be Hadad's wife.


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Tahpenes' sister had a son named Genubath. Tahpenes presented the boy to Pharaoh in the palace, and Genubath lived in the palace among Pharaoh's children.


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When the news reached Hadad in Egypt that David had died and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to the king: »Let me go back to my own country.«


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»Why?« The king asked. »Have I failed to give you something? Is that why you want to go back home?« Hadad answered: »Just let me go.« He went back to his country. As king of Edom, Hadad was an evil, bitter enemy of Israel.


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God also caused Rezon son of Eliada to turn against Solomon. Rezon had fled from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah,


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and had become the leader of a gang of outlaws. This happened after David defeated Hadadezer and slaughtered his Syrian allies. Rezon and his gang lived in Damascus, where his followers made him king of Syria.


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He was trouble to Israel all through the days of Solomon. This is the damage Hadad did: he was cruel to Israel while he was ruler over Edom.


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Jeroboam rebelled against the king. He was the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother was Zeruah, a widow.


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This is how he rebelled: Solomon was building the Millo <i>supporting terraces</i> and making good the damaged parts of the town of his father David.


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Jeroboam was a capable and responsible man. Solomon saw that he was a good worker and made him overseer of all the work given to the sons of Joseph.


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When Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite came across him on the road. Ahijah was wearing a new robe. They were by themselves in the open country.


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He said to Jeroboam: »Take ten of the parts, for this is what Jehovah said: I will take the kingdom away from Solomon by force. I will give ten tribes to you.


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»But one tribe will be his because of my servant David, and because of Jerusalem. Out of the tribes of Israel he will have the town I have made mine.


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»I am going to do this because Solomon has rejected me and has worshiped foreign gods. Astarte, the goddess of Sidon; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of Ammon. Solomon disobeyed me. He has done wrong! He has not obeyed my laws and commands as his father David did.


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»I will not take the entire kingdom away from Solomon. I will keep him in power as long as he lives. This I will do for the sake of my servant David, whom I chose and who obeyed my laws and commands.


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»I will let Solomon's son keep one tribe. That way I will always have a descendant of my servant David ruling in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as the place where I am worshiped.


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»If you obey me completely I will always be with you. You must live by my laws, and win my approval by doing what I command, as my servant David did. I will make you king of Israel and will make sure that your descendants rule after you, just as I have done for David.


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For this reason Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. Jeroboam escaped to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until Solomon's death.


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Everything else that Solomon did, his career, and his wisdom, are all recorded in The History of Solomon.


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Jeroboam son of Nebat went to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. When he heard this news he returned from Egypt.


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The people of the northern tribes sent for him. Then they all went together to Rehoboam and said to him:


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»Your father Solomon treated us harshly and placed heavy burdens on us. If you make these burdens lighter and make life easier for us, we will be your loyal subjects.«


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Then King Rehoboam consulted elders who had been with Solomon his father when he was living. He said: »In your opinion, what answer am I to give to these people?«


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They said to him: »If you will be a servant to this people today, caring for them and giving them a favorable answer, then they will be your servants for ever.«


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But he paid no attention to the opinion of the elders. He went to the young men who were his advisors:


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»What is your opinion?« He asked: »What answer are we to give to this people? They want me to lighten the burdens placed on them by my father.«


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His young advisors said: »This is the answer to give to the people who came to you saying: Your father put a hard yoke on us; will you make it less? Say to them: My little finger is thicker than my father's body.


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»If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder! My father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes.«


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He gave them the answer suggested by the young advisors. He said: »My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder! My father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes.«


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The king did not listen to the people. This came about by Jehovahs purpose, so that what he had said by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, son of Nebat, might be fulfilled.


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When all Israel realized that the king would not respond to their request, the people in answer said to the king: »What share do we have in David? What is our heritage in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel; now see to your people, David.« So Israel went away to their tents.


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Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, the overseer of the forced work. He was stoned to death by all Israel. King Rehoboam went quickly and got into his carriage to escape to Jerusalem.


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When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they requested a meeting of the people. At that meeting they made him king over Israel. There was none who followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah.


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When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he called together one hundred and eighty thousand of the best soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He wanted to go to war and restore his control over the northern tribes of Israel.


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»Do not attack the people of Israel, your own relatives. All of you go home. What has happened is my will.« They all obeyed Jehovahs command and went home.


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King Jeroboam of Israel fortified the town of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there for a while. Then he left and fortified the town of Penuel.


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He thought to himself: »The way things are my people will go to Jerusalem and offer sacrifices to Jehovah at the Temple there.


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After asking for advice, the king made two golden calves. He said: You have been worshiping in Jerusalem long enough. Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.


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This became Israels sin, worshiping the golden calves. The people went as far as Dan to worship the one calf.


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Jeroboam built worship sites on hilltops. He appointed men who were not descended from Levi to be priests.


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Jeroboam appointed a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, just like the festival in Judah. He went to the altar in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He appointed priests from the illegal worship sites to serve in Bethel.


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He went to his altar in Bethel to burn an offering on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the festival he invented for the Israelites.


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A man of God from Judah went to Bethel. He arrived there while Jeroboam was at the altar ready to offer a sacrifice.


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He actually spoke against the altar: »O altar, altar, this is what Jehovah says: A child, whose name will be Josiah, will be born to the family of David. He will slaughter the priests serving at the pagan altars who offer sacrifices on you. He will burn human bones on you.«


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The prophet went on to say: »This altar will fall apart. The ashes on it will be scattered. Then you will know that Jehovah has spoken through me.«


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King Jeroboam heard this. He pointed his outstretched hand at him and ordered: »Seize that man!« At once the king's arm became paralyzed so that he could not pull it back.


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The altar suddenly fell apart and the ashes spilled to the ground. This is what the prophet predicted in the name of Jehovah.


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King Jeroboam said to the prophet: »Please pray to Jehovah your God for me, and ask him to heal my arm!« The prophet prayed to Jehovah and the king's arm was healed.


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Then the king said to the prophet: »Come home with me and have something to eat. I will reward you for what you have done.«


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The prophet answered: Even if you gave me half of your wealth, I would not go with you or eat or drink anything with you.


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I was ordered by the word of Jehovah, he said: »You are not to take food or a drink of water, and you are not to go back the way you came.«


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There was an old prophet living in Bethel. His sons told him what the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They reported what he said to the king.


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So the prophet said to his sons: »Saddle the donkey for me.« So they saddled the donkey and he mounted it.


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He rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree. »Are you the man of God who came from Judah?» He asked. « I am.« Came his reply.


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But the man of God from Judah replied: »I may not go back with you or go into your house. I will not take food or a drink of water with you in this place.


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»Jehovah said to me: You are not to take food or water there, or go back again by the way you came.«


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Then he said: »I am a prophet like you. An angel said to me by the word of Jehovah, Take him back with you and give him food and water.« But he lied to him.


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But while they were seated at the table, the word of Jehovah came to the old prophet who had brought him back.


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Crying out to the man of God who came from Judah, he said: »Jehovah says, because you have gone against the voice of Jehovah, and have not done as Jehovah ordered you,


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but have come back, and have taken food and water in this place where he said you were to take no food or water; your dead body will not be put to rest with your fathers.«


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He went on his way. A lion met him on the road and jumped him and killed him. His dead body was stretched in the road with the donkey by its side. The lion was by the body.


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Some people who passed by saw the body stretched out in the road with the lion by its side. They brought the news to the town where the old prophet lived.


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The old prophet heard about it and said: »That is the prophet who disobeyed Jehovahs command! Jehovah sent the lion to attack and kill him, just as Jehovah said he would.«


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He rode away to find the prophet's body lying on the road. The donkey and the lion were still standing by it. The lion had not eaten the body or attacked the donkey.


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The old prophet picked up the body and brought it back to Bethel on the donkey. There he mourned over it and buried it.


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He buried it in his own family grave. He and his sons mourned over it, saying: »Oh my brother, my brother!«


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After the burial the prophet said to his sons: »When I die, bury me in this grave and lay my body next to his.


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»The words that he spoke at Jehovahs command against the altar in Bethel and against all the places of worship in the towns of Samaria will surely come true.«


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King Jeroboam of Israel still did not turn from his evil ways. He continued to choose priests from ordinary families to serve at the altars he had built. He ordained as priest anyone who wanted to be one.


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This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam. It brought about its ruin and total destruction from the face of the earth.


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Jeroboam said to his wife: »Disguise yourself so that no one will recognize you, and go to Shiloh. That is where the prophet Ahijah lives. He is the one who said I would be king of Israel.


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»Take him ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey. Ask him what is going to happen to our son. He will tell you.«


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Jehovah told him: »Jeroboam's wife is coming to ask you about her son, for he is sick.« Jehovah told Ahijah what to say. Jeroboam's wife pretended to be someone else when she arrived there.


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Ahijah heard her coming in the door and said: »Come in. I know you are Jeroboam's wife. Why do you pretend to be someone else? I have bad news for you.


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»Go and tell Jeroboam that this is what Jehovah, the God of Israel, says to him: I chose you from among the people and made you the ruler of my people Israel.


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»I took the kingdom away from David's descendants and gave it to you. You have not been like my servant David. He was completely loyal to me. He obeyed my commands, and did only what I approve of.


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»You have committed far greater sins than those who ruled before you. You have rejected me and have aroused my anger by making idols and metal images to worship.


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»I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will kill all your male descendants, young and old alike. I will get rid of your family. They will be swept away like dung.


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»Dogs will eat members of your family who die in the city. Vultures will eat any who die in the open country. I, Jehovah, have spoken!«


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Ahijah went on to say to Jeroboam's wife: »Go back home. As soon as you enter the town, your son will die.


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»All the people of Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He will be the only member of Jeroboam's family who will be properly buried for he is the only one with whom Jehovah, the God of Israel, is pleased.


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»Jehovah will punish Israel, and she will shake like a reed shaking in a stream. He will uproot the people of Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors. He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they have aroused his anger by making idols of the goddess Asherah.


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The people of Israel mourned for him and buried him. This is as Jehovah said through his servant, the prophet Ahijah.


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Everything else that King Jeroboam did, the wars he fought and how he ruled, are all recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.


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Jeroboam ruled as king for twenty-two years. He died and was buried. His son Nadab succeeded him as king.


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Solomon's son Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king of Judah. He ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city Jehovah chose from all the territory of Israel as the place where he was to be worshiped. Rehoboam's mother was Naamah from Ammon.


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The people of Judah sinned against Jehovah. They did more to arouse his anger against them than all their ancestors had done.


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They built places of worship for false gods. They put up stone pillars and symbols of Asherah to worship on the hills and under shady trees.


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There were also male <i>cult</i> prostitutes in the temples of idols throughout the land. The people of Judah practiced all the disgusting practices done by the nations that Jehovah forced out of the Israelites' way.


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He took the treasures from Jehovahs Temple and the royal palace. He took them all. He took all the gold shields Solomon had made.


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King Rehoboam replaced them with bronze shields and entrusted them to the officers responsible for guarding the palace gates.


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The guards carried the shields every time the king went to the Temple and then returned them to the guardroom.


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The rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and everything he did are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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Rehoboam went to rest with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. And Abijam his son became king in his place.


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He was not completely loyal to Jehovah his God as his great-grandfather David had been. He committed the same sins as his father did.


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For David's sake Jehovah his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising Abijam a son to rule after him to keep Jerusalem secure.


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Jehovah did this because David had done what was right in Jehovahs eyes. He obeyed his commandments, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.


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Abijam continued the war that Rehoboam and Jeroboam started. There was war throughout Abijam's lifetime.


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Then Abijam went to rest with his fathers, and they buried him in the earth in the town of David. Asa his son became king in his place.


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He was king for forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom.


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He banished perverted persons from the land. He removed those used for sex purposes in the worship of the gods. He removed all the idols his fathers had made.


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He would not let Maacah his mother be queen, because she had made a disgusting image for Asherah. Asa had the obscene image cut down and burned by the Kidron Stream.


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He brought into the Temple of Jehovah all the things he and his father made holy, silver and gold and vessels.


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And Baasha, king of Israel, went up against Judah. He fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or in to Asa the king of Judah.


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Then Asa took all the silver and gold still stored in Jehovahs Temple, and in the king's house, and delivered them, in the care of his servants, to Ben-hadad, son of Tabrimmon, son of Rezon, king of Aram, at Damascus. He said:


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Let there be an agreement between us just as there was between my father and your father. I have sent you an offering of silver and gold. End your agreement with Baasha, king of Israel that he may give up attacking me.


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Ben-hadad agreed to King Asas request and sent his armies to attack Israel. He conquered Ijon and Dan and Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth as far as the land of Naphtali.


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Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah. Every man came to carry away the stone and the timber Baasha used to fortify Ramah. King Asa used them for building Geba in the land of Benjamin, and Mizpah.


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The rest of the events of Asas reign, the extent of his power and the names of the cities he built are all recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. His feet became diseased, as he grew old.


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So Asa went to rest with his fathers and was buried in the town of David his father. Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place.


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Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, became king over Israel in the second year that Asa was king of Judah; and he was king of Israel for two years.


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He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the evil ways of his father. He made Israel sin so much that they provoked Jehovah to anger with their idols.


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And Baasha, the son of Ahijah, of the family of Issachar, made a secret design against him, attacking him at Gibbethon, a town of the Philistines. Nadab and the armies of Israel were making war on Gibbethon.


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In the third year of the rule of Asa, king of Judah, Baasha put him to death, and became king in his place.


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When he became king, he sent destruction on all the offspring of Jeroboam. He killed every person of the family of Jeroboam according to the word of Jehovah as stated by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.


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This happened because Jeroboam aroused the anger of Jehovah, the God of Israel, by the sins he committed and that he caused Israel to commit.


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In the third year of the reign of King Asa of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel. He ruled in Tirzah for twenty-four years.


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»I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel. You have gone the way of Jeroboam. You made my people Israel do evil, moving me to wrath by their sins.


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»Truly, I will take away the family of Baasha. I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat.


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»Dogs will eat anyone of the family of Baasha who dies in town. The birds of the air will eat anyone who dies in the open country.«


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The rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his power, are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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The word of Jehovah came to the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani. This was a warning against Baasha and his family because of all the evil he did in the eyes of Jehovah. He made Jehovah angry by the work of his hands, because he was like the family of Jeroboam, and because he killed him.


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In the twenty-sixth year that Asa was king of Judah, Elah, the son of Baasha, became king of Israel in Tirzah. He was king for two years.


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His servant Zimri, commander of half his war-carriages made plans to kill him. He was in Tirzah, drinking hard at the house of Arza, controller of the king's house in Tirzah.


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Immediately after he became king and took his place on the throne of the kingdom, he put to death all the family of Baasha. Not one male child survived.


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This happened because of the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, and because of all the sins they led Israel to commit. It aroused the anger of Jehovah the God of Israel.


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In the twenty-seventh year of Asa, king of Judah, Zimri was king for seven days in Tirzah. The people were attacking Gibbethon in the land of the Philistines.


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The Israelites in the camp heard it said: »Zimri plotted against the king and killed him.« So all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king that day there in the camp.


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Then Omri went up from Gibbethon, with all the army of Israel, and they attacked Tirzah, Israels capital.


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Zimri saw that the city had fallen. So he went into the palace's inner fortress and set the palace on fire. He died in the flames.


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This happened because of his sins against Jehovah. Like his predecessor Jeroboam, he displeased Jehovah by his own sins and by leading Israel into sin.


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Everything else that Zimri did, including the account of his conspiracy, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.


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Then the army of Israel was divided into two factions. Half of the army followed Tibni, son of Ginath, and wanted to make him king. The other half followed Omri.


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But the half that followed Omri was stronger than the half that followed Tibni, Ginath's son. Tibni died and Omri became king.


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Omri began to rule Israel in Asa's thirty-first year as king of Judah. He ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah.


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Omri bought a hill from Shemer for one hundred and fifty pounds of silver. He fortified the hill and built the city of Samaria on it. He named the city after its former owner, Shemer.


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He lived exactly like Jeroboam, Nebat's son. He sinned and led Israel to sin with worthless idols. The Israelites made Jehovah the God of Israel furious.


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In the thirty-eighth year that Asa was king of Judah, Ahab, the son of Omri, became king over Israel. Ahab was king in Samaria for twenty-two years.


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It was as if he copied the evil ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. He took as his wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zidon, and became a servant and worshipper of Baal.


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Ahab made an image of Asherah. He did more than all the kings of Israel before him to make Jehovah, the God of Israel, angry.


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In his days Hiel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundation at the price of Abiram, his oldest son, and he put its doors in place at the price of his youngest son Segub. This was according to the word of Jehovah spoken through Joshua, the son of Nun.


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Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab: »By the living Jehovah, the God of Israel, whose servant I am, there will be no dew or rain in these years, but only at my word.«


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The ravens took him bread in the morning and meat in the evening. And he drank water from the brook.


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»Go now to Zarephath, in Zidon, and live there. I have given orders to a widow woman there to see that you have food.«


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He went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, he saw a widow woman gathering sticks. He said to her: »Will you give me a little water in a vessel for my drink?«


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Then she said: »By the life of Jehovah your God, I have nothing but a little meal, and a drop of oil in the bottle; and now I am getting two sticks together so that I may go in and make it ready for me and my son, so that we may have a meal before our death.«


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Elijah said to her: »Have no fear. Go and do as you said, but first make me a little cake of it and come and give it to me. Then make something for yourself and your son.


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»For this is the word of Jehovah, the God of Israel: Your supply of meal will not come to an end. The bottle will never be without oil, till the day when Jehovah sends rain on the earth.«


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The store of meal did not come to an end. The bottle was never without oil. This was just as Jehovah said through the mouth of Elijah.


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After this the son of the woman of the house became ill. He was so ill that there was no breath in him.


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She said to Elijah: »What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to put God in mind of my sin, and to put my son to death?«


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He said: »Give your son to me.« And lifting him out of her arms, he took him up to his room and put him down on his bed.


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Crying to Jehovah he said: »O Jehovah my God, have you sent evil even on the widow I now visit, by causing her son's death?«


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Stretching himself out on the child three times, he made his prayer to Jehovah. He said: »O Jehovah my God, be pleased to let this child's life come back to him again.«


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Elijah took the child down from his room into the house and gave him to his mother. »See, your son is alive.« He said.


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Then the woman said to Elijah: »Now I am certain that you are a man of God, and that the word of Jehovah in your mouth is truth.«


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After a long time, the word of Jehovah came to Elijah. In the third year he said: »Go and let Ahab see you. I will send rain on the earth.«


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When Jezebel massacred the prophets of Jehovah, Obadiah took a hundred of them, and hid them secretly in a hole in the rock, fifty at a time, and gave them bread and water.


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Ahab said to Obadiah: »Come! Let us go through all the country, to all the fountains of water and all the rivers. Let us see if there is any grass for the horses and the transport beasts. We must save some of the livestock.«


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They went through all the country by dividing it between them. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another by himself.


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While Obadiah was on his way, he came face to face with Elijah. Seeing who it was, he went down on his face and said: »Is it you, my lord Elijah?«


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He said: »What sin have I done that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab to kill him?


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»By the life of Jehovah your God, there is not a nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent in search of you. When they said: He is not here; he made them take an oath that they had not seen you.


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»What if the Spirit of Jehovah carries you off to some unknown place as soon as I leave? Then, when I tell Ahab that you are here and he cannot find you, he will put me to death. Remember that I have been a devout worshiper of Jehovah ever since I was a boy.


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»Have you not heard that when Jezebel was killing Jehovahs prophets I hid a hundred of them in caves, in two groups of fifty, and supplied them with food and water?


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Elijah said: »By the life of Jehovah of armies, whose servant I am, I will certainly let him see me today.«


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Then he said in answer: »I have not made trouble for Israel. You and your family have. You have disobeyed Jehovahs commands and have gone after the Baals.


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»Now gather all Israel together before me at Mount Carmel. Also gather the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal who get their food at Jezebel's table.«


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Elijah came near to all the people and said: »How long will you balance <i>bounce back and forth</i> between two opinions? If Jehovah is God, then give worship to him. If Baal is, give worship to him.« The people did not answer him.


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Then Elijah said to the people: »I, even I, am the only living prophet of Jehovah but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.«


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»Let them give us two bulls. Let them take one for themselves and have it cut up, and put it on the wood, but put no fire under it. I will get the other bull ready, and put it on the wood, and put no fire under it.


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»You pray to your god and I will pray to Jehovah. The God who answers with fire is God!« All the people answered: »It is well said.«


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Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal: »Take one bull for yourselves and get it ready first, for there are so many of you; and make your prayers to your god, but do not light the fire.


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So they took the bull that was given them, and made it ready. They cried out to Baal from morning till the middle of the day. They said: »O Baal, give ear to us.« But there was no voice and no answer. They jumped up and down before the altar they had made.


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In the middle of the day, Elijah made sport of them, saying: »Give louder cries, for he is a god; he may be deep in thought. He may have gone away for some purpose. Perhaps he is on a journey. By chance he is sleeping and must be woke up.«


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So they gave loud cries and they cut themselves with knives and swords till the blood came streaming out all over them.


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They went on with their prayers from midday till the time of the offering; but there was no voice, or any answer, or any who gave attention to them.


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Then Elijah said to all the people: »Come near to me.« Then all the people came near. He repaired the altar of Jehovah that was broken down.


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Elijah took twelve stones, the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Jehovah said: »Israel will be your name.«


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He used the stones to make an altar to the name of Jehovah. He dug a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two seahs of seed.


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He put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on there. Then he said: Get four vessels full of water and put it on the burned offering and on the wood. Do it a second time, and they did it a second time.


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Then he said: »Get four vessels full of water and put it on the burned offering and on the wood. Do it a second time« They did it a second time. Then he said: »Do it a third time« and they did it a third time.


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Then at the time of the offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, »Jehovah, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be seen this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things by your order.


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»Give me an answer, O Jehovah. Give me an answer so that this people may see that you are God. That you have made their hearts come back again.«


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Then the fire of Jehovah came down. It burned up the offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and drinking up the water in the drain.


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When the people saw it, they all went down on their faces. They said: »Jehovah is God! Jehovah is God!«


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Elijah said to them: »Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them get away.« So they took them, and Elijah made them go down to the stream Kishon, and executed them there.


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So Ahab went up to have food and drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel. He bowed down to the earth and put his face between his knees.


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He told his servant to look in the direction of the sea. After he looked the servant said: »There is nothing.« Elijah said: »Go again seven times.« So he went seven times.


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The seventh time he said: »I see a cloud coming up out of the sea, as small as a man's hand.« Then Elijah said: »Go up and say to Ahab, Get your carriage ready and go down or the rain will keep you back.«


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After a very little time, the heaven became black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab went in his carriage to Jezreel.


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The hand of Jehovah was on Elijah. Jehovah gave special strength to Elijah and he ran ahead of Ahab until they came to Jezreel.


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King Ahab told his wife Jezebel everything Elijah had done. He told how he put all the prophets of Baal to death.


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She sent a message to Elijah: »May the gods strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I do not do the same thing to you that you did to the prophets.«


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Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He took his servant and went to Beersheba in Judah. He left the servant there.


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Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down under a broom plant and wished he would die. »It is just too much, Jehovah,« he prayed. »Take away my life. I could just as well be dead.«


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Stretching himself on the earth, he went to sleep under the broom-plant. An angel touched him and said: »Get up and eat some food.«


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Looking up, he saw near his head a cake cooked on coals and a bottle of water. So he ate food and drink water and went to sleep again.


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The angel of Jehovah came again a second time, and touched him and said: »Get up and have some food, or you will not have strength for the journey.«


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So he got up and took food and drink. He was strengthened to go for forty days and forty nights, to Horeb, the mountain of God.


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He went into a cave and spent the night. The word of Jehovah came to him, saying: »What are you doing here, Elijah?«


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He said: »I have been zealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts. The children of Israel have not kept your agreement <i>covenant</i> . They have destroyed your altars. They killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I, am the only one living. Now they seek to take my life too.«


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Then he said: »Go out and take your place on the mountain before Jehovah.« Jehovah passed by and the force of a great wind parted the mountains. Rocks were broken before Jehovah but Jehovah was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but Jehovah was not in the earthquake.


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After the earthquake a fire, but Jehovah was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sounds of a soft breathe.


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Elijah heard it and went out covering his face with his robe. He stood by the entrance of the cave. He heard a voice saying: »What are you doing here, Elijah?«


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He replied: »I have been very zealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts. The children of Israel have not kept your agreement. They have torn down your altars. They killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I, am the only one living. Now they seek to take my life.«


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Jehovah said to him: »Go back on your way through the wasteland to Damascus.« When you get there, put holy oil on Hazael to make him king over Aram,


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»And also anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, making him king over Israel; and Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, to be prophet in your place.


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»Whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will put to death. Whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will put to death.


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»I will leave seven thousand people alive in Israel; all those who are loyal to me and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol.«


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Elijah left there and found Elisha plowing with a team of bulls. There were eleven teams ahead of him. He was plowing with the last one. Elijah took off his cloak and put it on Elisha.


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Elisha then left his bulls and ran after Elijah. He said: »Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye and then I will go with you.« Elijah answered, »All right, go back. I am not stopping you!«


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Then Elisha went to his team of bulls, killed them, and cooked the meat. He used the yoke as fuel for the fire. He gave the meat to the people, and they ate it. Then he followed Elijah as his helper.


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King Benhadad of Syria mustered his entire army, accompanied by thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots, he laid siege on Samaria, and launched attacks against it.


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Later the messengers came back to Ahab with another demand from Benhadad: »I sent you word that you were to hand over to me your silver and gold, your women and your children.«


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Now I will send my officers to search your palace and the homes of your officials. They will take everything they consider valuable. They will be there about this time tomorrow.


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Then the king of Israel sent for all the responsible men of the land, and said: »Now will you take note and see the evil purpose of this man. He sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, and I did not keep them back.«


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All the responsible men and the people said to him: »Do not pay attention to him or do what he says.«


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So he said to the representatives of Benhadad: »Say to my lord the king: All the orders you sent the first time I will do. But I will not do this thing.« The representatives went back with this answer.


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Benhadad sent Ahab the following message: »May the gods strike me dead if there will be enough dust left from Samaria to give a handful to each soldier who follows me.«


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The king of Israel responded: »It is said, let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.«


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Benhadad heard this when he and his allies were drinking in their tents. He told his officers to get ready. So they got prepared to attack the city.


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A prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and said: »This is what Jehovah says: Have you seen this large army? I will hand it over to you today. Then you will know that I am Jehovah.«


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Ahab asked: »How will this be done?« The prophet answered: »This is what Jehovah says: By using the young officers of the district governors.« »Who will start the battle?« Ahab asked. »You will,« the prophet answered.


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Ahab mustered the young officers of the district governors. There were two hundred and thirty-two. After counting them, he counted all the Israelite soldiers. There were seven thousand.


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In the middle of the day they went out. But Benhadad was drinking in the tents with the thirty-two kings who were helping him.


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The servants of the chiefs who were over the divisions of the land went forward first. Benhadad sent out a patrol and they told him: »Men have come out from Samaria.«


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He said: »If they have come out for peace, take them alive and if they have come out for war, take them alive.«


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So the servants of the chiefs of the divisions of the land went out of the town, with the army following them.


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Each one killed his opponent. The Syrians <i>Aramaeans</i> went in flight with Israel after them. Benhadad the king of Aram got away safely on a horse with his horsemen.


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The king of Israel took the horses and the war-carriages and caused great destruction among the Syrians.


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Then the prophet came up to the king of Israel, and said: »Now make yourself strong. Be careful what you do. Otherwise a year from now the king of Aram will come up against you again.«


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Then the king of Aram's servants said to him: »Their god is a god of the hills. That is why they were stronger than us. If we attack them in the lowlands, we will certainly be stronger than they.


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»Assemble another army like the one that was destroyed. Horse for horse, and carriage for carriage let us make war on them in the lowlands, and certainly we will be stronger than they.« He listened and did what was suggested.


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So, a year later, Benhadad got the Syrians <i>Aramaeans</i> together and went to Aphek to make war on Israel.


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And the children of Israel assembled, and food was made ready and they went against them. The children of Israel camped like two little flocks of goats before them. All the country was full of the Syrians.


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A man of God came to the king of Israel. He said: »Jehovah says, Because the Aramaeans have said, »Jehovah is a god of the hills and not of the valleys; I will give all this great army into your hands, and you will see that I am Jehovah.« «


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The two armies kept their positions facing one another for seven days. The seventh day the fight was started. The children of Israel put to the sword a hundred thousand Aramaean footmen in one day.


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The rest went in flight to Aphek, into the town, where a wall came down on the twenty-seven thousand who were still living. Benhadad went in flight into the town, into an inner room.


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His servants said to him: »It is said that the kings of Israel are full of mercy: let us then put on haircloth, and cords on our heads, and go to the king of Israel. Maybe he will give you your life.«


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So they put on haircloth, and cords on their heads, and went to the king of Israel and said: »Your servant Benhadad says: Let me now keep my life.« And he said: »Is he still living? He is my brother.«


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Now the men took it as a sign, and were quick to pick up on his word. They said: »Benhadad is your brother.« Then he said: »Go and get him.« So Ben-hadad came out to him and he made him get up into his carriage.


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Benhadad said: »The towns my father took from your father I will give back. You may name streets for yourself in Damascus as my father did in Samaria.« As for me, at the price of this agreement you will let me go. So he made an agreement with him and let him go.


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A man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbors by the word of Jehovah: »Give me a wound.« But the man would not.


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Then he said: »Because you have not listened to the voice of Jehovah, immediately after you leave me a lion will kill you.« When he went away a lion came rushing at him and killed him.


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Then he came across another man, and said: »Give me a wound.« And the man gave him a blow wounding him.


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So the prophet went away, and pulling his headband over his eyes to keep his face covered. He took his place by the road waiting for the king.


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When the king went by he cried out to him: »Your servant went out into the fight. A man came to me. He brought a man to me and said: guard this man. Do not let him get away. Your life is the price of his life or you will have to give a talent of silver in payment.


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»But while your servant was turning this way and that, he was gone. Then the king of Israel said to him: You are responsible; you have given the decision against yourself.«


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He said to him: »These are the words of Jehovah: Because you have let go from your hands the man whom I had put to the curse, your life will be taken for his life, and your people for his people.«


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Ahab said to Naboth: »Give me your garden so that I may have it for a garden of sweet plants. Since it is near my house let me give you a better vine-garden in exchange. If it seems good to you, let me give you its value in money.«


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Ahab returned to his house bitter and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite said to him: »I will not give you the heritage of my fathers.« Stretching himself on the bed with his face turned away, he would not eat.


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Jezebel his wife came to him and asked: »Why is your spirit so bitter that you have no desire for food?«


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He replied: »I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite. I said to him: Let me have your garden for money, or, if it pleases you, I will give you another garden for it. But he said: »I will not give you my garden.« «


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Then his wife Jezebel said: »Are you now the ruler of Israel? Get up, eat and be happy. I will give you the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite.«


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So she sent a letter in Ahab's name, stamped with his stamp, to the elders and nobles who were in authority with Naboth.


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The letter she wrote is as follows: »Let a time of public sorrow be fixed, and put Naboth at the head of the people.


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»Get two good-for-nothing persons to come before him and give witness that he has been cursing God and the king. Then take him out and have him stoned to death.«


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The two good-for-nothing persons came in and took their seats before him and gave witness against Naboth, in front of the people. They said: »Naboth has been cursing God and the king.« Then they took him outside the town and had him stoned to death.


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Jezebel, hearing that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, said to Ahab: »Get up and take as your heritage the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he would not give you for money. Naboth is dead.«


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When he heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab went down to the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite to take it as his heritage.


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»Go to Ahab, king of Israel, in Samaria. He is in the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite. He went there to take it as his heritage.«


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»Say to him: Jehovah says: »Have you put a man to death and taken his heritage?« « »Then say: Jehovah says: »Your blood will become the drink of dogs! You will go to the same place where the dogs drink the blood of Naboth.« «


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Ahab said to Elijah: »Have you come face to face with me, O my enemy?« Elijah said: »I have come to you because you have given yourself up to do evil in the eyes of Jehovah.«


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Jehovah says to you: »I will bring disaster on you. I will do away with you and get rid of every male in your family, young and old alike.


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»Your family will become like the family of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the family of King Baasha son of Ahijah. This is because you have stirred up my anger by leading Israel into sin.


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»Dogs will eat your relatives dying in the city. Vultures will eat your dead relatives in the country.«


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No one else devoted himself so completely to doing wrong in Jehovahs sight as Ahab all at the urging of his wife Jezebel.


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He committed the most shameful sins by worshiping idols the way the Amorites had done. Jehovah drove the Amorites from the land as the people of Israel advanced.


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Elijah finished speaking. Ahab tore his clothes and took them off. He dressed in sackcloth. He refused food <i>fasted</i> and slept in the sackcloth. He was gloomy and depressed.


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»Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Since he has done this, I will not bring disaster on him during his lifetime. It will be during his son's lifetime that I will bring disaster on Ahab's family.«


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Ahab asked his officials: »Why have we not done anything to get back Ramoth in Gilead from the king of Syria? It is ours!«


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Ahab asked Jehoshaphat: »Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?« »I am ready when you are,« Jehoshaphat answered. »And so are my soldiers and my cavalry.«


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So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them: »Should I attack Ramoth, or not?« They answered: »Attack, Jehovah will give you victory.«


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Ahab answered: »There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, always something bad.« »The king should not say such things!« Jehoshaphat replied.


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They dressed in their royal robes and sat on their thrones at the threshing place near the gate of Samaria. The two kings listened to all the prophets prophesy in front of them.


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One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab: »Jehovah says: With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.«


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All the other prophets said the same thing: »March against Ramoth and you will win,« they said. »Jehovah will give you victory.«


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The messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him: »All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king. You had better do the same.«


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He appeared before King Ahab. The king asked him: »Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?« »Attack!« Micaiah answered. »You will win. Jehovah will give you victory.«


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But Ahab replied: »Tell the truth when you speak to me in the name of Jehovah! How many times do I have to tell you that?«


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Micaiah answered: »I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd.« Jehovah said: »These men have no leader. Let them go home in peace.«


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Israels king said to Jehoshaphat: »Did I not say to you, He will prophesy about me? It is always something bad!«


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Micaiah continued: »Now listen to what Jehovah says! I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him.«


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Jehovah asked: »Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else,


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»How will you deceive him?« Jehovah asked. The spirit replied: »I will make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies.« Jehovah said: »Go and deceive him. You will succeed.«


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Micaiah concluded: This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. He has decreed that you will meet with disaster!


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The prophet Zedekiah went to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: »Since when did Jehovahs spirit leave me and speak to you?«


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The king of Israel said: »Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon, the ruler of the town, and to Joash, the king's son.


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»Tell them: It is the king's order that this man is to be put in prison and given prison food till I come again in peace.«


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The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: »I will change my clothing, so that I do not seem to be the king. Then I will go into the fight. You put on your royal robes. So the king of Israel changed his dress and went into the battle.«


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Now the king of Aram had given orders to the thirty-two captains of his war-carriages, saying: »Make no attack on small or great, but only on the king of Israel.«


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So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said: »Truly, this is the king of Israel.« They turned against him and surrounded him. Jehoshaphat gave a cry.


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A stray arrow wounded the king of Israel a wound where his breastplate was joined to his clothing. He said to the chariot driver: »Go to the side. Take me away from the fight for I am badly wounded.«


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The fight grew more violent as the day went on. The king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians <i>Aramaeans</i> . The floor of the chariot was covered with the blood from his wound. By evening he died.


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About sundown a cry went up from all parts of the army, saying: »Let every man go back to his town and his country, for the king is dead.«


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The chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria the bathing-place of the loose women. Dogs were drinking his blood there, as Jehovah said.


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Everything else that King Ahab did, including an account of his palace decorated with ivory and of all the cities he built, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.


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He was thirty-five years old. He ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.


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Like his father Asa before him, he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah. However the places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.


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Everything else that Jehoshaphat did, all his bravery and his battles, are recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah.


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He banished all the male and female prostitutes serving at the pagan altars who were still left from the days of his father Asa.


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King Jehoshaphat had ocean-going ships built to sail to the land of Ophir for gold. They were wrecked at Eziongeber and never sailed.


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King Ahaziah of Israel offered to let his men sail with Jehoshaphat's men. Jehoshaphat refused the offer.


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Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City. His son Jehoram succeeded him as king.


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Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel. It was the seventeenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Ahaziah ruled in Samaria for two years.


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He sinned against Jehovah, following the wicked example of his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel, and King Jeroboam, who had led Israel into sin.


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He worshiped and served Baal. Like his father before him, he aroused the anger of Jehovah, the God of Israel.


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King Ahaziah of Israel fell off the balcony on the roof of his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. He sent some messengers and said to them: »Go to consult Baalzebub, the god of the Philistine city of Ekron, to find out whether or not I will recover from this.«


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Jehovahs angel commanded Elijah, the prophet from Tishbe, »Go and meet the messengers of King Ahaziah. Ask them: Why are you going to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron? Do you think there is no god in Israel?


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»Tell the king Jehovah says: You will not recover from your injuries. You will in fact die!« Elijah did as Jehovah commanded.


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They answered: »A man told us to come back and tell you that Jehovah says: Why are you sending messengers to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no god in Israel? You will not recover from your injuries. You will die!«


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»He was a hairy man wearing a cloak made of animal skins, tied with a leather belt,« they answered. »It is Elijah!« The king exclaimed.


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Then he sent an officer with fifty men to get Elijah. The officer found him sitting on a hill and said to him: »Man of God, the king orders you to come down.«


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»If I am a man of God,« Elijah answered: »Let fire come down from heaven and kill you and your men!« At once fire came down and killed the officer and his men.


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The king sent another officer with fifty men, who went up and said to Elijah: »Man of God, the king orders you to come down at once!«


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»Since I am a man of God,« Elijah answered: »let fire come down from heaven and kill you and your men!« At once the fire of God came down and killed the officer and his men.


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Once more the king sent an officer with fifty men. He went up the hill, fell on his knees in front of Elijah, and pleaded: »Man of God, be merciful to my men and me. Spare our lives!


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»The other officers and their men were killed by fire from heaven. Please, please be merciful to me!«


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The angel of Jehovah said to Elijah: »Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him.« So Elijah went with the officer to the king.


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Elijah spoke to the king: »This is what Jehovah says: Because you sent messengers to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron acting as if there were no god in Israel to consult, you will not get well. You will die!«


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Ahaziah died, just as Jehovah spoke through Elijah. Ahaziah had no sons, so his brother Joram succeeded him as king. This happened in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.


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The time came for Jehovah to take Elijah up into the physical heavens <i>the sky</i> in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha set out from Gilgal,


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and on the way Elijah said to Elisha: »Stay here for Jehovah has ordered me to go to Bethel.« But Elisha answered: »I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you.« So they went on to Bethel.


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A group of prophets who lived at Bethel asked Elisha: »Do you know that Jehovah is going to take your master away from you today?« »Yes, I know,« Elisha answered. »But let us not talk about it.«


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Then Elijah said to Elisha: »Stay here for Jehovah has ordered me to go to Jericho.« But Elisha answered: »I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you.« So the two of them went on to Jericho.


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A group of prophets who lived at Jericho went to Elisha and asked him: »Do you know that Jehovah is going to take your master away from you today?« »Yes, I know,« Elisha answered. »But let us not talk about it.«


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Then Elijah said to Elisha: »Stay here for Jehovah has ordered me to go to the Jordan River.« But Elisha answered: »I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you.« So they went on,


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and fifty of the prophets followed them to the Jordan. Elijah and Elisha stopped by the river. The fifty prophets stood a short distance away.


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Then Elijah took off his cloak. He rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided, and he and Elisha crossed to the other side on dry ground.


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Elijah said to Elisha: »Tell me what you want me to do for you before I am taken from you.« Elisha answered: »Let me receive a double share of your spirit <i>power</i> .«


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»That is a difficult request to grant,« Elijah replied. »But you will receive it if you see me as I am being taken away from you. If you do not see me, you will not receive it.«


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They kept talking as they walked. Then suddenly a chariot of fire pulled by horses of fire came between them. Elijah was taken up into the physical heaven <i>the sky</i> by a whirlwind.


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Elisha saw it and cried out to Elijah: »My father, my father! Mighty defender of Israel! You are gone!« He never saw Elijah again. In grief Elisha tore his cloak in two.


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He picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen from him. He returned to stand by the bank of the Jordan.


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Elisha struck the water with Elijah's cloak and said: »Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah?« Then he struck the water again, and it divided, and he walked over to the other side.


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The fifty prophets from Jericho saw him and said: »The power of Elijah is on Elisha!« So they went to meet him and bowed down before him.


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They said: »There are fifty of us here. We are all strong men. Let us go and look for your master. Maybe the Spirit of Jehovah has carried him away and left him on some mountain or in some valley.« Elisha answered: »You must not go.«


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They insisted until he gave in and let them go. The fifty of them went and looked high and low for Elijah for three days. But they did not find him.


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Men from Jericho went to Elisha and said: »You may know that this is a fine city but the water is bad and causes miscarriages.«


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and he went to the spring, threw the salt in the water, and said: »This is what Jehovah says: I make this water pure. It will not cause any more deaths or miscarriages.«


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Elisha left Jericho to go to Bethel. On the way some boys came out of a town and taunted and made fun of him. They shouted: »Get out of here, baldy!«


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Elisha turned around and glared at them. He cursed them in the name of Jehovah. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys to pieces.


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Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He ruled in Samaria for twelve years.


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Though he was not as bad as his father or his mother Jezebel; he sinned against Jehovah. He removed the image his father had made for the worship of Baal.


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Like King Jeroboam son of Nebat before him, he caused Israel to sin. He would not turn away from sin.


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King Mesha of Moab raised sheep. Yearly he gave as tribute to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool from one hundred thousand sheep.


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He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: »The king of Moab rebelled against me. Will you join me to war against Moab?« King Jehoshaphat replied: »I will. I am on your side. My men and horses are at your disposal.


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»Which way shall we go to the attack?« Joram answered: »We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom.«


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King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom assembled. After marching seven days, they ran out of water. There was none left for the men or the pack animals.


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»Alas, all is done,« King Joram exclaimed. »Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab?«


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King Jehoshaphat asked: »Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah?« An officer of King Joram's forces answered: »Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.«


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»Why should I have anything to do with you?« Elisha said to the king of Israel. »Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted.« »No!« Joram king of Israel replied. »It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab.«


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Elisha answered: »By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah.


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»You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink.«


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Elisha continued: »This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites.


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»You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones.«


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The next morning when the sacrifice was offered water came flowing from the direction of Edom. It covered the ground.


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The Moabites heard that the three kings came to attack them. All the young and old men who could bear arms were called out and stationed at the border.


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They said: »It is blood! The three armies fought and killed each other! Let us go and loot their camp!«


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When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites.


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They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it.


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The king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle. So he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Edom. However they failed.


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He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.


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The widow of a member of a group of prophets said to Elisha: »My husband has died! As you know, he was a man who respected God. A man to whom he owed money came to take away my two sons as slaves in payment for my husband's debt.«


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Elisha said: »Tell me what shall I do for you? What do you have at home?« She answered: »Except for a small jar of olive oil, I have nothing.«


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»You and your sons go into the house and shut the door behind you. Pour oil into the jars. Set each one aside as soon as it is full.«


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The woman went into her house with her sons. They closed the door and took the small jar of olive oil, and poured oil into the jars as her sons brought them to her.


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When the jars were full she asked if there were any more. »That was the last one,« one of her sons told her. So the olive oil stopped flowing.


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She returned to Elisha, the prophet. He said: »Sell the olive oil and pay all your debts. There will be enough money left over for you and your sons to pay your living expenses.«


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Elisha went to Shunem, where a rich woman lived. She invited him to a meal. From that time on every time he went to Shunem he would have his meals at her house.


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»Let us build a small room on the roof, and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp in it. He can stay there when he visits us.«


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he said to Gehazi: »Ask her what I can do for her in return for all the trouble she has had in providing for our needs. Maybe she would like me to go to the king or the army commander and put in a good word for her.« »I have all I need here among my own people,« she answered.


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Elisha asked Gehazi: »What can I do for her?« He answered: »She has no son, and her husband is an old man.«


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Elisha said to her: »By this time next year you will hold a son in your arms.« »Please do not lie to me. You are a man of God!« She said.


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Years later at harvest time, the boy went out one morning to join his father, who was in the field with the harvest workers.


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Suddenly he cried out to his father: »My head hurts! My head hurts!« »Carry the boy to his mother,« the father said to a servant.


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The servant carried the boy back to his mother. She held him in her lap until noon. Then the boy died.


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She carried him up to Elisha's room and put him on the bed. She closed the door behind her and left.


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She called her husband and said to him: »Send a servant here with a donkey. I need to go to the prophet Elisha. I will be back as soon as I can.«


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»Why must you go today?« Her husband asked. »It is neither a Sabbath nor a New Moon Festival.« She replied: »Never mind.«


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She had the donkey saddled, and ordered the servant: »Make the donkey go as fast as it can. Do not slow down unless I tell you.«


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She left for Mount Carmel, where Elisha was. Elisha saw her coming while she was still far off. He said to his servant Gehazi: »Look, there comes the woman from Shunem!


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»Hurry to her and find out if everything is all right with her and her family.« She told Gehazi that everything was all right,


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but when she came to Elisha, she bowed down before him and took hold of his feet. Gehazi was about to push her away. Elisha said: »Do not bother her. You can see she is deeply distressed. Jehovah has not told me a thing about it.«


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Elisha told Gehazi:« Hurry! Take my walking stick. Do not stop to talk to anyone. If anyone speaks to you do not respond. Go straight to the house and hold my stick over the boy.«


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The woman said to Elisha:« I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you! So the two of them started back together. »


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Gehazi went ahead and held Elisha's stick over the child. There was no sound or any other sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and said: »The boy did not wake up.«


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Then he lay down on the boy, placing his mouth, eyes, and hands on the boy's mouth, eyes, and hands. As he lay stretched out over the boy, the boy's body started to get warm.


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Elisha got up and walked around the room. He returned and again stretched himself over the boy. The boy sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes.


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Elisha called Gehazi and told him to call the boy's mother. When she came in, he said to her: »Take your son!«


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When there was a famine throughout the land, Elisha returned to Gilgal. He was teaching a group of prophets. He told his servant to put a big pot on the fire and make some stew for them.


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One of them went out in the fields to gather herbs. He found a wild vine and picked as many gourds as he could carry. He brought them back and sliced them into the stew, not knowing what they were.


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The stew was poured out for the men to eat. They tasted it and exclaimed to Elisha: »It is poisoned!« They would not eat it.


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Elisha asked for some meal. He threw it into the pot and said: »Pour out some more stew for them.« Then there was nothing wrong with it.


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A man came from Baal Shalishah. He brought Elisha twenty loaves of bread made from the first barley harvested that year and some freshly cut heads of grain. Elisha told his servant to feed the group of prophets with this.


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He asked: »How am I to feed a hundred hungry men with this?« Elisha replied: »Give it to them to eat, because Jehovah says that they will eat and still have some left over.« (Matthew 14:20)


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Naaman was a great soldier. He was commander of the Syrian army and highly respected and esteemed by the king of Syria <i>Aram</i> . Jehovah gave victory to the Syrian forces through Naaman. He suffered from a dreaded skin disease.


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The Syrians carried off a little Israelite girl during one of their raids against Israel. The girl became a servant of Naaman's wife.


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She said to her mistress: »I wish my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.«


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The king said: »Go to the king of Israel and take this letter to him.« Naaman departed. He took thirty thousand pieces of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of fine clothes.


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The letter stated: »This letter will introduce my officer Naaman. I want you to cure him of his leprosy.«


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The king of Israel read the letter and tore his clothes and said: »How can the king of Syria expect me to cure this man? Does he think that I am God, with the power of life and death? It is plain that he is trying to start a quarrel with me!«


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When the prophet Elisha heard what happened, he sent word to the king: »Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me. I will show him that there is a prophet in Israel!«


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Elisha sent a servant to tell him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. He would then be completely cured of his disease.


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Naaman left in a rage, saying: »I thought he would at least come out to me, pray to Jehovah his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me!


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»Are not the Abanah and Pharpar rivers in Damascus better than any river in Israel? I could have washed in them and been cured!«


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His servants went up to him and said: »If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can you not just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured?«


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So Naaman went to the Jordan River and dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed. He was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child.


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Naaman returned to Elisha with all his men and said: »Now I realize there is no god but the God of Israel. Please accept a gift from me.«


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Elisha the prophet answered: »By the living God Jehovah whom I serve, I swear that I will not accept a gift.« Naaman insisted that he accept it, but he would not.


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So Naaman said: »If you will not accept my gift, then let me have two mule-loads of earth to take home with me. From now on I will not offer sacrifices or burnt offerings to any god except Jehovah.


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»I hope Jehovah will forgive me when I accompany my king to the temple of Rimmon, the god of Syria, and worship him. Surely Jehovah will forgive me!«


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when Elisha's servant Gehazi said to himself: »My master has let Naaman get away without paying a thing! He should have accepted what that Syrian offered him. By the living God Jehovah I will run after him and get something from him.«


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He ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw a man running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him, and asked: »What is wrong?«


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»Nothing is wrong,« answered Gehazi. »But my master sent me to tell you that just now two members of the group of prophets in the hill country of Ephraim arrived. He would like you to give them three thousand pieces of silver and two changes of fine clothes.«


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»Please take six thousand pieces of silver,« Naaman replied. He tied the silver in two bags and gave them and two changes of fine clothes to two of his servants, and sent them on ahead of Gehazi.


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They reached the hill where Elisha lived. Gehazi took the two bags and carried them into the house. Then he sent Naaman's servants back.


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Elisha said: »Was I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants!


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»Naaman's leprosy will come upon you. You and your descendants will have it from generation to generation!« When Gehazi left, he had the disease. His skin was as white as snow.


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The group of prophets Elisha was in charge of complained to him: »The place where we live is too small!


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»Allow us to go to the Jordan and cut down some trees. We can build a place to live.« Elisha answered: »Go.«


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One of them was cutting down a tree when suddenly his ax head fell in the water. It was a borrowed ax, he exclaimed to Elisha. »What will I do?«


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Elisha said: »Where did it fall?« The man showed him the place. Elisha cut off a stick. Then he threw it in the water and made the ax head float.


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The king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his officers and chose a place to set up camp.


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Elisha sent word to the king of Israel. He warned him not to go near that place, because the Syrians were waiting to ambush him.


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The king of Israel warned the people who lived there. So they were on guard. This happened several times.


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The Syrian king was greatly upset over this. He called in his officers and asked them: »Show me who of us is on the side of the king of Israel?«


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One of his servants said: »No one is, Your Majesty. The prophet Elisha tells the king of Israel what you say even in the privacy of your own bedroom.«


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Early the next morning Elisha's servant got up and went out of the house. He saw the Syrian troops with their horses and chariots surrounding the town. He went to Elisha and said: »Alas my master what shall we do?«


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Elisha prayed: »O Jehovah, open his eyes that he may see.« Jehovah answered his prayer. Elisha's servant looked up and saw the hillside covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.


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The Syrians attacked! Elisha prayed, »O Jehovah, strike these men blind!« Jehovah answered his prayer and struck them blind.


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Elisha said to the Syrians: »This is not the way or the town you are looking for. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are after.« He led them to Samaria.


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When they entered the city, Elisha prayed: »Open their eyes and let them see.« Jehovah answered his prayer. He restored their sight, and they saw that they were inside Samaria.


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»No,« Elisha answered. »Would you put to death soldiers you captured in combat? Give them something to eat and drink. Then let them return to their king.«


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So the king of Israel provided a great feast for them. After they ate and drank he sent them back to the king of Syria. From then on the Syrians stopped raiding the land of Israel.


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After that King Benhadad of Syria led his entire army against Israel in siege of the city of Samaria.


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The siege caused a great food shortage in the city. It was so severe that a donkey's head cost eighty pieces of silver, and half a pound of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver.


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The king replied: »If Jehovah will not help you, what help can I provide? Where can I get you help from the threshing floor or the wine press?«


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The king asked: »What is your trouble?« She answered: »The other day a woman suggested that we eat my child. Then we could eat her child the next day.


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»So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I told her that we would eat her son, but she had hidden him!«


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Hearing this, the king tore his clothes. The people close to the wall could see that he was wearing sackcloth under his clothes.


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He sent a messenger to get Elisha. Meanwhile Elisha was at home with some elders who were visiting him. Before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders: »That murderer is sending someone to kill me! When he gets here, shut the door. Do not let him come in. The king will follow him.«


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While Elisha was still talking the king arrived and said: »Jehovah brought this trouble on us! Why should I wait any longer for him to do something?«


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Elisha answered: »Hear the word of Jehovah: By this time tomorrow you will be able to buy in Samaria ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley for one piece of silver.«


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The personal attendant of the king said to Elisha: »If Jehovah could make floodgates in the heavens could this happen?« Elisha replied: »You will see it with your own eyes. But you will not eat from it.«


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Four men who were suffering from a dreaded skin disease were outside the gates of Samaria. They said to each other: »Why should we wait here until we die?


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»If we go into the city we will starve to death. If we stay here we will also die. So let us go to the Syrian camp. The worst they can do is kill us. Maybe they will spare our lives.«


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Jehovah made the Syrians hear what sounded like the advance of a large army with horses and chariots. The Syrians thought that the king of Israel had hired Hittite and Egyptian kings and their armies to attack them.


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The Syrians arose and fled while it was yet dark. They left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys in the camp and fled for their lives.


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The lepers came to the edge of the camp. They went into one tent and ate and drank. They took silver and gold and clothing. They entered another tent and carried away spoil and hid it.


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They said to each other: »We should not do this! We have good news. We should not keep it to ourselves. If we wait until morning to tell it we will be punished. Let us go tell the king's officers!«


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They left the Syrian camp and went to Samaria. They called out to the guards at the gates: »We went to the Syrian camp and did not see or hear anyone. The horses and donkeys have not been untied. The tents are just as the Syrians left them.«


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The king got out of bed even though it was night. He said to his officials: »I will tell you what the Syrians are planning! They know about the famine here, so they have left their camp to go and hide in the countryside. They think that we will leave the city to find food. Then they will take us alive and capture the city.«


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One of his servants said: »The people in the city are doomed like those who have already died. Send some men with five of the horses that are left and find out what happened.«


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They chose some men and the king sent them in two chariots with instructions to go and find out what had happened to the Syrian army.


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The men went to the Jordan. Along the road they saw the clothes and equipment that the Syrians had abandoned as they fled. Then they returned and reported to the king.


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The people of Samaria rushed out and looted the Syrian camp. Just as Jehovah said, ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley were sold for one piece of silver.


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The king of Israel put the city gate under the command of the officer who was his personal attendant. The officer was trampled to death there by the people and died, as Elisha had predicted when the king went to see him.


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Elisha told the king that by that time the following day ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley would be sold in Samaria for one piece of silver.


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The kings attendant answered: »If Jehovah could open floodgates in the heavens could this happen?« Elisha had replied: »You shall see with your own eyes. But you will not eat from it.«


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Elisha told the woman who lived in Shunem, whose son he brought back to life: »Jehovah is sending a famine on the land. It will last for seven years. Leave with your family and go live somewhere else.«


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When the seven years ended she returned to Israel. She went to the king to ask that her house and her land be restored to her.


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The king was talking with Gehazi, Elisha's servant, when she found him. The king wanted to know about Elisha's miracles.


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Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought a dead person back to life. The woman made her appeal to the king. Gehazi said to him: »Your Majesty, here is the woman and here is her son whom Elisha brought back to life!«


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She responded to the kings question by confirming Gehazis story. The king called an official and told him to give back to her everything that was hers. This included the value of all the crops that her fields produced during the seven years she was away.


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Elisha went to Damascus when King Benhadad of Syria was sick. The king was told that Elisha was there.


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He said to Hazael, one of his officials: »Take a gift to the prophet and ask him to consult Jehovah to find out whether or not I am going to get well.«


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Hazael loaded forty camels with all kinds of the finest products of Damascus and went to Elisha. Hazael said: »Your servant, King Benhadad sent me to ask if he will recover from his sickness.«


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Elisha answered: »Jehovah has revealed to me that he will die. However go to him and tell him that he will recover.«


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»Why are you crying?« Hazael asked. »Because I know the horrible things you will do against the people of Israel,« Elisha answered. »You will burn their fortresses, slaughter their finest young men, batter their children to death, and rip open their pregnant women.«


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»How could I ever be that powerful?« Hazael asked. »I am nobody, only a dog.« Elisha replied: »Jehovah has revealed to me that you will be king of Syria.«


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Hazael returned to Benhadad, who asked him: »What did Elisha say?« »He told me that you will certainly get well,« Hazael answered.


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The following day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and smothered the king. Hazael succeeded Benhadad as king of Syria.


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Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. It was the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab as king of Israel.


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His wife was Ahab's daughter. Like the family of Ahab he followed the evil ways of the kings of Israel. He sinned against Jehovah.


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Jehovah was not willing to destroy Judah. He promised his servant David that his descendants would always continue to rule.


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Jehoram and his chariots went to Zair. The Edomite army surrounded them. He and his chariot commanders managed to break out and escape. His soldiers scattered to their homes.


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Jehoram died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.


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Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. This was in the twelfth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab as king of Israel.


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He was twenty-two years old. He ruled in Jerusalem for one year. His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of King Ahab and granddaughter of King Omri of Israel.


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King Ahaziah joined King Joram of Israel in a war against King Hazael of Syria. The armies clashed at Ramoth in Gilead. Joram was wounded in battle.


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Elisha the prophet called one of the young prophets and said to him: »Prepare to go to Ramoth in Gilead. Take this jar of olive oil with you.


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»When you get there look for Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Take him to a private room away from his companions.


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»Pour this olive oil on his head, and say: Jehovah anoints you king of Israel. Then leave there as fast as you can.«


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He found the army officers in conference. He said: »I have a message for you.« Jehu asked: »Who are you speaking to?« »To you, captain.« He replied.


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The two of them went indoors. The prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu's head and said to him: »Jehovah, the God of Israel, says: I anoint you king of my people Israel.


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»You are to kill your master the king of the house of Ahab. I am punishing Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants.


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»The entire house of Ahab will perish. I will get rid of every male in his family, young and old alike.


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»I will treat his family as I did the families of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and of King Baasha son of Ahijah.


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»Jezebel will not be buried. Dogs in the territory of Jezreel will eat her body.« After saying this, the young prophet opened the door and fled.


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Jehu went back to his fellow officers. They asked him: »Is everything all right? What did this mad fellow want with you?« Jehu answered: »You know what he wanted.«


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»No we do not!« They replied. »Tell us what he said!« They asked. »He told me that Jehovah says: I anoint you king of Israel.«


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At once Jehu's fellow officers spread their cloaks at the top of the steps for Jehu to stand on. They blew trumpets and shouted: »Jehu is king!«


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So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. Joram and all the army of Israel were keeping watch on Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, king of Aram:


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King Joram went back to Jezreel to recuperate from the wounds he received from the Aramaeans when he fought against Hazael, king of Aram. Jehu said: »If this is your purpose let no one get away to give news of it in Jezreel.«


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So Jehu got into his carriage and went to Jezreel. Joram was ill in bed there and Ahaziah, king of Judah came to see him.


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The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: »I see a company of people.« Joram said: »Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: Do you come in peace?«


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So a horseman went out to them and said: »The king asks: Do you come in peace? « Jehu said: »What have you to do with peace? Follow me.« The watchman reported that the horseman reached the group and was returning.


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A second man was sent out on horseback. He approached them and asked the same thing: »Do you come in peace?« Jehu replied: »What have you to do with peace? Follow me.«


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The watchman reported: »He went up to them and has not come back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently.«


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Joram said: »Get ready.« They prepared his chariot and Joram, king of Israel, with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They came face to face with him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite.


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When Joram saw Jehu he said: »Do you come in peace, Jehu?« He said in reply: »What peace is possible while all the land is full of the disgusting sins of your mother Jezebel, and her secret arts of witchcraft?«


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Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and sent an arrow, wounding Joram between the arms. The arrow came out at his heart, and he went down on his face in his chariot.


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Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: »Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him.


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»Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, I will pay you back in this field, declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted.«


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When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered: »Shoot him down in his chariot.« They shot him at Gur Pass, near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died.


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His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David.


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Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window.


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Then, looking up to the window, he said: »Who is on my side, who?« Two or three eunuchs look out at him.


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He said: »Take her and throw her out the window.« So they threw her down with force. Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. She was crushed under their feet.


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He came in and ate and drank. He said: »Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter.«


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They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands.


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So they came back and told him about it. He said: »This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs.


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»The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: »This is Jezebel.« «


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Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of the town, and to the elders, and to those who took care of the sons of Ahab. The letter stated:


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»You are in charge of the king's descendants, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, weapons, and fortified cities. As soon as you receive this letter,


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The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: »How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could?«


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So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: »We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best.«


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Jehu wrote them another letter: »If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.« The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria.


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As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.


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Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning.


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In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: »You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these?


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»You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah.«


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Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them.


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He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: »Who are you?« They replied: »We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen.«


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He ordered: »Take them alive.« So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them.


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When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: »Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours?« Jehonadab in answer said: »It is.« Jehu said: »If it is give me your hand.« He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot.


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He said: »Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovahs cause.« So he made him go with him in his chariot.


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When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah.


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Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: »Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale.


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»Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death.« Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal.


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Jehu said: »Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal.« So a public statement was made.


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Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end.


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Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: »Get out robes for all the servants of Baal.« So he got out robes for them.


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Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: »Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal.«


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They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: »If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life.«


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As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: »Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out!« So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal.


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The altar of Baal was pulled down and the house of Baal was broken up and made an unclean place, as it is to this day.


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But Jehu did not keep himself from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and the evil he made Israel do. The gold calves were still worshiped in Bethel and in Dan.


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Jehovah said to Jehu: »You have done well by doing what is right in my eyes. You carried out my purpose for the family of Ahab. Therefore your sons will be kings of Israel to the fourth generation.«


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But Jehu did not take care to keep the law of Jehovah with all his heart. He did not keep himself from the sin that Jeroboam did and made Israel do.


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Jehovah began to reduce the size of Israel's territory. King Hazael of Syria conquered all the Israelite territory


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east of the Jordan, as far south as the town of Aroer on the Arnon River. This included the territories of Gilead and Bashan, where the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and East Manasseh lived.


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Everything else that Jehu did, including his brave deeds, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.


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King Ahaziah's mother Athaliah learned of her son's murder. She gave orders for all the members of the royal family to be killed.


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Only Ahaziah's son Jehoash escaped. He was about to be killed with the others, but was rescued by his aunt Jehosheba, who was King Jehoram's daughter and Ahaziah's half sister. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom in the Temple.


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Jehosheba took care of the boy and kept him hidden in the Temple for six years. During this time Athaliah ruled as queen.


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In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent for the officers in charge of the royal bodyguard and of the palace guards, and told them to come to the Temple. He made them agree under oath to what he planned to do. He showed them King Ahaziah's son Joash


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and gave them the following orders: »When you come on duty on the Sabbath, one third of you are to guard the palace.


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»One third are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. The other third are to stand guard at the gate behind the other guards.


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»The two groups that go off duty on the Sabbath are to stand guard at the Temple to protect the king.


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»You are to guard King Jehoash with drawn swords and stay with him wherever he goes. Anyone who comes near you is to be killed.«


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The officers obeyed Jehoiada's instructions and brought their men to him, those going off duty on the Sabbath and those going on duty.


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He gave the officers the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and had been kept in the Temple.


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Then Jehoiada led Joash out and placed the crown on his head. He gave him a copy of the laws governing kingship. Then Jehoash was anointed and proclaimed king. The people clapped their hands and shouted: »Long live the king!«


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Queen Athaliah heard the noise being made by the guards and the people. She hurried to the Temple, where the crowd had gathered.


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There she saw the new king standing by the column at the entrance of the Temple, as was the custom. The officers and the trumpeters surrounded him, and the people were all shouting joyfully and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes in distress and shouted: »Treason! Treason!«


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Jehoiada the priest did not want Athaliah killed in the Temple area. He ordered the army officers: »Take her out between the rows of guards, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.«


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The priest Jehoiada had King Jehoash and the people make a covenant with Jehovah that they would be Jehovahs people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.


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The people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and the idols, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. Jehoiada put guards on duty at the Temple,


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Jehoiada the priest, the officers, the royal bodyguard, and the palace guards escorted the king from the Temple to the palace. All the people followed them. Jehoash entered by the Guard Gate and took his place on the royal throne.


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Jehoash became king of Judah. It was the seventh year of Jehu's rule over Israel. Jehoash ruled for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.


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Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah all his days, because he was guided by the teaching of Jehoiada the priest.


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The high places were not taken away. The people continued making offerings and burning them in the high places.


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Jehoash said to the priests: »All the money of the holy things, which comes into the house of Jehovah, the amount fixed for every man's payment, and all the money given by any man freely by motivation of his heart,


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»Let the priests take, every man from his friends and neighbors, to make good what is damaged in the Temple, wherever it is to be seen.«


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But in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests had not made good the damaged parts of the Temple.


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He called in Jehoiada and the other priests and asked them: »Why are you not repairing the Temple? From now on you are not to keep the money you receive. You must hand it over, so that the repairs can be made.«


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Then Jehoiada took a box, made a hole in the lid, and placed the box by the altar, on the right side as one enters the Temple. The priests on duty at the entrance put in the box all the money given by the worshipers.


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Whenever there was a large amount of money in the box, the royal secretary and the High Priest would come, melt down the silver, and weigh it.


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After recording the exact amount, they would hand the silver over to the men in charge of the work in the Temple. These would pay the carpenters, the builders,


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the masons, and the stonecutters, buy the timber and the stones used in the repairs, and pay all other necessary expenses.


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None of the money was used to pay for making silver cups, bowls, trumpets, or tools for tending the lamps, or any other article of silver or of gold.


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The men in charge of the work were very honest. There was no need to require them to account for the funds.


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The money given for the repayment offerings and for the offerings for sin was not deposited in the box. It belonged to the priests.


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King Hazael of Syria attacked the city of Gath and conquered it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem.


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King Jehoash of Judah took all the offerings that his predecessors Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah had dedicated to Jehovah, added to them his own offerings and all the gold in the treasuries of the Temple and the palace, and sent them all as a gift to King Hazael, who then led his army away from Jerusalem.


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His own officials plotted against him and killed him at the House of the Mound on the road that goes down to Silla.


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Jehoash's officials Jozacar, son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of Shomer, executed him. They buried him with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.


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Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled for seventeen years. It was the twenty-third year of Joash, son of Ahaziah, king of Judah.


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He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, copying the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, which he did and made Israel do. He did not keep himself from them.


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The wrath of Jehovah burned against Israel! He gave them up into the power of Hazael, king of Aram, and into the power of Benhadad, the son of Hazael, again and again.


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Then Jehoahaz prayed to Jehovah. Jehovah listened to him. He saw how cruelly the king of Aram crushed Israel.


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Jehovah gave Israel a savior, so that they became free from the hands of the Aramaeans. The children of Israel were living in their tents as in the past.


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Still they did not give up the sin of Jeroboam. This he made Israel do and they continued. There was an image of Asherah in Samaria.


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Out of all his army, Jehoahaz had only fifty horsemen and ten carriages and ten thousand footmen. The king of Aram had given them up to destruction, crushing them like dust.


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Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all he did, and his great power are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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In the thirty-seventh year of the rule of Jehoash king of Judah, Joash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled for sixteen years.


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He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, not turning away from the sin of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, which he did and made Israel do. He continued sinning.


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Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash, and all he did, and the force with which he went to war against Amaziah, king of Judah, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Joash went to rest with his fathers. They buried Jehoash in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Jeroboam took his place as king.


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Elisha became ill with the disease that caused his death. Jehoash, king of Israel, came down to him, and weeping over him said: »My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!«


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He said to the king of Israel: »Put your hand on the bow« So he put his hand on it; and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.


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Then he said: »Let the window be open to the east.« So he got it open. Then Elisha said: »Let the arrow go!« So he let it go. He said: »Jehovahs arrow of salvation, of salvation over Aram for you will overcome the Aramaeans in Aphek and put an end to them.«


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He said: »Take the arrows!« So he took them. He said to the king of Israel: »Send them down into the earth.« He did so three times and no more.


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Then the man of God was angry with him and said: »If you had done it five or six times, then you would have overcome Aram completely. Now you will only overcome them three times.


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Elisha died and they buried him. Now in the spring of the year, armed bands of Moabites frequently came, overrunning the land.


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While they were burying a dead man they saw a band coming. They put the man quickly into the place where Elisha's body was. The dead mans body touched Elisha's bones. The man came to life again and got up on his feet.


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But Jehovah was kind to them and had pity on them, caring for them, because of his agreement with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would not put them to destruction or send them away from his presence until now.


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Jehoash son of Jehoahaz captured again from Benhadad, the son of Hazael, the towns he had taken from Jehoahaz, his father, in war. Three times Jehoash defeated him and recovered the towns of Israel.


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Amaziah son of Jehoash became king of Judah. It was in the second year of Jehoash son of Joahaz king of Israel.


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Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.


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He did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah. Though not like David his forefather; he did as Joash his father had done.


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Still the high places were not taken away. The people continued making offerings and burning them in the high places.


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As soon as he firmly established the kingdom he immediately put to death those servants who had taken the life of his father, the king.


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But he did not put their children to death. The orders of Jehovah recorded in the book of the law of Moses say: »The fathers are not to be put to death for the children, or the children for their fathers; but each man shall be put to death for his own sin.«


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He put to the sword twelve thousand men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. He captured Sela in war, and named it Joktheel, as it is to this day.


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Then Amaziah sent representatives to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying: »Come let us have a meeting face to face.«


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Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: »The thorn-tree in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying: Give your daughter to my son for a wife. A beast from the woodland in Lebanon went by, crushing the thorn under his feet.


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»It is true that you have overcome Edom and your heart is uplifted. Let that glory be enough for you and stay in your own country. Why do you make causes for trouble, putting yourself and Judah with you in danger of downfall?«


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But Amaziah paid no attention. So Jehoash king of Israel went to Amaziah king of Judah to meet face to face at Bethshemesh in Judah.


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Jehoash king of Israel made Amaziah king of Judah son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, prisoner at Bethshemesh. He went to Jerusalem and had the wall of Jerusalem pulled down from the Gate of Ephraim to the gate in the angle, six hundred feet.


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He took all the gold and silver and all the vessels in the Temple of Jehovah and in the storehouse of the king, together with those whose lives would be the price of broken faith, and went back to Samaria.


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The rest of the acts of Jehoash, and his power, and how he went to war with Amaziah, king of Judah, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Jehoash went to rest with his fathers. They buried him in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Jeroboam his son became king in his place.


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Amaziah, the son of Jehoash, king of Judah, went on living for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.


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Conspiracy was plotted against him in Jerusalem. He went in flight to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.


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Then all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.


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Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria. He ruled for forty-one years. This was in the fifteenth year of the rule of Amaziah son of Joash the king of Judah.


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He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not turn away from the sin which Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, did and made Israel do.


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He got back the old limits of Israel from the way into Hamath to the sea of the Arabah. This was what Jehovah said by his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet of Gathhepher.


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Jehovah saw the bitter affliction of Israel. There was no one left, bond or free. There was no help for Israel.


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Jehovah had not said that the name of Israel was to be taken away from the earth. So he gave them a savior in Jeroboam, the son of Joash.


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Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all he did, and his power, and how he went to war with Damascus, causing the wrath of Jehovah to be turned away from Israel, are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Jeroboam went to rest with his fathers. He was buried with the kings of Israel. Zechariah his son became king in his place.


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Azariah son of Amaziah became king of Judah. This was in the twenty-seventh year of the rule of Jeroboam, king of Israel.


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Azariah was sixteen years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.


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He did not take away the high places. The people still continued to make and burn offerings in the high places.


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Jehovah sent disease on the king and he became a leper. To the day of his death he lived separately in his private house. Jotham his son was over his house, judging the people of the land.


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Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all he did are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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Azariah slept with his fathers. He was buried with his fathers in the town of David. Jotham his son became king in his place.


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In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah, king of Judah, Zechariah, son of Jeroboam, was king over Israel for six months.


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He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, as his father had done, not turning away from the sin which Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, did and made Israel do.


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Shallum, the son of Jabesh conspired against him. He attacked him in Ibleam and killed him. Shallum became king in his place.


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Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Jehovah spoke to Jehu: »Your sons to the fourth generation will be kings of Israel. It happened that way.«


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Shallum son of Jabesh became king and ruled in Samaria for one month. It was in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah, king of Judah.


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Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria. He attacked Shallum, son of Jabesh, in Samaria. He killed him and made himself king in his place.


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Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy he committed, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Then Menahem sent destruction on the people of Tappuah and the nearby territory. He attacked it because they would not let him come in. He had all the pregnant women cut open.


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In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel. He ruled in Samaria for ten years.


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He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not keep himself from the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat. He causes Israel to sin too.


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Pul king of Assyria came against the land. Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver to let him keep the kingdom.


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Menahem extracted the money from men of wealth in Israel. Every man gave fifty silver shekels to give to the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria turned back and did not stop in the land.


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Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled two years. It was in the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah.


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He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not turn from the sin Jeroboam son of Nebat committed and caused Israel to commit.


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Pekah son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him. He attacked him in the king's great house in Samaria. Fifty men of Gilead were with him. He killed the king and became king in his place.


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Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled twenty years. It was in the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah.


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In the days of Pekah king of Israel Tiglathpileser king of Assyria captured Ijon and Abelbethmaacah and Janoah and Kedesh and Hazor and Gilead and Galilee and all the land of Naphtali. He took the people captive to Assyria.


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Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him and killed him. He became king in his place. It was in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah.


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Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah. It was in the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel.


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He was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.


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But he did not take away the high places. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He was the builder of the higher gate of the Temple of Jehovah.


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Ahaz son of Jotham became king of Judah. It was in the seventeenth year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah as king of Israel.


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Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king. He ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, as David his father did.


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He walked in ways of the kings of Israel. He even offered his son to walk through the fire. He copied the disgusting ways of the nations. Jehovah sent the people of the nations out of the land before the children of Israel.


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Rezin king of Aram, and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came to Jerusalem to make war. They attacked Ahaz but could not conquer him.


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Then the king of Edom got Elath back for Edom, and sent the Jews out of Elath. The Edomites returned to Elath where they are living to this day.


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Ahaz sent representatives to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying: »I am your servant and your son. Come help me against the kings of Aram and Israel who have taken up arms against me.«


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Ahaz took the silver and gold in the Temple of Jehovah and in the king's storehouse, and sent them as an offering to the king of Assyria.


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The king of Assyria, in answer to his request, went up against Damascus and captured it. He took its people away as prisoners to Kir, and put Rezin to death.


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Then King Ahaz went to Damascus for a meeting with Tiglathpileser king of Assyria. There he saw the altar at Damascus. King Ahaz sent a drawing of the altar, giving the design of it and all the details of its structure to Urijah the priest.


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Urijah made an altar from the drawing King Ahaz sent from Damascus. He had it ready by the time King Ahaz came back from Damascus.


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He made his burned offering and his meal offering and his drink offering there, draining out the blood of his peace offerings on the altar.


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He removed the copper alter that was before Jehovah from the front of the Temple between his altar and the Temple of Jehovah. He put it on the north side of his altar.


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King Ahaz gave orders to Urijah the priest: »Make the morning burned offering and the evening meal offering and the king's burned offering and meal offering, with the burned offerings of all the people and their meal offerings and drink offerings, on the great altar. Put on it all the blood of the burned offerings and of the animals that are offered. But the bronze altar will be for my use to get directions from Jehovah.«


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King Ahaz took off the sides of the wheeled bases, and took down the great water-vessel from off the copper bulls which were under it and put it on a floor of stone.


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He removed the covered way they built in the Temple court and the kings outer entrance. This was because of the king of Assyria.


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Ahaz slept with his fathers. He was buried in the town of David. Hezekiah his son became king in his place.


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Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria. This was in the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah. Hoshea ruled for nine years.


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Hoshea's treachery became clear to the king of Assyria. He had sent representatives to the king of Egypt. He did not send his offering to the king of Assyria like he did in previous years. So the king of Assyria had him put in chains and locked in prison.


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Then the king of Assyria invaded the land and advanced to Samaria. He besieged the city for three years.


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In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He led the Israelites away to Assyria. He stationed them in Halah and Habor on the Gozan River, and in the towns of the Medes.


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The wrath <i>intense anger</i> of Jehovah came on Israel because they had done evil against Jehovah their God, who took them out of the land of Egypt from under the yoke of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods.


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The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right according to Jehovah their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the watchtower to the walled towns.


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They burned their offerings in all the high places, as those nations did whom Jehovah sent away from them. They did evil things, moving Jehovah to anger.


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They made themselves servants of disgusting things. Even though Jehovah said: »You should not do this.«


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Jehovah sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: »Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands. The commandments contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors. I handed them on to you through my servants the prophets.«


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They would not obey. They were stubborn like their ancestors. They did not trust in Jehovah their God.


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They refused to obey his instructions. They did not keep the covenant he made with their ancestors. They disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying Jehovahs command not to imitate them.


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They broke all the laws of Jehovah their God. They made two metal bull-calves to worship. They also made an image of the goddess Asherah. Also they worshiped the stars and served the god Baal.


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They caused their sons and their daughters to go through the fire to be sacrificed. They made use of secret arts and unnatural powers, and gave themselves up to doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah, till they provoked him to anger.


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Jehovah was very angry with Israel. He removed them from his sight. Only the tribe of Judah kept its place.


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But even Judah did not obey the commands of Jehovah their God. They were guided by the rules Israel made.


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So Jehovah would have nothing to do with all the offspring of Israel. He caused trouble for them. He gave them up into the hands of their attackers, till he had sent them away from before his face.


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He tore Israel from the house of David and made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove them away from the laws of Jehovah and made them do a great sin.


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The children of Israel walked in all the sins Jeroboam committed. They did not depart from these sins.


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Jehovah removed Israel from his sight as he said he would through all his servants the prophets. Israel was taken away from their land to Assyria, to this day.


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Then the king of Assyria took men from Babylon and from Cuthah and Avva and Hamath and Sepharvaim, and put them in the towns of Samaria in place of the children of Israel. They acquired Samaria for their heritage, living in its towns.


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When they first lived there they did not respect Jehovah. So Jehovah sent lions among them, causing some of them to die.


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They said to the king of Assyria: »The nations you have taken as prisoners and put in the towns of Samaria have no knowledge of the way of the god of the land. He has sent lions among them causing their death. This is because they have no knowledge of his way.«


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Then the king of Assyria gave orders, saying: »Send one of the priests you took from there. Let him live there and teach the people the way of the god of the land.«


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So one of the priests they had taken away as a prisoner from Samaria came back. He lived in Bethel and taught them how to worship Jehovah.


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EVERY NATION MADE GODS FOR THEMSELVES. They put them in the houses of the high places the Samaritans had made.


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The men of Babylon made Succothbenoth and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,


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The Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites gave their children to be burned in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.


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So they worshipped Jehovah. They appointed priests from the people for the high places. The priests were to make offerings for them in the houses of the high places.


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They worshipped Jehovah, but they gave honor to their gods like the nations did from whom they had been taken as prisoners.


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So to this day they go on in their old ways. They do not worship Jehovah. They do not keep his orders, his ways, or the law Jehovah gave to the children of Jacob. They are the ones he gave the name Israel.


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Jehovah made an agreement with them and gave them orders, saying: You are to have no other gods. You are not to worship them or be their servants or make them offerings.


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»Jehovah took you out of the land of Egypt with his great power and his outstretched arm. He is your God, to whom you are to give worship and make offerings:


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»You are to worship Jehovah your God. It is he who will give you salvation from the hands of all who are against you.«


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So these nations worshiped Jehovah and they still served the images <i>idols</i> they had made. Their children and their children's children did the same. They do just as their fathers did to this very day.


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Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah. It was in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel.


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Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.


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He removed the high places. He broke the stone pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah poles. The brass snake that Moses had made was crushed to powder at his command, because in those days the children of Israel had offerings burned before it, and he gave it the name Nehushtan.


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Hezekiah had faith in Jehovah, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah who were before him.


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For his heart was fixed on Jehovah. He did not turn from his ways. Hezekiah obeyed Jehovahs commandments that Jehovah gave to Moses.


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Jehovah was with Hezekiah. He did well in everything he did. He took up arms against the king of Assyria and was his servant no longer.


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He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its limits, from the tower of the watchman to the walled town.


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It was the fourth year of King Hezekiah, the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel. Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and laid siege to it.


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It was captured at the end of three years. Samaria was taken in the sixth year of Hezekiah's rule, which was the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israel.


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The king of Assyria took Israel away as prisoners into Assyria. They placed them in Halah and in Habor on the river Gozan, and in towns of the Medes.


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They did not obey the voice of Jehovah their God. In fact they went against his agreement, even against everything ordered by Moses, the servant of Jehovah. They did not listen to or obey Jehovah.


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Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came up against all the walled towns of Judah and took them.


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Hezekiah sent a message to Sennacherib at Lachish: »I have done wrong. Stop your attack and I will pay whatever you demand.« The emperor's answer was that Hezekiah should send him ten tons of silver and one ton of gold.


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Hezekiah had the gold from the doors of Jehovahs Temple and from the doorposts plated by him. He stripped it off and gave it to the king of Assyria.


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The king of Assyria sent his commander-in-chief <i>Tartan</i> , his quartermaster, and his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They stood at the channel for the Upper Pool on the road to the Laundryman's Field.


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They sent for the king, and Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.


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The Rabshakeh said to them: »Say to Hezekiah: These are the words of the great king, the king of Assyria: »In what are you placing your hope?


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»You say you have counsel and <i>military</i> strength for war. These are only words. To whom are you looking for support that you rebel against me?


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»You rely on Egypt that broken reed of a staff. If a man leans on it <i>relies on its power</i> his hand <i>strength</i> will be pierced <i>wounded diminished</i> . So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who put their faith in him.


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»If you say to me: We trust in Jehovah our God, is he not the one whose high places and altars have been taken away by Hezekiah. For he told Judah and Jerusalem that worship may only be given before this altar in Jerusalem?


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»And now, make an agreement with my master, the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to put horsemen on them.


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»How then can you put to shame the least of my master's servants? You put your hope in Egypt for chariots and horsemen:


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»Have I now come to destroy this place without Jehovah? It was Jehovah who said to me: Go up against this land and make it waste.« 


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Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the Rabshakeh <i>the commander</i> : »Will you kindly make use of the Aramaean language in talking to your servants. We are used to it. Do not use the Jews' language in the hearing of the people on the wall.«


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He replied: »Do you think you and the king are the only ones the king sent me to say these things? No, I am also talking to the people who are sitting on the wall. They will have to eat their excrement and drink their own urine, just as you will.«


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»Do not let Hezekiah convince you to rely on Jehovah. Do not think that Jehovah will save you or that he will stop our Assyrian army from capturing you.«


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»Do not listen to Hezekiah. The king of Assyria commands you to come out of the city and surrender. Make peace with me and you will be allowed to eat grapes from your own vines and figs from your own trees, and to drink water from your own wells <i>cisterns</i> .


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»The king will resettle you in a country much like your own. There are vineyards to give wine and there is grain for making bread there. It is a land of olives, olive oil, and honey. Do what he commands and you will not die. Do not let Hezekiah fool you into thinking Jehovah will rescue you.


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»Where are they now? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did anyone save Samaria?


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»When did any of the gods of all these countries ever save their country from our king? What makes you think Jehovah can save Jerusalem?«


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Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah tore their clothes in grief. They reported to the king what the Assyrian official had said.


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When King Hezekiah heard their report he tore his clothes in grief. He dressed in sackcloth and went to the Temple of Jehovah.


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He sent Eliakim the official in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and the senior priests to the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz. They also were dressed in sackcloth.


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They said to him: »This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day filled with misery, punishment, and disgrace. We are like a woman who is about to give birth but does not have the strength to do it.


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»The Assyrian emperor sent his chief official to insult the living God. May Jehovah your God hear these insults and punish those who spoke them. So pray to God for those of our people who survive.«


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Isaiah responded to them: »Tell this to your master: This is what Jehovah says: »Do not be afraid of the message you heard when the Assyrian king's assistants slandered me.


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»I am going to put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own country. I will have him assassinated in his own country.« «


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The field commander returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah. He had heard that the king left Lachish.


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Sennacherib heard that King Tirhakah of Sudan was coming to fight him. Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying:


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»Tell King Hezekiah of Judah: Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be put under the control of the king of Assyria.


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»You heard what the kings of Assyria did to all countries. They totally destroyed them. Will you be rescued?


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»Did the gods of the nations that my ancestors destroyed rescue Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?


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»Where is the king of Hamath? Where is the king of Arpad? And where is the king of the cities of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?«


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Hezekiah read the letters from the messengers. Then he went to Jehovahs Temple and shared them with Jehovah.


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He prayed: »Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, you are enthroned above the angels. You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth.


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»Turn your ear <i>listen pay attention</i> to me, O Jehovah, and listen. Open your eyes, Jehovah, and see. Listen to the message Sennacherib sent to defy the living God.


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»They threw the gods from these countries into fires because these gods are not real gods. They are only wooden and stone statues made by human hands. So the Assyrians have destroyed them.


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»Rescue us from Assyria's control, O Jehovah our God, so that all the kingdoms on earth will know that you alone are Jehovah God.«


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Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: »This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: You prayed to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria. I have heard you.


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»This is Jehovahs message to Sennacherib: My people, the virgin daughter of Zion, despise you and laugh at you. My people in Jerusalem shake their heads behind your back.


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»Whom are you defying and slandering? Against whom are you shouting? Who are you looking at so arrogantly? It is the Holy One of Israel!


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»You defy Jehovah and through your servants you say: With my many chariots I ride up the high mountains, up the slopes of Lebanon. I cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypresses. I travel to its most distant borders and its most fertile forests.


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»I will dig wells and drink foreign water. I will dry up all the streams of Egypt with the soles of my feet.«


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»Have you not heard? I did this long ago. I planned it in the past. Now I make it happen so that you will turn fortified cities into piles of rubble.


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»The inhabitants of these cities are weak, discouraged, and ashamed. They will be like plants in the field, like fresh green grass on the roofs, scorched before it grows up.


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»I know when you get up and sit down. I know when you go out and come in. I know how you rage against me.


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»Since you rage against me and you boast in my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your mouth. I will make you go back the way you came.


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»This will be a sign for you, Hezekiah: You will eat what grows by itself this year and next year. But in the third year you will plant and harvest, plant vineyards, and eat what is produced.


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»The remnant in Judah who survives will flourish like plants that send roots deep into the ground and produce fruit.


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»There will be a remnant of people in Jerusalem and on Mount Zion who will survive. Jehovah is determined to make this happen.


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»This is what Jehovah said about the Assyrian king: He will not enter this city or shoot a single arrow against it. No soldiers with shields will come near the city. No siege mounds will be built around it.


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I will defend this city and protect it. It is for the sake of my own honor and because of the promise I made to my servant David.


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It happened that night. Jehovahs angel killed one hundred and eighty five thousand soldiers in the Assyrian camp. The next morning the Judeans saw all the corpses.


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While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer assassinated him. They escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon succeeded him as king.


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Hezekiah became ill and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz said to him: »This is what Jehovah says: Give final instructions to your household. You will not recover. You will die.«


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»Jehovah, Please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and truth. And consider my whole heart devoted to you. I have done what is good in your eyes.« Hezekiah wept bitterly.


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»Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people: This is what Jehovah God of your ancestor David says: »I heard your prayer. I saw your tears. Now I will heal you. The day after tomorrow you will go to Jehovahs Temple.


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»I will add fifteen more years to your life. I will rescue you and defend this city from the control of the king of Assyria. I do this for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.« «


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King Hezekiah said to Isaiah: »What is the sign to prove that Jehovah will heal me and that three days later I will be able to go to the Temple?«


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Isaiah replied: »Jehovah will give you a sign to prove that he will keep his promise. Would you prefer to have the shadow on the stairway go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?«


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Then Hezekiah said: »It is an easy matter to have the shadow go forward ten steps. So have it go back ten steps.«


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Isaiah prayed to Jehovah and Jehovah made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway set up by King Ahaz.


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The king of Babylonia, Merodach Baladan son of Baladan heard that King Hezekiah was sick. So he sent him a letter and a present.


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Hezekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them his wealth. He showed his silver and gold. He also let them look at his spices and perfumes. He even showed all his military equipment. There was nothing in his storerooms or anywhere in his kingdom that he did not show them.


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The prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked: »Where did these men come from and what did they say to you?« Hezekiah answered: »They came from a very distant country, from Babylonia.«


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Isaiah then said: »What did they see in your palace?« Hezekiah replied: »They saw everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasury.«


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»Jehovah says: The time will come when everything in your palace, everything your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be taken away to Babylon. Nothing will be left.


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»Some of your own descendants will be taken away. They will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.«


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Hezekiah said to Isaiah: »The word of Jehovah that you spoke is good. He added: »Is it not good that there is peace and security as long as I live?«


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Everything else about Hezekiah, all his heroic acts and how he made the pool and tunnel to bring water into the city is written in the official records of the Kings of Judah.


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Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah.


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He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the disgusting ways of those nations Jehovah sent out before the children of Israel.


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He built the high places that Hezekiah his father destroyed. He made altars for Baal. Then he made an Asherah as Ahab, king of Israel, had done. Manasseh was a worshipper and servant of all the stars of heaven.


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He built heathen altars in the Temple of Jehovah. The same Temple that Jehovah spoke of when he said: »In Jerusalem will I put my name.«


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He made his own son pass through fire. He burned him as an offering to Molech. He practiced reading the future; gave positions to those who had control of spirits and to wonder-workers. He did much evil in the eyes of Jehovah and provoked him to anger.


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He made an image of the goddess Asherah and set it in the Temple of Jehovah. This is the same Temple that Jehovah said to David and to Solomon his son: »In this house, and in Jerusalem, the town which I have made mine out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever <i>for a very long time</i> .


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»And never again will I send the feet of Israel wandering from the land that I gave to their fathers. If only they will take care to do all my orders, and obey all the law my servant Moses gave them.«


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But they would not listen. Manasseh enticed them to do evil. In fact they committed more evil than the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel.


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»Manasseh king of Judah committed detestable sins. He did more evil than all the Amorites before him. He enticed Judah to do evil with his false gods.


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»Because of this, says Jehovah the God of Israel: I will send such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of all who hear of it will burn.


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»The line of Samaria and the weight of Ahab will be stretched over Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be washed clean as a plate is washed, and turned over on its face.


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»I will discard the rest of my heritage. I will give them into the hands of their enemies. They will take their property and their goods for themselves.


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»Because they have done evil in my eyes. They moved me to anger from the day their fathers came out of Egypt till this day.«


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Even more, Manasseh killed many innocent men. He filled Jerusalem from one end to the other with blood. He also caused Judah to sin and do evil in the eyes of Jehovah.


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Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all he did, and his sins, are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah.


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So Manasseh went to rest with his fathers. He was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza. Amon his son became king in his place.


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Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for two years. His mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.


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He followed all the practices of his father. He was a servant and worshipper of the false gods to which his father had been a servant.


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But the people of the land put to death all those who had taken part in the design against the king. Then they made Josiah his son king in his place.


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Now the rest of the acts which Amon did, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.


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He did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah. He walked in the ways of David his father, without turning to the right hand or to the left.


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Now in the eighteenth year after he became king, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam the scribe, to the Temple of Jehovah. He said to him:


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»Go to Hilkiah the high priest. Let him count the money brought into the Temple of Jehovah that the keepers of the door gathered from the people.


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»Let them deliver it to the workmen who have oversight of the work of Jehovahs Temple. Then they can pay it to the workmen who are making good what was damaged in the Temple of Jehovah.


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»To the woodworkers and the builders and the stonecutters; and for getting wood and cut stones for building the Temple.


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The chief priest Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan: »I found the Book of the Law in Jehovahs House.« Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who then read it.


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The scribe Shaphan reported to the king: »We have taken the money donated in the temple and have given it to the workmen who are in charge of Jehovahs House.«


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Then the scribe Shaphan told the king: The priest Hilkiah has given me a book. Shaphan read it to the king.


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The king gave an order to the priest Hilkiah, to Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, the scribe Shaphan, and the royal official Asaiah. He said:


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»Go inquire of Jehovah on my behalf and for the people. This is concerning the words in this book that has been found. Jehovahs fierce anger is directed towards us because our ancestors did not obey the things in this book or do everything written in it.«


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So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to talk to the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah and grandson of Harhas. Shallum was in charge of the royal wardrobe. Huldah was living in the Second Part of Jerusalem.


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This is what Jehovah says: »I am going to bring disaster on this place and on the people living here. This is according to everything written in the book that the king of Judah has read.


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»I will do this because they abandoned me. They sacrificed to other gods in order to make me furious. Therefore, my burning anger against this place will never be extinguished.« «


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Huldah added: »Tell Judah's king who sent you to me to ask Jehovah a question. This is what Jehovah God of Israel says about the words you heard:


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You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of Jehovah when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. I said that those who live here would be destroyed and cursed. You also tore your clothes in distress and cried in front of me. So I will listen to you,« declares Jehovah.


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»That is why I will bring you to your ancestors. I will bring you to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see any of the disaster I will bring on this place.« « They reported this to the king.


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The king went up to the Temple of Jehovah. All the inhabitants of Judah young and old also went to Jehovahs Temple. Josiah read everything written in the Book of the Promise found in Jehovahs Temple so they could all hear it.


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The king stood beside the pillar and made a promise to Jehovah that he would follow Jehovah and obey his commands, instructions, and laws with all his heart and mind. He confirmed the terms of the promise written in this book. All the people joined in the promise.


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Then the king ordered the high priest Hilkiah, the priests who served under Hilkiah, and the doorkeepers to remove from Jehovahs Temple all utensils that had been made for Baal, Asherah, and the entire army of heaven. Josiah burned the utensils outside Jerusalem. It was in an open field near the Kidron Brook. Then he carried their ashes to Bethel.


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He got rid of the pagan priests. The kings of Judah appointed them to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship in the cities of Judah and all around Jerusalem. They had been sacrificing to Baal, the sun god, the moon god, the constellations of the zodiac (Mazzalohth Constellation-Job 38:32), and the entire army of heaven.


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He removed the pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah from the temple. He took it to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem. There he burned it in the Kidron Valley, ground it to dust, and threw its ashes on the tombs of the common people.


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He tore down the houses of the male temple <i>cult</i> prostitutes who were in Jehovahs Temple. This is where women did weaving for Asherah.


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He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah from Geba to Beersheba and made the places where those priests sacrificed unclean. He tore down the worship site at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua, the gate named after the mayor of the city. The worship site was to the left of anyone going through the city gate.


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The priests of the illegal worship sites had never gone to Jehovahs altar in Jerusalem. Instead, they ate their unleavened bread among the other worshipers.


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Josiah also made Topheth in the valley of Ben Hinnom unclean so that people would never again sacrifice their sons or daughters by burning them to the god Molech.


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He also removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the worship of the sun. He burned the chariots used in this worship.


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The altars the kings of Judah built on the palace roof above King Ahaz' quarters, King Josiah tore down, along with the altars put up by King Manasseh in the two courtyards of the Temple. He smashed the altars to bits and threw them into Kidron Valley.


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The king made the illegal places of worship east of Jerusalem unclean. They were on the southern part of the Hill of Destruction. King Solomon of Israel built them for Astarte the disgusting goddess of the Sidonians. Also made unclean were references to Chemosh the disgusting god of Moab, and Milcom the disgusting god of the Ammonites.


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Josiah crushed the sacred stones. He cut down the poles dedicated to Asherah. And he filled their places with human bones.


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He also tore down the altar at Bethel the place of worship made by Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin. He tore down both the altar and the place of worship. They burned the worship site. They crushed it into powder and burned the pole dedicated to Asherah.


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Josiah turned and saw the tombs on the hill. He sent men to take the bones out of the tombs and burn them on the altar to make it unclean. This fulfilled the word of Jehovah announced by the man of God.


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»What is that headstone I see over there?« Josiah asked. The men of the town said: »It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah. The one who foretold all these things you have done to the altar of Bethel.«


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He said: »Let him be. Do not move his bones.« So they let his bones be with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.


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Josiah removed all the houses of the high places the kings of Israel built in the towns of Samaria. This provoked Jehovah to anger and he did with them as he had done in Bethel.


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He killed all the priests of the high places on the altars. Their bones were burned on the altars. Then the king went back to Jerusalem.


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The king gave orders to all the people. He said: »Keep the Passover to Jehovah your God, as it says in this book of the law.«


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Truly, such a Passover had not been kept in all the days of the judges of Israel or of the kings of Israel or the kings of Judah.


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Josiah removed all the spirit mediums, the foretellers, the images, and the false gods, and all the disgusting things seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. That way he could establish the words of the agreement recorded in the book Hilkiah the priest discovered in the Temple of Jehovah.


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Never before had there been a king like him. He turned to Jehovah with all his heart and his entire mind and all his power. As the Law of Moses says: and after him there was no king like him.


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Still the heat of Jehovahs anger was not turned back from Judah. This is because of all Manasseh had done in moving him to anger.


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Jehovah said: »I will send Judah away from before my face, as I have sent Israel. I will have nothing more to do with this town. It is Jerusalem my town. And the holy house of which I said: My name will be there.«


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Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and all he did are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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In his days, Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, sent his armies against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went out against him. Josiah was killed when he saw him at Megiddo.


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His servants took his body in a carriage from Megiddo to Jerusalem. They buried him there. The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, and put the holy oil on him and made him king in place of his father.


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Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months. His mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.


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And Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So that he was not king in Jerusalem. Pharaoh Necho extracted from the land a tax of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.


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Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of Josiah his father. He changed his name to Jehoiakim. He took Jehoahaz away to Egypt, where he remained till he died.


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Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh. He ordered that the land be taxed to get the money. All the people of the land had to give silver and gold in order to make the payment to Pharaoh Necho.


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Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother's name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.


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Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded Judah. Jehoiakim king of Judah was forced to serve him for three years. Then he rebelled and fought against him.


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Jehovah sent raiding parties of Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites against Jehoiakim to destroy Judah as Jehovah predicted through his servants the prophets.


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This happened to Judah because Jehovah commanded it to happen. He wanted to remove the people of Judah from his sight because of Manasseh's sins and everything he had done,


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and especially because of all the innocent people he killed. Jehovah would not forgive Manasseh for that.


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The rest of the acts of Jehoiakim are written in the Book of the History of the Days of the Kings of Judah.


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The king of Egypt did not leave his own country again because the king of Babylon captured all the territory from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates River. This territory belonged to the king of Egypt.


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Jehoiakin was eighteen years old when he became king. He was king for three months in Jerusalem. His mother was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem.


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It was during his reign that the Babylonian army, commanded by King Nebuchadnezzar's officers, marched against Jerusalem and besieged it.


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King Jehoiachin of Judah, along with his mother, his sons, his officers, and the palace officials, surrendered to the Babylonians. In the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign he took Jehoiachin prisoner.


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The Babylonians carried off to Babylon all the treasures in the Temple and the palace. As Jehovah foretold, Nebuchadnezzar broke up all the gold utensils King Solomon had made for use in the Temple.


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Nebuchadnezzar carried away as prisoners the people of Jerusalem, all the royal princes, and all the leading men, ten thousand in all. He also deported all the skilled workers, including the blacksmiths, leaving only the poorest of the people behind in Judah.


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He took Jehoiakin to Babylon as a captive. He also took the king's mother, wives, eunuchs, and the leading citizens of the land from Jerusalem as captives to Babylon.


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Included as prisoners were all the men of war, seven thousand of them, and a thousand expert workmen and metalworkers, all of them strong and able to take up arms.


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The king of Babylon installed Mattaniah, his father's brother, king in place of Jehoiachin. He changed his name to Zedekiah.


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Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. He was king in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.


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This happened in Jerusalem and Judah because of Jehovahs anger. It continued until he had sent them all away from before him. Then Zedekiah took up arms and rebelled against the king of Babylon.


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Now in the ninth year of his rule, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with all his army. He took his position and laid siege to it. They built earthworks all round the town.


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On the ninth day of the fourth month, the store of food in the town was almost gone. There was no food for the people of the land.


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An opening was made in the wall of the town. All the men of war went in flight by night through the doorway between the two walls by the king's garden. The Chaldaeans were stationed around the town: and the king went by the way toward the plain of Arabah.


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But the Chaldaean army went after the king. They overtook him in the lowlands of Jericho. All his army went in flight from him in every direction.


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They put the sons of Zedekiah to death before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, chained him with iron bands and took him to Babylon.


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It was the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the armed men, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.


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He had the Temple of Jehovah, the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burned with fire.


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The army of the Chaldaeans under the command of the captain of the army broke down the walls around Jerusalem.


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The rest of the people still in the town, and all those who had given themselves up to the king of Babylon, and all the rest of the workmen were taken away as prisoners by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the army.


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The copper pillars in the Temple of Jehovah, and the wheeled bases, and the great copper water-vessel in the Temple of Jehovah were broken up by the Chaldaeans. They took the copper to Babylon.


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The pots and the spades and the scissors for the lights and the spoons, and all the copper vessels used in Jehovahs Temple were taken away.


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The captain of the guard took all of the incense burners and bowls that were made of gold or silver.


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The bronze from the two pillars, the pool, and the stands that Solomon made for Jehovahs Temple could not be weighed.


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One pillar was twenty-seven feet high and had a copper crown on it that was four and one half feet high. The filigree and the pomegranates around the crown were all made of copper. The second pillar and its filigree were the same.


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The captain of the guard took the high priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the three doorkeepers.


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From the city he also took an army commander, five men who had access to the king whom he found in the city, the scribe who was in charge of the militia, and sixty of the common people whom he found in the city.


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The king of Babylon executed them at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So the people of Judah were captives when they left their land.


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There were people who were still living in the land of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, did not take them captive. He made Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, ruler over them.


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The captains of the armed forces heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah ruler. They brought their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and Seraiah, the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah, the son of the Maacathite, came with all their men.


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Then Gedaliah gave his oath to them and their men. He said: Have no fear because of the servants of the Chaldaeans. Go on living in the land under the rule of the king of Babylon, and all will be well.


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In the seventh month, Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the king's seed, came with ten men and made an attack on Gedaliah, causing his death and the death of the Jews and the Chaldaeans who were with him at Mizpah.


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Then all the people, small and great, and the captains of the forces, got up and went away to Egypt, for fear of the Chaldaeans.


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In the thirty-seventh year after Jehoiachin king of Judah had been taken prisoner, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach, king of Babylon, in the first year of his rule, took Jehoiachin, king of Judah, out of prison.


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He said kind things to him and placed his seat higher than the seats of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.


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His prison clothing was changed. He was a guest at the king's table every day for the rest of his life.


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Cushs descendants were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. Raamas descendants were Sheba and Dedan.


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The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshech.


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Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, <i>division</i> because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.


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The sons born to Keturah, Abrahams concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.


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The son of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Hamran <i>Amram</i> , Eshban, Ithran and Keran.


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These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned: Bela son of Beor, whose city was named Dinhabah.


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When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.


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When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wifes name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab.


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The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judahs firstborn was wicked in Jehovahs sight; so Jehovah put him to death.


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The son of Carmi: Achar, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things.


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Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, the leader of the people of Judah.


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Later, Hezron lay with the daughter of Makir the father of Gilead <i>he had married her when he was sixty years old</i> , and she bore him Segub.


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But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair, as well as Kenath with its surrounding settlements sixty towns. All these were descendants of Makir the father of Gilead.


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After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah the wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.


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The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and his son Mareshah, who was the father of Hebron.


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She also gave birth to Shaaph the father of Madmannah and to Sheva the father of Macbenah and Gibea. Calebs daughter was Acsah.


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These were the descendants of Caleb. The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,


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and the clans of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites and Mishraites. From these descended the Zorathites and Eshtaolites.


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The descendants of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites,


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and the clans of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Recab. Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, the leader of the people of Judah.


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These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; the second, Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel;


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the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;


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These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years,


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and these were the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel.


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The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, Jehoiakim the second son, Zedekiah the third, Shallum the fourth.


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The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister.


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The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, and the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah and of Shecaniah.


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The descendants of Shecaniah: Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah and Shaphat, six in all.


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Reaiah son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.


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Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and father of Bethlehem.


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Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez. She said: I gave birth to him in pain.


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Jabez cried out to the God of Israel: Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. And God granted his request.


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Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These were the men of Recah.


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Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of Ge Harashim. <i>Valley of Craftsmen</i> It was called this because its people were craftsmen.


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The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. One of Mereds wives gave birth to Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.


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His Judean wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. These were the children of Pharaohs daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married.


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The sons of Hodiahs wife, the sister of Naham: the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.


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The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.


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The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth Ashbea,


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Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. These records are from ancient times.


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Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children; so their entire clan did not become as numerous as the people of Judah.


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Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David.


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and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath. These were their settlements. And they kept a genealogical record.


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and Ziza son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah.


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and they went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks.


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They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet. Some Hamites had lived there formerly.


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The men whose names were listed came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meunites who were there and completely destroyed them, as is evident to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks.


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And five hundred of these Simeonites, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, invaded the hill country of Seir.


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The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his fathers marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright,


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and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph


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and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites.


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Their relatives by clans, listed according to their genealogical records: Jeiel the chief, Zechariah,


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and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in the area from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon.


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To the east they occupied the land up to the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in Gilead.


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During Sauls reign they waged war against the Hagrites, who were defeated at their hands; they occupied the dwellings of the Hagrites throughout the entire region east of Gilead.


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Their relatives, by families, were: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber, seven in all.


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These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz.


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The Gadites lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its outlying villages, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as they extended.


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All these were entered in the genealogical records during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.


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The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty men ready for military service, able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle.


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They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.


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They seized the livestock of the Hagrites, fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive,


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and many others fell slain, because the battle was Gods. And they occupied the land until the exile.


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The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir <i>Mount Hermon</i> .


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These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families.


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But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.


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So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria <i>that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria</i> , who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.


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The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.


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Johanan was the father of Azariah. It was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem),


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Jehozadak was deported when Jehovah sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.


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The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:


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These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of Jehovah after the ark came to rest there.


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They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.


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Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,


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and Hemans associate Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea,


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and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand: Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,


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But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.


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These were the locations of their settlements allotted as their territory <i>they were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clan, because the first lot was for them</i> :


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So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron <i>a city of refuge</i> , and Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,


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And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. These towns, which were distributed among the Kohathite clans, were thirteen in all.


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The rest of Kohaths descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of half the tribe of Manasseh.


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The descendants of Gershon, clan by clan, were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali, and from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that is in Bashan.


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The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, were allotted twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.


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And from half the tribe of Manasseh the Israelites gave Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands, to the rest of the Kohathite clans.


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The Gershonites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands,


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and from the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.


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The Merarites <i>the rest of the Levites</i> ) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they received Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands,


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from the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan east of Jericho they received Bezer in the desert, Jahzah,


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The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel, heads of their families. During the reign of David, the descendants of Tola listed as fighting men in their genealogy numbered twenty-two thousand six hundred.


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The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Isshiah. All five of them were chiefs.


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According to their family genealogy, they had thirty-six men ready for battle, for they had many wives and children.


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The relatives who were fighting men belonging to all the clans of Issachar, as listed in their genealogy, were eighty-seven thousand in all.


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The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth and Iri, heads of families, five in all. Their genealogical record listed twenty-two thousand and thirty-four fighting men.


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The sons of Beker: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Beker.


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Their genealogical record listed the heads of families and twenty thousand two hundred fighting men.


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The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish and Ahishahar.


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All these sons of Jediael were heads of families. There were seventeen thousand two hundred fighting men ready to go out to war.


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The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel was his descendant through his Aramean concubine. She gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead.


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Makir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. His sisters name was Maacah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters.


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Makirs wife Maacah gave birth to a son and named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.


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The descendants of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son,


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Zabad his son and Shuthelah his son. The native-born men of Gath killed Ezer and Elead, when they went down to seize their livestock.


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Then he lay with his wife again, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He named him Beriah, because there had been misfortune in his family.


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Their lands and settlements included Bethel and its surrounding villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its villages all the way to Ayyah and its villages.


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Along the borders of Manasseh were Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo and Dor, together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.


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All these were descendants of Asher, heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders. The number of men ready for battle, as listed in their genealogy, was twenty-six thousand.


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These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath:


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and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath.


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Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.


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Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.


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Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.


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The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons, one hundred fifty in all. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.


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All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.


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Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.


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Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.


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Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Micri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.


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The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men were heads of their families.


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Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God;


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Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer.


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The priests, who were heads of families, numbered one thousand seven hundred and sixty. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God.


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Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.


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being stationed at the Kings Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites.


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Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family, the Korahites, were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of Jehovah.


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In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the gatekeepers, and Jehovah was with him.


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Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered two hundred and twelve. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had assigned the gatekeepers to their positions of trust.


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They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of Jehovah, the house called the tent.


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Their brothers in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods.


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But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God.


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They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.


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Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out.


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Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour and wine, and the oil, incense and spices.


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A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.


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Some of their Kohathite brothers were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.


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Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.


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All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.


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Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal. <i>Ish-Bosheth</i>


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Ahaz was the father of Jadah, Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.


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Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.


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Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The Israelites fled from them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.


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The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.


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Saul said to his armor-bearer: »Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.« But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.


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When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.


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The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.


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They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people.


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all their fighting men took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh. Then they fasted seven days.


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Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to Jehovah. He did not obey the word of Jehovah. He asked a medium to request information from a dead person.


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He did not request information from Jehovah. Thus Jehovah killed him and turned the kingship over to David, Jesses son.


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Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron. They said: »Indeed we are your bone and your flesh.


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»In time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in.« Jehovah your God said to you: »You will shepherd my people Israel, and be ruler over my people Israel.«


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Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the presence of Jehovah. Then they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Jehovah by Samuel.


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David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.


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Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David: »You shall not come in here!« Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion that is, the City of David.


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David said: Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief.


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He built the city around it, from the stronghold on the mound to the surrounding area. Joab repaired the rest of the city.


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These were the men in charge of Davids mighty men. They strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Jehovah concerning Israel.


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This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, chief of the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time.


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He was with David at Pasdammim. The Philistines were gathered for battle. There was a piece of ground full of barley. And the people fled from the Philistines.


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They stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So Jehovah brought about a great victory.


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Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.


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David said with longing: »Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!«


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So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate. They took it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to Jehovah.


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He said: »Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have placed their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.« Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.


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Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of another three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men. He killed them and won a name among these three.


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Of the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to the first three.


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Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.


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And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, seven and a half feet tall. Egyptian had a spear like a weavers beam in his hand. He went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptians hand, and killed him with his own spear.


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Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. David appointed him over his guard.


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The following men joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle.


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All of them were expert archers who could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.


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Their leader was Ahiezer son of Shemaah from Gibeah; his brother Joash was second-in-command. These were the other warriors: Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth;


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Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famous warrior and leader among the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah;


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Some brave and experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad also defected to David while he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains.


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These warriors from Gad were army commanders. The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand!


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They crossed the Jordan River during its seasonal flooding at the beginning of the year and drove out all the people living in the lowlands on both the east and west banks.


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David went out to meet them and said: »If you have come in peace to help me, we are friends. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when I am innocent, then may the God of our ancestors see and judge you.«


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Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who later became a leader among the Thirty, and he said: »We are yours, David! We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace and prosperity be with you, and success to all who help you, for your God is the one who helps you.« So David let them join him, and he made them officers over his troops.


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Some men from Manasseh defected from the Israelite army and joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But as it turned out, the Philistine leaders refused to let David and his men go with them. After much discussion, they sent them back, for they said: »It will cost us our lives if David switches loyalties to Saul and turns against us.«


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Here is a list of the men from Manasseh who defected to David as he was returning to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each commanded a thousand troops from the tribe of Manasseh.


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They helped David chase down bands of raiders, for they were all brave and able warriors who became commanders in his army.


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These are the numbers of armed warriors who joined David at Hebron. They were all eager to see David become king instead of Saul, just as Jehovah had promised.


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From the tribe of Judah, there were six thousand eight hundred warriors armed with shields and spears.


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This included Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, who had three thousand seven hundred under his command.


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This also included Zadok, a young warrior, with twenty-two members of his family who were all officers.


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From the tribe of Benjamin, Sauls relatives, there were three thousand warriors. Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until this time.


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From the tribe of Ephraim, there were twenty thousand eight hundred warriors, each famous in his own clan.


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From the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, eighteen thousand men were sent for the express purpose of helping David become king.


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From the tribe of Issachar, there were two hundred leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the temper of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.


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From the tribe of Zebulun, there were fifty thousand skilled warriors. They were fully armed and prepared for battle and completely loyal to David.


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From the tribe of Naphtali, there were one thousand officers and thirty-seven thousand warriors armed with shields and spears.


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From the tribe of Dan, there were twenty-eight thousand six hundred warriors, all prepared for battle.


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From the east side of the Jordan Riverwhere the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh livedthere were one hundred twenty thousand troops armed with every kind of weapon.


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All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king of Israel. In fact, all Israel agreed that David should be their king.


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They feasted and drank with David for three days. Their relatives had made preparations for their arrival.


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People from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. Vast supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine; olive oil, cattle, and sheep were brought to the celebration. There was great joy throughout the land of Israel


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He then said to the whole assembly of Israel: »If it seems good to you and if it is the will of Jehovah our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us.


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»Let us bring the Ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.«


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David assembled all the Israelites, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo to the entrance to Hamath, to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.


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David and all the people of Israel with him went to Baalah of Judah <i>Kiriath Jearim</i> . They went to bring the Ark of Jehovah God from there. He is enthroned between the cherubim on the Ark that is called by his name.


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David and all the people of Israel celebrated with all their might before God. They did it with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.


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When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark, because the bulls stumbled.


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Jehovahs anger burned against Uzzah. He struck him down because he had put his hand on the Ark. So he died there before God.


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David was angry because Jehovahs wrath had broken out against Uzzah. To this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. <i>Outbreak against Uzzah</i>


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He did not take the Ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.


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The Ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months. Jehovah blessed his household and everything he had.


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Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him.


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David knew that Jehovah had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.


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The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel. So they went up in full force to search for him. David heard about it and went out to meet them.


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David inquired of God: »Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?« Jehovah answered him: »Go, I will hand them over to you.«


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David and his men went to Baal Perazim. He defeated them there. He said: »As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.« So that place was called Baal Perazim <i>the lord who breaks out</i> .


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David inquired of God again, and God answered him: »Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.


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»As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle. That will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.«


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David did as God commanded him. They struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.


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David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David. Then he prepared a place for Gods Ark and pitched a tent for it.


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David insisted that only the Levites carry Gods Ark because Jehovah had chosen them to carry his Ark and to serve him from generation to generation.


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David called together all Israel at Jerusalem to bring Jehovahs Ark to the place he had prepared for it.


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David called for the priests Zadok and Abiathar and for the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.


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He said to them: »You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your brothers must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel to the place I prepared for it.


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»Because you Levites were not there the first time, Jehovah our God struck us. We had not dedicated our lives to serving him in the way he designated.«


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So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel.


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The Levites carried Gods Ark on their shoulders. They used poles as Moses had commanded according to Jehovahs instructions.


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David told the Levite leaders to appoint some of their brothers to serve as musicians. They were expected to play music on harps, lyres, and cymbals to produce joyful music for singing.


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So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel, and from his relatives they appointed Asaph Berechiahs son. From their own relatives, Meraris descendants, they appointed Ethan son of Kushaiah.


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In addition, they appointed their relatives from the second division: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah. Obed Edom and Jeiel were appointed gatekeepers.


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Zechariah, Jaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were appointed to play harps tuned according to alamoth.


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Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were appointed to play lyres and to conduct the eighth.


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Chenaniah, a Levite leader, instructed others how to sing prophetic songs because he was skilled at it.


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The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer blew trumpets in front of Gods Ark. Obed Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.


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Thus David, the leaders of Israel, and the armys commanders joyfully went to get the Ark of Jehovahs Covenant from Obed Edoms house.


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Because God helped the Levites who carried the Ark of the Jehovahs Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.


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David was dressed in a fine linen robe, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, the Levites who were singers, and Chenaniah, the leader of the musicians prophetic songs. David also wore a linen ephod.


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All Israel brought the Ark of Jehovahs Covenant with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and lyres.


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When the Ark of Jehovahs Covenant came to the City of David, Sauls daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, so she despised him.


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The men carrying the ark set it inside the tent David had put up for it. They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in Gods presence.


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When David finished sacrificing burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah.


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He also distributed to every person in Israel, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.


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David appointed some Levites to serve in front of Jehovahs Ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to Jehovah the God of Israel.


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Asaph was the head. Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph played the cymbals.


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The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the Ark of Gods covenant.


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For the first time David entrusted Asaph and his relatives with the task of singing songs of thanks to Jehovah:


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Remember the miracles he performed. And remember the amazing things he did and the judgments he pronounced.


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JEHOVAH IS GREAT! He should be highly praised. He should be reverenced <i>held in awe respected</i> more than all other gods.


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Appreciate Jehovahs glory and power you families of the nations. Ascribe to Jehovah glory and strength.


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Ascribe to Jehovah the glory his name deserves. Bring an offering, and come to him. Worship Jehovah in his holy splendor.


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Then the trees in the forest will sing with joy in the presence of Jehovah when he comes to judge the earth.


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Say: »Rescue us, O God our Salvation. Gather us and save us from the nations that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.«


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Thanks be to Jehovah, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said »amen« and praised Jehovah.


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David left Asaph and his relatives to serve continually in front of the Ark of Jehovahs Covenant, as the daily work required.


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David also left Obed Edom and sixty-eight of his relatives to serve there. Obed Edom Jeduthuns son and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.


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David left Zadok and his priestly relatives to serve in Jehovahs Tent at the place of worship in Gibeon.


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They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to Jehovah. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the Law of Jehovah that he gave Israel.


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With Zadok and his relatives were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of the Levites who had been selected. They were chosen by name, to give thanks to Jehovah by singing, because His mercy endures forever.


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Also, Heman and Jeduthun played trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments that accompany sacred songs. Jeduthuns sons were stationed at the gate.


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David settled in his palace. He said to Nathan the prophet: »Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah is under a tent.«


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»Go tell my servant David, This is what Jehovah says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.


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»I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another.


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»In all the places where I have moved with the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?«


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Therefore, tell my servant David: »This is what Jehovah of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.


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»I have been with you wherever you have gone. I have destroyed all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth.


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»I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning.


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»They have done this since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. I declare to you that Jehovah will build a house for you!


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»When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you. It will be one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.


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»I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor.


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Then King David went in and sat in Jehovahs presence. He said: »Who am I, O Jehovah? What is my family, that you have brought me this far?


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»If this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O Jehovah my God.


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»Jehovah. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.


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»Who is like your people Israel? Israel is the one nation on earth whos God went out to redeem a people. You redeemed your people from Egypt. You make a name for yourself, and perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people.


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»You made your people Israel your very own for a very long time, and you, O Jehovah, have become their God.


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»Now, Jehovah, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established from generation to generation. Do as you promised!


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»It will be established and your name will be great forever. Then men will say: »Jehovah of Hosts, the God over Israel, is Israels God! And the house of your servant David will be established before you.


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»You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you.


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»You have been pleased to bless the house of your servant that it may continue for a very long time in your sight. You Jehovah have blessed it and it will be blessed from generation to generation.«


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After this, David defeated and crushed the Philistines. He captured Gath and its surrounding villages from them.


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David went to establish his control over the territory along the Euphrates River. He defeated King Hadadezer at Hamath.


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David took one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him. David also disabled all but one hundred of their horses so that they could not pull chariots.


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When the Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of them.


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David stationed troops in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus. The Arameans became his subjects and paid taxes to him. Everywhere David went Jehovah gave him victories.


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David also took a large quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezers cities. Later Solomon used it to make the pool, pillars, and utensils for the temple.


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he sent his son Hadoram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. There had often been war between Hadadezer and Tou.


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King David dedicated all the articles of gold, silver, and bronze to Jehovah, along with the silver and gold he had taken from other nations-from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek.


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He put troops in Edom, and all its people became Davids subjects. Everywhere David went Jehovah gave him victories.


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Jehoiadas son Benaiah was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And Davids sons were his main officials.


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David thought: »I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.« So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. Davids men came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him.


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The Ammonite nobles said to Hanun: »Do you think David honors your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Or have his men come to you to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?«


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Therefore Hanun seized Davids men, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away.


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When David was told about the men he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said: »Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown and then come back.«


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The Ammonites realized that they had become a stench in Davids nostrils. Then Hanun and the Ammonites sent seventy-five thousand pounds of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, <i>Northwest Mesopotamia</i> Aram Maacah and Zobah.


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They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.


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The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.


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Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans.


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He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites.


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Joab said: »If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me. But if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you.


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»Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. Jehovah will do what is good in his sight.«


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When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.


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The Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel. So they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezers army leading them.


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David was told of this, so he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan. He advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him.


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But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army.


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When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.


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In the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led the army to war. They destroyed the Ammonites and came to Rabbah to attack it, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down.


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David took the gold crown from the head of Rabbahs king. It was placed on Davids head. The crown was found to weigh seventy-five pounds, and in it was a precious stone. David also took a lot of goods from the city.


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He took the troops who were there and put them to work with saws, hoes, and axes. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. After that David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.


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War broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. Sibbecai from Hushah killed Sippai, a descendant of Haraphah, and the Philistines were defeated.


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When more fighting broke out with the Philistines, Elhanan, son of Jair, killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath. The shaft of Lahmis spear was like a beam used by weavers.


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In another battle at Gath, there was a tall man who had twenty-four fingers and toes: six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He also was a descendant of Haraphah.


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David gave orders to Joab and the other officers. He said: »Go through Israel, from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are.«


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Joab answered: »May Jehovah make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now! They are all your servants, Your Majesty. Why do you want to do this and make the whole nation guilty?«


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But the king made Joab obey the order. Joab traveled through the whole country of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.


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He reported to King David the total number of men capable of military service. There were one million one hundred thousand in Israel and four hundred seventy thousand in Judah.


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Because Joab disapproved of the kings command, he did not take any census of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin.


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David said to God: »I have committed a terrible sin in doing this! Please forgive me. I have acted foolishly.«


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»Three years of famine? Three months of running away from the armies of your enemies? Or: three days in which Jehovah attacks you with his sword and sends an epidemic on your land. He will use his angel to bring death throughout Israel? What answer shall I give Jehovah?«


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David replied to Gad: »I am in a desperate situation! But I do not want to be punished by the people. Let Jehovah be the one to punish me, because he is merciful.«


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Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. Then he changed his mind. He said to the angel: »Stop! That is enough!« The angel was standing at the threshing place of Araunah, a Jebusite.


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David saw the angel standing in midair, holding his sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem. Then David and the leaders of the people, all of whom were wearing sackcloth bowed low, with their faces touching the ground.


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David prayed: »O God, I am the one who did wrong. I am the one who ordered the census. What have these poor people done? Jehovah, my God, punish my family, and me and spare your people.«


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Jehovahs angel told Gad to command David to go and build an altar to Jehovah at Araunahs threshing place.


