# verses

text:
So Joab caused the <i>trumpet</i> to make a loud noise. Then all his men stopped where they were. They did not run after Israel or fight after that.


text:
Abner and his men marched all that night through the Arabah and they crossed the River Jordan. They continued to march through the valley to Mahanaim. <n>Arabah means a very flat place. 


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Then Joab returned and he brought all his men together. And Asahel and 19 other servants of David were not there because they were dead. 


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They took Asahel’s dead body and they buried it next to his father’s dead body at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and they arrived at Hebron at sunrise.


text:
David’s people and Saul’s people continued to fight each other and there was war for a long time. David became stronger and stronger but Saul’s people became weaker and weaker.


text:
The second son was Chileab, son of Abigail, Nabal’s <i>widow</i> from Carmel. <n>The third son was Absalom, son of Maacah. Maacah was the daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur.


text:
The sixth son was Ithream, son of David’s wife, Eglah. <n>David had these sons in Hebron. <n>Abner wants to work for David now and not for Saul’s son</n>


text:
Abner was trying to make himself more important to Saul’s people. He did that while Saul’s people were fighting against David’s people. 


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Saul had had among his women one woman called Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. Ishbosheth asked Abner, ‘Why did you sleep with my father’s woman?’


text:
Abner was very angry because of what Ishbosheth had said. ‘You cannot think that I would leave you to become David’s servant! I have always been a servant to Saul and to his family and his friends to this day. I have helped you in your fight against David. But now you think that I have turned against you because of this woman. 


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Now I will help David to get what God specially promised to him. If I do not do it, God should <i>punish</i> me very much. And I would want God to do it. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> gave his sure promise that he would cause David to be king over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba. David would be king and not Saul.’ 


text:
Then Abner sent men to David with this message: ‘Who should rule this country? If you and I can agree a <i>covenant</i>, I will help you to win all Israel to your side.’ <n>David tells Abner that he must bring Michal to him</n>


text:
‘Good!’ said David. ‘I will agree a <i>covenant</i> with you. But do one thing for me. You must bring Michal, Saul’s daughter with you. If you do not do that, I will not see you.’ 


text:
Then David sent men to Ishbosheth, son of Saul with this message: ‘Give me my wife, Michal. I paid 100 <i>Philistine foreskins</i> to have her as my wife.’


text:
But her husband came with her. He wept while he followed her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, ‘Return to your home!’ So he returned. <n>Abner speaks with Israel’s leaders</n>


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Abner and the leaders of Israel talked together. He said, ‘You wanted David to be your king before now. 


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So now do it! Remember that the <i>LORD</i> said about David, “I will use David to save my people, Israel from the <i>Philistines</i> and from all their enemies.” ’ <n>Abner and David agree</n>


text:
Abner also went himself to speak to the men from Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron. He went to tell David what Israel’s people and the <i>tribe</i> of Benjamin had agreed to do. 


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Abner came to David in Hebron and 20 men came with him. And David prepared a <i>feast</i> for Abner and the 20 men with him. 


text:
Then Abner spoke to David. ‘Let me go now to bring all the people in Israel together for my <i>lord</i> the king’, he said. ‘Then they can make a promise that you will be their ruler. And you can have all that you wanted.’ So David sent Abner away in <i>peace</i>. He did not let his men hurt Abner. <n>Joab murders Abner</n>


text:
David’s men and Joab were attacking some of the enemy’s soldiers. Then they returned. They brought with them a lot of things that they had taken from the enemy. But Abner had left Hebron because David had sent him away in <i>peace</i>. 


text:
When Joab and all his soldiers arrived, they told him, ‘Abner, the son of Ner has come to the king. And he has sent him away in <i>peace</i>.’ 


text:
Joab went to the king. He said, ‘I do not understand what you have done. Abner came to you. You should not have let him go. Now he is gone. 


text:
You know what this son of Ner is like. He came to find out everything possible about what you were doing. He wanted you to think that he was your friend.’


text:
Then Joab left David and Joab sent men to run after Abner with a message. They brought him from the well at Sirah. But David did not know that. 


text:
Abner returned to Hebron. Then Joab took him away from the other people. He brought him inside the gate to speak with him alone. There Joab pushed his knife into Abner’s stomach. He did it to <i>punish</i> Abner because he killed Joab’s brother, Asahel. So Abner died. <n>David shows that he did not want Abner to die</n>


text:
After that, people told David about it. He said, ‘The <i>LORD</i> sees that I and my <i>kingdom</i> did not help at all with this murder. Joab poured out the blood of Abner, son of Ner. 


text:
I hope that this will cause Joab and all his father’s family to have trouble! There should always be someone in his family with a bleeding place on his body or <i>leprosy</i> or a bad leg. Or there should be someone who has no food. Or there should be someone who dies by a <i>sword</i>.’


text:
Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel. He killed Asahel in the fight at Gibeon.


text:
David spoke to Joab and to all the people with him. ‘Tear your clothes and put on rough clothes. Then walk in front of Abner’s dead body to show how sad you are’, he said. King David himself walked behind Abner’s dead body. 


text:
They buried Abner in Hebron. And the king wept loudly when they put Abner’s dead body under the ground. And all the people wept.


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Nobody had tied your hands or your feet. <n>You have fallen like someone that <i>wicked</i> men have caused to fall’, he sang. <n>And all the people wept again for him.


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Then all the people came and they asked David to eat some food before the end of the day. But David said, ‘God should <i>punish</i> me if I eat bread or any food before sunset. And I would want him to do it.’


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All the people heard this, and it gave them pleasure. Like everything that the king did, it gave pleasure to all the people. 


text:
So, on that day all the people in Israel knew that David had not caused the death of Abner. (Abner was the son of Ner.)


text:
I am the king that God has <i>anointed</i>. But I am weak today. These sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. These <i>wicked</i> men have done <i>evil</i> things. And I pray that the <i>LORD</i> will <i>punish</i> them.’


text:
People told Saul’s son that Abner had died in Hebron. Then he became very afraid. And all the people in Israel were afraid. 


text:
Saul’s son had two men, Baanah and Rechab, who were leaders of small groups of soldiers. Their father was Rimmon from Beeroth, of Benjamin’s <i>tribe</i>. At that time, people thought about Beeroth as a part of Benjamin’s land. 


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The people from Beeroth ran away to Gittaim. So Beeroth’s people still live there but they are like foreign people. <n>Saul’s son here was Ishbosheth. 


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Saul’s son, Jonathan had a son with two bad feet. When he was 5 years old, the news from Jezreel about Saul and Jonathan reached them. His nurse lifted the boy into her arms and she ran away. But as she ran, he fell. And his feet became hurt. His name was Mephibosheth.


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The sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, called Rechab and Baanah, left to go to Ishbosheth’s house. They arrived in the hot time of the day. And Ishbosheth was resting on his bed at midday. 


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They went inside the house and they were carrying some <i>wheat</i>. But they pushed knives into his stomach. Then Rechab and his brother ran away. Nobody caught them.


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Ishbosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom when they went into his house. When they had killed him they cut off his head. They took it with them and they went through the Arabah. They travelled all night. 


text:
They brought Ishbosheth’s head to David in Hebron. They said to the king, ‘Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, who was always attacking you. Saul tried to kill you. Today the <i>LORD</i> paid him and his family for the bad things that they did to our <i>lord</i>, the king.’


text:
David spoke to Rechab and his brother Baanah, Rimmon’s sons from Beeroth, ‘The <i>LORD</i> has saved me from all my troubles. And he is certainly alive. 


text:
When a man told me, “Saul is dead”, he thought that he was bringing me good news. But I took him and I caused my servants to kill him in Ziklag. That was the gift that I gave him for his news. 


text:
But you <i>wicked</i> men have killed a man who was not a bad man. And you killed him in his own house and on his own bed. So there is no reason why I should not cause you to die. You must pay for the <i>evil</i> thing that you have done. The earth will be a better place without you!’


text:
So David told his young men that they must kill them. So they did kill them. They cut off their hands and their feet. They hung the dead bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took Ishbosheth’s head and they buried it next to Abner’s dead body in Hebron.


text:
All the <i>tribes</i> of Israel came to David at Hebron. They said, ‘We all come from your big family. 


text:
When Saul was king over us, some time ago, you were the leader of his army in the wars. And the <i>LORD</i> spoke to you. He said, “You will be like the man that keeps my sheep safe. My people Israel are like my sheep and you will become the ruler over them.” ’


text:
David agreed with the leaders of Israel when they came to him at Hebron. They made promises to each other in front of the <i>LORD</i>. Then they <i>anointed</i> David to be king over Israel.


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He ruled over Judah in Hebron for 7 years and 6 months. And in Jerusalem he ruled over all Israel and Judah for 33 years. <n>David wins Jerusalem from the <i>Jebusites</i></n>


text:
The king and his soldiers marched to Jerusalem. They wanted to win it from the <i>Jebusites</i> who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, ‘You will not get in here. Even men who cannot see could keep you out. Even men who cannot walk well could keep you out.’ They thought, ‘David cannot get in here.’ 


text:
On that day, David said, ‘Some enemies cannot see and some enemies cannot walk well. David <i>hates</i> those people. Anyone who wants to win the fight must go up this way: He must go up the way that water goes up to the city. If he does, he can beat those people.’ That is why people say, ‘Anybody who cannot see must not go into the house. And anybody who cannot walk well must not go into the house.’ <n>David comes to live in Jerusalem</n>


text:
Then David came to live in the strong tall building and he called it the City of David. He built more houses round it to the edge of the hill. 


text:
David became more and more powerful because the <i>LORD</i>, the strong, powerful God, was with him.


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Then Hiram, King of Tyre, sent men to David with wood from <i>cedar</i> trees. And he sent men who could work with wood and stone. He sent them to build a house for David. 


text:
So David knew that the <i>LORD</i> had certainly made him safe as king over Israel. And God had made David’s <i>kingdom</i> strong and important for his people, Israel. <n>God wanted his people to be safe and happy. 


text:
After he had left Hebron, David married more wives. And he took more ladies to live with him. They lived in Jerusalem and they gave David more sons and daughters. 


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These are the names of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 


text:
People told the <i>Philistines</i> that the people had <i>anointed</i> David as king over Israel. So the <i>Philistines</i> took a big army and they went to look for him. People told David about this, and so he went into a very strong place. 


text:
Then David asked the <i>LORD</i>, ‘Should I go and attack the <i>Philistines</i>? Will you help me to win the fight?’ <n>The <i>LORD</i> answered him, ‘Go, because I will certainly help you to win against the <i>Philistines</i>.’


text:
So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he won the fight. He said, ‘The <i>LORD</i> has broken my enemy as waters can break down stone walls.’ So that place is called, Baal Perazim. <n>Baal Perazim means, ‘The <i>LORD</i> breaks through’. 


text:
The <i>Philistines</i> did not take their <i>idols</i> when they left there. And David and his men carried them away.


text:
So David asked the <i>LORD</i> again. And he answered him, ‘Do not go straight up, but go round behind them. There you must attack them in front of the <i>balsam</i> trees. 


text:
When you hear a noise in the tops of the trees like marching men, go quickly to attack them. Do that because the <i>LORD</i> has gone in front of you to hit the <i>Philistine</i> army.’ 


text:
So David did as the <i>LORD</i> had said to him. And he hit the <i>Philistines</i> all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.


text:
David brought them with him to Baalah in Judah. He wanted to bring God’s <i>Covenant Box</i> from there. The <i>Israelites</i> called it by the <i>LORD</i>’s name, the name of the great powerful <i>LORD</i>. He is the <i>LORD</i> who sits as King between the two <i>angels</i>. 


text:
They put the <i>Covenant Box</i> on a new <i>cart</i> and they brought it from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Abinadab’s sons, Uzzah and Ahio led the new <i>cart</i>. 


text:
And they took the <i>cart</i> from the house of Abinadab, which is in the hill. And the <i>cart</i> had the <i>Covenant Box</i> on it. Ahio walked in front of the <i>Covenant Box</i>. 


text:
David and all Israel’s people were singing as well as they could. And they were dancing as well as they could. They meant that the <i>LORD</i> is very great. They made music with <i>harps</i>, <i>lyres</i>, <i>drums</i>, <i>rattles</i> and <i>cymbals</i>. <n>These things all make music. People hit drums with sticks and they hit two cymbals together. They move rattles about very fast to make a noise. And harps and lyres have long thin pieces of material to pull. 


text:
They came to the place where Nacon always hit his <i>wheat</i>. He hit it until the seeds fell out. There the male cows nearly fell. So Uzzah held the <i>Covenant Box</i> to stop it falling. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> was very angry with Uzzah because he did that. He was not <i>honouring</i> the <i>LORD</i>. So God knocked him down and he died there, next to the <i>Covenant Box</i>.


text:
Then David was angry because the <i>LORD</i> had <i>punished</i> Uzzah. So that place is still called Perez Uzzah. <n>The male cows were pulling the <i>cart</i>. Perez Uzzah means ‘<i>punishment</i> of Uzzah’. 


text:
On that day, David became afraid of the <i>LORD</i>. He said, ‘I do not know how the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>Covenant Box</i> can ever come to me!’ 


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He did not want to take the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>Covenant Box</i> in to be with him in David’s City. He took it instead into the house of Obed-Edom, from Gath. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i>’s <i>Covenant Box</i> stayed in his house for three months. And the <i>LORD blessed</i> Obed-Edom and the people in his house and everything that he had. <n>That was because the <i>Covenant Box</i> was with him. 


text:
People told King David, ‘The <i>LORD</i> has <i>blessed</i> the people in Obed-Edom’s house and all that he has, because of the <i>Covenant Box</i>.’ So David went. And he was happy to bring up the <i>Covenant Box</i> from Obed-Edom’s house to the City of David. 


text:
The men who were carrying it walked 6 steps. Then David <i>sacrificed</i> a fat young male and a big male cow. And they continued like that. 


text:
David wore a <i>linen</i> coat like those that the <i>priests</i> wore. And he jumped as well as he could for the <i>LORD</i>. And he danced too. 


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That is how he and all Israel brought the <i>Covenant Box</i> with them. They shouted and they made a noise with <i>trumpets</i>.


text:
While they where bringing the <i>Covenant Box</i> into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out of a window. She saw King David. He was jumping and he was dancing in front of the <i>LORD</i>. And she felt ashamed of him.


text:
David had put up a <i>tent</i> for the <i>Covenant Box</i>. So they brought it and they put it in its place inside the <i>tent</i>. Then David <i>sacrificed offerings</i> in front of the <i>LORD</i>. They burnt some of these. But they shared some <i>offerings</i> with each other. 


text:
After he finished this, he <i>blessed</i> the people. He used the name of the great and powerful <i>LORD</i>, when he <i>blessed</i> them. 


text:
Then he gave a gift to every man and woman in the crowd of the <i>Israelites</i>. They each received a loaf of bread and a cake of <i>dates</i> and a cake of <i>grapes</i> that someone had dried. And all the people went to their homes.


text:
When David returned to his home to <i>bless</i> it, Saul’s daughter Michal, came out to meet him. She said, ‘The king of Israel seemed very great today! He showed too much of himself in front of his servant’s slave girls. A silly fool does that! And he thinks that it does not matter.’


text:
David said to Michal, ‘I was <i>honouring</i> the <i>LORD</i> who chose me to be the ruler of his people, Israel. He chose me and not your father or any of his family. So I danced in front of the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
I will make myself even less important than this, and I will make myself seem very small to myself. But I will seem very great to the slave girls that you spoke about.’


text:
The king was living in his special king’s house. And the <i>LORD</i> kept him safe from all his enemies everywhere round his country. 


text:
Then the king spoke to Nathan the <i>prophet</i>. ‘I am living in a house of <i>cedar</i> wood, but God’s <i>Covenant Box</i> is still in a <i>tent</i>!’ he said.


text:
‘Go and speak to my servant David. Tell him that the <i>LORD</i> says, “You are not the man to build a house for me to live in. 


text:
I have never lived in a house from the time that I brought Israel’s people out of Egypt. And I am still not living in a house today. While we moved from place to place I lived in a <i>tent</i>. It was called the Tabernacle. 


text:
I have moved about to many places with the <i>Israelites</i>. I chose rulers to be leaders of Israel’s <i>tribes</i>, who are like my sheep. But, while we travelled, I never said to any of the leaders, ‘You should have built a house of <i>cedar</i> wood for me.’ ”


text:
Now speak to my servant David. Tell him that the great and powerful <i>LORD</i> says, “I took you from the fields where you were following the sheep in the fields. I took you from there to be the ruler of my people Israel. 


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I have been with you in every place that you went. I took away all your enemies. Now I will make your name great. It will be as great as the names of the greatest men on the earth. 


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And I have chosen a place for my people Israel to live. They can live there and they can be safe. <i>Wicked</i> men will not hurt them again, as when they first came to this country. 


text:
<i>Wicked</i> men have done that since I chose leaders for my people Israel until now. But I will cause you to have no trouble from your enemies. And the <i>LORD</i> says to you, ‘I will give <i>descendants</i> to you. And that will be like a house that I have built for you.’ 


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You will die and people will bury you with your <i>ancestors</i>. Then a son of yours will become king. I will make his <i>kingdom</i> strong. 


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He is the man who will build a house for my Name. And his <i>descendants</i> will rule Israel for all time. 


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I will be his father and he will be my son. If he does wrong things, I will <i>punish</i> him. I will <i>punish</i> him as a father <i>punishes</i> his son. 


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I stopped being good and kind to Saul so that you could rule. But I will not stop being good and kind to your son. 


text:
Nathan told David everything that God had said to him. And Nathan told David everything that God had shown to him. <n>David prays and he thanks God for his promises</n>


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David went into the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>tent</i>. He sat down and he prayed. <n>He said, ‘I am not a special person and my family is not important. But you have done very much for me. 


text:
But you have promised to do more than this for my <i>descendants</i>. Those promises are for future years. I am only a man but you have shown this to me, my King and my powerful <i>LORD</i>.


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You are very great, my King and my powerful <i>LORD</i>. Nobody is like you. Only you are God. We have always known that. 


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There is no other <i>nation</i> on earth like your people Israel. It is the only one that you went to buy for yourself. And it is the only one that you have chosen to be your own people. The great things that you did for them and for your land have made your name great. People among all <i>nations honour</i> you. You pushed out <i>nations</i> and their gods in front of your people that you took out of Egypt. 


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You have chosen Israel as your own people for all time. And you, <i>LORD</i>, have become their God.


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Now, <i>LORD</i> God, do what you have promised to me and to my <i>descendants</i>. I pray that you will do that. 


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And then your name will be great for all time. People will say, “The great and powerful <i>LORD</i> is God over Israel!” And my <i>descendants</i> will be strong for all time because of you.


text:
Great King and <i>LORD</i>, God of Israel, you have shown this to your servant. You have said, “Your <i>descendants</i> will be like a house that I have built for you.” So I am not afraid to pray to you like this.


text:
Great King and <i>LORD</i>, you are God. Your words are true and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. 


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I pray that it will give you pleasure to be good to your servant’s family. And so it will be able to continue for all time. Great King and <i>LORD</i>, you have spoken to me. And if you promise to do good things for my <i>descendants</i>, good things will happen to them for all time.’


text:
Some time after that, David fought and he won a fight with the <i>Philistines</i>. They stopped fighting and he took from them power over their capital city.


text:
He also won a fight with the <i>Moabites</i>. He caused equal groups of them to lie down on the ground. His soldiers killed the <i>Moabites</i> in 2 groups out of every 3 groups. But they did not kill the other men. So those <i>Moabites</i> became David’s servants and they began to pay <i>taxes</i> to him.


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Also David fought Hadadezer, Rehob’s son, king of Zobah. This was because Hadadezer had tried to have power again over the land next to the Euphrates River. 


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David took from him 1700 riders of horses and 20 000 soldiers who walked. He kept 100 of the <i>chariot</i> horses. And he cut the legs of the other horses so that they could not run.


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The <i>Syrians</i> from Damascus sent an army to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. And David killed 22 000 out of the <i>Syrian</i> men. 


text:
David put soldiers to live among the <i>Syrian</i> people in Damascus. And the people there became his servants and they brought <i>taxes</i> to him. The <i>LORD</i> caused David to win all his fights in every place that he went to.


text:
Hadadezer had fought against Toi. So Toi sent his son, Joram to tell David what a good thing he had done. And he wanted to ask for <i>peace</i> with David. Joram brought David things of gold, <i>silver</i> and <i>bronze</i>.


text:
David took these things and he gave them to the <i>LORD</i>. He had done that with all the <i>silver</i> and gold that he had taken from other <i>nations</i>. That included all the <i>nations</i> that David had beaten. 


text:
He had won fights with Edom, Moab and the <i>Ammonites</i>, and with the <i>Philistines</i> and the <i>Amalekites</i>. He also gave the <i>LORD</i> things that he had taken from Rehob’s son Hadadezer, king of Zobah.


text:
David went to the Valley of Salt. There, his army beat 18 000 men from Edom. Many people knew about that. 


text:
He put soldiers’ <i>camps</i> in every part of the country of Edom. David ruled everyone who lived in Edom. The <i>LORD</i> kept David safe in every place that he went to. <n>David’s officers</n>


text:
Zeruiah’s son, Joab was over the army. And Ahilud’s son, Jehoshaphat recorded the important things that happened. 


text:
Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were <i>priests</i> and Seraiah wrote things for David. 


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Jehoiada’s son Benaiah was leader of the two groups of men who kept David safe. And David’s sons helped him to rule.


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David asked, ‘Does anyone know if there is anyone still alive from Saul’s family?’ I want to be kind to them because Jonathan was my friend.


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Saul’s family had a servant called Ziba. So they asked him to come to see David. The king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’ <n>‘I am your servant’, he replied.


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The king asked him, ‘Is there anyone still alive from Saul’s family? I want to be kind to them as God is kind.’ <n>Ziba replied, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan. He has two bad feet, so he cannot walk well.’


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‘Where is he?’ the king asked. <n>Ziba answered, ‘He lives in the house of Ammiel’s son Machir in Lo-debar.’


text:
Then Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, grandson of Saul, came to David. He lay on the floor. He was <i>honouring</i> David. <n>David said, ‘Mephibosheth!’ <n>‘I am your servant’, he replied.


text:
‘Do not be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘because I want to be kind to you. I want to be kind to you because your father Jonathan was my friend. I will give you back all Saul’s land and I want you to eat here with me always.’


text:
Mephibosheth bent his head very low. He said, ‘I am not as important as a dead dog. So I do not know why you should be so good to me!’ <n>Ziba says that he will work for Mephibosheth</n>


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Then David sent men to fetch Saul’s servant Ziba. He said to him, ‘I have given everything that was Saul’s or his family’s to your master’s grandson. 


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You and your sons and your servants must work on the land for him. You must get the food that grows there. And you must bring it to him. Then he will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always eat at my table.’ (Also, Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.)


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Then Ziba said to the king, ‘I am your servant. I will do as my <i>lord</i> the king has said.’ So Mephibosheth ate food at the king’s table. He was like the king’s sons.


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Mephibosheth had a young son called Mica. And Ziba and all his family and servants became servants to Mephibosheth. 


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So Mephibosheth came to live in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. He had two bad feet, so he could not walk well.


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David thought, ‘I will be kind to Hanun, because Nahash his father was kind to me.’ David was sorry that Nahash had died. So David sent a group of his officers to tell Hanun that he was sorry. So David’s men came to the <i>Ammonites</i>’ land.


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The most powerful <i>Ammonites</i> spoke to Hanun, their <i>lord</i>. ‘David wants you to think that he is <i>honouring</i> your father. But we do not believe that he has sent his officers to you because of that. This is what we think. He is not sorry because your father has died. They have come to see how strong your city is. Then his army can fight and they can win it from you.’ 


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So Hanun took David’s officers and he cut off half the hair from their beards. And he cut off the lower half of their clothes and he sent them away.


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When somebody told David about this, he sent servants to meet the men. They were very ashamed. The king said, ‘Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown again. And then return here.’


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Then the <i>Ammonites</i> knew that they had made David very angry. So they sent money to get 20 000 <i>Syrian</i> soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zobah. And they also had 1000 men with the king of Maacah and 12 000 men from Tob.


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The <i>Ammonite</i> soldiers came out and they stood in a group in front of the city’s gates. The <i>Syrians</i> from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah stayed in the land round the city.


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Joab saw that there were the enemy’s soldiers in front and behind him. So he took some of the best of Israel’s soldiers and he caused them to look towards the <i>Syrians</i>. 


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Joab said, ‘If the <i>Syrians</i> are too strong for me, you save me. But if the <i>Ammonites</i> are too strong for you, I will come to you. And I will save you. 


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Be strong. We must be brave when we fight for our people and for God’s cities. The <i>LORD</i> will do what seems good to him. And I pray that he will do that.’


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The <i>Ammonites</i> saw that the <i>Syrians</i> were running away from Joab. So they ran away from Abishai. They ran into the city. So Joab stopped fighting the <i>Ammonites</i> and he returned to Jerusalem.


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But then the <i>Syrians</i> saw that Israel had won the fight with them. So, they made another army. 


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Hadadezer got more <i>Syrians</i> from across the River Euphrates. Shobach, his most important officer, led this army to Helam.


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His servants told David what was happening. And he took all Israel’s men across the River Jordan to Helam. The <i>Syrian</i> soldiers stood in front of them and they fought David’s army. 


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But they ran away from Israel’s men. And David killed 700 of the men in <i>chariots</i> and 40 000 soldiers who walked. He also hit the army leader, Shobach and he died there. 


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Israel had beaten all the kings that Hadadezer ruled. And all those kings knew that Israel had beaten them. So, they said that they did not want to fight against Israel after that. They became the servants of the <i>Israelites</i> instead. So the <i>Syrians</i> were afraid to help the <i>Ammonites</i> after that.


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Kings fight each other in the spring. So David sent Joab with the whole <i>Israelite</i> army to fight the <i>Ammonites</i>. They beat the <i>Ammonites</i> completely and Israel’s army started to live all round Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.


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One evening, David got out of bed and he walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof he saw a woman who was washing herself. She was very beautiful. 


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And David sent a servant to ask who she was. Someone said, ‘She is Eliam’s daughter, Bathsheba. And she is the wife of Uriah the <i>Hittite</i>.’ 


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Then David sent servants to fetch her. She came to him and he slept with her. (She had cleaned herself from her monthly blood loss.) Then she returned to her home. 


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Bathsheba now had David’s baby inside her. So she sent a message to tell David about it. <n>David asks Joab to send Uriah to him</n>


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David sent a message to Joab. He said, ‘Send Uriah the <i>Hittite</i> to me.’ And Joab sent him to David. 


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Uriah arrived. Then David asked him how Joab was. And David asked him how the soldiers were. And he asked him about the war. 


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Then David said to Uriah, ‘Now go to your house and wash your feet.’ So Uriah left the king’s house and David sent a gift after him. 


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But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with his master’s servants. He did not go to his house.


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David’s servants told him that Uriah had not gone to his house. So David asked him, ‘You have had a long journey. Why did you not go to your house?’


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Uriah spoke to David. ‘Israel and Judah and the <i>Covenant Box</i> are all staying in <i>tents</i>. My master Joab and your soldiers are sleeping in the fields. So I certainly should not go to my house and eat there. I should not drink there and sleep with my wife. I believe strongly that I must not do anything like that.’


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David said, ‘Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will let you leave.’ So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next day. 


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David asked him to eat and to drink with him and David caused him to drink too much <i>wine</i>. But in the evening Uriah went and he slept with his master’s servants. He did not go to his house. <n>David writes to Joab</n>


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In it he wrote, ‘Put Uriah in front of all the soldiers, where it is most dangerous. Then pull your men away from him so that he is alone. And so the enemy will kill him.’


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So while Joab’s soldiers were round the city, Joab put Uriah in front of all the other soldiers. And that was where the enemy was strongest. 


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When some of the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, some of David’s men died. And Uriah the <i>Hittite</i> died too. <n>Joab tells David that Uriah is dead</n>


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the king may be angry. He may ask you, “Why did you get so near to the city? Surely you knew that they would shoot <i>arrows</i> from the walls. 


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Remember what a woman did to Jerub-besheth’s son, Abimelech, in Thebez. She threw a heavy stone from the city wall and she killed him. You should not have gone so near to the wall.” If he does ask you that, say, “Your servant, Uriah the <i>Hittite</i> is dead too.” ’


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The man said to David, ‘The men were certainly stronger than us and they came out of the city to fight. But we pushed them into their own city gate. 


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Some of them shot <i>arrows</i> from the wall and some of your men died. Your servant Uriah the <i>Hittite</i> is also dead.’


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‘Say this to Joab’, David said to the man that Joab had sent. ‘Do not be too sad, any man can die in a fight. He must fight more strongly and win the city. And he must destroy it. That should help Joab to feel better.’


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People told Uriah’s wife that her husband was dead. And she was very sad and she cried about it very much. 


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Then it was time to stop crying so much. Then David sent men to bring her to his king’s house. He married her and she had a baby son. But the <i>LORD</i> was very angry with David because he had done these bad things.


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The <i>LORD</i> sent Nathan the <i>prophet</i> to David. Nathan came to him and said, ‘There were two men who lived in the same town. One man was rich, and the other man was poor’, he said. 


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But the poor man had only one young, little female sheep. He had bought it and he had fed it. It had grown up with his children. It ate and it drank with him. It even slept with him. It was like a daughter to him.


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Then the rich man had a visitor. But the rich man did not kill his own sheep or cow to make a meal for the visitor. Instead, he took the poor man’s little sheep to feed his visitor.’


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David became very angry with the rich man. ‘As truly as the <i>LORD</i> is the living God, that man should die’, he said to Nathan. 


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‘He did this cruel thing and he was not sorry for the poor man. So he must certainly pay the poor man for 4 sheep because he did that.’ <n>The <i>LORD</i> will <i>punish</i> David</n>


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‘You are the man!’ Nathan said to David. ‘This is what the <i>LORD</i>, the God of Israel says, “I <i>anointed</i> you king over Israel. I saved you from Saul. 


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I gave your master’s house and his wives to you. I gave the people in Israel and in Judah to you. And I would have given you even more than that, if you wanted more. 


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But you did not obey the word of the <i>LORD</i>. You did an <i>evil</i> thing. You killed Uriah the <i>Hittite</i> in a fight. You killed him with the <i>Amorite</i>’s <i>sword</i> and you took his wife to be your own wife. 


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So now your family will always have wars and death. You thought that I was not important. And so you took Uriah’s wife to be your own wife. So I will <i>punish</i> you because of that.”


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This is what the <i>LORD</i> says, “I will cause your own family to give you trouble. I will take your wives. And I will give them to someone that you know very well. And he will lie with them in the day. 


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What you did was a secret. But I will cause this to happen in the light of the sun and in front of all Israel.” ’


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Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have <i>sinned</i> against the <i>LORD</i>.’ <n>Nathan replied, ‘The <i>LORD</i> has taken away your <i>sin</i>. You will not die. 


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But because of what you have done, the <i>LORD</i>’s enemies do not <i>honour</i> him. So your son that has been born will certainly die.’ <n>David asks God to save his son</n>


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David asked the <i>LORD</i> to make the child well again. He lay on the floor of his house all night and he ate no food. 


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His servants stood round him. And they tried to help him to get up. But he refused and he would not eat anything with them. <n>David’s son dies</n>


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After 7 days, the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him. They thought, ‘David did not seem to hear us when we spoke to him. That was when the child was alive. So we cannot tell him that the child is dead. He might do something really bad.’


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But David saw that his servants were speaking to each other in a quiet way. Then he understood that the child was dead. ‘Is the child dead?’ he asked his servants. <n>‘Yes’, they replied. ‘He is dead.’


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Then David got up and he washed himself. He put on clean clothes and special oil that had a good smell. He went into the <i>LORD</i>’s house to <i>worship</i> him. Then he returned to his own house and he asked for food. They gave it to him and he ate it.


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His servants said to him, ‘Why are you doing these things? You ate nothing while the child was alive. And you wept. But now that he is dead you get up. And you eat!’


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David replied, ‘While the child was alive I wept. And I did not eat anything. I thought that perhaps the <i>LORD</i> would be <i>merciful</i> to me. I thought that he might <i>forgive</i> me. Then he might let the child live. 


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But I do not need to do this now that the child is dead. I cannot bring him back to me. I will go to him but he cannot come to me.’


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Then David went to help his wife, Bathsheba to feel better. He slept with her and she had a son. They called him Solomon, and the <i>LORD</i> loved him. 


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The <i>LORD</i> sent Nathan the <i>prophet</i> to tell them that they should call him Jedidiah. That was because the <i>LORD</i> loved him. <n>Jedidiah means, ‘The <i>LORD</i> loves him’. <n>David wins Rabbah</n>


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At this time, Joab was fighting against the <i>Ammonite</i> city called Rabbah. And he had beaten the soldiers in the king’s part of the city. 


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So Joab sent men to David with a message. The message was, ‘I have fought against Rabbah. And I have got the river that gives water to it. 


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Now bring the army that is with you to stand round the city. And win the city. If you do not, then I will win the city. And so it will have my name.’


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He took the <i>crown</i> of gold from its king’s head and they put it on David’s head. It weighed about 74 pounds (34 kilos). And there were valuable stones in it. And he took a lot of valuable things from the city. 


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And he brought out the people from the city. He caused them to cut wood. And they had to work with sharp iron tools and with iron axes. And he sent them into the place where people made <i>bricks</i>. He did the same things to the people from all the <i>Ammonite</i> cities. Then David and all the soldiers returned to Jerusalem.


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After some time, David’s son, Amnon, began to love Tamar. She was the beautiful sister of David’s son, Absalom. 


text:
Amnon became ill because he wanted his sister Tamar so much. But she had never slept with a man and it seemed difficult for Amnon to do anything to her.


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But Amnon had a friend called Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. And he seemed to know what to do about anything. 


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He asked Amnon, ‘Why do you seem so sad every morning? Tell me about your trouble.’ <n>Amnon said to him, ‘I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.’ <n>Jonadab suggests a bad idea to Amnon</n>


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‘Go to bed. Say that you are ill’, said Jonadab. Your father will come to see you. Then you can ask him that your sister Tamar might come to give you something to eat. Say, “Please let me see her make food. And then let her feed me with it.” ’


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So Amnon went to bed. He said that he was ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon spoke to him. ‘Please let my sister Tamar come. I want her to make some special bread while I watch her. Then she can feed me with it.’


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So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house. He was in his bed. She took flour and water and she mixed them well. She made cakes while he watched her. And she baked them. <n>Amnon has sex with Tamar</n>


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Then she took some and she gave them to him. But he would not eat them. <n>‘Send everyone out of here’, Amnon said. So everyone left him. 


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Then Amnon said to Tamar, ‘Bring the food here into my bedroom so that you can give it to me with your own hands.’ So Tamar took the cakes that she had made. And she brought them to Amnon in his bedroom. 


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‘Do not do it, my brother’, she said. ‘Do not cause me to do a wrong thing like that. We in Israel should not do things like that. It is an <i>evil</i> thing. 


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Think about me. Nobody would <i>honour</i> me. I would be ashamed and I would not be able to hide myself. And nobody would <i>honour</i> you. People would think that you were like the worst men in Israel. Speak to the king. I am sure that he will let you marry me.’ 


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But he refused to listen to her and he was stronger than she. So he took her and he had sex with her. <n>Amnon causes Tamar to be put out of his house</n>


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‘No!’ she said to him. ‘To send me away would be a worse thing to do. It would be worse than the bad thing that you have already done to me.’ <n>But he refused to listen to her. 


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He shouted for his special servant. He said to him, ‘Take this woman out of here and lock the door behind her.’ 


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So the servant put her out and he locked the door behind her. She was wearing a very beautiful dress. All the king’s daughters who were not yet married wore these beautiful clothes. 


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Tamar put dirt on her head. And she tore the beautiful dress that she was wearing. She put her face in her hands. And she wept aloud when she went away. <n>Everyone is very angry with Amnon</n>


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When her brother Absalom saw her he said, ‘I think that my brother Amnon has hurt you! Now be quiet; he is your brother. Do not let it make you angry.’ And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house. She was sad and lonely.


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Absalom <i>hated</i> Amnon because he had done that very wrong thing to his sister, Tamar. So he would not even speak to him. <n>Absalom kills Amnon</n>


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After two years, Absalom’s servants were cutting the <i>wool</i> from his sheep. That was at Baal Hazor, near to Ephraim’s land. Absalom asked all the king’s sons to meet him there. 


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He spoke to the king. ‘Your servant has men with him to cut the sheep’s <i>wool</i>. Would it give the king and his officers pleasure to come too?’ he said.


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‘No, my son’, the king replied. ‘We should not all go. It would cause you too much trouble.’ Absalom asked him again. He refused again, but he gave his <i>blessing</i> to him.


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‘If you will not come, will you let my brother Amnon come?’ Absalom asked. <n>The king said, ‘I do not know why he should go with you.’ 


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Absalom told his servants what they must do. He said, ‘When Amnon has drunk a lot of <i>wine</i> I will say, “Hit him!” Then you will kill him. Do not be afraid. I am causing you to do this. Be strong and brave.’ 


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So Absalom’s men obeyed him. Then all the king’s other sons ran to their <i>mules</i>. They rode away.


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While they were returning, men said to David, ‘Absalom has attacked all the king’s sons. Not one son is still alive.’ 


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The king stood up and he tore his clothes. Then he fell on the ground and all his servants stood round him. They had torn their clothes, too.


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But Jonadab, son of David’s brother, Shimeah spoke. ‘My <i>lord</i>, do not think that they have killed all the king’s sons. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom has wanted to do this since Amnon caused his sister Tamar to have sex with him. 


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My <i>lord</i> should not believe the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.’ <n>Absalom runs away</n>


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While this was happening, Absalom had run away. <n>A man was standing on the wall of Jerusalem. He watched. And he saw that many people were coming down the hill. They came from the west. He went and he told the king, ‘I saw men towards Horonaim, on the side of the hill.’


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While he was speaking, the king’s servants came in. They were weeping loudly. The king and all his servants were also weeping. They were very, very sad.


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Absalom ran to Talmai, son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. But King David continued to weep for his son every day.


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And the king wanted very much to go to see Absalom. He had stopped being very sad about Amnon’s death.


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So he sent a servant to Tekoa to bring a <i>wise</i> woman from there. He said to her, ‘Dress in special clothes. The king must think that somebody in your family has died. Do not put oil with a sweet smell on yourself. You must be like a woman who has been sad for a long time. 


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So the woman from Tekoa went to the king. She fell on the floor in front of him because she wanted to <i>honour</i> him. Then she said, ‘You are the king. Please help me!’


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and I had two sons. They were fighting in the fields and there was nobody near to stop them. One son hit the other son. And he killed him. 


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Now the whole family is against me. They want me to give to them the son who killed his brother. They want to <i>punish</i> him because he killed his brother. They want to kill him now. If they do that, I will have no son. And there will be nobody to continue my husband’s name.’


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Then the woman from Tekoa spoke. ‘My <i>lord</i>, the king, I want God to <i>punish</i> me for this and not the king or his family.’


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The king replied, ‘If anyone says anything bad to you, bring him to me. After that, he will not cause you any more trouble.’


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Then she said, ‘I do not want the man who should <i>punish</i> my son to kill him. That would be a worse thing than the death of my other son. Please pray to the <i>LORD</i> your God that it will not happen.’ <n>‘I promise the living God that he will not touch one hair of his head’, he said.


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Then the woman spoke again. ‘Can I say one more thing to my <i>lord</i> the king?’ <n>‘Speak’, he replied.


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Then the woman said, ‘Why have you done such a wrong thing to God’s own people? You have not let your own son return to his home. He is still in a foreign city. You are like someone who has done a wrong thing. I can say that because of what you have just said. 


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We are like water that falls on the ground. We cannot put it into the pot that it fell out of. We must all die. But God does not kill us. He thinks of a way to bring a man back from the place where he sent him away.


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I am saying this to the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, “I will speak to the king. Perhaps he will do what I ask. 


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Perhaps he will save me from the man who wants to kill my son. So that man will not take our family from the land that God gave to us.”


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Now I say, “I pray that your promise will keep us safe.” That is because the king is like an <i>angel</i> of God. He knows what is good. And he knows what is <i>evil</i>. I pray that the <i>LORD</i> your God will be with you!’ <n>The king knows now what Joab has done</n>


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Then the king spoke to the woman. ‘You must answer to me this one question. Say only what is true. Do not hide anything.’ <n>‘Ask me anything, sir’, she replied.


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‘Has Joab told you what to say?’ he asked. <n>‘I cannot hide the answer to your question, my <i>lord</i> the king’, the woman said. ‘Yes, it was your servant Joab. He told me what to do. And he told me what to say. 


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He did it to change things. My <i>lord</i> is as <i>wise</i> as God’s <i>angels</i>. He knows everything that happens in Israel.’


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The king spoke to Joab. ‘I have decided to do what you want. Go and bring back the young man Absalom.’


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Joab fell with his face to the ground in front of the king because he wanted to <i>honour</i> him. He said, ‘I pray that God will <i>bless</i> you sir. You have given me what I asked for. So now I know that I have given you pleasure.’ <n>Joab brings Absalom back to Jerusalem</n>


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But the king said, ‘He must go to his own house. I do not want him to come to see me.’ So Absalom went to his own house. He did not see the king. <n>Absalom in Jerusalem</n>


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Everyone in Israel thought that Absalom was the most handsome man in the whole country. In his body, everything from head to toe was completely good to look at. 


text:
Sometimes he cut his hair because it was too heavy. The hair that he cut off weighed about 4 pounds (2 kilos).


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Then Absalom sent a servant to Joab with a message. He wanted Joab to come and to see him. But Joab would not come. So he sent another servant but Joab refused to come. 


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Then Absalom spoke to his servants. ‘Joab’s field is next to mine. And <i>barley</i> is growing in it. Now go and cause it to burn.’ So Absalom’s servants did as he asked.


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Then Joab did go to Absalom’s house. ‘Why did your servants burn my field?’ he asked. <n>The king lets Absalom come to see him</n>


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Absalom replied, ‘I sent my servants to ask you to come. But you did not come to see me. I wanted to send you to the king. I wanted you to ask him why he had brought me from Geshur to Jerusalem. It would have been better for me to stay there! Now I want to go to see the king. So he can say himself if I have done anything wrong. Then he can kill me for any wrong thing that I have done.’


text:
So Joab went to the king and he told the king about it. Then the king sent servants to bring Absalom to him. He came in and he bent down in front of the king. He put his face to the ground. And the king kissed Absalom.


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Some time after that, Absalom bought a <i>chariot</i> and horses. He had 50 men who ran in front of him. 


text:
He got up early in the morning. Then he went to stand at the side of the road by the city’s gate. He shouted to anyone who was coming to see the king. Then he asked, ‘Where have you come from?’ The man would tell Absalom which <i>tribe</i> of Israel he came from. He knew that the man was arguing with another man about a problem. They wanted the king to tell them the right answer to that problem. 


text:
Then Absalom would say, ‘I am sure that you are right and not the other man. But there is nobody of the king’s officers to listen to you.’ 


text:
And Absalom would also say, ‘If I became a <i>judge</i> in this country, people with problems would be able to come to me. I would be a fair <i>judge</i> for them.’


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The man would bend down because he wanted to <i>honour</i> Absalom. But he would put out his hands and he would pull the man to himself. Then he would kiss him. 


text:
Absalom did this to all the people who came to ask the king for a <i>judgement</i>. That was how he caused all the men in Israel to love him.


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After 4 years, Absalom spoke to the king. ‘Please let me go to Hebron. I have promised something to the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
I did it while I was living in Geshur in Aram’, he said. ‘I promised to <i>worship</i> the <i>LORD</i> in Hebron if the <i>LORD</i> brought me to Jerusalem again.’


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Then Absalom sent men with a message secretly to all the <i>tribes</i> of Israel. The men had to say, ‘When you hear the noise of <i>trumpets</i>, shout, “Absalom has become king in Hebron.” ’ 


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But 200 men from Jerusalem had gone with Absalom. He had asked them to go as friends. They did not know what Absalom would do. 


text:
Absalom burnt his <i>sacrifices</i>. At the same time he sent men to fetch Ahithophel from Giloh. Ahithophel always suggested to David what he should do. More and more men joined Absalom’s men against David. So Absalom became stronger and stronger. <n>David runs away from Jerusalem</n>


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Then David spoke to the officers who were with him in Jerusalem. ‘Come, we must run away. If we do not do that, Absalom will beat us all. We must leave now. If we do not do that, he will kill everyone in the city.’


text:
So the king went out with all his servants and family. But he did not take 10 of his lady friends so that they would be able to keep the king’s house safe. 


text:
He went out and all the people were following him. They stopped at the last house that was near Jerusalem. 


text:
All his men marched past him with the <i>Kerethites</i> and <i>Pelethites</i>. The 600 men who had come with him from Gath also marched past the king.


text:
The king spoke to Ittai from Gath. ‘Why are you coming with us? Return and stay with King Absalom. You are from another country. 


text:
You only came here a short time ago. You do not need to run away with us. I do not even know where I am going! Return and take your people with you. I pray that the <i>LORD</i> will be kind to you. And I pray that he will <i>bless</i> you.’


text:
But Ittai replied to the king, ‘I promise that I will go with you. As surely as the <i>LORD</i> is alive, I will go with you. I will go to any place that you may go during your whole life. I will go, whether it causes me to live or to die.’


text:
All the people that they passed wept with a loud voice. The king crossed the Kidron Valley and all the people moved towards the <i>desert</i>.


text:
Zadok the <i>priest</i> was there. The <i>Levites</i> were also there, and they were carrying the <i>Covenant Box</i>. They put it down. Then Abiathar burnt <i>sacrifices</i> until all the people had left the city. <n>Zadok, Abiathar and their sons take the <i>Covenant Box</i> to Jerusalem again</n>


text:
Then the king spoke to Zadok ‘Take the <i>Covenant Box</i> into the city. If I have given pleasure to the <i>LORD</i>, he will bring me there again. Then I will see it again in the <i>LORD</i>’s house. 


text:
Again the king spoke to Zadok the <i>priest</i>. ‘Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan to the city with you. 


text:
So Zadok and Abiathar took the <i>Covenant Box</i> to Jerusalem and they stayed there. <n>David sends Hushai to Jerusalem</n>


text:
But David continued to go up the hill called the Hill of <i>Olives</i>. He was weeping as he went. He had covered his head and he was not wearing anything on his feet. All the people with him also covered their heads. And they wept as they walked. 


text:
They had told David that Ahithophel was with Absalom. So David prayed, ‘<i>LORD</i>, please cause Ahithophel to give them the <i>advice</i> of a fool.’


text:
David arrived at the top of the hill where he <i>worshipped</i> God. Hushai from the place called Archi met him there. He had torn his clothes and he had dirt on his head. 


text:
Return to the city. You can say to Absalom, “You are the king and I will be your servant. I was once your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.” Then you can help me. You can give opposite <i>advice</i> to Ahithophel’s advice. 


text:
The <i>priests</i> Zadok and Abiathar will be there with you. Tell them anything that you hear in the king’s house. 


text:
When David began to walk down the mountain, he met Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba. Ziba was waiting for him with two <i>donkeys</i>. They carried 200 loaves of bread, 100 cakes of <i>figs</i> and 100 cakes of <i>grapes</i> that someone had dried. They also brought a skin that was full of <i>wine</i>.


text:
The king asked Ziba, ‘Why have you brought these?’ <n>Ziba answered, ‘The <i>donkeys</i> are for the king’s family to ride. The bread and fruit are for the men to eat. And the <i>wine</i> is so that the very tired men in the <i>desert</i> will feel better.’


text:
The king asked, ‘Where is your master’s grandson?’ <n>Ziba answered, ‘He is staying in Jerusalem. He thinks that they will give him back his grandfather Saul’s <i>kingdom</i>.’


text:
Then the king said to Ziba, ‘All that Mephibosheth had is now yours.’ <n>‘I am your servant’, said Ziba. ‘I hope that I will always give you pleasure.’ <n>Shimei throws stones at David and he shouts bad names at David</n>


text:
Shimei, son of Gera, came out to meet David. David was coming near to the city called Bahurim. Shimei was from the same family as Saul. Soldiers and David’s special men were all round David. But Shimei shouted bad words about David as he came. 


text:
He said, ‘Get out! Get out! You are a man who has killed many people. So you are a <i>wicked</i> man! 


text:
You killed a lot of Saul’s people. And this is how the <i>LORD</i> is paying you for that. Saul was king but you became king instead. The <i>LORD</i> has given the <i>kingdom</i> to your son, Absalom. God is <i>punishing</i> you for the murders that you did!’


text:
Then Zeruiah’s son, Abishai, said to the king, ‘This man is like a dog. He should not say these bad things to you. There is no reason for us to let him live. Can I go there and cut off his head?’


text:
‘You and I think about this in a different way, you sons of Zeruiah’, said the king. ‘He might be saying these bad things because the <i>LORD</i> has said to him, “Say bad things about David.” So we cannot ask why he says them.’


text:
Then David spoke to Abishai and to all his officers. ‘My son, my own son is trying to kill me. So it is not a surprise that this <i>descendant</i> of Benjamin is angry. He <i>hates</i> me. Do not touch him. The <i>LORD</i> has told him that he should say these things. 


text:
Perhaps the <i>LORD</i> will see how much it makes me sad. Perhaps he will do good things for me because Shimei is saying bad things today.’ 


text:
David and his men continued to walk along the road. Shimei walked along the hill, where he could see them. He shouted. And he threw stones and dirt at them as he walked. 


text:
The king and all his men were very tired when they reached the River Jordan. So they rested there. <n>Hushai and Ahithophel have different ideas</n>


text:
Then David’s friend, Hushai from the place called Archi, went to Absalom. He said, ‘I pray that the king will live for all time! I pray that the king will live for all time!’


text:
Absalom asked Hushai, ‘Is this how you show your love for your friend? Why did you not go with him?’


text:
Hushai replied, ‘No, I will follow the man that the <i>LORD</i> has chosen. I will stay by all Israel’s men and with the man that these people have chosen. I will be his man. 


text:
Ahithophel answered, ‘Sleep with your father’s lady friends that are here in his house. Then all the people in Israel will know that you have made your father very angry. Then they will want to help you much more.’ 


text:
So they put up a <i>tent</i> for Absalom on the roof. There he went in to his father’s ladies and all Israel watched him.


text:
In those days, men thought that Ahithophel’s words were like the word of God. David and Absalom both believed that.


text:
I will go after him while he is tired and weak. This will make him afraid, then all the people with him will run away. I will kill only the king. 


text:
Then I will bring all the people back to you. If we kill this man you will cause all the people to come to you.’ 


text:
Absalom spoke to Hushai when he arrived. ‘Ahithophel has suggested that we do this. What do you think? If you do not agree, please give us your ideas.’


text:
You know that your father and his men are all fighters. They fight like a mother <i>bear</i> when you take away her little bears. And your father has fought many times. He will not stay all night with his soldiers. 


text:
Even now he is hiding in a hole in the hill or another place like that. He might attack your soldiers first. Someone who saw it would tell other people. He would say, “They have killed Absalom’s men!” 


text:
Then even your bravest soldier would become afraid. He might be as brave as a <i>lion</i>. But even he would be very afraid. Everyone in Israel knows that your father is a fighter. And they know that the men with him are brave.’ <n>They choose Hushai’s idea</n>


text:
Hushai said, ‘This is what I suggest. Bring here all the men in Israel who live in all the country from Dan to Beersheba. Their numbers are as great as the pieces of sand by the side of the sea. Then you yourself should lead them into the fight. 


text:
In this way we can attack him in any place that we find him. He will not even know that we have found him. He and his men will all die. 


text:
If he goes into a city, we can pull it down into the valley below. Only small pieces will remain on the hill.’


text:
Absalom and all Israel’s men said, ‘Hushai’s idea is better than Ahithophel’s.’ (The <i>LORD</i> had decided to make Ahithophel’s idea seem worse than Hushai’s idea. He wanted to cause bad trouble for Absalom.)


text:
Then Hushai told the <i>priests</i> Zadok and Abiathar what he had said to Absalom and to his officers. And he told them what Ahithophel had suggested. 


text:
‘Now send servants to David immediately’, he said. ‘They must tell him that he should not stay this side of the river in the <i>desert</i>. He must cross the River Jordan immediately and all the people with him. If he does not cross it tonight Absalom’s men will catch them all. And then they will kill them all.’ <n>Servants go to tell David that he should cross the river</n>


text:
Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel. A servant girl went to tell them what had happened. Then they went and they told it to King David. They did not want anybody to see them as they were going into the city. That was important. 


text:
But a young man saw them and he told Absalom. So they left quickly and they went to a man’s house in Bahurim. He had a well in his yard and they climbed down into it. <n>A woman hides the two servants</n>


text:
His wife took a lid and she put it over the top of the well. Then she threw a lot of seeds on it, so nobody knew anything about it.


text:
Absalom’s men came to the house. They asked the woman, ‘Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?’ <n>The woman answered, ‘They went across the river.’ The men looked everywhere but they did not find anyone. So they returned to Jerusalem. <n>The servants see David</n>


text:
After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well. They went to see David. They said to him, ‘Go now and cross the river.’ And they told him what Ahithophel had suggested. 


text:
So David and all the people left immediately and they crossed the river. When it was dawn they had all gone across the river. <n>Ahithophel kills himself</n>


text:
Ahithophel got on his <i>donkey</i> and he left Jerusalem. Absalom had not done as he had suggested. Ahithophel had seen that. He finished all his business and then he hung himself from his neck. He died and they buried him with his father’s dead body.


text:
Joab had been the leader of all Israel’s soldiers. But Absalom had made Amasa the <i>Ishmaelite</i> the leader, instead. Amasa’s father, Ithra had married Abigail. She was Nahash’s daughter and a sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 


text:
Absalom and his army put their <i>tents</i> in Gilead. <n>Three friends give help to David’s people</n>


text:
When David came to Mahanaim, three men helped him. One man was Nahash’s son Shobi from Rabbah. The people called Ammonites lived in Rabbah. The other men were Ammiel’s son Machir from Lo-Debar and Barzillai from Rogelim in Gilead. 


text:
They brought beds and pots and cups. They also brought <i>wheat</i>, <i>barley</i>, flour and <i>grain</i> that they had cooked. And they brought <i>beans</i>, <i>lentils</i>, <i>honey</i>, milk, sheep and cheese that they had made from cow’s milk. These were for David and his people to eat. They said, ‘The people have become tired in the <i>desert</i> and they need food and drink.’


text:
David brought together all the men who were with him. He chose some to lead hundreds and some to lead thousands of them. 


text:
He sent them out in three groups. Joab led one group. His brother, Abishai, led another group and Ittai from Gath led the third group. The king said to them all, ‘I will go with you myself.’


text:
But the men replied, ‘You must not go out. If we have to run away they may kill half of us. But they will really want only to kill you. You are worth 10 000 of us. You can send help to us from the city.’


text:
‘I will do whatever you think is best’, the king answered. Then he stood by the side of the gate. And his men marched out in their groups of hundreds and of thousands. 


text:
The king spoke strongly to Joab, Abishai and Ittai. ‘Do not hurt the young man Absalom if you love me’, he said. And all the soldiers heard him say this to the three officers. <n>David’s men fight Israel’s soldiers</n>


text:
They fought over all the land in and round the forest. More men died in the forest than in the fight. <n>Joab’s men catch Absalom</n>


text:
And Absalom met some of David’s men. He was riding on a <i>mule</i>. It went under a big <i>oak</i> tree and Absalom’s hair caught in its branches. He hung there by his hair but the <i>mule</i> continued to walk on.


text:
Joab said to the man, ‘If you saw him, why did you not kill him? I would have given you 10 <i>silver</i> coins and a special belt.’


text:
But the man replied, ‘I would not hurt the king’s son, even for 25 pounds (11 kilos) of <i>silver</i>. We all heard the king speak to you, Abishai and Ittai. He said, “Do not hurt young Absalom if you love me.” 


text:
If I had killed Absalom, It would have been very dangerous for me. The king knows everything and then he would have killed me. And you would not have saved me.’ <n>Joab kills Absalom</n>


text:
Joab said, ‘I cannot stand here and talk with you.’ And he took three <i>spears</i>. And he pushed them into Absalom’s heart as Absalom was still hanging in the oak tree. 


text:
Then Joab made a sound with his <i>trumpet</i> and his soldiers stopped running after Israel. Joab had stopped them. 


text:
They took Absalom’s dead body and they put it in a big hole in the forest. They put a lot of stones over it. At the same time, all the <i>Israelites</i> ran to their homes. <n>Absalom’s <i>pillar</i></n>


text:
While Absalom was alive he built a tall <i>pillar</i> of stones in the king’s valley. He built it so that people might remember him. He thought, ‘I have no son to live after me.’ He gave his own name to it and people still call it Absalom’s <i>pillar</i>. <n>Ahimaaz and a man from Ethiopia take the news to David</n>


text:
Zadok’s son Ahimaaz spoke to Joab. ‘Let me run to give the king the news that the <i>LORD</i> has saved him from his enemies’, he said.


text:
‘You must not take any good news today’, said Joab. ‘You can take it another day, but not today. The king’s son is dead.’


text:
Then Joab spoke to a man from Ethiopia, ‘Go to the king. Tell him what you have seen.’ The man bent down in front of Joab and then he ran off.


text:
Ahimaaz spoke to Joab again, ‘I am not afraid of what may happen. Please let me run after the man from Ethiopia.’ <n>But Joab replied, ‘Why do you want to do it? The king will not give you a gift for this news.’


text:
He said, ‘But I do want to go, whatever happens.’ <n>So Joab said, ‘Run!’ Then Ahimaaz ran across the flat ground. And he went faster than the man from Ethiopia.


text:
David was sitting between the two city gates. A man stood over the gate by the wall. He was watching the road. As he looked he saw a man. The man was running towards the city. He was running alone. 


text:
The man on the roof shouted to the king to say what he had seen. <n>The king said, ‘If he is alone, the news is good.’ And the man came closer and closer.


text:
Then the man on the roof saw another man who was running. He called down to the man at the gate, ‘Look, another man is also running alone!’ <n>The king said, ‘He will bring good news, too.’


text:
The man said, ‘The first man is running like Zadok’s son Ahimaaz.’ <n>‘He is a good man’, the king said. ‘He will bring good news.’ <n>Ahimaaz tells the good news</n>


text:
Then Ahimaaz shouted to the king, ‘It is good news!’ And he bent down with his face to the ground and he said, ‘<i>Praise</i> the <i>LORD</i> your God! He has helped you to win the fight with those who were against you.’


text:
The king asked, ‘Is the young man Absalom safe?’ <n>Ahimaaz answered, ‘When your officer Joab sent me I saw many people together. They seemed to be confused. But I did not see what had caused it.’


text:
Then the man from Ethiopia arrived. He said, ‘My <i>lord</i> the king, hear my good news! Today the <i>LORD</i> has helped you to win the fight with those who were against you.’ <n>The man from Ethiopia tells David that Absalom is dead</n>


text:
The king asked the man from Ethiopia, ‘Is the young man Absalom safe?’ <n>The man from Ethiopia replied, ‘I hope that all your enemies will be like that young man. And I want the same thing to happen to all those who are against you’


text:
The king became so sad that he left the room over the gate. And he wept loudly. As he went, he said, ‘My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! You should not have died. I should have died instead, Absalom, Absalom my son!’


text:
So the whole army was sad too. They had won an important fight. But they could not be happy and they could not have a party. They had heard men say, ‘The king is sad because his son is dead.’ 


text:
The soldiers were quiet as they came into the city. Men are ashamed when they have run away from a fight. They came in like that. 


text:
Then Joab went into the king’s house. He spoke to the king. ‘Today you have made your men ashamed. But they have saved your life and the lives of your sons, daughters and lady friends. 


text:
You seem to love those who <i>hate</i> you. And you seem to <i>hate</i> those who love you! You have shown today that your officers and soldiers are not important to you. You would be happy if Absalom were still alive. You would be happy even if all of us were dead. 


text:
Now go out and speak to the men. Tell them that they have fought well. If you do not do that, not one man will remain here tonight. It is as sure as the <i>LORD</i> is alive. That would be worse than anything that has happened to you in all your life.’


text:
So the king got up and he went to sit in his seat by the city gate. They told the men, ‘The king is sitting by the gate.’ Then they all came to stand in front of him. By this time, the people had run to their homes. <n>David returns to Jerusalem</n>


text:
Then the people in their different <i>tribes</i> were quarrelling with each other. They were saying, ‘The king saved us from our enemies. He fought the <i>Philistines</i> and he won. Nobody else did that. But now he has run from Absalom that we asked to be our king. He has left the country. 


text:
We <i>anointed</i> Absalom as king over us but now he has died in the fight. Surely someone should have started to say that we should bring the king back.’


text:
People told David what the people were saying. So he sent the <i>priests</i> Zadok and Abiathar to the leaders of Judah with a message. He told them to say, ‘Surely, you should not be the last to bring the king back to the king’s house? He has heard what the people in all Israel are saying. 


text:
And say to Amasa, “You belong to my family. From this time on Joab will not be the most important officer in my army. You will be that, instead. I want God to <i>punish</i> me very much if I do not do that.” Tell him that.’


text:
All the men from Judah turned like one man to follow David. They sent servants to the king. And they asked him to return with all his soldiers. 


text:
Then the king returned and he went to the River Jordan. <n>The men from Judah had come to Gilgal to meet the king. They wanted to bring him across the river. <n>David <i>forgives</i> Shimei</n>


text:
Gera’s son Shimei came quickly down from Bahurim to meet the king. He came with the men from Judah but he was from Benjamin’s <i>tribe</i>. 


text:
He brought 1000 men from his <i>tribe</i> with him. Ziba, Saul’s servant also came with his 15 sons and 20 servants. They all hurried to the River Jordan, where the king was. 


text:
They crossed where the water was not deep. And they brought the king and his people with them. They wanted to do whatever the king wanted. <n>When Shimei had crossed the River Jordan he fell down in front of the king. 


text:
He said to him, ‘Please will you <i>forgive</i> me. I did wrong things when you, my <i>lord</i>, left Jerusalem. Please, do not remember those things. Please forget them. 


text:
I am your servant. And I know that I have <i>sinned</i>. But I am the first to come from the <i>tribes</i> in the north of Israel to meet you here.’


text:
Then Abishai, Zeruiah’s son said, ‘We should kill Shimei. He said <i>wicked</i> things against the king that God has <i>anointed</i>. So we should kill him.’


text:
David replied, ‘I am not like you and your brother Joab. You will not kill anybody today. This day I have become king over Israel.’ 


text:
So the king gave a promise to Shimei. ‘You will not die’, he said. <n>David is kind to Mephibosheth</n>


text:
Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not washed his feet or his clothes since David left Jerusalem. And he had not cut his beard. 


text:
When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, David spoke to him. ‘Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?’ he asked.


text:
He said, ‘My <i>lord</i>, as you know, I cannot walk well. So I asked my servant to prepare a <i>donkey</i> for me to ride so that I could go with you. But Ziba my servant did not obey me. 


text:
And what he has said to you is not true. But you are like an <i>angel</i> of God. You will do what you think is best. 


text:
My <i>lord</i> might have killed all the <i>descendants</i> of my grandfather Saul. That would have been a fair <i>punishment</i>. But you gave me a place to eat at your table. I ought not to ask the king for anything more.’


text:
The king said, ‘Do not say any more about these things. I have decided that you and Ziba must each have half of the fields.’


text:
Mephibosheth said to the king, ‘He can take them all. I am only happy that you are still safe.’ <n>David wants Barzillai to stay with him in Jerusalem</n>


text:
Barzillai from Gilead came down from Rogelim to cross the River Jordan with the king. He wanted to send him on to Jerusalem from there. 


text:
But Barzillai was a very old man, about 80 years old. He had helped David while David was in Mahanaim. He had given to David much that he had needed. He did that because he was a very rich man. 


text:
David said to him, ‘Cross with me. And come and stay with me in Jerusalem. I can give to you all that you might want.’ <n>Barzillai asks David to take his son Chimham instead</n>


text:
Barzillai answered the king, ‘I will not live many more years. Why should I go to Jerusalem with the king? 


text:
I am already 80 years old. And I cannot tell what is good or bad. I cannot taste what I eat. And I cannot taste what I drink. And I cannot still hear people when they sing. I would only cause trouble to you. 


text:
I will come with you for a short way on the other side of the river, but I cannot accept your gift. 


text:
Let me, your servant, return to die in my own town. Then they can bury me near the place where they buried my father and my mother. Here is my son Chimham. Let him go across with you. Please do for him whatever you choose. And I hope that it will give you pleasure.’


text:
The king said, ‘Chimham can go across with me. And I will do for him whatever you want. And I will do whatever you want me to do for you.’


text:
So all the people went across the River Jordan and the king followed them. The king kissed Barzillai and <i>blessed</i> him. Then Barzillai returned to his home.


text:
When the king went across the river to Gilgal, Chimham went with him. All Judah’s army and half of Israel’s men took him across the river. <n>The men from Israel are angry with the men from Judah</n>


text:
Then all the men from Israel came to ask the king, ‘Why did our brothers, the men from Judah, take you and your people away across the River Jordan?’


text:
The men from Judah answered, ‘We did it because he belongs to our family. Do not be angry. We have not eaten any of his food and he has not given us anything.’


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> replied, ‘We have 10 parts in the king but you have only one part. So you should not think that we are not important. And we were the first people to say that we should bring the king back.’ <n>But the words that the men from Judah spoke were even more angry than the words of the <i>Israelites</i>.


text:
A man called Sheba was in Gilgal. He was Bichri’s son, from Benjamin’s <i>tribe</i>. He liked to cause trouble. He made a noise with a <i>trumpet</i> and he shouted, ‘We will not follow David the son of Jesse. Men from Israel, we should return to our homes.’ 


text:
So the <i>Israelites</i> left David and they went with Sheba. But the men from Judah stayed with David and they followed him. They were all the people who lived in places from the River Jordan to Jerusalem. <n>David keeps his ladies safe</n>


text:
David returned to the king’s house in Jerusalem. Then he took the 10 lady friends. They had stayed there when he left Jerusalem. Now he shut them away safely in a special house. People were watching them carefully. He gave to them all that they needed. But he did not sleep with them. They stayed there. And they lived like <i>widows</i> until they died. <n>David sends Amasa to fetch all the men from Judah</n>


text:
The king spoke to Amasa. ‘Bring all the men from Judah to me here during the next three days. And come with them yourself.’ 


text:
David said to Abishai, ‘Now Bichri’s son Sheba will cause us more trouble than Absalom. Take my men and go after him. If you do not catch him they may hide in towns with strong walls. He might get away from us.’ 


text:
So Abishai took Joab’s men, the <i>Pelethites</i> and the <i>Kerethites</i> and all the king’s soldiers with him. They marched out from Jerusalem to find Bichri’s son Sheba. 


text:
Amasa came to meet them at the big rock in Gibeon. Joab was dressed for the fight and a <i>sword</i> was hanging from his belt. It fell out of its place as Joab went towards Amasa. <n>Joab kills Amasa</n>


text:
Joab said to Amasa, ‘How are you my brother?’ And he took Amasa by his beard with his right hand to kiss him. 


text:
But Amasa did not see the <i>sword</i> in Joab’s other hand. Then Joab pushed it completely into Amasa’s stomach. All his inside parts fell out on the ground and he died immediately. Joab did not have to hit him again. <n>Then Joab and his brother Abishai went on. They were following after Sheba.


text:
A man stood by Amasa’s dead body. The man belonged to Joab’s soldiers. He shouted, ‘Everyone who wants to follow David, follow Joab!’ 


text:
Amasa’s dead body was in the road, covered in his blood. Everyone who saw him stopped there. The man had seen that they stopped. So he pulled the dead body into a field and he covered it with a cloth. 


text:
After he had taken Amasa’s dead body from the road, the men went on with Joab. They were going after Sheba the son of Bichri. <n>They find Sheba and people kill him to save their city</n>


text:
Sheba went through all the <i>tribes</i> of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah. All Bichri’s family came together and they followed him into the city. 


text:
Some people told Joab’s men that Sheba was there. So they went and they stood all round the city. They built the ground up high near to its walls. And they dug under the walls to cause them to fall down. 


text:
A <i>wise</i> woman shouted to them from the wall. ‘Listen, listen. Ask Joab to come here so that I can speak to him’, she said. 


text:
He went towards her. ‘Are you Joab?’ she asked. <n>‘I am’, he answered. <n>Listen to what I have to say’, she said. <n>‘I am listening’, he replied.


text:
Then she said, ‘A long time ago, people said, “Get your answer at the city called Abel.” And that is what they did. 


text:
We are a <i>peaceful</i> city that is <i>faithful</i> to Israel. Why are you trying to destroy it? Do you want to hurt what is the <i>LORD</i>’s?’


text:
That is not what we want. But a man called Sheba, son of Bichri, has come there from the hills of Ephraim. He has said that he will not follow King David. If you will give me this one man, I will leave your city. I will not destroy it.’ <n>The woman said to Joab, ‘I will throw his head to you from the wall.’


text:
Then the woman went to all the people in the city. She told them why they should kill Sheba. So they cut off the head of Bichri’s son Sheba and they threw it to Joab. Then he made a noise with his <i>trumpet</i> and all his men left the city. Each of them went to his home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem. <n>David’s officers</n>


text:
Joab was the officer who led all Israel’s army. Jehoiada’s son led the <i>Pelethites</i> and the <i>Kerethites</i> who kept David safe. 


text:
Adoniram ruled over the men that had to work for the king. Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat wrote down all that the king did. 


text:
For three years together no food grew in Israel. So David asked the <i>LORD</i> what had caused this trouble. The <i>LORD</i> said, ‘It is because of the blood of the <i>Gibeonites</i>. Saul killed many of them.’


text:
The king asked the <i>Gibeonites</i> to come to him. (The Gibeonites were not Israel’s people. They were <i>Amorites</i>, but the <i>Israelites</i> had promised not to kill them. Saul had tried to kill them all. He thought that this would be good for Israel and Judah.)


text:
David asked the <i>Gibeonites</i>, ‘What can I do for you? How can I make things right so that you will <i>bless</i> our people’s land?’


text:
The <i>Gibeonites</i> answered Saul, ‘We do not ask for money or gold from Saul’s family. And we do not want to kill anyone in Israel.’ <n>‘What do you want me to do for you?’ David asked them.


text:
They answered the king, ‘There was a man who destroyed us. He wanted to kill all of us who were living in Israel. 


text:
Will you give to us 7 of his male <i>descendants</i>? Then we can kill them and we can hang them in front of the <i>LORD</i> in Gibeah. It is the town of Saul, the man that the <i>LORD</i> chose.’ <n>‘I will give them to you’, the king said. <n>The <i>Gibeonites</i> kill 7 of Saul’s <i>descendants</i></n>


text:
The king did not choose Mephibosheth, the son of Saul’s son Jonathan. That was because of David’s promise to Saul’s son Jonathan. David used the name of the <i>LORD</i> when he made that promise. 


text:
But the king took the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, who were called Armoni and Mephibosheth. Saul was their father. And he took the 5 sons of Saul’s daughter Merab. They had grown up as sons of Michal, her sister. They were the sons of Adriel, son of Barzillai from Meholath. 


text:
He gave them to the <i>Gibeonites</i>. They killed them and they hung them on a hill in front of the <i>LORD</i>. All 7 of them died together. That was at the time when the <i>barley</i> was nearly ready to bring from the fields. <n>Rizpah <i>protects</i> her son’s dead bodies</n>


text:
Rizpah, Aiah’s daughter, put a cloth over a rock for herself. She stayed there from that time until it rained. The rain came down from the sky on the dead bodies. She kept the birds away from them during the day and she kept the wild animals away during the night. <n>They bury the bones of Saul’s family</n>


text:
Then he went to fetch the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the people at Jabesh Gilead. (Their men had taken them from the square in Beth Shan. The <i>Philistines</i> had hung them there. That was after they had killed Saul on the mountain called Gilboa.) 


text:
They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan with those of Kish, Saul’s father, in Zela in Benjamin’s land. The king had told them what they should do. And they did it all. Then the <i>LORD</i> answered their <i>prayers</i> for their country. <n>Wars against the <i>Philistines</i></n>


text:
Israel’s people were fighting the <i>Philistines</i> again. David went with his men to fight the <i>Philistines</i>. He became very tired. 


text:
A <i>descendant</i> of Rapha, Ishbi-Benob said that he would kill David. The point of his <i>bronze spear</i> weighed 7½ pounds (3½ kilos) and he had a new <i>sword</i>. 


text:
But Zeruiah’s son Abishai saved David. He hit the <i>Philistine</i> down and he killed the <i>Philistine</i>. So David’s men said to him, ‘You must never again come out to fight with us. You are like Israel’s light and we do not want anyone to put it out.’


text:
Some time after that, Israel fought with the <i>Philistines</i> at Gob. In that fight, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, a <i>descendant</i> of Rapha.


text:
In another fight with the <i>Philistines</i>, Elhanan, the son of Jaare-Oregim from Bethlehem, killed Goliath from Gath. Goliath’s <i>spear</i> had a thick handle like a strong tree branch.


text:
In another fight, a great big man fought for the <i>Philistines</i>. He had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot. He was also a <i>descendant</i> of Rapha. 


text:
When he shouted bad things about the <i>Israelites</i>, Shimeah’s son Jonathan killed him. Shimeah was David’s brother.


text:
David and his men killed all these 4 <i>descendants</i> of Rapha from Gath. <n>The <i>descendants</i> of Rapha were all great big men. We call them ‘giants’. 


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My God is the rock that I can hide in. <n>He is my <i>shield</i> that saves me. <n>He is my strong <i>shelter</i> and my safe place, and he saves me. <n>You have saved me from men who would have hurt me.


text:
I was afraid so I cried to the <i>LORD</i>. <n>I shouted to my God. <n>From his <i>holy</i> place he heard my voice. <n>My loud noise reached his ears.


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The ground moved and it <i>shook</i>. <n>And the sky <i>shook</i> itself. <n>They <i>shook</i> because he was angry.


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Smoke came out of his nose. <n>Burning fire came out of his mouth. <n>Materials started to burn as a result.


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He shot <i>arrows</i> that caused enemies to run away. <n>His <i>swords</i> of light beat them completely.


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The waters of the sea ran from their deep places. <n>Men could see the deepest places of the earth. <n>He caused this by the smoke from his mouth <n>because he was angry.


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I do what is right. The <i>LORD</i> helps me because of that. <n>He <i>blesses</i> me because I do not <i>sin</i>.


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I do what is right. So the <i>LORD</i> has <i>blessed</i> me. <n>I want only what is good. And he sees that.


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You are <i>faithful</i> to those who are <i>faithful</i> to you, <i>LORD</i>. <n>You are completely good to those who are good.


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All that God does is <i>perfect</i>. <n>His words are always good and right. <n>He is like a <i>shield</i> to all who <i>trust</i> him.


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You caused my enemies to turn and so they ran away from me. <n>And I killed all those who were against me.


text:
They shouted for help but nobody came to save them. <n>They shouted to the <i>LORD</i> but he did not answer.


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I hit them until they were like small stones. <n>I beat them and I walked over them like the ground.


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You have saved me when my people were attacking me. <n>You have made me the ruler of many <i>nations</i>. <n>People that I did not know obey me.


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The <i>LORD</i> is alive! <i>Praise</i> him who is my strong rock. <n>Tell people how great he is. He is the strong God who saves me.


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He saves me from my enemies. <n>You made me stronger than those who were against me. <n>And you save me from those who would hurt me.


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So I will <i>praise</i> you, <i>LORD</i> among the <i>nations</i>. <n>I will sing <i>praises</i> to your name.


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God wins big and important fights for his king. <n>He is always kind to the king that he has <i>anointed</i>, <n>to David and to his <i>descendants</i> for all time.’


text:
God chose David, Jesse’s son for people to <i>anoint</i> as their king. God made him great and he wrote beautiful songs for Israel. These are David’s last words.


text:
The God of Israel has spoken. <n>He who keeps Israel safe said to me, <n>“A king who rules over men properly is afraid to make God angry.


text:
That kind of king is like morning light when the sun rises. <n>Yes, he is like a morning when there are no clouds in the sky. <n>He is like light after rain <n>that causes the grass to seem bright.”


text:
The <i>LORD</i> will <i>bless</i> my <i>descendants</i>. <n>That is because he has given a promise to me. <n>And that promise will be for all time. <n>He will not change his promise. <n>And he will do what he has promised to do. <n>That is all that I want. And he will keep me safe.


text:
But he will throw out <i>evil</i> men like weeds. <n>Some weeds will hurt your hands if you touch them. <n>And those men are like those weeds.


text:
The man who wants to touch them needs an iron tool or a strong stick. <n>But men will burn them completely.’ <n>David’s strong soldiers</n>


text:
These are the names of David’s best soldiers. <n>Josheb-Basshebeth the son of Hachmon was the first of the ‘Three’. He stood against 800 men with his <i>spear</i> and he killed them all at the same time.


text:
Next was Dodai’s son Eleazar from Ahoh’s family. He belonged to the three strongest men. He was with David at Pas Dammim when they said words to make their <i>Philistine</i> enemies angry before a fight. Israel’s men ran away 


text:
but Eleazar stood there. And he hit the enemy until his hand was tired. And his hand could not easily leave his <i>sword</i>. On that day the <i>LORD</i> won a big and important <i>victory</i>. The soldiers returned but they only came to take things from the dead <i>Philistines</i>.


text:
Next was Shammah the son of Agee from Harar. The <i>Philistines</i> had come together in a field of <i>beans</i> and the <i>Israelites</i> had run away from them. 


text:
But Shammah had stood in the middle of the field. He fought the <i>Philistines</i> and the <i>LORD</i> gave a big and important <i>victory</i> to him.


text:
The time to bring in the <i>grain</i> was near. During that time three out of David’s 30 best soldiers came to him near Adullam. He was hiding there in a hole in the hill. A group of <i>Philistine</i> soldiers was in the Valley of Rephaim. 


text:
David very much wanted a drink of water. He said, ‘I want to have a drink of water from the well by Bethlehem’s gate. It would be good if someone brought me some.’ 


text:
So the three best soldiers fought through the <i>Philistines</i> and they got some water from Bethlehem’s well. Then they carried it to David. But he refused to drink it. He poured it out in front of the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
‘I cannot drink it’, he said. ‘Those men fetched it. But it would seem to me that I would be drinking their blood. They might have died while they were trying to fetch it.’ So David would not drink it. <n>These are the great things that the three best soldiers did.


text:
Zeruiah’s son Abishai, Joab’s brother, was the leader of those three soldiers. He fought 300 men with his <i>sword</i> and he killed them all. So people talked about him a lot when they talked about these three soldiers. 


text:
Men <i>honoured</i> him more than the other two soldiers. So he was the leader of these three soldiers but he did not belong to the other ‘Three’.


text:
Jehoiada’s son, Benaiah came from Kabzeel. He was a brave fighter and he did many great things. He killed two of Moab’s best men. And he went into a deep hole to kill a <i>lion</i> when snow was on the ground. 


text:
He knocked down a big man from Egypt who had a <i>spear</i> in his hand. He knocked him down with a heavy stick. He took the <i>spear</i> from the man’s hand and he killed him with the man’s own <i>spear</i>. 


text:
They <i>honoured</i> him more than any of the 30. But he did not belong to the ‘Three’. David made him the leader of his own special soldiers. <n>


text:
These men were among the 30: <n>Joab’s brother Asahel. <n>Elhanan, Dodo’s son from Bethlehem. <n>Shammah and Elika from Harod. <n>Helez from Pelet. <n>Ira, Ikkesh’s son from Tekoa. <n>Abiezer from Anathoth. <n>Mebunnai from Hushah. <n>Zalmon from Ahoh’s family. <n>Maharai from Netophah. <n>Heleb, Baanah’s son from Netophah. <n>Ittai, the son of Ribai, who came from Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. <n>Benaiah who came from Pirathon. <n>Hiddai from the valleys near Gaash. <n>Abialbon from Arbath. <n>Azmaveth from Bahurim. <n>Eliahba from Shaalbon, a son of Jashen. <n>Jonathan. <n>Shammah from Harar. <n>Ahiam, the son of Sharar, from Harar. <n>Eliphelet, Ahasbai’s son from Maacah. <n>Eliam, Ahithophel’s son from Gilo. <n>Hezro from Carmel. <n>Paarai from the people called Arbites. <n>Igal, Nathan’s son from Zobah. <n>Bani who came from Gad’s family. <n>Zelek who came from Ammon. <n>Naharai from Beeroth. He carried Joab’s <i>sword</i> and <i>shield</i>. <n>Ira and Gareb from the people called Ithrites. <n>And Uriah the <i>Hittite</i>. <n>There are 31 names in this list. This may be because Abner killed Asahel. Then perhaps somebody else belonged to the 30 to make the proper number. (See 2:23.) <n>Together their number was 37. <n>The number 37 includes the two other groups of three great men. (See 23:8-23.) 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> became angry with Israel. So he caused David to cause trouble for them. He said to David, ‘Go and count the people in Israel and Judah.’


text:
So the king said to Joab and the leaders of the army, ‘Go from Dan to Beersheba, through all the <i>tribes</i> of Israel. Count all the men who can fight. I want to know how many they are.’


text:
But Joab spoke to the king, ‘I pray that the <i>LORD</i> your God will make their numbers very much greater. So then there might be 100 men for each man that there is now. And I pray that you will see it. But, my master, it is not good that you want to do this!’


text:
But the king caused Joab and his officers to obey him. So they went out to count the people in Israel.


text:
They crossed the River Jordan. And they stayed south of the town called Aroer in a valley. Then they went through Gad to Jazer. 


text:
They went to Gilead and to Kadesh in the land of the <i>Hittites</i>. Then they went on to Dan and west to Sidon. 


text:
Then they went south to the strong city called Tyre. And they went to all the towns of the <i>Hivites</i> and the <i>Canaanites</i>. Then they came to Beersheba in the south of Judah.


text:
Joab gave a report to the king. The numbers of men who were able to use a <i>sword</i> to fight were 800 000 in Israel and in Judah 500 000. <n>The <i>LORD punishes</i> David for his <i>sin</i></n>


text:
David had counted the men who were able to fight. But now he was sorry that he had done it. He said to the <i>LORD</i>, ‘What I have done was a bad <i>sin</i>. Please <i>forgive</i> me. I have been a fool.’


text:
The <i>LORD</i> spoke to Gad, David’s <i>prophet</i>, the next morning. He spoke before David got up. 


text:
So Gad went to David and he said, ‘Would you choose three years when you have no food. Or would you choose three months when you are running from your enemies? Or should there be three days of strong illness in the country? Now think carefully. I will take your answer to him who sent me.’


text:
David said to Gad, ‘I am in a lot of trouble. But I do not want men to <i>punish</i> me. I want the <i>LORD</i> to <i>punish</i> us, because he is kind.’


text:
So, from that morning, the <i>LORD</i> caused illness to Israel for three days. And 70 000 <i>Israelites</i> died in that time. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i>’s <i>angel</i> was ready to destroy Jerusalem. But the <i>LORD</i> was sorry for the people and he said to the <i>angel</i>, ‘Stop killing the people! Put your hand down now.’ The <i>angel</i> was then at the place where Araunah worked with his <i>grain</i>. Araunah was from the people called <i>Jebusites</i>.


text:
David saw the <i>angel</i> who was killing the people. So he spoke to the <i>LORD</i>. ‘I have <i>sinned</i>. These people have followed me like sheep. They have done nothing that is wrong. <i>Punish</i> me and my family. Do not <i>punish</i> the people’, he said. <n>David builds an <i>altar</i></n>


text:
Gad went to David on that day and Gad said to him, ‘Go up. And build an <i>altar</i> to the <i>LORD</i> at the place where Araunah works with his <i>grain</i>.’ 


text:
Araunah looked and he saw the king and his men. They were coming towards him. So he went out in front of the king. He bent with his face to the ground.


text:
Araunah said, ‘My <i>lord</i>, why have you come to your servant?’ <n>‘I have come to buy this place where you work with your <i>grain</i>’, David answered. ‘I want to build an <i>altar</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. Then he will stop this illness.’


text:
‘Take anything that you want, my <i>lord</i>’, said Araunah, ‘Here are male cows, and tools and <i>yokes</i> of wood. 


text:
My <i>lord</i>, I give all this to the king.’ And he said, ‘I pray that the <i>LORD</i> your God will accept your <i>offering</i>.’


text:
But the king replied to Araunah, ‘No, I must pay you for it. I will not <i>sacrifice</i> an <i>offering</i> that costs me nothing.’ <n>So David bought the cows and the land for 1¼ pounds (0.6 kilos) of <i>silver</i>. 


text:
Then he built an <i>altar</i> and he <i>sacrificed burnt offerings</i> and <i>peace offerings</i> there. Then the <i>LORD</i> answered David’s <i>prayer</i> and the illness stopped.


text:
King David was old. He was very old. He could not get warm, even when people put blankets over him. 


text:
So his servants said to him, ‘We will look for a young woman who has never had sex for our master the king. She can be with the king and she can be his nurse. And she can lie at your side so that our master the king will be warm.’ 


text:
So they looked through all the country called Israel for a beautiful girl. And they found Abishag. She was from Shunem. And they brought her to the king. 


text:
The girl was very beautiful. And she was very kind to the king. She did what the king needed. But the king did not have sex with her.


text:
Then Adonijah (David’s son) demanded this. ‘I want to be the king.’ His mother’s name was Haggith. He got men that were ready to ride on horses. And he had 50 men to run in front of him. 


text:
His father had always let him do whatever he wanted to do. (So) his father never asked him, ‘Why are you doing that?’ Also, Adonijah was very handsome. He was (the son of David that was) born next after Absalom. 


text:
And Adonijah talked (about this) with Joab and Abiathar. Joab was the son of (David’s sister) Zeruiah and Abiathar was the <i>priest</i>. They said that they would help Adonijah.


text:
But these people did not join Adonijah’s group: <br/>· Zadok the <i>priest</i> <br/>· Benaiah the son of Jehoiada <br/>· Nathan the <i>prophet</i> <br/>· Shimei and Rei <br/>· David’s own soldiers.


text:
Then Adonijah <i>sacrificed</i> sheep, cows and young fat cows. He did it at the Stone (called) Zoheleth. It was near to the well at Rogel. He asked all these people to come to the meeting: <br/>· all his brothers, who were the sons of the king <br/>· all the men in Judah who were the king’s officers.


text:
But he did not ask these people to come to the meeting: <br/>· Nathan the <i>prophet</i> <br/>· Benaiah <br/>· David’s own soldiers <br/>· (Adonijah’s) brother Solomon.


text:
Bathsheba was the mother of Solomon. Nathan asked her, ‘Have you heard this? Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king. Our master, David, does not know about it. 


text:
Go to King David and say to him, “My master the king, did you not promise this to me, your servant? ‘Your son Solomon will become king after me. He will sit on my <i>throne</i>.’ So why has Adonijah become king?” 


text:
While you are still talking to the king, I will come in after you. I will say that your words are true.’


text:
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. The king was very old. And Abishag, the girl from Shunem, was with him. 


text:
And she said to him, ‘My master, you promised this to me, your servant, and to the <i>LORD</i> your God. “Solomon, your son, will be king after me and he will sit on my <i>throne</i>”, you said. 


text:
He has <i>sacrificed</i> many cows, fat young cows and sheep. He has asked these people to come to the meeting: <br/>· Abiathar the <i>priest</i> <br/>· Joab the leader of the army. <n>But he did not ask your servant Solomon to come.


text:
My master the king, everyone in Israel is waiting for you to say something. They want to know from you who will sit on the <i>throne</i> of my master the king after him. 


text:
If you do not tell them, this will happen. Soon after they bury you with your <i>ancestors</i>, they will put me and my son Solomon into a prison.’


text:
And (his servants) told the king, ‘Nathan the <i>prophet</i> is here.’ So Nathan the prophet went in to the king’s (bedroom). And he bent low, with his face to the ground. 


text:
Nathan said, ‘My master the king, have you said that Adonijah will become king after you? Will he sit on your <i>throne</i>?


text:
This is what he has done today. He has <i>sacrificed</i> large numbers of cows, fat young cows and sheep. He has asked these people to be with him: <br/>· all the king’s sons <br/>· the leaders of the army <br/>· Abiathar the <i>priest</i>. <n>Even now, they are eating and drinking with him. They are saying, “We pray that King Adonijah will live for a long time!”


text:
But he did not ask these people to be with him: <br/>· me, your servant <br/>· Zadok the <i>priest</i> <br/>· Benaiah the son of Jehoiada <br/>· Solomon your servant.


text:
Has my master the king done this? Has he not told his servants who will sit on the <i>throne</i> of my master the king after him?’


text:
Then King David answered him. He said, ‘Send Bathsheba to me!’ So Bathsheba came to the king and she stood in front of him. 


text:
Then the king spoke a very serious promise. He said, ‘I am sure that the <i>LORD</i> is alive! He has saved me from every kind of trouble. 


text:
As surely as that is true, today I will <i>keep my promise</i> to you. I said it to you and to the <i>LORD</i>, the God of Israel. Your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my <i>throne</i> instead of me.’ 


text:
Then Bathsheba bent down low with her face to the ground. She said this, with her knees on the ground in front of the king. ‘I pray that my master King David will live always!’


text:
And King David said, ‘Send to me Zadok the <i>priest</i>, Nathan the <i>prophet</i> and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.’ And they came to the king. 


text:
And the king said to them, ‘Put my son Solomon on my own <i>donkey</i>. Then take him down to Gihon with all your master’s servants. 


text:
There, Zadok the <i>priest</i> and Nathan the <i>prophet</i> can <i>anoint</i> him king over Israel. Make a noise with a <i>trumpet</i> and shout, “We pray that King Solomon will live for a long time!” 


text:
Then you must come up with him (to Jerusalem). He must come and he must sit on my <i>throne</i>. He must rule instead of me. I have made him ruler over Israel and Judah.’ 


text:
Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, answered the king, ‘I agree! And I pray that the <i>LORD</i> will say that too. He is the God of my master the king. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> was with my master the king. We pray that he will be with Solomon also. We pray that he will make the <i>throne</i> of Solomon even greater than the <i>throne</i> of my master King David!’


text:
So these people put Solomon on King David’s <i>donkey</i>: <br/>· Zadok the <i>priest</i> <br/>· Nathan the <i>prophet</i> <br/>· Benaiah the son of Jehoiada <br/>· the <i>Kerethites</i> and the <i>Pelethites</i>. <n>Then they took him down to Gihon.


text:
Zadok the <i>priest anointed</i> Solomon. He used <i>oil</i> from a special bottle that was in the <i>holy place</i>. Then they made a loud noise with a <i>trumpet</i>. And all the people shouted, ‘We pray that King Solomon will live for a long time!’ 


text:
And all the people went up after him. They used their mouths to make music with things called flutes. And they were very happy. The noise caused the ground to move under them!


text:
Adonijah and all the people that were with him heard the noise. They were finishing their special meal. When he heard the sound of the <i>trumpet</i>, Joab asked, ‘What does all the noise in the city mean?’ 


text:
Even while Joab was speaking, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the <i>priest</i>, arrived. Adonijah said to him, ‘Come in! You are a good man. I think that you are bringing good news.’ 


text:
These people put Solomon on to the king’s <i>donkey</i>: <br/>· Zadok the <i>priest</i> <br/>· Nathan the <i>prophet</i> <br/>· Benaiah the son of Jehoiada <br/>· the <i>Kerethites</i> and the <i>Pelethites</i>. <n>Then they took him to Gihon.


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Zadok the <i>priest</i> and Nathan the <i>prophet anointed</i> Solomon king at Gihon. From there they have gone (to Jerusalem). While they went, they made loud, happy noises. The sound of them is in all the city called Gihon. That is the noise that you can hear. 


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And the king’s officers have told our master King David that they are very happy about it. They said, “We pray that your God will make Solomon’s name more famous than your name. And we pray that his <i>throne</i> will be greater than your <i>throne</i>.” Then the king bent his head down on his bed. He said that God was great, 


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with these words. “The <i>LORD</i> is the great God of Israel. He has let my eyes see who will be king after me. He is on my <i>throne</i> today.” ’


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But Adonijah, because he was afraid of Solomon, went to the <i>holy place</i>. He held the points on the corners of the <i>altar</i> there. 


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Then a servant told Solomon, ‘Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. He is holding the points on the corners of the <i>altar</i>. He is saying, “I pray that Solomon will promise this to me today. (I pray that) he will not kill his servant with the <i>sword</i>.” ’ 


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Solomon answered, ‘If he is a good man, not one hair from his head will fall to the ground. But if he is a bad man, he will die.’ 


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Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought Adonijah down from the <i>altar</i> in the <i>holy place</i>. And Adonijah came and he bent down in front of King Solomon. And Solomon said to him, ‘Go to your home.’ <n>Notes about chapter 1</n> <n>King David had several wives. They included Michal, Abigail, Bathsheba and Haggith. David had many children, (2 Samuel 3:2-5). Some of them were already dead, like Absalom. The story of his death is in 2 Samuel chapters 15-19. Now Adonijah was David’s oldest son who was still alive. So Adonijah thought that he should be the next king of Israel and Judah. But Solomon’s mother said this. David had promised that Solomon should be the next king. In this chapter, Bathsheba caused David to <i>keep his promise</i>. <n>‘Sacrificed’, verse 9, is an important word in the Bible. In the first few chapters of Leviticus, it means that the <i>Jews</i> burnt things, like meat and bread. They did it because of two reasons. <br/>· God said that they should do it, Leviticus chapters 1-7. <br/>· They believed that it made God happy, Genesis 8:20-22. <n>There are many names in this chapter. <br/>· Adonijah was the fourth son of David, (2 Samuel 3:2-5). The first three were probably dead. <br/>· Abishag was a girl from the town called Shunem. It was near the Sea of Galilee. <br/>· A <i>priest</i> and a <i>prophet</i>. <n>Nathan was probably the prophet with David in Jerusalem. <n>Abiathar was probably the <i>priest</i> with the <i>ark</i> of the <i>covenant</i>. <n>The story of the ark of the covenant is earlier in the Bible. <br/>· Joab and Benaiah. They were leaders of the army. <n>Joab was David’s sister’s son. He was the leader of most of the army. <n>Benaiah was the leader of the soldiers that were with David. <br/>· Shimei and Rei. <br/> Some Bible students think that Shimei was David’s brother. <br/> Rei may mean ‘and friends’. <br/>· Kerethites and Pelethites. They were soldiers that David paid to help him. <br/> They came from countries like Philistia and Crete. <br/>· Gihon was near Jerusalem, to the east. <br/>· Rogel was near Jerusalem, to the south. <br/>· Zoheleth. Bible students do not know where this was. 


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(David) said, ‘Soon I will die like everyone else on the earth. So, be strong. And show people that you have grown into a man. 


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Do what the <i>LORD</i> your God asks you to do. Live in his ways. Continue to obey his rules and his <i>laws</i>. Do what he has decided. (Do this because) it is right. Do everything that he wants you to do. Moses wrote it all in his <i>law books</i>. If you do that, you will do well everywhere and in everything.


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And the <i>LORD</i> will <i>keep his promise</i> to me. This is what he promised to me. <n>“Someone from your <i>family</i> will always rule Israel. But they must (do these things): <br/>· Live properly. <br/>· Believe in me. <br/>· Try as much as they can to obey me about everything.”


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Also, you know what Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me. He killed the two leaders of Israel’s armies. He killed Abner, the son of Ner and Amasa, the son of Jether. He did it like there was a war. But there was no war! Their blood is on the belt round his body and on the shoes on his feet. 


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But be kind to the sons of Barzillai, who lived in Gilead. Let them eat at your table. (Do this) because they were kind to me. (They were kind) when I was running away from your brother Absalom. 


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And remember, Shimei, the son of Gera, is with you. He came from Bahurim, in Benjamin. He prayed that really bad things would happen to me. He did that when I went to Mahanaim. But he did come down to meet me at the (River) Jordan. So I promised him, with the <i>LORD</i>’s name, that I would not kill him with the <i>sword</i>. 


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But do not think that he has done nothing wrong. You are a <i>wise</i> man. And so you will do what is right. You know what you must do to him. He is an old man. But you must (cause your servants to) kill him!’


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Then David (died and he) rested with his <i>ancestors</i>. And they buried him in the City of David, (Jerusalem). 


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David had ruled Israel for 40 years. He was (king) 7 years in Hebron, then 33 years in Jerusalem. <n>Solomon makes himself safe</n>


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Adonijah was the son of Haggith. He went to Bathsheba, who was the mother of Solomon. And she said, ‘Do you come in <i>peace</i>?’ He answered, ‘(I do come) in <i>peace</i>.’ 


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And he said, ‘You know that I should be king. All Israel thought that I should be their king. But things changed, and now my brother is the king. The <i>LORD</i> has made him king. 


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So he said, ‘Ask King Solomon to give me Abishag, the girl from Shunem, as my wife. He will not refuse you.’ 


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So Bathsheba went to King Solomon, to speak on behalf of Adonijah. The king stood up to meet her. He was polite to her. Then he sat down on his <i>throne</i>. And he <i>ordered</i> (his servants to bring) another <i>throne</i> for his mother. So she sat down at his right side. 


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‘I have one small thing to ask you’, she said. ‘Do not refuse me.’ And the king answered her, ‘Ask me, mother! I will not refuse you!’ 


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And King Solomon said to his mother, ‘You are asking that Adonijah can marry Abishag. You are almost asking me that my older brother should become king! (That is what) Abiathar the <i>priest</i> and Joab the son of Zeruiah (want)!’ 


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Then King Solomon promised this to the <i>LORD</i>. ‘I want God to hurt me very much if Adonijah does not die because of this. And that is what I pray!


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Now, as surely as God is alive, Adonijah will die today. God has done all these things, which he promised to me: <br/>· He has made me safe. <br/>· He has caused me to sit on the <i>throne</i> of my father David. <br/>· My children will be kings after me.’


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So King Solomon <i>ordered</i> Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, to kill Adonijah. And so he attacked him and he died.


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The king said to Abiathar the <i>priest</i>, ‘Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Really, you should die. But I will not kill you now. (That is) because you carried the <i>ark</i> of the <i>LORD</i> God in front of my father David. Also, the trouble that happened to my father happened to you.’ 


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So Solomon stopped Abiathar from being a <i>priest</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. The things that the <i>LORD</i> said at Shiloh about Eli’s <i>family</i> had now happened.


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Then the news about this came to Joab. Now Joab had talked with Adonijah, but not with Absalom (about how they could make Adonijah king.) So Joab hurried to the <i>holy place</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. He held the points on the corners of the <i>altar</i> there. 


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And they told Solomon that Joab had hurried to the <i>holy place</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. (They said that) he was next to the <i>altar</i> there. Then Solomon said to Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, ‘Go there! Knock him down!’ 


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So Benaiah went into the <i>holy place</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. He said to Joab, ‘The king says, “Come out!” ’ But (Joab) answered, ‘No! I will die here!’ So Benaiah sent a report to the king. He said, ‘This is what Joab said to me.’ 


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Then the king said to Benaiah, ‘Do as he says. Knock him down and bury him. So you will remove from me and from my father’s <i>family</i> the blood that Joab poured out. It was the blood of people that he should not have killed.


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The <i>LORD</i> will <i>punish</i> him because of the blood that he poured out. He attacked two men and he killed them with his <i>sword</i>. My father David did not know about this. Both men were better and more honest than Joab was. (These were the two men:) <br/>· Abner, the son of Ner. He was the leader of Israel’s army. <br/>· Amasa, the son of Jether. He was the leader of Judah’s army.


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So Joab and his children and their children will always have troubles because they killed those men. But David’s children, their children and his <i>throne</i> will always be in <i>peace</i> with (help from) the <i>LORD</i>.’ 


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So Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, went and he knocked down Joab. He killed him and (Joab’s family) buried him in his own land in the country. 


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And the king chose Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, to be the leader of the army instead of (Joab). Also, the king chose Zadok the <i>priest</i> to (be the leader of the <i>priests</i>) instead of Abiathar.


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Then the king asked for Shimei to come to him. (The king) said (to Shimei), ‘Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live in it. Do not go out from it to anywhere else. 


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On the day that you leave it to cross the Kidron Valley, you will die. You will die because of what you yourself have done.’ 


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And Shimei said to the king, ‘Your words are good. Your servant (Shimei) will do as my master the king has said.’ So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for many days. 


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But after three years, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away. They went to Achish, who was the son of Maacah, the king of Gath. Someone told Shimei, ‘Your slaves are in Gath.’ 


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So Shimei went out and he prepared his <i>donkey</i> (for a journey). He went to Achish in Gath to look for his slaves. He went out (from Jerusalem) and he brought back his slaves from Gath. 


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Someone reported to Solomon that Shimei had travelled from Jerusalem to Gath. Then he had returned (with his slaves). 


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So the king asked for Shimei to come to him. (The king) said (to Shimei), ‘You spoke a very serious promise to the <i>LORD</i> (to obey me). I <i>ordered</i> you not to leave (Jerusalem). If you did, you would die. And you said to me at that time, “Your words are good. I will obey you.” 


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But you have not <i>kept your promise</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. You did not do what I <i>ordered</i> you to do.’ 


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The king also said to Shimei, ‘You know in your mind all the bad things that you did to my father David. Now the <i>LORD</i> will <i>punish</i> you because of the wrong things that you did. 


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But good things will happen to King Solomon. The <i>LORD</i> will make David’s <i>throne</i> to be safe for always.’ 


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Then the king told Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, the thing to do. So he went out and he knocked Shimei down. And he killed him. So Solomon now ruled the country. Nobody could say that he was not the proper king. <n>Notes about chapter 2</n> <n>The first 12 verses of this chapter tell us about the last days of David. In them, David told Solomon that some people were dangerous. They included Adonijah, Abiathar, Joab and Shimei. <n>Verses 13-46 tell us what Solomon did about this. He killed three of them so that they could not be a danger to him. <n>In verses 13-25, Adonijah thought that he should be king. That was because he was older than Solomon. If he could marry Abishag, he would take David’s place. Then he thought that the people would make him king! But Solomon sent Benaiah to kill Adonijah. <n>In verses 26-27, Solomon sent the <i>priest</i> Abiathar away. He did not let Abiathar be an important <i>priest</i> again. So what God had spoken about in 1 Samuel 2:31-36 happened. Now Zadok was the only important <i>priest</i>, verse 35. <n>In verses 28-35, Solomon sent Benaiah to kill Joab. Joab thought that he was safe in the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>holy place</i>. But he was wrong. Joab had killed innocent people. He had ‘poured out their blood’. ‘Innocent’ means that they had not done very bad things. Joab had no reason to kill them. This is what ‘remove the blood from me’ means. It seemed like the king had killed those innocent people! But when the king killed Joab, he removed that thought from people’s minds. David’s <i>family</i> could now enjoy the promise in Deuteronomy 19:13. <n>In verses 36-46, Solomon removes the last of David’s enemies. <n>There are many names in this chapter. Some are in the notes on Chapter 1. Other names include these: <br/>· Abner was the son of Ner. He was the cousin of King Saul. Joab killed him, 2 Samuel 3:27. David wrote a sad song about Abner, 2 Samuel 3:33-39. <br/>· Ner was the brother of Kish, 1 Chronicles 9:36. Kish was the father of King Saul. <br/>· Amasa was a son of David’s sister Abigail, (2 Samuel 17:25). 2 Samuel 20:10 says that Joab killed him. <br/>· Jether was the husband of Abigail. 2 Samuel 17:25 spells it Ithra. Perhaps Ishmael was his <i>ancestor</i>. <br/>· Barzillai. The story starts at 2 Samuel 19:31. Perhaps Psalm 23 was also about what Barzillai did on behalf of David. <br/>· Shimei met David, when David returned from Barzillai to Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 19:20. 


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Solomon made a <i>covenant</i> with Pharaoh, who was the king of Egypt. Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter. He brought her to the city of David. Then Solomon finished the things that he was building. (They were these buildings:) <br/>· his <i>palace</i> <br/>· the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i> <br/>· the wall round Jerusalem.


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But the people still <i>sacrificed</i> in high places, because they had not yet built a <i>temple</i> for the <i>LORD</i>’s Name.


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(This is how) Solomon showed that he loved the <i>LORD</i>. He obeyed all the rules of his father David except (one). He burned <i>sacrifices</i> and he burned <i>incense</i> in country places. 


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The king went to Gibeon to <i>sacrifice</i> (to the <i>LORD</i>). That was the most important country place. Solomon sacrificed there a thousand times on the <i>altar</i>. 


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At Gibeon, Solomon saw the <i>LORD</i> during the night, in a dream. And God said, ‘Ask me for whatever thing that you want me to give to you.’


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Solomon’s answered, ‘You were very kind to your servant, my father David. (This was) because he always believed in you. He was a good man and he was honest. You have continued to be very kind to him. You have given to him a son to sit on his <i>throne</i> to this day. 


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Now, my <i>LORD</i> and God, you have made (me,) your servant king, instead of my father. But I am only a little child. I do not know how to do my duties. 


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Your servant is here, among the people (in the country) that you have chosen. It is a great country. There are too many people to count, or to find out how many that there are. 


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So give to your servant a mind that understands things. So I will be able to rule your people. I will be able to see who is right. And I will be able to see who is wrong. That is how I will be able to rule your great country.’


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So God said to him, ‘I will give you what you have asked for. I will do it for (these reasons): <br/>· You have asked for a mind that understands how to rule people fairly. <br/>· You have not asked for a long life or to be very rich. <br/>· You have not asked for the death of your enemies. <n>I will give to you a mind that is <i>wise</i>. And I will give to you a mind that understands things. As a result, there never has been, or never will be, anyone like you.


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I will give you more than this. I will give to you the things that you did not ask for. (I will make you) rich. (People will know that you are) great. While you are alive, there will be no better king than you. 


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Also, I will give to you a long life, if you (do this). Live as I want you to live. Obey my rules and my <i>laws</i>. That is what David your father did.’


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Then Solomon awoke. (And he knew) that it was a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and he stood in front of the <i>ark</i> of the <i>covenant</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. He <i>sacrificed</i> (animals) and he burned them. He gave a <i>peace</i> gift (to God). Then he gave a very good meal to all his servants. <n>Solomon uses his <i>wisdom</i></n>


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And one woman said (to the king), ‘Oh! My <i>lord</i> (and king)! I and this woman live in the same house. And I had a baby while she lived in the house (with me). 


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And three days after (my child) was born, she also had a baby. We were alone in the house. Only the two of us were there. There was no stranger there. 


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So she got up at midnight and she took my son from my side. I, your servant, was asleep (when she did this). She put him by her breast and she put her dead son by my breast. 


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When I got up in the morning to feed my son, he was dead! So I looked carefully at him in the morning (light). Then I saw that he was not my son. He was not the son that was born to me!’ 


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Then the other woman said, ‘No! It is my son that is alive. Your son is dead!’ But the first woman answered, ‘No! The dead boy is yours. My son is alive!’ And so they argued in front of the king.


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Then the king said, ‘This (woman) says, “My son is alive and your son is dead.” But the other (woman) says, “No! Your son is dead and my son is alive.” ’ 


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And the king said, ‘Cut the child that is alive into two pieces. Give half to one (woman) and half to the other (woman).’ 


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Then the woman whose son was alive spoke. She really loved her son. So she said to the king, ‘My <i>lord</i>, please give the baby that is alive to her. Do not kill him.’ But the other (woman) said, ‘Neither you nor I will have him. Cut him in half!’ 


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Then this was what the king decided. ‘Give the baby that is alive to the first woman. She is its mother. Do not kill it.’ 


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Everybody in Israel heard what the king had decided. And they were really afraid of the king. They knew that he used the <i>wisdom</i> from God to decide fairly. <n>Notes about chapter 3</n> <n>The word ‘wisdom’ at the top of this chapter means this. You are able to <b>use </b>the things that you <b>know </b>in a <b>good </b>way. <n>Verse 1. In this kind of <i>covenant</i>, their countries agreed to be friendly to each other. There should be no wars between them. <n>The city of David was probably the part of Jerusalem on the east. Solomon’s wife lived there in her own house. It was probably near to Solomon’s house, 1 Kings 7:8. She lived there 13 years, until Solomon had built his palace, 1 Kings 7:1. A palace is a big house that a king lives in. <n>The temple was the house that Solomon built for the <i>LORD</i> in Jerusalem. He built it where David put the <i>ark</i> of the <i>covenant</i>, 2 Samuel 6:12-18. <n>Verse 2. Deuteronomy 12:13-14 contains an important rule for the <i>Jews</i>. They must <i>sacrifice</i> to God only in one place. But, because they had not built that one place, they did it in many places. They obeyed Exodus 20:24 instead! <n>Verse 3. Some translations of the Bible say, ‘high places’ or ‘hills’, instead of ‘country places’. But they were probably any place out in the country. Solomon built the <i>temple</i> on a hill called Moriah, or Zion, in Jerusalem. Incense makes a very nice smell when people burn it. <n>Verse 4. Gibeon was about 10 kilometres north-west of Jerusalem. <n>Verses 5-7. God accepted the meat and bread that Solomon <i>sacrificed</i> in Gibeon. This was because there was no <i>temple</i> in Jerusalem yet. God spoke often to people in dreams. There are examples in Genesis 31:11 and 41:25. Solomon was probably 17 or 18 years old when this happened. <n>Verse 8. ‘Country’ does not mean the same here as it does in verses 2-4. <n>Verse 9. ‘A mind that understands things’. We think that Solomon meant ‘a mind that knows what God wants’. Solomon wanted to know that so that he would always do the right thing. <n>Verse 14. ‘Live as I want you to live’ is another way to say ‘obey my rules’. Psalm 1 helps us to understand what it means. <n>Verse 15. ‘The <i>ark</i> of the <i>covenant</i> of the <i>LORD</i>’ was very important. The ark was a box. Exodus 25:10-22 tells us how the <i>Jews</i> made it. They put things in to it. These things helped them to remember that God was good to them in their journey from Egypt. The covenant included what God and the Jews agreed. They agreed to love and to obey him. He agreed to be their God and to make them safe. ‘LORD’, with four capital letters, is an English way to write the <i>Hebrew</i> word ‘Jehovah’. Jehovah was God’s covenant name. Leviticus chapter 3 and 7:11-21 tell us about the ‘<i>peace</i> gift’. When they gave it to God, people ate food together. This made them happy. They were ‘at <i>peace</i>’ with each other and with God. When they burnt animals to God, they became ‘at peace’ with God. <n>Verses 16-28. Here is an example of how Solomon used his <i>wisdom</i>. People who were arguing came to him. They knew that he would decide fairly. So perhaps it was the wrong people, like the second woman, who were afraid! 


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And these were his important officers: <n>Azariah, (who was) the son of Zadok. Zadok (was an important) <i>priest</i>.


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Elihoreph and Ahijah. They were the sons of Shisha. They wrote down (what happened). <n>Jehoshaphat, (who was) the son of Ahilud. (Jehoshaphat) told people (what Solomon wanted).


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Benaiah, (who was) the son of Jehoiada. (Benaiah was) the leader of the army. <n>Zadok and Abiathar (were) <i>priests</i>.


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Azariah, (who was) the son of Nathan. He told the 12 officers (in verse 7) what to do. <n>Zabud, (who was also) a son of Nathan. (Zabud was) a <i>priest</i> and he was a friend of the king.


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Ahishar, (who) kept (the king’s) houses and fields well. <n>Adoniram, (who was) the son of Abda. (Adoniram) told the workers (what they should do).


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Solomon also had 12 (other) officers. They were in (different) places in all Israel. They supplied food for the king and for the people that lived in his houses. Each (officer) had to supply food for one month in (each) year.


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Ben-abinadab. (He supplied food from) the hills near Dor. (Abinadab) had married Solomon’s daughter called Taphath.


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Baana, (who was) the son of Ahilud. (He supplied food from) Taanach and Megiddo and (from) all of Beth-shean. (Beth-shean) is near Zarethan, (which is) below Jezreel. (He also supplied food) from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and across to Jokmeam.


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Ben-geber. (He supplied food from) Ramoth Gilead. The villages of Manasseh’s son Jair in Gilead were his. Also, the country round Argob in Bashan (was his). It included 60 large cities. The cities had walls and long pieces of metal (to lock) the gates.


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Ahimaaz. (He supplied food from) Naphtali. (Ahimaaz) had married Basemath, (who was) Solomon’s daughter.


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Geber, (who was) the son of Uri. (He supplied food from) Gilead. (Gilead was) the country where Sihon was king. He was king of the people called Amorites. Also, (Gilead was) the country where Og was the King of Bashan. (Geber) was the only officer in (all) this country. <n>Solomon’s <i>kingdom</i></n>


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There were very many people in Judah and Israel. There were as many of them as (there are bits of) sand by the sea (shore). They ate (their food) and they drank (their drink). So they were very happy.


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And Solomon ruled over all the <i>kingdom</i>. (The kingdom) was from the River (Euphrates in Babylon) to the country where the Philistines live. (They live) near the border of Egypt. The people (from these places) brought gifts (to Solomon) and they were his servants all the days of his life.


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And this is what (his officers) supplied Solomon each day. <n>30 cors (6600 litres or 1700 gallons) of flour <n>60 cors (13 200 litres or 3400 gallons) of <i>wheat</i>


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10 cows that ate in the farm buildings <n>20 cows that ate in the fields <n>100 sheep <n>also (animals called) deer, gazelle, roebuck and chickens.


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(This is) because (Solomon) ruled all (the land) west of the River (Euphrates in Babylon). (He ruled) from Tiphsah to Gaza. (He ruled) all the <i>kingdoms</i> west of the River (Euphrates). There was no war in any of these places. 


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While Solomon ruled, Judah and Israel were safe. Each (person) lived under their <i>vine</i> or <i>fig tree</i>, from Dan to Beersheba. 


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The 12 officers supplied food for King Solomon and for everybody that ate with him. (The king) got everything that he needed. 


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(Each officer) brought his part (each month). They brought food and dry grass for the horses that pulled <i>chariots</i> and for the other horses. <n>Verse 27. The 12 officers are the men in verses 8-19. <n>Solomon’s <i>wisdom</i></n>


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God gave Solomon <i>wisdom</i>. He could see what things mean. So he understood them well. (He had more wisdom) than there are bits of sand on the sea shore! 


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Solomon had more <i>wisdom</i> than all the men (that lived) in the East. (His wisdom) was greater than all the wisdom in Egypt. 


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He had more <i>wisdom</i> than any other man. This includes the man called Ethan the Ezrahite. And (it includes) Heman, Calcol and Darda. (Calcol and Darda were) the sons of Mahol. (Solomon) was famous in all the countries round (Israel). 


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And he described (many) plants: (He described large ones) like the <i>cedar</i> trees that grow in Lebanon. And (he described small ones) like the small plant called hyssop. Hyssop grows on walls. And he taught (people) about all kinds of animals, birds, fishes and things that move on their stomachs. 


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(People) came from all countries to listen to the <i>wisdom</i> of Solomon. Every king on earth who had heard about his wisdom (sent) someone. <n>Notes about chapter 4</n> <n>Verses 7-19. The <i>Hebrew</i> word ‘ben’ means ‘son’ or ‘son of’. So, Ben-hur is ‘son of Hur’, and so on. ‘He supplied food from’ is not in the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew Bible just has ‘in’ in each verse. So, verse 8 is ‘Ben-hur in the hills in Ephraim’, and so on. This translation uses the words from verse 7 for all 12 officers. Some Bible students think this: Each place grew food that was best for just one month. That was the month when they had to supply food! <n>Verse 13. The long pieces of metal locked the gates so that people outside could not open them. <n>Verse 19. The reports about Sihon and Og are in Numbers 21:21-35. <n>Verse 21. A kingdom is the country where a king rules. <n>Verse 22. Wheat is the fruit of a plant. People make bread from it. <n>Verse 25. The vine is a plant. It grows fruits called grapes. The fig is a fruit, too. <n>Verse 26. Bible students are not sure if it is 4000 or 40 000. A chariot is a like a car but horses pulled it. Soldiers rode in them. Some Bible students think that ‘12 000 horses’ should be ‘12 000 men that rode on horses’. <n>Verses 29-34. The notes in front of 1 Kings 3:1 explain the word ‘wisdom’. The ‘East’ and ‘Egypt’ (verse 30) mean ‘everywhere’. 1 Chronicles 2:6 tells us that Ethan, Heman, Calcol and Darda (verse 31) were famous because of their wisdom. Some Bible students think ‘sons of Mahol’ should be ‘singers’. <n>Verse 32. There is a whole book of Solomon’s proverbs in the Bible. Each proverb teaches something that is important. 


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Hiram (was the) king of Tyre. He heard that Solomon had become king after his father (David). So (Hiram) sent his servants to Solomon, because Hiram had always been a friend of David. 


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‘You know about my father David. He was unable to build a <i>temple</i> for the Name of the <i>LORD</i> his God. This was because people on all sides fought wars against my father David. (They did this) until God caused him to beat his enemies. 


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But now the <i>LORD</i> my God has made it quiet all round (me). There are no enemies and nothing to destroy anything. 


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So, I have decided to build a <i>temple</i> for the Name of the <i>LORD</i> my God. This is what the LORD said to my father David. (The LORD) said, “I will put your son on your <i>throne</i> after you. He will build the temple for my Name.” 


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And you know that none of us can make wood from trees like the men from Sidon. So now, tell (your men) that they should cut down <i>cedar</i> trees in Lebanon for me. And my men will (work) with your men. And I will pay you whatever you ask for your men.’


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Hiram was very happy when he heard Solomon’s message. And he said, ‘<i>Praise</i> the <i>LORD</i> today, because he gave David a <i>wise</i> son to rule over this great country.’ 


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So Hiram sent this message to Solomon. ‘I have received (the message) that you sent to me. I will do all that you ask. (I will send you) <i>cedar</i> wood and <i>pine</i> wood. 


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My men will pull them from Lebanon to the sea. And I will tie several trees together. And then I will pull them along the top of the sea to where you want them. There I will make them into separate trees again, and you will take them away. And you will supply food for my <i>palace</i>, as I want.’ 


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So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the <i>cedar</i> wood and <i>pine</i> wood that (Solomon) wanted. 


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Then Solomon supplied Hiram with 20 000 cors (4.4 million litres or 1.1 million gallons) of <i>wheat</i> as food for his <i>palace</i>. He also (supplied) 20 cors (4400 litres or 1100 gallons) of <i>olive</i> oil. Solomon sent this every year to Hiram. 


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And the <i>LORD</i> gave <i>wisdom</i> to Solomon, as (the LORD) had promised to him. Also, there was no war between Hiram and Solomon. They agreed that they would not fight.


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He sent them to Lebanon in groups of 10 000 men each month. So, they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was the master of these men. 


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The king <i>ordered</i> them to take large pieces of the best stone that they had cut. They had to take these from the hills where they had cut them. These were the stones that they would build the <i>foundation</i> of the <i>temple</i> with. 


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So the men that worked for Solomon and for Hiram prepared the stone and the wood to build the <i>temple</i>. <n>Notes about chapter 5</n> <n>Verses 1-6. The temple was God’s special house in Jerusalem. God did not let David build it, because David was a ‘man of war’, 1 Chronicles 22:8-9. Now there was no war, so Solomon could build a temple for ‘the Name of the <i>LORD</i> his God’. God had promised this to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13. Solomon asked Hiram to supply wood for the temple. Lebanon was famous because of its beautiful <i>cedar</i> trees. Hiram ruled Lebanon, where his people lived. Sidon was the most important city in Lebanon. Hiram lived in a city called Tyre. It was on an island near the coast of Lebanon. <n>Verse 7. ‘Praise’ means ‘tell someone that they are very good and great’. <n>Verse 11. Hiram’s palace means all the people that live in it. This includes his family and his servants. A palace is a special house that a king lives in. Olive oil comes from a fruit called the olive. They used this oil to cook things in. Some Bible students think that 20 cors should be 20 000 cors. <n>Verse 18. The <i>Hebrew</i> Bible has ‘the men of Gebal’ after ‘Hiram’. Bible students are not sure what this means. They are not sure who these men are. 


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So, Solomon began to build the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. It was 480 years after the <i>Jews</i> had come out from Egypt. Solomon had been king for 4 years. It was in the month called Ziv, the second month (of the year). 


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The <i>temple</i> that Solomon the king built for the <i>LORD</i> was 60 <i>cubits</i> long. It was 20 cubits wide and 30 cubits high. 


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The <i>temple</i> had a group of <i>columns</i>. It was at the front of the larger room (in the <i>temple</i>). (This group) was as wide as the temple. That is, it was 20 <i>cubits</i> wide. It was 10 cubits from the front (of the columns) to the temple itself. 


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Outside the walls of the <i>temple</i> (Solomon) built rooms at the side. These were outside the larger room of the temple and the <i>holy of holies</i>. (The side rooms) had (three) <i>storeys</i>. 


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The lowest <i>storey</i> was 5 <i>cubits</i> wide. The middle storey was 6 cubits wide and the third one was 7 cubits wide. Beams (of wood) kept the (storeys) up. (The beams) rested on stone <i>pillars</i> so they did not go into the <i>temple</i> walls. 


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When they made the <i>temple</i>, there was no sound of hammers, axes or any iron tools. They used only big stones that they had cut already. They cut them into the right shape at the place where they found them. 


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The door to the lowest <i>storey</i> was on the south side of the <i>temple</i>. And stairs went up to the middle storey and to the top storey. 


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So (Solomon) built the <i>temple</i> and he finished it. He made the roof out of beams (of wood) and <i>cedar</i> boards. 


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And he built the rooms all along the sides of the <i>temple</i>. Each room was 5 <i>cubits</i> high. <i>Cedar</i> beams fastened (the rooms) to the temple.


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‘You are building this <i>temple</i> (for me). I will do everything for you that I promised to your father David. But you must (do these things): <br/>· You must obey my <i>laws</i>. <br/>· You must obey my rules. <br/>· You must do everything that I <i>order</i> you to do.


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If you do those things, I will live among the <i>Israelites</i>. And I will not leave my people Israel.’


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He put boards (that his men made from) <i>cedar</i> wood on the inside walls. The boards went from the floor of the <i>temple</i> to its ceiling. (The men) covered the floor of the temple with <i>pine</i> wood. 


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(Solomon) made a Most <i>Holy Place</i> at the back of the <i>temple</i>. It was inside the temple and it was 20 <i>cubits</i> long. It had <i>cedar</i> boards from floor to ceiling. It made a very special place (inside the temple). 


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(They made) the inside of the <i>temple</i> with <i>cedar</i> (wood). (They made) pictures (in the wood) of plants like flowers. (They made) everything out of cedar (wood). You could not see any stone. 


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(Solomon) made the (Most <i>Holy</i>) place inside the <i>temple</i> for the <i>ark</i> of the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>covenant</i>. 


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This (Most <i>Holy Place</i> was called) the inside <i>sanctuary</i>. It was 20 <i>cubits</i> long, 20 cubits wide and 20 cubits high. (Solomon) put <i>pure</i> gold on everything (in the <i>sanctuary</i>). He also did this with the <i>cedar altar</i>. 


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Solomon covered everything inside the <i>temple</i> with <i>pure</i> gold. Also, he put a curtain that they made out of gold in front of the <i>sanctuary</i>. (Everything in the sanctuary) he covered with gold. 


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So he covered everything inside (the <i>temple</i>) with gold. He also covered with gold the <i>altar</i> by the inside <i>sanctuary</i>.


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In the inside <i>sanctuary</i>, (Solomon) made two <i>cherubs</i> from <i>olive</i> wood. Each one was 10 <i>cubits</i> high. 


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One <i>wing</i> of the first <i>cherub</i> was 5 <i>cubits</i> long. Its other <i>wing</i> was also 5 cubits long. So it was 10 cubits from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing. 


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The second <i>cherub</i> was also 10 <i>cubits</i> long. (This was because) the two cherubs were the same in size and shape. 


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(Solomon) put the <i>cherubs</i> in the inside room of the <i>temple</i>. Their <i>wings</i> were very wide. The wing of one cherub touched one wall (of the temple). The wing of the other (cherub) touched the other wall. And their wings touched each other in the middle of the room. 


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(Solomon) made pictures in the wood of <i>cherubs</i>, <i>palm</i> trees and open flowers. He put them on the walls, all round both the rooms in the <i>temple</i>. 


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He made the doors to the <i>sanctuary</i> out of <i>olive</i> wood. The wood that held the doors had 5 sides. 


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And on the doors he put pictures in the wood of <i>cherubs</i>, <i>palm</i> trees and open flowers. Then he covered the cherubs and the palm trees with very thin gold. 


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(Solomon) also made two doors out of <i>pine</i> wood (for the <i>temple</i>). Each door had two parts that turned separately. 


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He put pictures of <i>cherubs</i>, <i>palm</i> trees and open flowers on (the doors). He covered them with gold. 


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(Solomon) also built a yard, (called a <i>courtyard</i>, round the <i>temple</i>). (The wall round the courtyard) was three stones high. There were <i>cedar</i> wood boards on top of it.


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They put down the first stones of the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i> in the 4th year (that Solomon was king). It was in the month called Ziv. 


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They finished building the <i>temple</i> in the 11th year (that Solomon was king). It was the 8th month, the month called Bul. Everything was as it was in (Solomon’s) plans. It had taken him 7 years to build it. <n>Notes about chapter 6</n> <n>Verse 2. A cubit was about 18 inches. So 60 cubits means about 30 yards or 28 metres. <n>Verse 3. The columns were large, tall, round pieces of stone. <n>Verse 4. The windows were narrow. They may have let smoke out rather than let light in. <n>Verse 5. There were only two rooms inside the <i>temple</i>. There was a larger room and a smaller room, called the ‘<i>holy of holies</i>’. Only the leader of the <i>priests</i> could go in to it, and that only on one day every year. Buildings with two or three storeys means that they have one or two floors upstairs. <n>Verse 8. Each <i>storey</i> was about 7½ feet (2.3 metres) high. So this is why the windows were high up, verse 4. <n>Verse 13. The Israelites were the people that lived in Israel. <n>Verses 16-38. It says ‘Solomon made’. But it means that his men did the work. He told them what they should do. The <i>temple</i> itself was the <i>Holy Place</i>. They believed that God lived there. Because the <i>holy</i> God lived there it also was called holy. Only the <i>priests</i> could go into this <i>temple</i>. At the back was a Most <i>Holy Place</i>. Only the leader of the <i>priests</i> could go in to it, and that only on one day every year. The usual name for this Most Holy Place was the sanctuary, or the <i>holy of holies</i>. A sanctuary is the most holy part of any temple or church. Bible students have many problems with these verses. Here are two of them. <br/>· Was the <i>altar</i> in verse 22 in the <i>temple</i>, or in the inside <i>sanctuary</i>? Or were there two altars? <br/>· Was the wall in verse 36 low enough for people to look over? Or was the whole <i>courtyard</i> three stones high with wood on top? Only the <i>priests</i> could go into this courtyard. <n>We may never know the answers to these questions. 


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He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. It was 100 <i>cubits</i> long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high. It had 3 lines of <i>cedar pillars</i>. On top of them were (more) <i>cedar</i> beams, which (his men had) cut. 


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They made the roof (also) from <i>cedar</i> wood. (The roof was over the <i>pillars</i> of) cedar wood. Also, it was over the cedar beams that were on top of (the pillars). There were 45 cedar pillars, in 3 lines of 15. 


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Its windows were very high. There were three groups of them. They were on the other side from other (groups of windows). 


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All the doors were a <i>rectangular</i> shape. The wood that held the doors and the windows was rectangular too. There were three (groups) of windows in the front (of the building). 


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He also made a <i>hall</i> of <i>pillars</i>. It was 50 <i>cubits</i> long and 30 cubits wide. The pillars were at the front of the hall, and there was a low wall in front of them. 


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And he built a room to put his throne (special seat for a king) in. He sat on it to decide who was right. And he decided who was wrong. He covered it with <i>cedar</i> wood from floor to ceiling. 


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And he built his house behind (the room for the king’s special seat). This was where he lived. (His house) was like (the room for the king’s special seat). He also made a house like it for <i>Pharaoh</i>’s daughter. She was (Solomon’s) wife.


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His workers made these buildings from very good, large stones. They cut (the stones) to the right size with a special tool. (They cut) the sides that were towards the inside and towards the outside (of the buildings). (They did this) from the front to the important <i>courtyard</i> behind it. Also, (they did it) from the floor to the roof.


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(Solomon) had put very good, large stones in the ground. They were 8 or 10 <i>cubits</i> long. He built everything on these. 


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Above (the ground) he used very good stones. (His men) cut them to (the right) size. He also used <i>cedar</i> wood beams. 


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There was a wall all round the important <i>courtyard</i>. It was 3 stones high, with <i>cedar</i> beams on top. (Solomon’s men) cut the stones (to the right size). (This wall) was like the (wall in the) courtyard of the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. There were <i>pillars</i> at the front of it. <n>More news about the <i>temple</i></n>


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(Hiram) was the son of a <i>widow</i> from the <i>tribe</i> of Naphtali. His father had come from the city called Tyre. His father was a very good worker with metals. (His son, Hiram,) was also a very good worker with metals. He knew how to make very many metal things. So he came to King Solomon. He did everything that (Solomon) asked him to do.


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He made two metal <i>pillars</i>. Each pillar was 18 <i>cubits</i> high. A line 12 cubits long would make a circle round each of them. The metal itself was about 7 centimetres thick. The two pillars were the same. 


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He also made two metal pieces, which were the shape of big cups. And he put one on the top of each <i>pillar</i>. Each piece was 5 <i>cubits</i> high. 


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(Each piece) had a group of metal <i>chains</i>. He put 7 of them on the top of each <i>pillar</i>. 


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And he made two <i>chains</i> of <i>pomegranates</i>. They went round each of the metal chains. They made the tops of the <i>pillars</i> very beautiful. He did the same for each pillar. 


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The shapes on the tops of the <i>pillars</i> were like (flowers called) lilies. Each one was 4 <i>cubits</i> high. 


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There were 200 <i>pomegranates</i> all round the tops of both <i>pillars</i>. They were above the shapes (of flowers) next to the metal <i>chains</i>. 


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He put these <i>pillars</i> in the <i>hall</i> of pillars in the <i>temple</i>. The pillar at the south he called Jakin and the pillar at the north he called Boaz. 


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The tops of the <i>pillars</i> were in the shape of (flowers called) lilies. And so (Solomon) finished the work on the pillars.


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And (Hiram) made with metal (what they called) a Sea. It was 10 <i>cubits</i> from one side to the other side. It was 5 cubits deep. (Its shape) was a circle 30 cubits round. 


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All round it, below the top, were (shapes like) the fruit of wild plants called gourds. There were 10 for every <i>cubit</i>. (Hiram) made them in one piece with the Sea. 


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He built the Sea on 12 metal male cows. Three pointed north and three pointed west. Three pointed south and three pointed east. Their backs were towards the middle (of the Sea). 


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The sides of the Sea were 3 inches thick. Its top was like the top of a cup. It was like a (flower called the) lily. (The Sea) contained 44 000 litres (12 000 gallons) (of water).


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(Hiram) also made 10 metal <i>carts</i> (to carry water). Each one was 4 <i>cubits</i> long, 4 cubits wide and 3 cubits deep. 


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This is how he made the water <i>carts</i>. (He made them) with square pieces (of metal, that he) fastened at the corners. 


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There were (pictures of animals called) lions and oxen on the sides and on the corners. (There were) also (pictures of) <i>cherubs</i>. There were shapes like leaves above and below the lions and the oxen. (The shapes were made) with hammers. 


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Each <i>cart</i> had 4 metal <i>wheels</i> with metal <i>axles</i>. Each (cart) also had 4 corners and a bucket that was on 4 pieces of metal. There were metal shapes like leaves, which he made with hammers (next to the buckets). 


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On the top of the <i>cart</i> there was a round hole. It was one <i>cubit</i> deep and a cubit and a half across. Round the hole there were pictures (that Hiram) made with metal. The pieces of metal on the sides (of the carts) were square. They were not round. 


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There were 4 <i>wheels</i> under each <i>cart</i>. (Hiram) fastened the <i>axles</i> of the wheels to the under sides of the carts. Each wheel was a <i>cubit</i> and a half across. 


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The <i>wheels</i> (of the <i>cart</i>) were like the wheels of a <i>chariot</i>. He <i>cast</i> the metal (to make) the <i>axles</i> and all the parts of the wheels. 


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Each <i>cart</i> had 4 handles. There was one on each corner. (Hiram) made them as one piece with each cart. 


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There was a piece of metal round the top of each <i>cart</i>. It was half a <i>cubit</i> deep. (Hiram) fastened the handles and (square) pieces (of metal) to the tops of the carts. 


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And he cut pictures of <i>cherubs</i>, <i>lions</i> and <i>palm</i> trees. He cut them on the handles and the (square) pieces (of metal on the <i>carts</i>). He put them everywhere! There were also (metal pictures of) leaves everywhere! 


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This was how (Hiram) made the 10 <i>carts</i>. They all had the same size and shape. (That is because) they were all <i>cast</i> in the same <i>mould</i>. 


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And (Hiram) also made 10 metal buckets. Each one contained about 230 gallons. Each bucket was 4 <i>cubits</i> across. There was one bucket for each of the 10 <i>carts</i>. 


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(Hiram) put 5 of the <i>carts</i> on the south side of the <i>temple</i>. He put the other 5 on the north side (of the temple). He put the Sea on the south side of the temple. It was at the south east corner.


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He also made pots, small <i>shovels</i> and small cups. <n>So Hiram finished all the work in the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. He had promised to King Solomon that he would do these things: <n>


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(He would make these things): <br/>· 2 <i>pillars</i> <br/>· 2 metal pieces, the shape of big cups, on the top of each <i>pillar</i> <br/>· 2 groups of <i>chains</i>, which made the shapes of cups on the tops of the <i>pillars</i> more beautiful <br/>· 400 <i>pomegranates</i> for the 2 groups of <i>chains</i>. There were two groups of pomegranates for each chain. They made the shapes of big cups on the tops of each <i>pillar</i> more beautiful. <br/>· 10 <i>carts</i> with their 10 buckets <br/>· the Sea and the 12 male cows under it <br/>· the pots, small <i>shovels</i> and small cups. <n>The metal that Hiram used for all these things was <i>bronze</i>. He made them for King Solomon, (who wanted them) for the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i>.


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The king made them in sand <i>moulds</i>. He did it near the (River) Jordan, between Succoth and Zarethan.


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Solomon did not weigh any of these things, because there were so many (of them). They did not discover the weight of the <i>bronze</i>. <n>


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Solomon also made everything that was in the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>temple</i>. (He made these things): <br/>· The <i>altar</i> (which he made) out of gold. <br/>· The table (which he made) out of gold. On it was the (special) bread. That bread showed (that God) was there. <br/>· The things that held the lights. He made them from <i>pure</i> gold. There were 5 on one side and 5 on the other side of the <i>sanctuary</i>. <br/>· The flowers (that he made) from gold. <br/>· The lights and the tools that held things (for the <i>altar</i>). <br/>· The <i>pure</i> gold plates. <br/>· The tools that (they used) for the lights. <br/>· The cups (with water in them). <br/>· The spoons and the baskets (which made smoke). <br/>· Also, the places that held the doors of the <i>sanctuary</i>. (This is) the Most <i>Holy Place</i>. <br/>· Also, the places that held the doors of the important <i>hall</i> of the <i>temple</i>.


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Solomon brought (into the <i>temple</i>) all the things that David his father had put to one side for the temple. (Solomon) did this after he had finished all the things that he had made for the temple of the <i>LORD</i>. They were the things that they made out of wood, <i>silver</i> and gold. He put these things in safe places in the LORD’s temple. <n>Notes about chapter 7</n> <n>Verses 1-12. A palace is the house of a king. This palace had 5 parts: <br/>· the House of the Forest of Lebanon (verses 2-5) <br/>· the <i>Hall</i> of <i>Pillars</i> (verse 6) <br/>· the room for the king’s special seat (verse 7) <br/>· Solomon’s own house (verse 8) <br/>· Solomon’s wife’s house (verse 8). <n>Bible students do not agree about Solomon’s <i>palace</i>. This is because the <i>Hebrew</i> words are very difficult to translate. A <i>cubit</i> is about 18 inches long. So 100 cubits is about 50 yards (or 46 metres). The pillars were tall pieces of wood. The wood came from trees called cedars. The word ‘rectangular’ means ‘like a square, but with two sides longer than the other two’. <n>The cedar wood came from the forests in Lebanon. This is why it is called the House of the Forest of Lebanon. It was perhaps where Solomon met important people, like the Queen of Sheba in chapter 10. Bible students think that the other 4 buildings were behind the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Solomon had a large family and many servants. So, we think that his house was very large. Perhaps his wife’s house and Solomon’s house joined together. <n>Verses 13-22. This part, to the end of the chapter, is again about the <i>temple</i>. The tribe, or large <i>family</i> group, of Naphtali was in the north of Israel. It was very near to Tyre. They made the <i>pillars</i> in verses 1-12 from wood. But, for the temple, Hiram made pillars from metal. He mixed two metals to make the pillars. We call the result bronze. The chains were lines of metal; each piece of metal fastened to the next. <n>Verse 21. The names mean: <br/>· Jakin: he will prepare. <br/>· Boaz: in him (you will be) strong. <n>Perhaps ‘he’ and ‘him’ mean God. <n>Verses 23-26. The Sea was something special. It was full of water. The <i>priests</i> used this to wash themselves when they went into the temple. In the <i>Hebrew</i> Bible, 44 000 litres is 2000 baths. We do not really know how big a bath was. <n>Verse 27. A cart is like a small truck that people or horses pulled. They used these carts to take water to the Sea (verses 23-26). <n>Verses 29-31. Lions are wild animals, like large cats. Oxen (plural of ox) were farm animals, like cows. Cherubs were special angels, servants of God in his home, called heaven. Hiram made the ‘pictures’ with a hammer and pieces of metal. <n>Verse 33. Hiram cast the <i>axles</i> and <i>wheels</i> to make them. This means that he made the metal very hot. Then he poured it into shapes. The shapes were called moulds. These shapes were usually in sand. When the metal became cold, it became hard again. It was the same shape as the mould. This is called ‘casting’. The worker has cast the metal. <n>Verse 40. The pots, small shovels and cups were for the <i>priests</i> to use. A shovel is a tool that people use to dig with. They also use it to remove ashes from fires. <n>Verses 41-51. The lists here include things that are not in chapter 6. 


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Then Solomon said that all the leaders of Israel must come to him in Jerusalem. The king wanted all the leaders of the <i>tribes</i> and families of Israel to (do this. He wanted them to) bring the <i>ark</i> of the <i>covenant</i> of the <i>LORD</i> (to the <i>temple</i>). (The ark) was in David’s part of the city, called Zion. 


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So all the men from Israel came together, to King Solomon. It was the 7th month, called Ethanim. There was a <i>festival</i> (at this time). 


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Together with the <i>ark</i> of the <i>LORD</i>, they brought (these other things): <br/>· the <i>tent</i> where people met. <br/>· the <i>holy</i> tools that were in the tent. <n>The <i>priests</i> and the <i>Levites</i> carried them up (to the <i>temple</i>).


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While they did this, all Israel’s people were with King Solomon. They <i>sacrificed</i> sheep and <i>oxen</i> in front of the <i>ark</i>. (There were) more than they could count. 


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Then the <i>priests</i> brought the <i>ark</i> of the <i>covenant</i> of the <i>LORD</i> to its place. That place was the inside <i>sanctuary</i> of the <i>temple</i>, called the Most <i>Holy Place</i>. They put it under the <i>wings</i> of the <i>cherubs</i>. 


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The <i>wings</i> of the <i>cherubs</i> were over the place where the <i>ark</i> was. The ark and the handles to carry it were in the shadow (of the cherubs). 


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The handles were very long. (The <i>priests</i>) could see their ends from the <i>Holy Place</i> outside the Most <i>Holy Place</i>. They could not see them from outside the Holy Place. And they are still there today. 


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There was nothing in the <i>ark</i>, except two flat stones. Moses had put them there at Horeb. That was where the <i>LORD</i> made a <i>covenant</i> with the <i>Jews</i>. He did that after they came out from Egypt. 


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And when the <i>priests</i> came out from the <i>Holy Place</i> (in the <i>temple</i>), the cloud filled the <i>LORD</i>’s temple. 


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And the <i>priests</i> could not do their work, because of the cloud. Then something like a very bright light filled the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>temple</i> to show that the LORD was there.


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I have built a beautiful <i>temple</i> for you. It is a place where you can always live.’ <n>Solomon speaks to his people</n>


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While everybody in Israel stood there, the king turned round. He prayed that God would be good to them. 


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And he said, ‘<i>Praise</i> the <i>LORD</i>, (who is) the God of Israel. With his own hand he has done what he promised with his own mouth to do for my father David. This is what (God) said: 


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“I brought my people Israel out from Egypt. Since then, I have not chosen a city in any <i>tribe</i> of Israel, to build a <i>temple</i> for my Name. But I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.” 


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My father really wanted to build a <i>temple</i> for the Name of the <i>LORD</i>, (who is) the God of Israel. 


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But the <i>LORD</i> said to my father, David, “It was good that you really wanted to build a <i>temple</i> for my Name. 


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You will not build the <i>temple</i>. But, instead, your son will build it. He is (from) your own body and blood. He is the person who will build the temple for my Name.” 


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The <i>LORD</i> has done what he promised to do. I am (king) after David (who was) my father. Now I sit on the <i>throne</i> of Israel. This is what the LORD promised. Also, I have built the <i>temple</i> for the Name of the LORD, (who is) the God of Israel. 


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I have made a place there for the <i>ark</i>. In it, is the <i>covenant</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. He made it with our <i>ancestors</i>, when he brought them out of Egypt.’ <n>Solomon prays in the <i>temple</i></n>


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Then Solomon stood in front of the <i>altar</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. He was in front of all Israel’s people. <n>He lifted up his hands towards the skies.


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And (Solomon) said, <n>‘<i>LORD</i>, (you are) the God of Israel. There is no God like you, (either) in the skies above (us) or in the earth beneath (the skies). You continue to do what you have promised to do for your servants. (Your servants are the people) to whom you are always very kind. (Your servants) continue to obey your words as well as they can. 


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You have done what you promised to do for your servant, my father David. Your mouth spoke the promise. Then your hands did (the work, as we see) today. 


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Now, <i>LORD</i> God of Israel, there is (another) promise that you spoke to your servant, my father David. (I pray) that you will do that also. You said to (David), “There will always be a man to sit on my behalf on the <i>throne</i> of Israel. But for this to happen, your sons must always obey me like you did.” 


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So now I pray (to you), God of Israel, “Cause what you promised to your servant, my father David, to happen.”


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But surely God will not really live on the earth! Even <i>heaven</i>, the highest heaven of all the heavens, cannot contain you! How much less will this <i>temple</i> that I have built (contain you)! 


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But listen (to me) while I, your servant, pray (to you), my <i>LORD</i> and my God. I am asking you for <i>mercy</i>. Hear me, while I, your servant, am praying to you today. 


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Watch over this <i>temple</i> day and night. This is the place about which you said, “My Name will be there.” (So,) you will hear your servant (the king) when he prays towards this place. 


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Hear the words of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray towards this place. Hear (us) from the place called <i>heaven</i>, where you live. And when you hear us, then <i>forgive</i> us.


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Sometimes, a man does something that is wrong to somebody else. The man must come to this <i>temple</i>. He must promise in front of the <i>altar</i> that his words are true. 


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Then, listen from <i>heaven</i>. And say who is right. If the man really has done something wrong, <i>punish</i> him. But if he has not done anything wrong, be good to him.


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Perhaps an enemy will win a war against your people, Israel, because (Israel) has not obeyed you. (Your people) may then turn back to you. (They may do these things:) <br/>· (They may) say that your name (is the name of their God). <br/>· (They may) pray to you. <br/>· (They may) ask you (to <i>forgive</i> them) in this <i>temple</i>.


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If they do that, hear them from <i>heaven</i>! <i>Forgive</i> the <i>sin</i> of your people, Israel. And bring them back to the land that you gave to their <i>ancestors</i>.


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Sometimes, the skies will become dry and there will be no rain. This will be when your people have not obeyed you. (Then, they may do these things:) <br/>· They may pray towards this place. <br/>· They may say that your name (is the name of their God). <br/>· They may turn from what they have done wrong. (This is) because you have hurt them.


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If they do that, hear (them) from <i>heaven</i>. <i>Forgive</i> your servants, your people Israel, for what they have done wrong. Teach them the right things to do. Send rain on to the land, which you gave as a gift to your people.


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Sometimes, (these things will happen) in the country: <br/>· There will not be enough food. <br/>· The (animals and plants and people) will be ill. <br/>· There will be (insects called) locusts and grasshoppers. <br/>· There will be an enemy all round one of their cities. <br/>· Illness (will hurt people) and (enemies will) kill people.


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Then, perhaps, only one person from among all of your people Israel will pray to you. He may feel that his heart hurts inside him. So, he will lift up his hands towards this <i>temple</i>. 


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(If he does that,) hear (him). Hear him from <i>heaven</i> where you live. <i>Forgive</i> (the people) and do something. Do to each person what should happen to them. Only you can know what everyone is thinking. 


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So, everybody will be afraid of you, (<i>LORD</i>), while they live in the country. (This is the country) that you gave to our <i>ancestors</i>.


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Strangers, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come far from other countries. (They will do this) because (they will hear about) your name. 


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People will hear about your great name and about your strong hand and about the arm that you lift up. The stranger will come and he will pray towards this <i>temple</i>. 


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(When this happens, God,) hear him from your home in <i>heaven</i>. Do what he asks you to do. So, all the people in the world will know your name. They will be afraid of you, as your own people Israel are. And they will know this. The <i>temple</i> that I have built is for you.


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Sometimes, your people will go to fight against their enemies. (They will go) to where you send them. And when they pray to the <i>LORD</i>, they will look towards the city (Jerusalem). You chose (this city). And I built the <i>temple</i> in it for you. 


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When they pray (to you), listen to them (from your home) in <i>heaven</i>. Do what they ask. And give them help.


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There is nobody that does not <i>sin</i> (against God). When (your people) sin against you, you will become angry with them. You will give them to their enemies. (The enemies) will take them to their own country. Perhaps it will be far; perhaps it will be near. (Your people will be) in the enemy’s prisons. 


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Then, they may become sorry that they have <i>sinned</i>. They may change their minds and they may pray to you. They will be in the country of the people who put them into prisons. In that country, they may pray (these words): “We have sinned. We have done what is wrong. We have been very bad.” 


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They may turn back to you in the country of their enemies, who put them into prisons. (They may want to obey you) with all their minds and bodies. They may pray to you. And they will look towards the country that you gave to their <i>ancestors</i>. (They will look) towards the city that you have chosen. (And they will look) towards the <i>temple</i> that I have built for your Name. 


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Then hear them from your home in <i>heaven</i>, when they pray to you. Do what they ask you to do. And give help to them. 


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And <i>forgive</i> your people who have <i>sinned</i> against you. <i>Forgive</i> all the wrong things that they have done against you. And cause their enemies to have <i>mercy</i> on them. 


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(Do this) because they are your people. They belong to you. You brought them out of Egypt. And Egypt was like a very hot fire that could make iron like water.


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I pray that your eyes will always be open (to two things): <br/>· to what your servant (Solomon) asks you. <br/>· to what your people, Israel, ask you. <n>I hope that you will always listen to them. (Do this) when they pray to you.


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(Do this) because you chose them from all the countries in the world, to be your own people. This is what you promised to your servant Moses. You did it when you, <i>Lord</i>, our <i>LORD</i>, brought our <i>ancestors</i> out of Egypt.’


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So Solomon finished praying about everything that he wanted to ask the <i>LORD</i> for. He stood up in front of the <i>altar</i> of the LORD. He had been on his knees with his hands lifted up to the skies. 


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But now he stood up (and he asked God) to do good things to all the people in Israel. He said with a loud voice, 


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‘<i>Praise</i> the <i>LORD</i>! He has given rest to his people Israel. This is what he promised (to Moses). Every good promise that (the LORD) gave to his servant Moses has really happened. 


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The <i>LORD</i> our God was with our <i>ancestors</i>. I pray that he will be with us like that. I pray that he will never leave us by ourselves. 


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I pray that (the <i>LORD</i>) will cause us to love him again. So we will do what he wants us to do. And we will obey everything that he asked our <i>ancestors</i> to do. 


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All these words of mine I have prayed to the <i>LORD</i>. I pray that these words of mine will be near to the LORD our God day and night. I want him to help me in what I do. And I pray that he will help (me), his servant. Also, his people, Israel, need his help every day. I pray that he will help them. 


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So, all the people on the earth will know that the <i>LORD</i> is God. And they will know that there is no other (God). 


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But you (people) really must want to be servants of the <i>LORD</i> our God. You must do what he <i>orders</i> you to do. And you must obey his words, as you do now.’ <n>Solomon offers the <i>temple</i> to God</n>


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These are the <i>sacrifices</i> that Solomon offered to the <i>LORD</i>: <br/>· 22 000 cows <br/>· 120 000 sheep and goats. <n>(Solomon) offered these because he and the <i>LORD</i> were friendly. So the king, and all Israel’s people, gave the <i>temple</i> to the LORD.


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On that same day, the king gave the <i>courtyard</i> in front of the <i>temple</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. There, (Solomon) offered <i>sacrifices</i> (to the LORD). He burned animals and he offered <i>wheat</i> and fat (material from inside animals). The fat was the <i>fellowship sacrifice</i>. The <i>bronze altar</i> was too small to contain all the animals, the wheat and the fat of the friendly sacrifice. So Solomon burned all these things in the <i>courtyard</i> and not on the bronze altar. 


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So Solomon had a <i>festival</i> at that time. Everybody in Israel was there. So, there was a very big crowd. There were people from everywhere from Hamath to the Valley of Egypt. Hamath was in the north and the Valley of Egypt was in the south (of Israel). The festival continued in front of the <i>LORD</i> our God for 7 days. Then it continued for another 7 days. So it was 14 days long. 


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The day after (the party, Solomon) sent the people away. They all said good things about the king and then they went home. They were very happy and they felt good inside themselves. This was because the <i>LORD</i> had done so many good things for his servant David and for his people Israel. <n>Notes about chapter 8</n> <n>Verses 1-13. The ark was a box. It was important to God’s people, the <i>Jews</i>. It was called ‘the ark of the covenant’. The covenant was what God and his people agreed to do. They would love and obey him. If they did that, he would be their God. <n>Before they built the <i>temple</i>, the <i>ark</i> was in a <i>tent</i>. This was a house that they made from the skins of animals. In the tent were the things (‘<i>holy</i> tools’ in verse 4) that they used to sacrifice animals to God. ‘Sacrifice’ here means to kill the animals and to burn them. They did this outside God’s house, the temple, after they had built it. They put the ark in the inside part of the temple, called ‘The Most <i>Holy Place</i>’, or ‘the sanctuary’. <n>Only the leader of the priests went into it, and that only on one day every year. The priests were God’s special servants in and round the <i>temple</i>. They all came from the tribe (large <i>family</i>) of Levi. Those who were not priests were called <i>Levites</i>. <n>A festival (verse 2) was like a big party outside the <i>temple</i>. <n>Verses 6-7. They put the <i>ark</i> under the cherubs. The cherubs were like pictures that they had made out of wood. They were like pictures of God’s special angels. His angels are his servants in heaven, where God lives. Wings are what a bird, and a cherub, flies with. <n>Verse 15. ‘Praise’ means ‘tell someone that they are good and great’. <n>Verse 20. A throne is a special seat that a king sits on. <n>Verse 22. The altar was where they <i>sacrificed</i> animals. It was outside the door of the <i>temple</i>. We could translate ‘skies’ as ‘heaven’, which is the home of God. <n>Verse 24. The mouth of God means what he said. The hands of God mean his power. <n>Verse 25. This verse means that the king would rule on behalf of God in Jerusalem. <n>Verse 28. Mercy is a very important Christian word. When God has mercy towards someone, it means this. He is kind when he does not have to be kind. <n>Verse 29. ‘My Name’ really means God Himself. ‘Pray towards’ the <i>temple</i> means pray to God. <n>Verse 30. ‘Forgive’ means excuse. But for Christians, it means excuse in a special way. It means this. ‘<b>For </b>us, <b>give </b>the wrong things that we have done to Jesus.’ Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. Solomon could not read 2 Corinthians but we can! <n>Verse 34. Here (and in verses 40, 48, 53, 57 and 58) the word ‘ancestors’ means all the <i>Jews</i> that lived before Solomon. <n>Verses 37. Locusts and grasshoppers are insects that eat every green plant. <n>Verse 39. ‘Forgive’ is an important Christian word. The note on verses 27-36 explains it. <n>Verses 41-43 are important for people who are not Jews. They tell us this: God will answer them too, when they pray. <n>Verse 42. The name, the hand and the arm are three things about God. Some Christians think that they mean the Father (name), his Son Jesus (the arm) and the <i>Holy</i> Spirit (the hand). Solomon perhaps meant that God was very strong and powerful. <n>In verse 43, the <i>Hebrew</i> Bible has, ‘The <i>temple</i> that I have built has your Name’. Our translation says, ‘The <i>temple</i> that I have built is for you.’ Also, in verse 44, we have ‘for you’, but the Hebrew Bible has ‘for your Name’. We have put capital Ns because God’s name means God himself. <n>Verses 46-50. We <i>sin</i> when we do not obey God. <n>Verse 47. ‘Become sorry’ in the <i>Hebrew</i> Bible is ‘have a change of mind’. <n>Verse 50. ‘To have mercy’ means ‘to be kind when you do not have to be kind’. <n>Verse 53. ‘Lord’ in this verse, is not the same Hebrew word as <i>LORD</i> in the same verse. ‘Lord’ means someone with authority. <n>Verse 56. ‘Praise’ means ‘tell someone that they are very good and great’. <n>Verse 61. In the <i>Hebrew</i> Bible, in verse 61, ‘you really must want to be servants of the <i>LORD</i>’ is ‘your hearts must belong to the LORD’. <n>Verses 62-64. A sacrifice was an animal that the <i>Jews</i> killed for the <i>LORD</i>. This obeyed his words in Leviticus. Maybe the <i>courtyard</i> was the one for men only. In verse 64, there were 3 kinds of sacrifice. Leviticus chapters 1, 2 and 3 tell us about them. The fat was from inside the animal. It is what we have called the friendly sacrifice. It tells us that God and his people are friends. 


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Solomon had finished building the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i> and the king’s <i>palace</i>. He had built everything that he had wanted to build. 


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The <i>LORD</i> said to (Solomon), <n>‘I have heard what you have prayed to me. And (I have heard) what you have asked me. I have made this <i>temple</i> special, which you have built. I have put my Name on it for all time. My eyes and my heart will always be there.


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(I will do good things) for you, if you (will do these things): <br/>· You must be my servant, as your father David was (my servant). <br/>· You must do everything that I ask you to do.


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Then I will make someone from your <i>family</i> king over Israel for all time. This is what I promised to your father David. (I said,) “You will never fail to have a man (from your <i>family</i>) on the <i>throne</i> of Israel.” 


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But you and your sons must not turn away from me. You must not become servants of other gods and you must not <i>worship</i> them. You must not refuse to obey the <i>laws</i> and rules that I have given you. 


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If you do, I will remove Israel from (their) country. (It is the country) that I have given to them. Also, I will destroy this <i>temple</i> that I have made special for my Name. Israel will then become something that people say bad things about. They will all <i>laugh at</i> (Israel). 


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This <i>temple</i> now is really beautiful. Then, everyone that sees it will be surprised. (They will think that) it seems very bad to look at. They will laugh about it! They will ask, “Why has the <i>LORD</i> done this to this country and to this temple?” 


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And people will answer, “He has done it because they have not obeyed the <i>LORD</i> their God. He brought their <i>ancestors</i> out of Egypt. But they have chosen other gods. They have become their servants and they <i>worship</i> them. That is why the LORD has caused such bad things to happen to them (and to their <i>temple</i>).” ’ <n>Other things that Solomon did</n>


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Solomon was building the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i> and the king’s <i>palace</i> for 20 years. After this, 


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he gave 20 towns in Galilee to Hiram, the king of Tyre. (He did this) because Hiram had given him all that (Solomon) needed. (He had given him) <i>cedar</i> and <i>pine</i> wood and gold. 


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So Hiram went from Tyre (to Galilee), to see the towns that Solomon had given to him. But Hiram was not happy with them. 


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‘These are not very good towns that you have given to me, my dear friend!’ he said. (Hiram) called them the Land of Cabul. They are still called that today. 


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Solomon caused slaves to work for him. They built the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>temple</i>, (Solomon’s) <i>palace</i>, the <i>Millo</i> and the wall round Jerusalem. (They) also (built) (the towns called) Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer. 


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Pharaoh was the king of Egypt. He had attacked Gezer and it had become his. He had burnt it. He had killed the <i>Canaanites</i> that lived there. He gave it as a gift to his daughter, when she married Solomon. 


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(He also built) Baalath and Tadmor. They were in his country, (in places) where there was much sand. 


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And (Solomon) built cities and towns where he could store things. He also kept his <i>chariots</i> and horses in them. He built everything that he wanted (to build), in Jerusalem, Lebanon and everywhere in his <i>kingdom</i>. 


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Some people who were not <i>Jews</i> lived in Israel. They were called Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 


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The <i>Jews</i> had not been able to kill all of these people. So Solomon made them his slaves, as they still are today. 


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But Solomon did not make any of the <i>Jews</i> into slaves. They became his soldiers, and they became the people in his government. (Some of the soldiers) were army leaders. Other soldiers told the people that drove <i>chariots</i> what to do.


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And 550 people were leaders of the people that built things (for Solomon). They told the men that did the work what to do.


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Pharaoh’s daughter came up (from where she lived) in the City of David. She came up to the <i>palace</i> that Solomon had built for her. After this, he built walls (that people could walk on) round it.


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Three times every year Solomon offered <i>sacrifices</i>. He offered sacrifices that he burned and friendly sacrifices. He did this on the <i>altar</i> that he had built for the <i>LORD</i>. He burned <i>incense</i> to the LORD with everybody else. In this way, he did what he had to do in the <i>temple</i> (of the LORD).


text:
King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber. (This place) is near Elath in Edom. (It is) by the Red Sea. 


text:
They sailed to Ophir and they brought back 420 <i>talents</i> of gold. They gave it to King Solomon. <n>Notes about chapter 9</n> <n>Verse 2. The <i>LORD</i> appeared to Solomon the first time in 1 Kings 3:5. <n>Verse 3. ‘Put my Name on it’ means ‘I will be there’. ‘For all time’ means ‘for always’. Perhaps ‘my eyes’ means ‘I will watch it’. And perhaps ‘my heart’ means ‘I will think about it’. <n>Verse 5. ‘On the <i>throne</i>’ means ‘to be king’. <n>Verse 6. ‘Worship’ means to tell someone that they are very great. <n>Verse 13. ‘Cabul’ sounds like a <i>Hebrew</i> word that means ‘like nothing’. The towns were near Tyre. Maybe Solomon was deciding the border between Israel and Tyre. Hiram thought that the towns were ‘like nothing’, or ‘they had no worth’. We do not know why Hiram thought that. <n>Verse 15. Maybe the Millo was a road round, or on, the walls of Jerusalem. <n>Verse 16. The Canaanites was the name of the people that lived in Israel many years before. They lived there until Joshua beat them. The other people who were living in Israel are in verse 20. Joshua did not kill all the people that lived in Canaan. Canaan was the old name for Israel. We can read about that in the Book of Joshua. <n>Verse 25. The <i>sacrifices</i> are in the first few chapters of Leviticus. 


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The Queen of Sheba heard that Solomon was very famous. Also, she heard that (he was a servant) of the <i>LORD</i>. So she came to ask (Solomon) difficult questions. 


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She arrived at Jerusalem with many servants. She had animals called camels. They carried <i>spices</i>. (They also carried) a lot of gold and valuable stones. She came to Solomon. She talked to him about everything that was in her mind. 


text:
Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing that was too difficult for the king to explain to her. 


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(She saw) all the food that was on his table. (She saw) all the important men (in his government) when they met together. (She saw) all his servants in their beautiful clothes. (She saw) all the people that tasted <i>wine</i> at his table. (She saw) all the <i>sacrifices</i> that he burned at the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. And it surprised her very much. So she did not know what to say! 


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She said to the king, ‘I heard in my country about what you had done. Also, (I heard) about how <i>wise</i> you were. Everything (that I heard) was true! 


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But I did not believe those things until I came here. Then I saw with my own eyes (that it was true)! Really, they told me less than half (of what was true)! You are very much <i>wiser</i> and a lot richer than the report that I heard (about you). 


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I think that your men should be very happy! The people in your government, who are always with you, should be very happy too. They are always hearing how <i>wise</i> you are. 


text:
(So, we must) <i>praise</i> the <i>LORD</i> (who is) your God! He is so happy with you and he has put you on the <i>throne</i> of Israel. He has made you king because he will always love Israel. You will always decide fairly and you will always obey God’s <i>laws</i>.’ 


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And she gave to the king 120 <i>talents</i> of gold, a lot of <i>spices</i> and many valuable stones. Nobody ever brought so many <i>spices</i> (to Jerusalem) as the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.


text:
Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir. They also brought from there large amounts of a special kind of wood called almugwood and valuable stones. 


text:
The king used the almugwood to make things for the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i> and for the king’s <i>palace</i>. He also used it to make <i>harps</i> and <i>lyres</i> for people to make music on. There was more almugwood than anyone has brought here since that time. Nobody has even seen so much of it since that time.


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So King Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba everything that she wanted. (He gave her everything) that she asked for. He also gave her valuable gifts. Then she left (Solomon) and she returned to her own country with her servants. <n>The valuable things that belonged to Solomon</n>


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This did not include money from (these people): <br/>· people who bought and sold things to get money <br/>· all the kings of Arabia <br/>· the government in (Solomon’s) own country.


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King Solomon made 200 large <i>shields</i>. They made the gold (for the shields) flat with hammers. They used 600 bekas (about 7.5 pounds or 3.5 kilos) of gold in each shield. 


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(Solomon) also made 300 small <i>shields</i>. They also made the gold (for these shields) flat with hammers. They used 3 minas (about 4 pounds or 1.5 kilos) of gold in each (small) shield. (Solomon) put these (shields) in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. 


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Then the king made a large <i>throne</i>. He used <i>ivory</i> to make the inside (of the throne) and he covered it with gold. 


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There were 6 steps up to the <i>throne</i>. The back (of the throne) was round at the top. There were places to put his arms on both sides of the seat. There was a <i>lion</i> on each side of the throne. 


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There were 12 (more) <i>lions</i> on the 6 steps. (There was) one at each end of each step. No other country had made anything like it. 


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They made all King Solomon’s (<i>wine</i>) cups with gold. They made everything in the House of the Forest of Lebanon with gold. They had not mixed the gold (with any other metal). They did not make anything with <i>silver</i>. They did not think (that silver) was valuable in Solomon’s time. 


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The king had a number of ships that could sail as far as Tarshish. They sailed with Hiram’s ships. Every 3 years they returned (to Solomon). They carried gold, <i>silver</i> and <i>ivory</i>. (They also brought) apes and baboons (which were animals like large monkeys).


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King Solomon was richer than all the other kings in the world. Also, he had more <i>wisdom</i> than (the other kings). 


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All the people in the whole world wanted to talk to Solomon. They wanted to hear the <i>wisdom</i> that God had put into (Solomon’s) mind. 


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Every year, everyone who came (to Solomon) brought him a gift. (They brought) <i>silver</i> and gold things, beautiful clothes, arms, <i>spices</i>, horses and <i>mules</i>.


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Solomon brought together many <i>chariots</i> and horses. He had 1400 chariots and 12 000 horses. He kept (some of) them in special cities for chariots. And (he kept some of them) with him in Jerusalem. 


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The king made <i>silver</i> as common in Jerusalem as stones (were common)! There were as many <i>cedar</i> trees as there were <i>fig trees</i> in the hills (round Jerusalem). 


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They brought a <i>chariot</i> from Egypt for 600 <i>shekels</i> of <i>silver</i>. A horse cost 150 (shekels). Also, they sold (chariots and horses) to all the kings of the people called Hittites and Arameans. <n>Notes about chapter 10</n> <n>Verse 1. Sheba may be in Africa. Bible students are not sure where it was. <n>Verse 2. Camels were animals that carried people and luggage. <n>Verse 4. A wise man knows a lot. He uses what he knows well. <n>Verse 5. Wine is a drink with alcohol in it. <n>Verse 11. Bible students think that almugwood was a very hard wood. <n>Verse 12. People liked to make music with harps and lyres in Bible times. <n>Verse 17. 1 Kings 7:2-5 tells us about the House of the Forest of Lebanon. <n>Verse 18. Ivory is a material that people got from animals. The animals were called elephants. A throne is a special seat that a king sits on. <n>Verse 19. The <i>lion</i> was not really an animal. Perhaps it was a lion that they made from wood or stone. <n>Verse 22. Tarshish was hundreds of miles away from Jerusalem. There was no sea at Jerusalem, so Solomon kept his ships with Hiram. Hiram lived in Tyre, by the Mediterranean Sea. <n>Verse 24. Perhaps ‘all the people in the whole world’ means ‘all the world’s leaders’. <n>Verse 25. A mule is an animal like a small horse. Mules carried heavy things for people. <n>Verse 28. Some Bible students think that Kue was in the mountains east of Jerusalem. <n>Verse 29. One hundred shekels weighed about 2.5 pounds (1.1 kilos). 


text:
Solomon loved Pharaoh’s daughter (who came from Egypt). But he also loved many other women from foreign countries. (They were called) Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites (because of the countries that they came from). 


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The <i>LORD</i> had said this to the <i>Israelites</i> about these countries. ‘You must not marry people (from these countries), because they would cause you to love their own gods.’ But Solomon did love (these foreign women). 


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He had 700 wives who were important ladies. Also, he had 300 other women who lived with him. His wives caused him to become the servant of (other gods). 


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This happened when Solomon got older. His wives caused him to love other gods. (Solomon) did not completely love the <i>LORD</i> (who was) his God. David, his father, had always loved (the LORD). 


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(Solomon) made Ashtoreth his god. She was the female god of the people in Sidon. He also made Molech his god. He was the really bad god of the people who lived in Ammon. 


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So Solomon did what the <i>LORD</i> did not like. His father David had (completely obeyed the LORD). But Solomon did not completely obey the LORD. 


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There was a hill east of Jerusalem. Solomon built a high place there for Chemosh and Molech. They were really bad gods of the people who lived in Moab and in Ammon. 


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(Solomon) did the same for all his foreign wives. They burned <i>incense</i> and they offered <i>sacrifices</i> to their own gods (in these places).


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So the <i>LORD</i> became angry with Solomon. (Solomon’s) had stopped loving the LORD (who was) the God of Israel. (The LORD) had appeared to Solomon twice. 


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(The <i>LORD</i>) had told Solomon that he should not become the servant of other gods. But Solomon did not obey the LORD. 


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So the <i>LORD</i> said to Solomon, ‘(I have seen) what you are doing. You have not obeyed my <i>covenant</i>. You have not done what I <i>ordered</i> you to do. So, I will tear the <i>kingdom</i> away from you. I will give it to one of your servants. 


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But I will not do it while you are alive. This is because of (the promise that I said to) David your father. I will tear (the <i>kingdom</i>) from your son. 


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But I will not tear the whole <i>kingdom</i> from him. I will give to him the one <i>tribe</i> (called Judah). This is because I have chosen Jerusalem. (Jerusalem is in Judah.) Also, it is because of what (I promised) to my servant David.’ <n>Solomon’s enemies</n>


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Then the <i>LORD</i> brought Hadad (to Edom). (He was) an enemy of Solomon. (Hadad) was a man in the king’s family in Edom. 


text:
David had fought against Edom a few years before. (Then) Joab was the leader of (David’s) army. He had gone (to Edom) to bury the dead people. He killed all the men in Edom. 


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Joab and all (the army from) Israel stayed (in Edom) for 6 months. They killed all the men in Edom. 


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But Hadad was only a boy at this time. He ran away to Egypt, with some people from his father’s government. 


text:
They started from Midian and they went to Paran. They took men from Paran with them and they went to Egypt. They went to Pharaoh, (who was) the king of Egypt. (Pharaoh) gave Hadad a house and land and food. 


text:
Pharaoh was so happy with Hadad that he gave him a wife. She was the sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes. 


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Tahpenes’s sister had a son (with Hadad). (They) called (him) Genubath. He lived with Tahpenes in the king’s <i>palace</i>. Genubath lived there with Pharaoh’s own children. 


text:
In Egypt, Hadad heard that David had died. Also, Joab, the leader of (David’s) army, was dead. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, ‘Let me return to my own country.’ 


text:
Pharaoh asked him, ‘Why do you want to return to your own country? What have you not got here that you want?’ ‘Nothing’, Hadad replied, ‘but do let me go!’


text:
And God brought another enemy against Solomon. (He was) the son of Eliada, called Rezon. (Rezon) had run away from his master, Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. 


text:
(Rezon) had men with him and he became their leader. They wanted to fight David, after he had destroyed the army (of Zobah). (Rezon’s) men went to Damascus. They decided to live there. They became leaders (in Damascus). 


text:
Rezon was Israel’s enemy all the time that Solomon was alive. Like Hadad, he caused trouble (for Solomon). So Rezon ruled in Aram and he was an enemy of Israel.


text:
Then, Jeroboam, (who was) the son of Nebat, started to fight against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officers. (Jeroboam) came from Zeredah in Ephraim. His mother was a <i>widow</i>. Her name was Zeruah. 


text:
This happened when Jeroboam started to fight against the king. Solomon had built the <i>Millo</i> on top of the wall of the city of David, (who was) his father. 


text:
Jeroboam was an important man. And Solomon saw that the young man (Jeroboam) did his work very well. So, Solomon made him the leader of all the workers from the <i>tribe</i> of Joseph. 


text:
At that time, Jeroboam went out from Jerusalem. He met Ahijah who was a <i>prophet</i> from Shiloh. (Ahijah) was wearing a new coat. They were both alone, in the country (fields). 


text:
Then he said to Jeroboam, ‘Take 10 pieces for yourself, because the <i>LORD</i>, the God of Israel, is saying (to you), “I will tear the <i>kingdom</i> away from Solomon and I will give you 10 <i>tribes</i>. 


text:
But for two reasons (Solomon) will have one <i>tribe</i>: <br/>· I promised something to David. <br/>· I have chosen Jerusalem.


text:
I will do this because (Solomon) has gone away from me. He has <i>worshipped</i> Ashtoreth, (who is) the female god of the people in Sidon. (He has also worshipped) Chemosh, (who is) the god of the people in Moab. (He has worshipped) Molech, (who is) the god of the people in Ammon. (Solomon) has not lived in my ways. He has not done what I see to be right. He has not obeyed my words or my rules. David, (who was) Solomon’s father, (obeyed all my words). 


text:
But I will not take all the <i>kingdom</i> away from Solomon. I have made him ruler (of Israel) for all of his life. That is because of my promise to David, (who was) my servant. I chose (David) and he obeyed all my words and my rules. 


text:
I will give one <i>tribe</i> to his son. So my servant David will always have a light in front of me in Jerusalem. (Jerusalem) is the city where I chose to put my Name. 


text:
But I will do this to you. I will take you (from Jerusalem). You will rule everything that you want (to rule). You will be the king of Israel. 


text:
But you must do everything that I <i>order</i> you (to do). You must live in my ways. You must do what I see to be right. You must obey my words and my rules, as my servant David did. If you do that, I will (always) be near to you. I will build for you a <i>family</i> that will continue as long as David’s <i>family</i>. I will give Israel to you. 


text:
David’s <i>family</i> will think that they are not important because of this. But it will not always be like this.” ’ 


text:
Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam ran away to Egypt. He went to Shishak (who was) the king (of Egypt). And he stayed there until Solomon died. <n>Solomon dies</n>


text:
Other things happened while Solomon was king. They are all are in the Book about Solomon. It includes his <i>wisdom</i> and everything that he did. 


text:
Then he rested with his <i>ancestors</i>. People buried him in the city of his father, David. And his son Rehoboam was king after him. <n>Notes about chapter 11</n> <n>Verse 7. The ‘high place’ was a kind of house for these gods. Maybe it had trees round it. <n>Verses 12-13. Solomon’s son ruled the <i>tribe</i> called Judah. He may also have ruled the tribe called Benjamin. Jerusalem was in the country called Judah. <n>Verse 14. Edom was a country to the south-east of Israel. <n>Verse 15. The story of David’s war with Edom is in 1 Samuel chapter 8. <n>Verse 24. Damascus was the capital of Aram. Aram is called Syria now. <n>Verse 26. Ephraim was north-east of Jerusalem. One of the biggest <i>tribes</i> of Israel lived there. <n>Verse 27. Perhaps the Millo was a road round the top of the walls of the city of David. The city of David was the part of Jerusalem where David had lived. <n>Verses 28-36. Joseph may be another name for Ephraim. Each of the <i>tribes</i> of Israel had to help Solomon to build the <i>Millo</i>. Bible students think that they did not like this. Part of Jerusalem was in Judah, not in Ephraim! So maybe that is why Jeroboam wanted to fight Solomon. Ahijah said that the <i>LORD</i> would give 10 tribes (in the north) to Jeroboam. In the south, Judah would remain with Solomon’s son. Part of Jerusalem was in Judah, but the other part was in Benjamin. Maybe Ahijah counted Benjamin as part of Judah! <n>Verses 33 and 38. ‘live in my ways’ means ‘do what I want him to do’. <n>Verse 36. ‘Chose to put my Name’ means ‘chose to live’. <n>Verses 37-38. ‘Israel’ means the 10 <i>tribes</i> north of Judah and Benjamin. 


text:
Now Jeroboam, (who was) the son of Nebat, was still in Egypt. He had gone there when he ran away from King Solomon. But Jeroboam returned from Egypt when he heard (about Rehoboam). 


text:
Then (the <i>Israelites</i>) sent a message to Jeroboam. They wanted him to come to them. And (Jeroboam) and all the Israelites went to Rehoboam. They said to Rehoboam, 


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‘Your father caused us to work too much. Now, make it easier for us. If you make our work easier, we will be your servants.’ 


text:
Then King Rehoboam went to some older men. They had helped his father Solomon, when he was alive. ‘What answer should I give to these (<i>Israelites</i>)?’ he asked. 


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They said to him, ‘If you are like a servant to them today, (they will always be your servants). If you speak kindly to them, they will always work for you.’ 


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But Rehoboam did not believe what these older men said. He talked about it to some younger men. They had always been with him and they were his servants. 


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He said to them, ‘What do you think that I should do? What answer should we give to the people who say (this) to me? “Make our work easier than your father made it.” ’ 


text:
(These young men) had always been with Rehoboam. The young men said, ‘Say this to the people who said (these things) to you. “Your father caused us to do work that was not easy. Now make our work easier.” Say to them, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s body. 


text:
My father gave you work that was not easy. I will make it even less easy. My father hit you with <i>whips</i>, but I will hit you with snakes.” ’


text:
Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam three days after that. That was because the king had said, ‘Return to me in three days.’ 


text:
The king spoke words that were not kind to the people. He did not say what the older men had wanted him to say. 


text:
He said what the young men had suggested. ‘My father gave you work that was not easy. I will make it even less easy. My father hit you with <i>whips</i>. I will hit you with snakes!’ 


text:
So the king did not do what the (<i>Israelites</i>) wanted him to do. Really, the <i>LORD</i> caused this to happen. He had said what would happen in his words to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Ahijah who was from Shiloh (told them to Jeroboam).


text:
Then all the <i>Israelites</i> saw that the king would not listen to them. So they said to the king, <n>‘We do not want to be a part of David’s (country). <n>We do not want to belong to Jesse’s son. <n><i>Israelites</i>, go to your homes! <n>Now, David’s son, you can rule your own people!’ <n>So all the <i>Israelites</i> went home.


text:
A man called Adoniram told the workers what they should do. Rehoboam sent him (to do this). But the <i>Israelites</i> threw stones at him and he died. But Rehoboam, (who was with him,) got into his <i>chariot</i>. He was able to get to Jerusalem. 


text:
All the <i>Israelites</i> heard that Jeroboam had returned. They all met together and they asked (Jeroboam) to come to them. They made him king over all Israel. Only the <i>tribe</i> of Judah still remained with the house of David.


text:
Rehoboam arrived back in Jerusalem. He brought all the people that lived in Judah and Benjamin together. There were 180 000 of them that could fight. (Rehoboam) wanted to start a war against Israel. He wanted to get back (the <i>tribes</i> in the north of) Israel for himself. (He was) Rehoboam, (who was) the son of Solomon. 


text:
‘Say this to Rehoboam (who is) the son of Solomon. (Solomon was) the king of Judah. Say it to everybody in Judah and in Benjamin. Say it also to everybody else. 


text:
This is what the <i>LORD</i> is saying. “Do not fight against the <i>Israelites</i>, (who are like) your brothers. Go home, everybody. What is happening is what I want to happen.” ’ So they obeyed the <i>word of the LORD</i>. They went home again because the LORD said it. <n>Jeroboam, king of Israel</n>


text:
Then Jeroboam made Shechem into a strong (city). He lived there, in the hills of Ephraim. Then he went to (the city called) Penuel and he made it stronger. 


text:
Jeroboam thought inside himself, ‘Now, almost certainly, the <i>kingdom</i> will go back to the <i>family</i> of David. 


text:
The people (from the north) will go to Jerusalem. They will offer <i>sacrifices</i> there in the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. They will become servants (again) of their <i>lord</i>, Rehoboam. He is the king of Judah. They will kill me and they will go back to King Rehoboam.’ 


text:
(Jeroboam) asked (some people) what he should do. Then, the king (Jeroboam) made two young cows out of gold. He said to the people (that he ruled), ‘It is too difficult for you to go up to Jerusalem. (These young cows) are your gods, people of Israel. They brought you up out of Egypt.’ 


text:
But that became a <i>sin</i>. Some people went as far as Dan to <i>worship</i> the (young cow) that was there! 


text:
(Jeroboam) also built places on hills where people could <i>worship</i> (gods). He made <i>priests</i> from many <i>tribes</i>. Many of them were not <i>Levites</i>. 


text:
(Jeroboam) started a special day on the 15th day of the 8th month. That was like the special day that they had in Judah. But he offered <i>sacrifices</i> in Bethel to the young cows that he had made. He also put <i>priests</i> into the places on hills (where people could <i>worship</i> gods). 


text:
(Jeroboam) chose the 8th month in his own mind. On the 15th day of that month, he offered <i>sacrifices</i> on the <i>altar</i> that he had made at Bethel. So (Jeroboam) started a special day for the <i>Israelites</i>. They went to the altar (at Bethel or Dan) to offer (their sacrifices to their gods). <n>Notes about chapter 12</n> <n>Verses 1-20. The Israelites were the people that lived in the north of the country. <n>Verse 4. ‘be your servants’ means ‘let you be our king’. Jeroboam went to Egypt (verse 2) because the work was not easy (1 Kings 11:26-29). <n>Verses 4-14, ‘work that is not easy’ is ‘heavy weight’ in the <i>Hebrew</i> Bible. <n>Verse 19. ‘the <i>family</i> of David’ means King Rehoboam and the people that he ruled in Judah. <n>Verse 20. All the <i>tribes</i> in the north made Jeroboam king of Israel. Judah, and maybe Benjamin in the south, made Rehoboam their king. <n>Verse 22. ‘Word of God’ is not only what God said. It is also a name for Christ, John 1:1. It helps us to remember that Christ is in the <i>Old Testament</i>. He did not only come at Christmas! This is very important. <n>Verse 26. Maybe ‘the <i>family</i> of David’ means ‘David’s sons will rule it’. ‘The <i>kingdom</i>’ means the north part that Jeroboam ruled. <n>Verses 28-30. The Book of Deuteronomy said that each <i>Israelite</i> must go to Jerusalem three times in every year. Jeroboam made other places for them to go to instead. The places were Bethel and Dan. There were already <i>temples</i> in these places from a long time ago. It was easier for most Israelites to travel to Bethel (in the south) and to Dan (in the north). A sin is when we do not obey God. <n>Verse 32. The special day in Judah was on the 15th day of the 7th month. Jeroboam wanted his special day to be like the one in Judah. But he wanted it to be different too! So he had it on the 15th day of the 8th month. 


text:
The <i>LORD ordered</i> a man that was God’s servant to go from Judah to Bethel. He came (to Bethel) while Jeroboam was standing by the <i>altar</i>. (Jeroboam) was ready to burn something with a nice smell. 


text:
(God’s servant) shouted loudly against the <i>altar</i>. (He did it) by the <i>word of the LORD</i>. (He shouted), ‘Altar! Altar! This is what the LORD is saying (to you). “A son called Josiah will be born in the <i>family</i> of David. He will burn the <i>priests</i> on you, (altar). (They are the priests that work) in the <i>high places</i>. They are offering <i>sacrifices</i> here now. (Josiah) will burn human bones on you!” ’ 


text:
The same day, God’s servant (said what else would happen). (He said that) it would be like a sign. ‘This is the sign that the <i>LORD</i> has given (to you). (You will see) the <i>altar</i> break in its middle. The ashes on it will pour out.’ 


text:
Jeroboam heard what God’s servant shouted loudly against the <i>altar</i> at Bethel. Then (Jeroboam) took his hand away from the <i>altar</i> (and he pointed it at God’s servant). ‘Hold that man’, he said. But after he pointed with his hand, he could not move his arm! He could not pull it back. 


text:
Also, the <i>altar</i> did break in its middle. And ashes did pour out, as God’s servant had said. This was the sign that the <i>word of the LORD</i> gave (to Jeroboam). 


text:
Then the king said to God’s servant, ‘Pray for me. (Pray) to the <i>LORD</i> (who is) your God. Pray that my hand will become well again.’ So God’s servant prayed to the LORD. And the king’s hand became well again, as it was before. 


text:
Then the king said to God’s servant, ‘Come (to my) home with me. Have something to eat. Then I will give you a gift.’ 


text:
But God’s servant said to the king, ‘You might give to me half of what is yours. But still I would not go with you! I would not eat bread and I would not drink water here. 


text:
(That is because) I was sent here by the <i>word of the LORD</i>. (He said), “You must not eat bread or drink water (there). You must not return on the same road that you came on.” ’ 


text:
So God’s servant returned by another road. He did not go on the road by which he came to Bethel. <n>The old <i>prophet</i> in Bethel</n>


text:
Now a certain old <i>prophet</i> lived in Bethel. And his son came (to him). And he told (the old prophet) everything that God’s servant had done there that day. (His sons also) told their father what (God’s servant) had said to the king. 


text:
Their father asked (his sons), ‘Which way did (God’s servant) go?’ And his sons told him on which road God’s servant from Judah had gone. 


text:
Then (the old <i>prophet</i>) said to his sons, ‘Get my <i>donkey</i> ready (for me to ride).’ When they had got ready the donkey, (the old prophet) got on to it. 


text:
Then he rode after God’s servant. He found (God’s servant), who was sitting under an <i>oak</i> tree. He asked him, ‘Are you the servant of God from Judah?’ ‘I am’, (God’s servant) replied. 


text:
God’s servant said, ‘I cannot come with you. I must not go back (to Bethel). I cannot eat bread or drink water with you in that country. 


text:
The <i>word of the LORD</i> told me, “You must not eat bread or drink water there. You must not return by the way in which you came.” ’ 


text:
The old <i>prophet</i> answered, ‘I, too, am a prophet like you. But an <i>angel</i> said to me, by the <i>word of the LORD</i>, “Bring him back with you to your house. There, he can eat bread and drink water.” ’ But what the (old prophet) said was not true. 


text:
They were sitting together at the table, when the <i>word of the LORD</i> came to the old <i>prophet</i>. (He was the old prophet) that had brought (God’s servant) back. 


text:
(The old <i>prophet</i>) said to the servant of God who had come from Judah, ‘This is what the <i>LORD</i> is saying. You have not obeyed the word of the LORD. You have not done what the LORD your God <i>ordered</i> you to do. 


text:
You came here. He said to you, ‘You must not eat bread or drink water in that place.’ But you ate bread and you drank water here. As a result, they will not bury your body in the same place as (they buried) your fathers’ body.’ 


text:
God’s servant finished his food and his drink. Then the <i>prophet</i>, who had brought him back, made his <i>donkey</i> ready for him. 


text:
But when he went on his journey, a <i>lion</i> met him on the road. (The lion) killed him and it threw his body down on to the road. Then, both the <i>donkey</i> and the lion stood by the dead body. 


text:
Some people, who passed it, saw the dead body. It lay on the road. The <i>lion</i> stood by the dead body. They went and reported it in the city. The old <i>prophet</i> lived (in that city).


text:
That was the (old) <i>prophet</i> who had brought (God’s servant) back from his journey. When he heard about it, he said, ‘It is the servant of God who did not obey the <i>word of the LORD</i>. The LORD has given him to the <i>lion</i>. The lion has attacked him and it has killed him. The word of the LORD had told him that there would be danger.’ 


text:
The (old) <i>prophet</i> said to his sons, ‘Make my <i>donkey</i> ready for me (to ride).’ So they did (what he had asked them to do). 


text:
Then (the old <i>prophet</i>) went and he found the body. It lay on the road. The <i>donkey</i> and the <i>lion</i> stood by it. The lion had not eaten the body and it had not attacked the donkey. 


text:
So the (old) <i>prophet</i> put the body of God’s servant on to the <i>donkey</i>. And he brought it back to his own city. There, he was sad about it. Then he (decided to) bury it. 


text:
He buried the body in the place that he had made for his own dead body. They were (all) sad about it, and they said, ‘Oh! My dear friend!’ 


text:
When they had buried him, (the old <i>prophet</i>) said to his sons, ‘When I die, bury me in the same place. Put me where (we buried) the servant of God. Lay my bones by his bones. 


text:
This is why (you must do it). Certainly the message that (God’s servant) brought will become true. (The message that he brought) was by the <i>word of the LORD</i>. It was against the <i>altar</i> in Bethel. It was also against all the altars on the high places in the towns in Samaria.’


text:
Even after this, Jeroboam did not stop doing bad things. He made more <i>priests</i> for the high places from all kinds of people. Anybody who wanted to be a priest, (Jeroboam) made into a priest for the high places. 


text:
This was a big <i>sin</i> in the <i>family</i> of Jeroboam. And that is why it did not continue. (God) destroyed it from the whole earth. <n>Notes about chapter 13</n> <n>Verse 1. The <i>Hebrew</i> Bible says that God’s servant came ‘by the <i>word of the LORD</i>’. This is a name for Christ. Really, the servant was a <i>prophet</i>. The writer does not call him a prophet because he does not want to confuse us. There is another prophet in verse 11. <n>Verse 2. The high places were on the hills, 1 Kings 12:31. <n>Verse 13. A <i>donkey</i> is an animal that people rode on. It is like a small horse. <n>Verse 32. Samaria is another name for the <i>kingdom</i> in the north called Israel. <n>Verse 34. The ‘family of Jeroboam’ means Jeroboam and the kings that came after him. 


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So Jeroboam said to his wife, ‘Cause yourself to seem different so people will not recognise you as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the <i>prophet</i> is there. He told me that I would rule the people (of Israel). 


text:
Take 10 loaves of bread with you. Also (take) some cakes and a jar of <i>honey</i>. Then go to (Ahijah). He will tell you what will happen to the boy.’ 


text:
So Jeroboam’s wife did what he said (to her). She went to Ahijah’s house in Shiloh. Ahijah could not see because he was very old. 


text:
But the <i>LORD</i> had said to Ahijah, ‘Jeroboam’s wife will come to you. She will ask you about her son, who is ill. You must give her the answer (that I tell you). She will (soon) arrive. Then, she will say that she is somebody else.’


text:
So, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet on the ground, he said, ‘Come in, Jeroboam’s wife! You need not cause yourself to seem like somebody else. (The <i>LORD</i>) has given me bad news for you. 


text:
Go and tell this to Jeroboam. It is what the <i>LORD</i>, the God of Israel, says (to you). I chose you out of (all) the people and I made you the leader of my people, Israel. 


text:
I tore the <i>kingdom</i> away from the <i>house of David</i>. I gave the kingdom to you, but you have not been like my servant David. (David) obeyed my rules. He always tried to obey me as much as he could. He always did what was right in my mind. 


text:
But you have done more really bad things than all (the people) that lived before you. You have made other gods for yourself. You have made <i>idols</i> with metal. You have made me very angry. You have done to me like when someone throws something (away), behind his back. 


text:
Because of this, I will destroy the <i>house of Jeroboam</i>. I will kill every male from the (house of) Jeroboam, whether they are slaves or free men. I will take away the <i>house of Jeroboam</i>. It will be like when people sweep away <i>dung</i>. Everything will go! 


text:
Dogs will eat any of Jeroboam’s (<i>family</i>) that die in the city (of Jerusalem). The birds (that fly) in the air will eat those that die in the country (places). This is what the <i>LORD</i> has said! 


text:
All Israel will cry because of him and they will bury him. He is the only person from Jeroboam’s <i>family</i> that they will bury. He is the only person in the <i>house of Jeroboam</i> that Israel’s God, the <i>LORD</i>, has found anything good in. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> will choose for himself a king of Israel. (That king) will destroy the <i>family</i> of Jeroboam. It will start now, yes, even today! 


text:
Also, the <i>LORD</i> will hit (the country of) Israel. It will move like a thin plant that is growing in a stream. (The LORD) will take Israel away from this good country that he gave to their <i>ancestors</i>. He will move them beyond the River (Euphrates). (That is because) they made the LORD very angry. (They did that) when they made <i>Asherah poles</i>. 


text:
(And the <i>LORD</i>) will give Israel (to its enemies) because of Jeroboam’s <i>sin</i>. Also, it is because Jeroboam caused Israel’s people to <i>sin</i>.’


text:
Then Jeroboam’s wife stood up. She left (the house) and she went to Tirzah. When she walked through the door of (her) house, the boy died. 


text:
They buried him and all Israel cried about his death. This is what the <i>LORD</i> had said (would happen) by his servant the <i>prophet</i> Ahijah.


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Israel. They wrote about everything else that King Jeroboam did, (in this book). (It includes) his wars. And (it includes) how he ruled (his people). 


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(Jeroboam) was king for 22 years. Then he died (and they buried him) with his <i>ancestors</i>. His son Nadab was king after him. <n>Rehoboam dies</n>


text:
Rehoboam (was) the son of Solomon. He was the king of Judah. He was 41 years old when he became king. He ruled 17 years in Jerusalem. (Jerusalem) was the city that the <i>LORD</i> had chosen out of all the <i>tribes</i> of Israel. The LORD put his Name (in Jerusalem). Rehoboam’s mother was called Naamah. She came from the country called Ammon. 


text:
(The people in) Judah did what the <i>LORD</i> did not like. Their <i>sins</i> made the LORD angrier than the <i>sins</i> of their <i>ancestors</i> had done. 


text:
They also had made high places for themselves. They had put <i>Asherah poles</i> on every high hill and under every big tree. 


text:
There were even <i>temples</i> where men could have sex with other men for money in (Judah). The people did all these very bad things. They were the things that the people did before the <i>Israelites</i> came. God had killed all (those people).


text:
After Rehoboam had been king for 5 years, Shishak attacked Jerusalem. (Shishak) was the king of Egypt. 


text:
(Shishak) took away the valuable things from the <i>temple</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. He also (took) the valuable things from the king’s <i>palace</i>. He took away everything. That includes the <i>shields</i> that Solomon had made with gold. 


text:
So Rehoboam made <i>shields</i> with <i>bronze</i>. His soldiers used these instead (of the shields of gold). (The soldiers) stood at the door of the king’s <i>palace</i> to keep out enemies. 


text:
Every time that the king went to the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>temple</i>, the soldiers carried the <i>shields</i>. After that, they took them back to the room where they stored them.


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Judah. People wrote in it everything that King Rehoboam did. 


text:
So Rehoboam died and they buried him with his <i>ancestors</i> in the <i>City of David</i>. (Rehoboam’s) mother’s name was Naamah. She came from the country called Ammon. Then, (Rehoboam’s) son Abijam became king after him. <n>Notes about chapter 14</n> <n>Verse 2. Ahijah first met Jeroboam in 1 Kings 11:29. <n>Verse 3. Honey is something that is very sweet. It is a kind of sugar. <n>Verse 9. An idol is like a picture of a false god. <n>Verse 15. An Asherah pole is an <i>idol</i>, or false god, on a tall stick. <n>Verse 19. We do not have this book. We do not know what this book was. Nobody knows where it is. <n>Verse 21. ‘Put his Name’ is a strange group of words. Maybe it meant that it was God’s own city. Or maybe it meant that he lived there. Isaiah and Revelation tell us that he will live there on the New Earth. <n>Verse 31. The ‘City of David’ was the part of Jerusalem where King David had lived. 


text:
Abijam became king of Judah. This happened after Jeroboam had been king of Israel for nearly 18 years. Jeroboam was the son of Nebat. 


text:
(Abijam) was king in Jerusalem for three years. His mother’s name was Maacah. She was the daughter of Abishalom. 


text:
Abijam did all the <i>sins</i> that his father had done before him. He was not a good servant of the <i>LORD</i> (who was) his God. David, his father’s grandfather, had been a good servant (of God). 


text:
But the <i>LORD</i> his God gave (Abijam) a light in Jerusalem. (That was) because of what (God) had promised to David. So God made Jerusalem strong. He also gave (Abijam) a son (to be king) after him. 


text:
David had always done what the <i>LORD</i> wanted him to do. David had obeyed the LORD’s rules all his life. The only time that he did not do that was about Uriah. Uriah came from the people called the Hittites. 


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Judah. People wrote in it everything that King Abijam did. There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.


text:
So Abijam died and they buried him with his <i>ancestors</i> in the <i>City of David</i>. Then, (Abijam’s) son Asa became king after him. <n>Asa, king of Judah</n>


text:
And Asa was king in Jerusalem for 41 years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah. She was the daughter of Abishalom. 


text:
He sent away from the <i>temple</i> the men that had sex with other men for money. (He sent them) away from (Judah). And he destroyed all the <i>idols</i> that his father had made. 


text:
He even told his grandmother Maacah that she could not continue to call herself ‘<i>Queen Mother</i>’. (This was) because she had made (one of the) bad <i>Asherah poles</i>. Asa cut the (Asherah) pole down and he burned it in the Kidron Valley. 


text:
He brought into the <i>temple silver</i> and gold. He also brought things that he and his father had made special (for God).


text:
There was a war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel. It continued all the time that they ruled their countries. 


text:
Baasha, the king of Israel, attacked Judah. He made (the town called) Ramah very strong. As a result, nobody could go in to or leave the country of Asa, king of Judah. 


text:
So Asa took all the <i>silver</i> and the gold that they stored in his <i>palace</i> and in the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>temple</i>. He gave it to his servants and he sent them to Ben-hadad. He was the king of Aram, who ruled in (the capital city called) Damascus. Ben-hadad’s father was Tabrimmon and his grandfather was Hezion. 


text:
(Asa sent) this message (to Ben-hadad). ‘We should agree together, as our fathers agreed together. Look! I am sending you a gift of <i>silver</i> and gold. Do not now help Baasha, (who is) the king of Israel. So (maybe) he will leave my (country).’ 


text:
And Ben-hadad did agree with King Asa. He sent his army with its leaders against the towns in Israel. He beat Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, all Kinnereth and also Naphtali. 


text:
Then King Asa said that everyone in Judah must do this. They must carry away everything that Baasha was using in Ramah. (This included) stones and wood. King Asa used them to make Geba in Benjamin strong and also Mizpah.


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Judah. In it, people have written everything that happened during Asa’s time. <n>In the book are these things: <br/>· everything that he did <br/>· the (wars) that he fought <br/>· the cities that he built.


text:
So Asa died and they buried him with his <i>ancestors</i> in the <i>City of David</i>. Then, (Asa’s) son Jehoshaphat became king after him. <n>Nadab, king of Israel</n>


text:
When Asa had been king of Judah for two years, Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king of Israel. (Nadab) was king of Israel for two years. 


text:
He did what the <i>LORD</i> did not like. He did what his father had done. He did the same <i>sins</i> as his (father had done). And he caused Israel’s people to do them also. 


text:
Baasha (was) the son of Ahijah. He came from the big <i>family</i> of Issachar. He decided to kill (Nadab). He did kill him at a town in Philistia called Gibbethon. (This was) while Nadab and (his army from) Israel were attacking (Gibbethon). 


text:
When Asa had been king of Judah for nearly three years, Baasha killed Nadab. Baasha became king (of Israel) after (Nadab). 


text:
Immediately after (Baasha) became king, he killed all Jeroboam’s family. He did not leave anybody in Jeroboam’s (family) alive. He killed them all. The <i>LORD</i> had said that it would happen. He said it by his servant Ahijah who was from Shiloh. 


text:
(That was) because of Jeroboam’s <i>sins</i>. Also, it was because he had caused Israel’s people to do the same sins. This had made the <i>LORD</i> God of Israel very angry.


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Israel. This book tells about when Nadab was king. It tells about what he did. And it tells about everything else that happened then.


text:
There was war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, all the time that they ruled (their countries). <n>Baasha, king of Israel</n>


text:
When Asa had been king in Judah for nearly three years, Baasha became the king of all Israel. Baasha was the son of Ahijah. It happened in Tirzah. (Baasha) was king for 24 years. 


text:
(Baasha) did what the <i>LORD</i> did not like. He did all the <i>sins</i> that Jeroboam did. He had caused Israel’s people to do them also. <n>Notes about chapter 15</n> <n>Verse 2. Some Bibles spell Abishalom as Absalom. So maybe Maacah was the granddaughter of King David. <n>Verse 4. The light in Jerusalem means this: People kept a light in their homes if they still lived there. So the light means this. David’s <i>family</i> still lived in Jerusalem. <n>Verse 5. David sent Uriah to his death, so that David could marry Uriah’s wife, 2 Samuel chapter 11. <n>Verse 7. We do not know what this ‘book’ is. Nobody knows where it is. <n>Verse 8. The ‘City of David’ was the part of Jerusalem where King David had lived. <n>Verse 13. Maybe Maacah was a leader of the people that <i>worshipped idols</i>. ‘Queen Mother’ is a name for the mother of the king. The Kidron Valley was outside Jerusalem. <n>Verse 15. The <i>silver</i> and gold may have come from the wars that Asa fought. <n>Verse 17. Ramah was very near to Jerusalem. Ramah was in Benjamin, so it was part of King Asa’s <i>kingdom</i>. <n>Verse 29. Ahijah’s words are in 1 Kings 14:10. <n>Verse 33. Tirzah was a beautiful place, (Song of Songs 6:4). Perhaps that is why Israel’s kings went there instead of to Shechem. 


text:
‘You were not important, but I made you the leader of my people Israel. But then you did all the bad things that Jeroboam did! Also, you caused my people Israel to <i>sin</i> and you made me very angry because of their <i>sins</i>. 


text:
As a result, I will take away completely Baasha and his <i>family</i>. I will make the <i>family</i> of Baasha like that of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 


text:
Dogs will eat (the dead bodies) of Baasha’s <i>family</i> if they die in the city. Some of them will die in country places. The birds (that fly) in the air will eat (the dead bodies of) those people.’


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Israel. This book tells about when Baasha was king. It tells about what he did. And it tells about everything else that happened then.


text:
Baasha died as his <i>ancestors</i> (had died). They buried him in Tirzah. Then (Baasha’s) son Elah became king after him. 


text:
The <i>word of the LORD</i> had come by the <i>prophet</i> Jehu. (Jehu) was the son of Hanani. (The word) came to Baasha and to the <i>family</i> of Baasha. It came because of all the bad things that he had done. He had done what the LORD did not like. (Baasha) had made the LORD very angry by the things that he had done. (The <i>family</i> of Baasha) had become like the <i>family</i> of Jeroboam. The word also came because Baasha had destroyed (the <i>family</i> of Jeroboam). <n>Elah, king of Israel</n>


text:
Elah, the son of Baasha, became king of Israel. (This happened) when Asa had been king of Judah for nearly 26 years. Now (Elah) was king in Tirzah for two years. 


text:
Zimri was the leader of half of (Elah’s) <i>chariots</i>. (Zimri) decided to kill (Elah). Elah was in Tirzah, in the home of (a man called) Arza. (Elah) was drinking too much alcohol. (Arza) said what people must do in (Elah’s) <i>palace</i> in Tirzah. 


text:
Zimri came in (to where Elah was). He hit Elah and he killed him. At this time, Asa had been king of Judah for nearly 27 years. So (Zimri) made himself king instead of (Elah). 


text:
When Zimri became king on the <i>throne</i> (of Israel), he immediately killed everybody in Baasha’s family. He killed every male in the family and (he killed) every friend (of Baasha). 


text:
So Zimri killed everybody in Baasha’s family. The <i>word of the LORD</i> had said that this would happen. The <i>prophet</i> Jehu had spoken (what the LORD had said) against Baasha. 


text:
(The <i>LORD</i> had said this) because of all the <i>sins</i> that Baasha and his son Elah had done. Also, they had caused Israel’s people to do them. Their <i>idols</i>, which had no value, had made the LORD, the God of Israel, very angry. 


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Israel. This book tells about when Elah was king. It tells about what he did. And it tells about everything else that happened then. <n>Zimri, king of Israel</n>


text:
Zimri was king (of Israel) in Tirzah for (only) 7 days. Asa had been king of Judah for nearly 27 years (when this happened). The army (of Israel) was near a town in Philistia called Gibbethon. 


text:
The army of Israel heard about what Zimri had done. (Zimri) had decided to kill the king (Elah) and he had done it. Omri was the leader of the army (of Israel). The army made Omri king of Israel on that day, while they were (in Gibbethon). 


text:
Then Omri left Gibbethon. All (the army of) Israel left with him. (Omri and his army) attacked Tirzah. 


text:
Zimri saw that (Omri) had taken the city (Tirzah) from him. So he went into the king’s <i>palace</i>, where it was (still) safe. He lit a fire which burned down the palace all round him. So (Zimri) died, 


text:
because of all the <i>sins</i> that he had done. He had done what the <i>LORD</i> did not like. He had copied the ways of Jeroboam. He had done the sins that Jeroboam had done. Also, he had caused Israel’s people to do them. 


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Israel. In it are all the other things that Zimri did. It includes the way that he killed (Baasha’s family). <n>Omri, king of Israel</n>


text:
There were two groups of people in Israel. Half (of the people) wanted Tibni, (who was) the son of Ginath, to be the king. The other half wanted Omri (to be the king). 


text:
But the half that wanted Omri (to be the king) was stronger than the other half. (After 4 years), Tibni (who was) the son of Ginath, died. Then Omri became the king (of Israel). 


text:
Omri became king of Israel when Asa had been king of Judah for nearly 31 years. (Omri) ruled the people for 12 years. He was in Tirzah for 6 of these years. 


text:
(Omri) bought a hill called Samaria from Shemer. He paid two <i>talents</i> of <i>silver</i> for it. He built a city on the hill and he called the city Samaria. That was because he bought the hill from Shemer. 


text:
But Omri did what the <i>LORD</i> did not like. He <i>sinned</i> more than all (the kings of Israel) before him. 


text:
He did all the bad things that Jeroboam the son of Nebat had done. He did all the <i>sins</i> which (Jeroboam) had caused Israel’s people to do. This made the <i>LORD</i>, the God of Israel, very angry, because of the <i>idols</i> which were worth nothing. 


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Israel. This book tells about when Omri was king. It tells about what he did. And it tells about everything else that happened then. 


text:
So Omri died and they buried him with his <i>ancestors</i> in Samaria. His son Ahab became king (of Israel) after him. <n>Ahab becomes king of Israel</n>


text:
Ahab, (who was) the son of Omri, became king of Israel. Asa had been king of Judah for nearly 38 years (when that happened). Ahab was king of Israel in Samaria for 22 years. 


text:
Omri’s son, Ahab, did more things that the <i>LORD</i> did not like than any of those (kings) before him. 


text:
He did not think that it was a bad thing to do the same <i>sins</i> as Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So he did something that was even worse. He married Jezebel, who was the daughter of Ethbaal. (Ethbaal) was the king of Sidon. (Ahab) became the servant of <i>Baal</i> and he began to <i>worship</i> him. 


text:
(Ahab) built a <i>temple</i> for <i>Baal</i> in Samaria. He made an <i>altar</i> for Baal in this (temple). 


text:
Ahab also made an <i>Asherah pole</i>. He did more things to make the <i>LORD</i>, the God of Israel, angry than all the kings of Israel before him. 


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While Ahab was king (of Israel), Hiel built Jericho again. (Hiel lived) in Bethel. His first son, called Abiram, died when he started to build (Jericho). And his youngest son, called Segub, died when he built the gates (of Jericho). This agreed with the <i>word of the LORD</i> by Joshua, the son of Nun. <n>Notes about chapter 16</n> <n>Verse 4. The city may be Tirzah, 1 Kings 15:33. <n>Verse 5. We do not know what this ‘book’ is. Nobody knows where it is. <n>Verse 7. Remember, ‘the <i>word of the LORD</i>’ is a name for Christ! <n>Verse 22. The 4 year fight is not in verse 22 of the <i>Hebrew</i> Bible. It comes from verses 15 and 23. <n>Verse 24. Samaria is the word in the Greek language for the <i>Hebrew</i> word Shemer (or Shomron). Students dug the place in 1924. They showed that Omri was the first person to build a city there. They also think that the Hebrew name was Sh<b>omr</b>on, from ‘O<b>mr</b>i’. In the Hebrew language, the names of many hills in Israel ended in –on. Examples are Zi<b>on</b>, Herm<b>on </b>and Leban<b>on</b>. <n>Verse 27. ‘what he did’ includes Samaria. He built that city, which would become important in Israel. <n>Verse 31. Baal was a false god. The word ‘baal’ means ‘<i>lord</i>’. <n>Verse 34. Joshua’s words are in Joshua 6:26. 


text:
Elijah came from (a place called) Tishbe in Gilead. (So, Elijah was) a Tishbite. (Elijah) said to Ahab, ‘I am a servant of the <i>LORD</i>, (who is) the God of Israel. As surely (as God) is alive, no water will appear on the ground during the night in the next few years. And it will not rain. I will say when it will rain. It will not rain until then.’ 


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(The <i>LORD</i> said), ‘Leave here! Go to the east. And hide by the stream called Cherith, east of the (River) Jordan. 


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You will drink (water) from the stream and the <i>ravens</i> will feed you there. I have said (to them) that they must do this.’ 


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So (Elijah) obeyed the <i>word of the LORD</i>. He went. And he lived by the stream called Cherith, east of the (River) Jordan. 


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The <i>ravens</i> brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening. He drank (water) from the stream. <n>The <i>widow</i> at Zarephath</n>


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‘Go immediately to Zarephath (which is) near Sidon. Stay there. I have said to a <i>widow</i> there that she must supply you with food.’ 


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So (Elijah) went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, he met a <i>widow</i>. She was getting some small sticks. (Elijah) spoke to her and he asked her, ‘Please bring me some water in a jar, so that I can drink (it).’ 


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She replied, ‘As surely as your God is alive, I do not have any bread. I have only a small amount of flour in a jar. I have also a small amount of oil (to cook with). I am getting a few small sticks to take home. Then I will make a meal for myself and for my son. We will eat it. Then we will die (because there is no more food).’ 


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Elijah said to her, ‘Do not be afraid. Go home. And do what you have said. But first, make a small cake of bread for me. Use what you have got (to make it). Then bring it to me. And (after) that, make something for yourself and for your son. 


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This is what the <i>LORD</i>, the God of Israel, says. “You will not use all the flour in your jar. You will not use all the oil (that you cook with). Before (you use them all), the LORD will give rain to the country (called Israel).” ’ 


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Then (the <i>widow</i>) went away. And she did what Elijah had asked her to do. And after that, there was food every day for Elijah and for the widow and her family. 


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(She did not) use all the flour in the jar and she did not use all the oil. And that is what Elijah had promised. He did it when he spoke the <i>word of the LORD</i>.


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Some time after that, the son of the woman who had the house became ill. He became worse and worse until he died. 


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(The woman) said to Elijah, ‘Servant of God, why have you done this to me? Did you come to cause me to think about my <i>sins</i>? (Did you come) to kill my son?’ 


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‘Give your son to me’, Elijah replied. He took (her son) from her arms. (Elijah) carried him upstairs, to the room where he was staying. (Elijah) put (the <i>widow</i>’s son) on to his bed. 


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Then (Elijah) prayed this to the <i>LORD</i>. ‘LORD, (you are) my God! Did you cause this sad thing to happen to this <i>widow</i>? Did you cause the son of the widow that I am staying with to die?’ 


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Then (Elijah) lay on the boy three times. (Elijah) prayed (this) to the <i>LORD</i>. ‘LORD, (you are) my God! Cause this boy’s life to return to him!’ 


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The <i>LORD</i> heard Elijah when he prayed (to God). The boy’s life returned to him. He was alive again! 


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Elijah picked up the boy and he carried him downstairs. He took (the boy) from his room into the house. He gave (the boy) to his mother and he said, ‘Look! Your son is alive!’ 


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Then the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that God (sent) you. The <i>word of the LORD</i> that you speak is really true.’ <n>Notes about chapter 17</n> <n>Verse 2. The deep valley of Cherith is about 40 miles north of the Dead Sea. The stream, Cherith, went through this valley. <n>Verse 4. A raven is a large, black bird. <n>Verse 10. Towns had walls round them. The way in was through the ‘town gate’. 


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Three years after that, the <i>word of the LORD</i> came to Elijah. ‘Go and meet Ahab. Then, I will send rain on to the land (in Israel).’ 


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So Elijah went to meet Ahab. It was a time when there was almost no food for the people in Samaria to eat. 


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Ahab had asked Obadiah to meet him. (Obadiah) was the leader (of the servants) in (Ahab’s) <i>palace</i>. Obadiah was really afraid of the <i>LORD</i> (in a good way). 


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Jezebel had killed (many of) the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>prophets</i>. While she was doing this, Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets. He had put them in two <i>caves</i>, 50 in each cave. Also he had supplied them with food and water. 


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Ahab had said to Obadiah, ‘Go through all the country (called Israel). (Go to) all the valleys and to places where there is (usually) water. Maybe we can find some grass to feed the horses and other animals. If we do, we will not have to kill (all) our animals.’ 


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So Ahab and Obadiah went through the country (called Israel). Ahab went in one direction and Obadiah went in another (direction).


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While Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognised (Elijah) and he bent in front of him. (Obadiah) said, ‘Is it really you, my <i>lord</i> Elijah?’ 


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‘Have I done something (that is) wrong?’ Obadiah asked. ‘Is that why you are sending (me), your servant, to Ahab? (Ahab) will certainly kill me! 


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As surely as the <i>LORD</i> your God lives, my master (Ahab) has sent people to look for you (everywhere). Every country and <i>kingdom</i> has said that you were not there. He caused them all to say it. It really was true that you were not there. 


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I do not know where the (<i>Holy</i>) Spirit of the <i>LORD</i> will carry you next. (Where will you go) when I leave you? I may go to tell Ahab where you are. But if he does not find you, he will kill me. I am your servant. I have <i>worshipped</i> the LORD since I was a young man. 


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Have you not heard what I have done? While Jezebel was killing the <i>prophets</i> of the <i>LORD</i>, I hid 100 of the LORD’s prophets in two <i>caves</i>. (I put) 50 (prophets) in each cave. And I supplied them with food and water. 


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And now you want me to go to my master. And you want me to say, “Elijah is here!” He will kill me!’ 


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Elijah said, ‘I am the <i>LORD</i>’s servant. As (certainly) as he is alive and powerful, I will surely show myself to Ahab today.’ <n>Elijah and the <i>prophets</i> of <i>Baal</i></n>


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When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, ‘Is that (really) you? (You are) the person that is bringing trouble to Israel.’ 


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‘I have not brought trouble to Israel’, Elijah replied. ‘You and your father’s <i>family</i> have (done that). You threw away the <i>LORD</i>’s rules. Instead, you have become servants of the <i>Baals</i>. 


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Now, fetch people from all over Israel. (Say that they must) meet me. They must meet me on the hill called Carmel. Also, bring the 450 <i>prophets</i> of <i>Baal</i> and the 400 prophets of <i>Asherah</i>, who eat with Jezebel at her table.’


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So Ahab sent the message through all Israel. He brought the (false) <i>prophets</i> to the hill called Carmel. 


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Elijah stood up in front of the people and he said, ‘You should not have two ideas still about what you should do. If the <i>LORD</i> is God, <i>worship</i> him. If <i>Baal</i> is God, <i>worship</i> him.’ But the people said nothing. 


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Then Elijah said to them, ‘I am the only <i>prophet</i> of the <i>LORD</i> that is still (here). <i>Baal</i> has 450 prophets. 


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Fetch two male cows for us. (The <i>prophets</i> of <i>Baal</i>) can choose one for themselves. Then they should cut it into pieces and they should put it on the wood (on the <i>altar</i>). But they must not light the fire. I will prepare the other male cow and I will put it on the wood (on the altar). I will not light the fire. 


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Then, you pray to your god (<i>Baal</i>) and I will pray to the <i>LORD</i>. The god who sends fire for an answer, (that god,) he is God!’ Then all the people said, ‘What you say is good.’


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Elijah said to the <i>prophets</i> of <i>Baal</i>, ‘Choose one of the male cows. Prepare it first, because there are so many of you. Pray to your god, but do not light the fire.’ 


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So (the <i>prophets</i> of <i>Baal</i>) took their male cow and they prepared it (for the <i>altar</i>). Then they prayed to Baal from morning until noon. ‘Baal, answer us!’ they shouted. But there was no answer; nobody replied. And they all danced badly round the altar that they had made. 


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At noon, Elijah began to <i>laugh at</i> them. ‘Shout louder!’ he said. ‘He is a god! Maybe he is thinking (about something). Or (maybe) he is busy (in the bathroom), or he is away (from home) on a journey. (Or) maybe he is asleep and you must wake him up!’ 


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So they (all) shouted louder. And they cut themselves with <i>swords</i> and knives, as they often did. Soon, there was blood everywhere. 


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They continued what they were doing through the afternoon. They did it until the time came for the evening <i>sacrifice</i>. But nothing happened. Nobody answered (them). None (of the false gods) replied.


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Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come here, (near) to me.’ When they came, (Elijah) mended the <i>altar</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. (Somebody) had broken it into small pieces. 


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Elijah found 12 stones, one for each of the <i>tribes</i> that Jacob’s sons started. (Jacob was the man) to whom the <i>word of the LORD</i> came. It said, ‘Your name will be Israel.’ 


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(Elijah) built an <i>altar</i> in the name of the <i>LORD</i> with these stones. He dug a hole all round it. (The hole) was big enough to contain 15 litres (4 gallons) of seeds. 


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He put wood on (the <i>altar</i>). He cut the male cow into pieces. Then he put the pieces on to the wood. Then he said to the people, ‘Fill 4 large jars with water. Pour it on to the male cow and on to the wood.’ 


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‘Do it again’, he said. So they did it again. ‘Do it a third time’, he said. So they did it for the third time. 


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The time came for the (evening) <i>sacrifice</i>. Elijah came to the front (of the <i>altar</i>). He prayed (these words). ‘<i>LORD</i>, (you are) the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Cause people to know today that you are (still) God in Israel. (Cause them to know) that I am your servant. I have done all these things because you <i>ordered</i> me to do them. 


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Answer me, <i>LORD</i>, answer me! So these people will know that you, LORD, are (still their) God. And they will know that you have changed their minds back to you again.’ 


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Then fire came down from the <i>LORD</i>. It burned the <i>sacrifice</i>, the wood, the stones and the ground (round the <i>altar</i>). It even boiled the water in the hole (round the altar) until it had all gone. 


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When all the people saw this, they fell flat on the ground. They shouted, ‘The <i>LORD</i>, he is God! The LORD (really) is God!’ 


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Then Elijah said, ‘Catch the <i>prophets</i> of <i>Baal</i>. Do not let any of them run away!’ So they caught them (all) and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley. There, he killed them all. <n>Elijah waits for rain</n>


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Then Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go (to where your servants are). Eat and drink there. (Do it quickly), because there is the sound of a lot of rain.’ 


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So Ahab went to eat and to drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel. He bent down to the ground. He put his face between his knees. 


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He said to his servant, ‘Go and look towards the sea.’ So his servant went and looked. ‘There is nothing there’, he said (to Elijah). Elijah said (to him) 7 times, ‘Go back (and look).’ 


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The 7th time, the servant reported, ‘A cloud is rising up from the sea. It is as small as a man’s hand.’ So Elijah said (to him), ‘Go and say to Ahab, “Make your <i>chariot</i> ready to go. Then, return down (to Jezreel) before the rain stops you.” ’ 


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As he said this, the sky became black with clouds. The wind started to blow and heavy rain started. So Ahab rode away to Jezreel. 


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Then the <i>LORD</i> made Elijah strong. Elijah tied his shirt into his belt and he ran in front of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. <n>Notes about chapter 18</n> <n>Verse 2. There was almost no food because the plants had not grown well. Here, it was because there had been no rain. <n>Verse 3. ‘Obadiah’ is the <i>Hebrew</i> word for ‘servant of the <i>LORD</i>’. <n>Verse 4. A cave is a large and deep hole in the side of a hill. <i>Prophets</i> wore special clothes that people would recognise. <n>Verses 9-15. Obadiah was afraid that Elijah would hide again. But Elijah promised Obadiah that he would not hide again. <n>Verse 18. <i>Baals</i> is plural because there were many false gods. <n>Verse 22. There were 100 more of the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>prophets</i>, but they were hiding in <i>caves</i>! <n>Verse 24. Elijah asks for fire, because <i>Baal</i> was a sun-god. The sun can cause things to burn. <n>Verse 29. ‘what they were doing’ was this: They were throwing their arms and legs about while they danced. They became like wild animals! The evening <i>sacrifice</i> was not an animal. They mixed flour, <i>oil</i>, salt and <i>incense</i>. Then they burned it as a sacrifice. <n>Verse 32. ‘in the name of the <i>LORD</i>’ means that the <i>altar</i> was for the LORD. It was not for <i>Baal</i>. <n>Verse 40. The River Kishon went through the Kishon Valley. It was there that Barak beat Sisera. The river carried away the dead bodies, (Judges 5:21). Maybe the same happened here! <n>Verses 42-44. From the top of Carmel, you can see the Mediterranean Sea. The rain was coming from the sea. The rain came in verse 45. 


text:
Then Ahab told Jezebel about everything that Elijah had done. (He told her) how (Elijah) had killed all the <i>prophets</i> (of <i>Baal</i>) with a <i>sword</i>. 


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So Jezebel sent a message to Elijah. ‘By this time tomorrow, I will make your life like one of (the <i>prophets</i> of <i>Baal</i>). If I do not, the gods can kill me.’ 


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Then Elijah was afraid. He ran away (to save) his life. He came to Beersheba in (the country called) Judah. He left his servant there. 


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(Elijah) himself went into the <i>desert</i>. He travelled for about a day (into the desert). He found a kind of tree called a broom tree there. And he sat down under the tree. There, he prayed that he might die. He said, ‘<i>LORD</i>, I have had enough (of this life)! Kill me. I am no better (than the <i>prophets</i> who were) before me.’ 


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Then he lay down under the tree and he went to sleep. Soon, an <i>angel</i> touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ 


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And (Elijah) looked and he saw by his head a cake. (Someone) had baked it on a fire. Also, there was a jar of water. So he ate (the cake) and he drank (the water). Then he lay down again (to sleep). 


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The <i>angel</i> of the <i>LORD</i> came back a second time. He touched (Elijah) and he said (to him), ‘Get up and eat (this food). You (must go) on a long journey.’ 


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So (Elijah) got up. He ate (the food) and he drank (the water). The food made him strong enough to travel for 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb. (Horeb was) the mountain of God. <n>The <i>LORD</i> appears to Elijah</n>


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(Elijah) went into a <i>cave</i> (in Horeb) and he stayed there all night. The <i>word of the LORD</i> came to Elijah. ‘Elijah, what (are) you (doing) here?’ 


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Elijah replied, ‘I have always been a very good servant of the <i>LORD</i>, (who is) the powerful God. But the <i>Israelites</i> have thrown away your <i>covenant</i>. They have destroyed your <i>altars</i>. And they have killed your <i>prophets</i> with <i>swords</i>. I am the only prophet (that is) still (alive). Now, they are trying to kill me also.’ 


text:
Then (the <i>LORD</i>) said, ‘Go out (from the <i>cave</i>) and stand in front of the LORD, on the mountain. The LORD will pass in front of you.’ Then a very strong and powerful wind tore the mountains into pieces. It broke the rocks in front of the LORD. But the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an <i>earthquake</i>. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. 


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After the <i>earthquake</i>, there was a fire. But the <i>LORD</i> was not in the fire. And after the fire, he heard someone who was speaking very, very quietly. 


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When Elijah heard (that), he put his coat over his face. He went out and he stood at the way into the <i>cave</i>. Then a voice said to him, ‘Elijah, what (are) you (doing) here?’ 


text:
(Elijah) said, ‘I have always been a very good servant of the <i>LORD</i>, (who is) the powerful God. But the <i>Israelites</i> have thrown away your <i>covenant</i>. They have destroyed your <i>altars</i>. They have killed your <i>prophets</i> with <i>swords</i>. I am the only prophet (that is) still (alive). Now, they are trying to kill me also.’


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to (Elijah), ‘Go back again on the way (by which you came). (Go) to the <i>desert</i> (which is) near Damascus. When you arrive, <i>anoint</i> Hazael, to make him king of Aram. 


text:
Also, <i>anoint</i> Jehu, (who is) the son of Nimshi, to make him king of Israel. Then, anoint Elisha, (who is) the son of Shaphat, to be a <i>prophet</i> after you. (Elisha comes from) Abel Meholah. 


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Jehu will kill anybody that the <i>sword</i> of Hazael does not kill. Then, Elisha will kill anybody that the sword of Jehu does not kill. 


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But there are still 7000 people in Israel that have not <i>worshipped Baal</i>. Their mouths have not kissed him.’ <n>Elisha becomes Elijah’s servant</n>


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Then Elijah went away from (Horeb). He found Elisha, (who was) the son of Shaphat. (Elisha) was ploughing with 12 pairs of <i>oxen</i>. (Elisha) himself was driving the 12th pair (of oxen). Elijah went to (Elisha) and he threw his coat over (Elisha). 


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So Elisha left his <i>oxen</i> and he ran after Elijah. (Elisha) said, ‘Let me kiss my father and my mother goodbye. Then I will come with you.’ ‘Go back’, Elijah replied. ‘Think about what I have done to you.’ 


text:
So Elisha left Elijah. He went back (home). Then, he took a pair of <i>oxen</i> and he killed them. He burned the plough to cook the meat (from the oxen). He gave it to the people (that were there). They (all) ate (what he gave to them). Then he went to follow Elijah and to become his servant. <n>Notes about chapter 19</n> <n>Verses 1-8. Elijah was very sad for this reason. Ahab let Jezebel send her message (verse 2). There would be no change in Israel! <n>Verse 2. ‘Like one of the <i>prophets</i> of <i>Baal</i>’ here means ‘dead’! <n>Verse 3. Beersheba was in the south of the country called Judah. <n>Verse 4. There was much sand there in the <i>desert</i>. Broom trees gave wood to burn. And they gave <i>roots</i> that people ate. People only ate them when there was not much other food. (See Job 30:3.) Verse 7. The <i>Hebrew</i> Bible has ‘the journey is too much for you’. This was the <i>angel</i>’s reason for Elijah to eat again. <n>Verse 8. Horeb was the mountain where God met Moses, (Exodus 3:1). Moses, Elijah and Jesus all lived without food for 40 days and 40 nights. ‘It is not only bread that keeps people alive’, Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4. <n>Verse 9. The <i>cave</i> may have been where Moses stood in Exodus 33:22. That was a very special place. The <i>Hebrew</i> Bible says, ‘The <i>word of the LORD</i> came to him.’ It does not say, ‘The LORD spoke to Elijah.’ Some Christians think that this is the reason. ‘Word of the LORD’ is a name for Christ. The question is only 4 Hebrew words. They translate as ‘What to-you here, Elijah?’ They may mean, ‘Why have you come here, Elijah?’ Or they may mean, ‘Why are you still very sad, Elijah?’ Elijah’s answer (verse 10) tells us that the second question may be the right one. <n>Verse 10. Some translations have ‘God of <i>angel</i> armies’ for ‘powerful God’. The <i>covenant</i> that they threw away is in Exodus 20:3. It says, ‘You must not have any other gods, only me.’ One of the <i>altars</i> that they destroyed was in Carmel, 1 Kings 18:30. <n>Verse 11. The mountain of the <i>LORD</i> is Horeb. In the <i>Hebrew</i> Bible, LORD in the words ‘in front of the LORD’ is plural. This helps us to remember that the Christian God is really three persons in one God! <n>Verse 11. An earthquake is when the ground moves. As a result, buildings can fall down. <n>Verse 13. The question in verse 13 is the same as the question in verse 9. <n>Verse 15. Aram is another name for Syria, which was a country north of Israel. <n>Verse 16. Jehu was really the grandson of Nimshi, 2 Kings 9:2. <n>Verse 18. ‘worshipped’ is ‘bent their knees to’ in the <i>Hebrew</i> Bible. <n>Verses 19-20. Elijah’s coat was a special one. It showed that he was a <i>prophet</i>. He put it on Elisha to show people that Elisha was a prophet also. That is why Elijah said, ‘Think about what I have done to you.’ Elisha is now God’s servant. That is what Elijah has done to Elisha. 


text:
Ben-hadad was the king of Aram. He got all his army together. He had 32 <i>princes</i>, with their horses and <i>chariots</i>. Then he went to Samaria. (He put his army) all round it and then he attacked it. 


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He sent people with messages into the city (Samaria). (They came) to Ahab, (who was) the king of Israel. They said (to Ahab), ‘This is what Ben-hadad says. 


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“Your <i>silver</i> and your gold are mine. Your children are mine and the best of your wives (are mine).” ’ 


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(This is what) the king of Israel answered (him). ‘It is as you say, my <i>lord</i>. (You are) the king (of Syria). I, and everything that I have, are yours.’ 


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The people with messages came again. They said, ‘This is what Ben-hadad says. “I want your <i>silver</i>, your gold, your wives and your children. 


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At this time tomorrow, I will send my officers to look in your <i>palace</i>. They will also (look in) the houses of your officers. They will take everything that is valuable. They will carry it away (with them).” ’


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Then the king of Israel said that all the leaders in (his) country must come to him. He said to them, ‘You must know (this). This man wants to cause trouble! I did not refuse when he asked for my wives and my children, my <i>silver</i> and my gold.’ 


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The leaders and the people answered (him), ‘Do not listen to him. Do not agree to what he demands.’ 


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So (the king of Israel) said to the people who brought messages from Ben-hadad, ‘Say this to my <i>lord</i>, (who is) king (of Aram). “Your servant will do all that you demanded the first time. But I will not let you do what you demand now.” ’ So they left (Ahab) and they took the answer back to Ben-hadad. 


text:
Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab. (He said,) ‘I want the gods (to be cruel) to me, if I am not very cruel! And I pray that it will happen! I will leave very little dirt in Samaria. There will not be enough (dirt) to fill the hands of each of my soldiers.’ 


text:
(This was) the king of Israel’s answer. ‘Say to him, “If you put on a soldier’s clothes, do not <i>boast</i>. When you take them off (you may not have anything to boast about).” ’ 


text:
Ben-hadad received this message when he and his <i>princes</i> were drinking (alcohol) in their <i>tents</i>. So he said to his men, ‘Prepare to attack!’ So they prepared to attack the city (Samaria). <n>Ahab beats Ben-hadad</n>


text:
Then a <i>prophet</i> came to Ahab, (who was) the king of Israel. He said (to Ahab), ‘The <i>LORD</i> is saying this (to you). “Look at this very large army! You will beat them today. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” ’ 


text:
‘But who will do this?’ asked Ahab. The <i>prophet</i> answered (Ahab), ‘This is what the <i>LORD</i> says. “The young officers among the army leaders will do it.” ’ ‘Who will start the war?’ asked (Ahab). The prophet answered (him), ‘You will.’ 


text:
So Ahab said that the young officers must come to him. There were 232 of them among the army leaders. Then he brought all the other <i>Israelite</i> (soldiers) together. There were 7000 of them.


text:
They went out at noon (to where the enemy’s army was). Ben-hadad and his 32 <i>princes</i> were like drunks in their <i>tents</i>. 


text:
The young officers, from among the army leaders, went out first. Now Ben-hadad had put men to watch (the enemy). They said (to him), ‘Men are coming from Samaria.’ 


text:
(Ben-hadad) said, ‘If they want to stop the war, catch them alive. If they want to fight, catch them alive.’ 


text:
The young officers, from among the army leaders, marched out of the city (Samaria). The army (marched) behind them. 


text:
Each (of the soldiers) killed an enemy. When that happened, the soldiers from Aram ran away. The <i>Israelites</i> followed them. But Ben-hadad, (who was) the king of Aram, rode away on his horse. Some of his riders on horses (went) with him. 


text:
The king of Israel attacked the horses and <i>chariots</i> (of the enemies), and he beat them. Many of (the enemies) died.


text:
After (the fight), the <i>prophet</i> came to the king of Israel. He said (to the king), ‘See what you must do to make your (country) strong. (Do this), because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.’ 


text:
Also, (after the fight), some of the king of Aram’s leaders spoke to him. ‘The gods of (the <i>Israelites</i>) are gods of the hills. That is why (the Israelites) were too strong for us. But if we fight them on flat ground, we will be stronger than them. 


text:
Do this. Remove all the <i>princes</i> from the army. Put other leaders (in the army) instead of them. 


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Also you must get an army the same size as the one that you lost. There must be the same number of horses and <i>chariots</i>. We will fight Israel on the flat ground. If we do that, surely, we will be stronger than them.’ (Ben-hadad) agreed with them. And he did what they had suggested.


text:
The next spring, Ben-hadad brought together his (army of) soldiers from Aram. They went to Aphek to fight against Israel. 


text:
(Ahab) brought all the <i>Israelite</i> (army) together and he gave enough food to them (for the war). They marched out to meet (the enemies). The <i>tents</i> of the Israelites were like two small groups of goats. The soldiers from Aram covered all the land (because there were so many). 


text:
A man who was God’s servant came to the king of Israel. He told the king, ‘This is what the <i>LORD</i> says. “The men from Aram think that the LORD is a god of the hills. (They think that) he is not a god of the valleys. But you will know that I am the LORD (of both). You will know that because I will give this very large army to you.” ’ 


text:
For 7 days, (the two armies) stayed in their <i>tents</i>, on different sides (of the flat ground). On the 7th day, the war started. The <i>Israelites</i> killed 100 000 soldiers from Aram on one day. (These soldiers) did not have horses. 


text:
The other (soldiers) ran to the city of Aphek. There, a wall fell on 27 000 of them. Ben-hadad hurried into the city and he hid in a room inside (one of the houses).


text:
Some of his leaders said to Ben-hadad, ‘We have heard that the kings of the <i>family</i> of Israel are kind (men). We should go to the king of Israel. We will wear short, hairy trousers and we will put ropes (thick pieces of line) on our heads. Maybe (Ahab) will not kill you.’ 


text:
So they put on short hairy trousers. They (made hats out of) thick lines and they put them on their heads. They went to the king of Israel and they said, ‘Your servant Ben-hadad says, “Please let me live.” ’ The king (Ahab) answered, ‘Is he still alive? He is (like) my brother.’ 


text:
So the men hoped (that they would get a friendly answer). They answered him quickly. ‘Yes! Ben-hadad (is like) your brother’, they said. ‘Go and fetch him’, the king said. When Ben-hadad came out (from Aphek), Ahab got him up into his <i>chariot</i>. 


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(Ben-hadad) said, ‘I will give you the cities that my father took from your father. You can have your own markets in Damascus, as my father had in Samaria.’ Ahab answered, ‘We will agree to do this and you can go (home) a free (man).’ So they agreed together, and Ahab let (Ben-hadad) go home. <n>A <i>prophet</i> brings a message to King Ahab</n>


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The <i>word of the LORD</i> (<i>ordered</i>) one of the sons of the <i>prophets</i> to say (this) to another prophet. ‘Hit me with your stick.’ But the man refused. 


text:
So the <i>prophet</i> said, ‘You have not obeyed the <i>LORD</i>, so a <i>lion</i> will kill you. It will happen soon after you leave me.’ And after the man went away, a lion did find him. (The lion) killed him. 


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Then the <i>prophet</i> went and he stood by the road. He was waiting for the king (Ahab). He did not seem like a prophet, because he pulled his hat down over his eyes. 


text:
The king passed the <i>prophet</i>, who shouted to him, ‘Your servant went into the worst part of the war. Someone came to me with a soldier of the enemy’s army that he had caught. He said, “Do not let this man run away. If he does, you will die. Or you must pay a <i>talent</i> of <i>silver</i>.” 


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But your servant was busy. He did several things. While (he did them), the man ran away.’ ‘That is your problem’, the king of Israel said. ‘You have said yourself what will happen.’ 


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Then the <i>prophet</i> quickly took the hat from his eyes. And the king of Israel recognised that the man was one of the prophets. 


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The (<i>prophet</i>) said to the king, ‘This is what the <i>LORD</i> is saying to you. “I decided that a man should die. But you have let him go free. So, it is your life for his life, and your people for his people.” ’ 


text:
So the king went to his <i>palace</i> in Samaria. He was angry and he would not speak (to people). <n>Notes about chapter 20</n> <n>Verse 1. Aram is another name for Syria. It was a country north of Israel. A prince is an important person, maybe the son of a king. <n>Verse 11. ‘Boast’ means ‘say that you are better than everybody else’. <n>Verse 12. A tent is a house that people made from animal skins. Soldiers used them. <n>Verse 24. The <i>princes</i> had lost the fight. So Ben-hadad chose proper army leaders instead. <n>Verse 26. Bible students think that Aphek was on flat ground. <n>Verse 28. The servant of God in this verse may not be the <i>prophet</i> in verses 13 and 22. Bible students are not sure. <n>Verse 31. ‘The family of Israel’ means the <i>family</i> of Israel’s kings. These leaders knew that Ahab had beaten them. That is why they wore those clothes. Maybe the ropes were round their necks. <n>Verse 32. ‘like my brother’ means that both of them were kings. <n>Verse 35. The ‘sons of the <i>prophets</i>’ was a group of prophets. The prophet wanted people to think that someone had hurt him in the war. <n>Verse 36. The <i>lion punished</i> the prophet’s friend because he did not obey ‘the <i>word of the LORD</i>’. <n>Verse 42. ‘your life for his life’ means that Ahab would die. 


text:
Naboth lived in a town called Jezreel. He had a <i>vineyard</i>. After (the war with Ben-hadad), this happened. (Naboth’s) vineyard was in Jezreel, near to the <i>palace</i> of Ahab, (who was) the king of Samaria. 


text:
Ahab said to Naboth, ‘Give me your <i>vineyard</i>. I want to grow vegetables in it, because it is near to my <i>palace</i>. I will give you a better vineyard for it. Or, maybe, you would rather have its value in money.’ 


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Naboth replied to Ahab, ‘The <i>LORD</i> will not let me give (the field) to you. My <i>ancestors</i> gave it to me.’ 


text:
So Ahab went to his home. He was angry and he would not speak (to people). (That was) because of what Naboth from Jezreel had said. (He had said,) ‘I will not give to you (the field) that my <i>ancestors</i> gave to me.’ (Ahab) lay on his bed. He was angry and he would not eat (any food).


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(Ahab’s) wife, (who was called) Jezebel, came in (to Ahab’s room). She asked him, ‘Why are you so angry? Why will you not eat anything?’ 


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Ahab answered her, ‘(It is) because I said to Naboth from Jezreel, “Sell your <i>vineyard</i> to me. Or, if you would like it better, I will give you another vineyard instead of it.” But he said, “I will not give you my vineyard.” ’ 


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(Ahab’s) wife Jezebel said, ‘You are the king of Israel, so you can do anything. Get up (from your bed) and eat (something). Be happy! I will get the <i>vineyard</i> of Naboth from Jezreel for you.’ 


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Then Jezebel wrote letters. They seemed to come from Ahab, because she used his special mark. She sent them to the older men and the leaders that lived in Naboth’s city with him. 


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This is what she wrote in those letters. ‘Tell everybody that there will be a <i>fast</i>. Give Naboth a seat where everybody can see him. 


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But cause two bad men to sit near him. <i>Order</i> them to say that Naboth has said bad things about God and about the king. Then take him out. Throw stones at him until he is dead.’


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So the older men and the leaders, who lived in Naboth’s city, obeyed Jezebel. They did what she <i>ordered</i> them to do in her letters to them. 


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They said that there must be a <i>fast</i>. They put Naboth in a seat where everybody could see him. 


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Then two bad men came and they sat near to him. They said, in front of all the people, that Naboth had said bad things about God and about the king. So (the people) took him outside their city. They threw stones at him until he was dead. 


text:
So Jezebel knew that Naboth was dead. (He was dead because they threw) stones at him. Then she said to Ahab, ‘Get up (from your bed) and take for yourself the <i>vineyard</i> of Naboth from Jezreel. He would not sell it to you, but now he is not alive but dead.’ 


text:
When Ahab knew that Naboth was dead, he got up (from his bed). He went to take for himself Naboth’s <i>vineyard</i>.


text:
(He said), ‘Go to meet King Ahab of Israel. He is the ruler of Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s <i>vineyard</i>. He is taking it for himself. 


text:
Say to him, “This is what the <i>LORD</i> says (to you). You have killed a man and you have taken his (<i>vineyard</i>) for yourself.” Then say to him, “This is what the LORD says (to you). In the place where the dogs drank Naboth’s blood, dogs will drink your blood. Yes, (they will drink) your blood!” ’ 


text:
Ahab said to Elijah, ‘You have found me. (You are) my enemy.’ (Elijah) answered, ‘I have found you because of all the bad things that you have done. You have decided to do everything that the <i>LORD</i> does not like. It is like you have sold yourself. 


text:
(The <i>LORD</i> says), “I will kill you. I will take away your children and their children. I will kill every man in Israel from Ahab’s <i>family</i>. (It does not matter) whether they are slaves or free men. 


text:
I will make your <i>family</i> like the <i>family</i> of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. (I will make it like the <i>family</i> of) Baasha (who was) the son of Ahijah. (I will do this) because you have made me very angry. Also, you have caused (the people in) Israel to <i>sin</i> (against me).” 


text:
Also, the <i>LORD</i> says this about Jezebel. “Dogs will eat Jezebel near the wall of (the city of) Jezreel. 


text:
Dogs will eat people who belong to Ahab(’s <i>family</i>). (They will eat them) if they die in the city (Samaria). And the birds in the air will eat those people that die outside the city.” ’


text:
Ahab had decided to do everything that the <i>LORD</i> did not like. Nobody (before him) was ever worse than he was. His wife Jezebel wanted him to be like that. 


text:
(Ahab) did the worst things. He <i>worshipped idols</i> like the people called Amorites did. The <i>LORD</i> had killed those people before Israel (came into their country).


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When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes (into pieces). He wore hairy clothes and he <i>fasted</i>. He made his bed from hairy blankets and he became <i>humble</i>. 


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‘You have seen that Ahab has become <i>humble</i> in front of me. I will not destroy (his <i>family</i>) while he is alive. (This is) because he has become humble (in front of me). (I will destroy his <i>family</i> when he is dead.) I will destroy his <i>family</i> when his son is alive.’ <n>Notes about chapter 21</n> <n>Verse 1. A vineyard is a field where people grow <i>vines</i>. The vines grow fruits called grapes. <n>Verse 3. Naboth was still a servant of the <i>LORD</i>. (See 1 Kings 19:18.) Naboth was obeying Numbers 36:7-8. <n>Verse 9. A ‘fast’ means ‘a time when people do not eat’. People did this to show God that their words to him were really true. <n>Verse 20. ‘Sold yourself’ means this. Ahab has let other people do bad things for him. Now Ahab cannot do anything to help himself. <n>Verse 23. 2 Kings 9:35-37 tells us what happened to Jezebel. <n>Verse 27. ‘Humble’ means ‘you do not think that you are important’. People that were sorry for their <i>sins</i> wore hairy clothes. They also <i>fasted</i>. 


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The king of Israel had said to his leaders, ‘You know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us. But we are not doing anything to take it from the king of Aram.’ 


text:
So (the king of Israel) asked Jehoshaphat, ‘Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?’ Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, ‘I am like you are. My people are your people and my horses are your horses.’


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But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, ‘First, we must know what the <i>LORD</i> wants us to do.’ 


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So the king of Israel brought together about 400 <i>prophets</i>. He asked them, ‘Should I fight a war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?’ And they answered, ‘Go, because the <i>LORD</i> will give it into the hands of the king.’ 


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But Jehoshaphat asked, ‘Can we not ask (someone who is really) a <i>prophet</i> of the <i>LORD</i>?’ 


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The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘There is still one man, called Micaiah, (who is) the son of Imlah. We can ask him what the <i>LORD</i> wants us to do. But I do not like him, because he never says anything good about me.’ ‘The king (of Israel) should not say that’, replied Jehoshaphat. 


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So the king of Israel said to one of his officers, ‘Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah (to me), quickly.’ 


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The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were wearing their kings’ clothes. They sat on <i>thrones</i> by the gate of Samaria. (The gate) was near (the place where farmers) made flour from <i>wheat</i>. All the (400) <i>prophets</i> were speaking in front of them. 


text:
Zedekiah (was the) son of Kenaanah. He had used iron to make sharp points like a cow has on its head. (Zedekiah) said, ‘This is what the <i>LORD</i> is saying. “With these (sharp points) you will attack the soldiers from Aram. You will kill them all.” ’ 


text:
All the other <i>prophets</i> said the same. They said, ‘Attack Ramoth Gilead. You will beat it. The <i>LORD</i> will give it into the hands of the king.’


text:
The man who had fetched Micaiah said to him, ‘All the (400) <i>prophets</i> have said that the king would beat (Aram). What you say must agree with their words. Say something that people want to hear.’ 


text:
But Micaiah said, ‘I can only tell the king what the <i>LORD orders</i> me (to say). I say that as surely as the LORD is alive.’ 


text:
When he arrived (at Samaria), the king asked him, ‘Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?’ He answered, ‘(If you) attack it, you will beat it. (This is) because the <i>LORD</i> has given it into the king’s hands.’ 


text:
The king (Ahab) said to (Micaiah), ‘I always have to <i>order</i> you to say only what is true in the name of the <i>LORD</i>!’


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Then Micaiah said, <n>‘I saw all the people of Israel. <n>They were moving about on the hills like sheep. <n>They did not have a leader. <n>The <i>LORD</i> said (to me), “These people have no master. <n>Let each of them go home and not fight.” ’


text:
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘I told you (what he would say)! He will never say anything that is good about me. (He will only say) bad things.’ 


text:
Micaiah also said, ‘So now listen to the <i>word of the LORD</i>. I saw the <i>LORD</i>. He was sitting on his <i>throne</i>. All the armies from God’s home were standing round him on both sides. 


text:
And the <i>LORD</i> said, “Who will cause Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead, where he will die?” One <i>spirit</i> suggested this (man) and another (suggested) that (man). 


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In the end, the <i>spirit</i> came and stood in front of the <i>LORD</i>. (The spirit) said, “I will cause (Ahab) to do it.” 


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“How will you do it?” the <i>LORD</i> asked (him). (The spirit) said, “I will go to all the <i>prophets</i>. And I will put words that are not true into their mouths.” The LORD said, “Go and do it. You will be able to cause (Ahab to do it).” 


text:
So, the <i>LORD</i> has now put a spirit into the mouths of all your <i>prophets</i>. (This spirit will cause them to say) words that are not true. The LORD has decided that you will die.’


text:
Then Zedekiah, (who was) the son of Kenaanah, went to Micaiah. (Zedekiah) hit (Micaiah’s) face. (Zedekiah) asked (Micaiah), ‘Which way did the spirit from the <i>LORD</i> go, when he went from me to speak to you?’ 


text:
Then the king of Israel said (to his servants), ‘Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon. (Amon was the ruler) of the city. Send him also to Joash (who is) the king’s son. 


text:
Say (to them), “This is what the king wants you to do. Put this man (Micaiah) in a prison. Give him only bread and water until I return <i>safely</i>.” ’ 


text:
Micaiah said, ‘If you ever return <i>safely</i>, the <i>LORD</i> has not spoken by me.’ Then he said (to all the people), ‘Remember my words, all you people!’ <n>An <i>arrow</i> kills King Ahab</n>


text:
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘I will go into the war and I will wear (a soldier’s) clothes. (People will not recognise me.) But you wear your king’s clothes.’ So the king of Israel caused himself to seem like somebody else. Then he went into the war. 


text:
Now the king of Aram had said to his 32 <i>chariot</i> leaders, ‘Do not fight with anybody, whether they are small or great. Only (fight) the king of Israel.’ 


text:
The <i>chariot</i> leaders saw Jehoshaphat. They thought, ‘Surely this (is) the king of Israel.’ So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat shouted (something) aloud. 


text:
Then the <i>chariot</i> leaders saw that (Jehoshaphat) was not the king of Israel. So they did not follow him.


text:
Then, someone shot (an <i>arrow</i> from) his bow. He did not shoot at anyone, but he hit the king of Israel. The (arrow) went between holes in the king’s war clothes. The king said to the man that drove his <i>chariot</i>, ‘Turn the chariot round. Take me away from where they are fighting. (An arrow) hurt me badly.’ 


text:
The soldiers fought all day. The king (of Israel) sat in his <i>chariot</i>. He was looking at the soldiers from Aram. The blood from where the <i>arrow</i> had hit him went down to the floor of the chariot. That evening, (Ahab) died. 


text:
When the sun started to go behind (the hills), people in the army shouted, ‘Every man must now go back to his town or to his farm.’


text:
They washed the <i>chariot</i> in a pool (of water) in Samaria. It was where the <i>prostitutes</i> bathed. And the dogs drank (Ahab’s) blood. The <i>word of the LORD</i> had said that this would happen. 


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Israel. People wrote in it everything that King Ahab did. It includes the <i>palace</i> that he built. And it includes the cities that he made strong. 


text:
They buried Ahab with his <i>ancestors</i>. His son Ahaziah became the king (of Israel) after him. <n>King Jehoshaphat of Judah</n>


text:
After Ahab had been king of Israel for nearly 4 years, Jehoshaphat the son of Asa became the king of Judah. 


text:
Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother’s name was Azubah. (Azubah) was the daughter of Shilhi. 


text:
Jehoshaphat was like his father Asa in everything that he did. He did not do anything that was wrong. He did what the <i>LORD</i> wanted him to do. But he did not remove the (<i>altars</i>) on hills. People continued to offer <i>sacrifices</i> (on the hills) and they continued to burn <i>incense</i> there. 


text:
There is a book with reports about the kings of Judah. People wrote in it everything that King Jehoshaphat did. It includes the wars that he fought. 


text:
He also removed the male <i>prostitutes</i> from their special <i>altars</i>. They were there even when his father Asa was the king (of Judah). 


text:
At this time there was no king in (the country called) Edom. Someone less important (than a king) ruled (in Edom). 


text:
Also, Jehoshaphat built some ships. He wanted them to bring back gold from Ophir. But they never went. (A storm) destroyed them at Ezion Geber. 


text:
At that time, Ahaziah the son of Ahab had said to Jehoshaphat, ‘Let my men sail with your men.’ But Jehoshaphat refused (when he offered to help). 


text:
So Jehoshaphat died and they buried him with his <i>ancestors</i> in the city of his father David. Jehoram his son ruled (Judah) after him. <n>King Ahaziah of Israel</n>


text:
Ahaziah (was) the son of Ahab. He became the king of Israel in Samaria. This was nearly 17 years after Jehoshaphat became the king of Judah. Ahaziah ruled Israel for two years. 


text:
He did things that the <i>LORD</i> did not like. He did the things that his father and mother did. And he did the things that Jeroboam the son of Nebat did. (Jeroboam) had caused Israel’s people to <i>sin</i>. 


text:
(Ahaziah) was the servant of <i>Baal</i> and he also <i>worshipped</i> him. He made the <i>LORD</i>, (who was) the God of Israel, very angry. That was what his father had also done. <n>Notes about chapter 22</n> <n>Verse 4. ‘I am like you’ means that an enemy in Ramoth Gilead was dangerous to both kings. So Jehoshaphat’s people (army) and horses (<i>chariots</i>) would join with Ahab’s army. <n>Verse 6. ‘into the hands of the king’ means that Ahab would beat Aram. It also means that in verses 12 and 15. <n>Verse 7. Maybe Jehoshaphat thought that the 400 <i>prophets</i> were false prophets. <n>Verse 10. The gate into a city was an important place. The leaders of the town decided there what they should do. <n>Verse 11. Zedekiah was the leader of Ahab’s <i>prophets</i>. <n>Verse 21. Because the <i>Hebrew</i> Bible has ‘<b>the </b>spirit’, Bible students think this: It was a special spirit. It told <i>prophets</i> what to say. It caused them to say what was not true. <n>Verse 30. Maybe Ahab thought that Micaiah was right. So he caused himself to seem like somebody else. <n>Verse 31. The king of Aram had 32 <i>chariot</i> leaders now, instead of the 32 <i>princes</i> in 1 Kings 20:16. These <i>chariot</i> leaders were important soldiers. <n>Verse 34. An arrow is a stick with a sharp point. People shot them from bows. This soldier did not shoot at King Ahab. But his arrow hit the king, who died after some time! Maybe the soldier did not know what he had done. <n>Verse 46. The male <i>prostitutes</i> were part of what people did for the false god <i>Baal</i>. <n>Verses 51-53. The story of Ahaziah is continued in 2 Kings chapter 1.


text:
(King) Ahaziah lived in Samaria. He fell from the window of an upstairs room. So, he became ill. So he sent people with this message: ‘Go to Baalzebub, (who is) the god in Ekron. Ask him if I will become well again after this illness.’ 


text:
Then an <i>angel</i> of the <i>LORD</i> spoke to Elijah who was from Tishbe. (The <i>LORD</i> said,) ‘Go and meet the men that the king of Samaria has sent with a message. Say to them, “You should not go to speak to Baalzebub, (who is) the god in Ekron. You seem to think that there is no God in Israel.” 


text:
So this is what the <i>LORD</i> says (to you, Ahaziah). “You will not leave the bed that you are lying on. You will surely die.” ’ Then Elijah went away.


text:
They replied, ‘A man came to meet us. And he said (this) to us. Go back to the king who sent you. Tell him, “This is what the <i>LORD</i> says. You should not send men to speak to Baalzebub, (who is) the god in Ekron. You seem to think that there is no God in Israel. You will not leave the bed that you are lying on. You will surely die.” ’ 


text:
They replied, ‘He was a man with hairy clothes and he wore a leather belt.’ (Then) the king said, ‘That was Elijah from Tishbe.’


text:
Then (the king) sent 50 men with their captain to Elijah. Elijah was sitting on the top of a hill. The captain went up to Elijah. He said to (Elijah), ‘(You are a) <i>man of God</i>. The king says (to you), “Come down.” ’ 


text:
This was Elijah’s answer to the captain of 50 men. ‘If I am a <i>man of God</i>, fire will come down from the sky. It will burn you and your 50 men.’ Then fire did fall from the sky. It burnt the captain and his men (so that they died).


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Then the king sent another captain and 50 men to Elijah. The captain said to him, ‘(You are a) <i>man of God</i>. The king says, “Come down immediately.” ’ 


text:
Elijah answered, ‘If I am a <i>man of God</i>, fire will come down from the sky. It will burn you and your 50 men.’ Then fire from God did fall from the sky. It burnt the captain and his 50 men (so that they died).


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So the king sent a third captain, with his 50 men. This third captain went up to Elijah. He fell to his knees (in front of Elijah). ‘<i>Man of God</i>’, he prayed, ‘please be kind to me and to these 50 men. We are your servants. Do not cause us to die. 


text:
Look! Fire fell from the sky. It burnt the first two captains and all their men, (so that they died). But now, be kind to me.’ 


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The <i>LORD</i>’s <i>angel</i> said to Elijah, ‘Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him.’ So Elijah got up and he went down with the captain to the king. 


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(Elijah) said to the king, ‘This is what the <i>LORD</i> says. You should not send men with a message to speak to Baalzebub, (who is) the god in Ekron. You seem to think that there is no God in Israel. You will never leave the bed that you are lying on. It is because you have done this. You will surely die.’


text:
So (Ahaziah) died. This is what the <i>LORD</i> had told Elijah. Ahaziah had no son, so Joram became king after him. This was in the second year in which Jehoram was the king of Judah. (Jehoram was) the son of Jehoshaphat. 


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Many other things happened while Ahaziah was king. Also, he did many things. People wrote them in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. <n>Notes about chapter 1</n> <n>Jehoshaphat was the king in Judah between 868 <i>B.C</i>. and 847 B.C. Here are the dates of the kings of Israel. <n>871-852 B.C. Ahab <n>852-851 B.C. Ahaziah <n>851-845 B.C. Jehoram (also called Joram) 


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The <i>LORD</i> was ready to take Elijah up to <i>heaven</i> in a strong wind. This was while Elijah and Elisha were going away from Gilgal. 


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Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here because the <i>LORD</i> has sent me to Bethel.’ But Elisha replied, ‘I will not leave you. This is as true as the fact that the <i>LORD</i> and you are (both) alive.’ So they went down to Bethel. 


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A group of <i>prophets</i> were at Bethel. They came out (of Bethel) to Elisha and they asked him, ‘Do you know that the LORD will take your master from you today?’ ‘Yes, I do know’, said Elisha. ‘But do not talk about it.’


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Then Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here because the <i>LORD</i> has sent me to Jericho.’ But Elisha replied, ‘I will not leave you. This is as true as the fact that the <i>LORD</i> and you are (both) alive.’ So they went to Jericho. 


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A group of <i>prophets</i> were at Jericho. They went out to Elisha and they asked him, ‘Do you know that the <i>LORD</i> will take your master from you today?’ ‘Yes, I do know’, said Elisha. ‘But do not talk about it.’


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Then Elijah said to (Elisha), ‘Stay here because the <i>LORD</i> has sent me to the (river) Jordan.’ But (Elisha) replied, ‘I will not leave you. This is as true as the fact that the <i>LORD</i> and you are (both) alive.’ So they continued to walk (together). 


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50 men, from the group of <i>prophets</i>, went and they stood near the (river) Jordan. They were not far away from where Elijah and Elisha were standing. (The prophets) could see them. 


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Elijah took off his coat. He <i>rolled</i> it up. He hit the water with it. The water went to the right (side) and to the left (side). They both crossed (the river) on dry ground.


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After they had crossed (the river), Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me (this). What can I do for you before (the <i>LORD</i>) takes me from you?’ Elisha replied, ‘Let me have twice the amount of your <i>spirit</i>.’ 


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‘You have asked a difficult thing’, said Elijah. ‘But (watch) when (God) takes me from you. If you can see me, it will be yours. (If you cannot see me) it will not (be yours).’ 


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So they walked along and they talked together. Then, a <i>chariot</i> that seemed to be on fire appeared. Horses (were pulling it). It went between them. Elijah went up to <i>heaven</i> in a strong wind. 


text:
Elisha saw this. He shouted, ‘My <i>father</i>! My father! (These are) the <i>chariots</i> and the men on horses of Israel!’ Then Elisha did not see (Elijah) again. He took off his own clothes and he tore them into pieces. 


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He picked up the coat that had dropped from Elijah. He went and he stood on the edge of the (river) Jordan. 


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Then he took the coat that (Elijah) had dropped. He hit the water with it. And he said, ‘I want the <i>LORD</i>, the God of Elijah, to do something for me.’ When he hit the water, it went to the right (side) and to the left (side). He crossed (the river).


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The group of <i>prophets</i> from Jericho watched this. They said, ‘The spirit of Elijah is now on Elisha.’ And they went to meet (Elisha). They bent down in front of him. 


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And they said to him, ‘Look! We are your servants. There are 50 strong men with us. Let them go and look for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the <i>LORD</i> has lifted him up. (Maybe) it has put him on a mountain or in a valley.’ ‘No’, Elisha replied. ‘Do not send them.’ 


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But they asked him many times. So he was too ashamed to say ‘no’. So he said, ‘Send them.’ And they sent 50 men. They looked for (Elijah) for three days, but they did not find him. 


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Elisha was staying in Jericho. When they returned to (Elisha), he said to them, ‘I told you that you should not go (to look for Elijah).’


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The men in the city (Jericho) said to Elisha, ‘Look, our master. You can see that this city is in a good place. But its water is bad and the land does not make good plants.’ 


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Then (Elisha) went out to the (bad) water. He threw the salt into it. He said, ‘This is what the <i>LORD</i> is saying. “I have made this water clean. It will never cause people to die again. The land will never give bad plants again.” ’ 


text:
From there, Elisha went up to Bethel. While he walked along the road, young (men) came out of the town. They <i>laughed</i> at (Elisha). ‘Go up, you bald (man)!’ they said. ‘Go up, you bald (man)!’ 


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(Elisha) turned and he looked at them. He prayed that the <i>LORD</i> would do something bad to them. Then, two bears (wild animals) came out from the forest. They hurt 42 of the young (men). 


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Jehoram (was) the son of Ahab. (Jehoram) became the king of Israel in Samaria. (This was when) Jehoshaphat had been the king of Judah for 18 years. (Jehoram) was king for 12 years. 


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The <i>LORD</i> saw that he did very bad things. But he was not as (bad) as were his father and his mother. (Jehoram) did throw away the special stone of <i>Baal</i> that his father (Ahab) had made. 


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But he still did the wrong things that Jeroboam had done. (Jeroboam) was the son of Nebat. He had caused (many people in) Israel to do (those wrong things). (Jehoram) continued to do them.


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Mesha (was) the king of Moab. He was a sheep farmer. He had to supply the king of Israel with 100 000 young sheep. (He) also (had to supply) the soft hair from 100 000 male sheep. 


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So, at that time, King Jehoram went out from Samaria. He caused all (the men in) Israel to march (with him). 


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He also sent this message to Jehoshaphat, (who was) the king of Judah. ‘The king of Moab will not obey me. Will you go with me to fight against (the king of) Moab?’ ‘I will go with you’, (Jehoshaphat) replied. ‘I am as you are. My people (are) as your people. My horses (are) as your horses.’ 


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‘What road should we go on to attack (Moab)?’ (Jehoram) asked. ‘Through the sandy part of Edom’, (Jehoshaphat) replied.


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So the king of Israel, the king of Judah and the king of Edom went together (to Moab). After they had marched round (Edom) for 7 days, there was no more water. (There was no water) for the army or for their animals. 


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‘What (has happened)?’ said the king of Israel. ‘Has the <i>LORD</i> brought us three kings together to give us to the (king of) Moab?’ 


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But Jehoshaphat asked, ‘Is there not a <i>prophet</i> of the <i>LORD</i> here? We could ask him what the <i>LORD</i> is saying.’ A leader of the king of Israel’s army answered him. ‘Elisha, (who is) the son of Shaphat, is here. He (was the man who) poured water on Elijah’s hands.’ 


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Jehoshaphat said, ‘He will tell us what God is saying (to us).’ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to (Elisha).


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Elisha said to the king of Israel, ‘We have nothing to say to each other. Go to the <i>prophets</i> of your father and to the prophets of your mother.’ ‘No!’ the king of Israel replied. ‘The <i>LORD</i> told us three kings that we must come here together. (He is) giving us to Moab.’ 


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Elisha said, ‘I am the servant of the very powerful <i>LORD</i>, who is really alive! I would not look at you if Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was not with you. (But I think that) he is a good man. (If he were not here), I would not look at you. 


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But now, bring a <i>harpist</i> to me.’ While the harpist was making music, the <i>LORD</i> started to use Elisha powerfully. 


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(Do it), because the <i>LORD</i> is saying this. You will not see wind or rain. But this valley will become full of water! You, your cows and your other animals will be able to drink. 


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This is a very easy thing for the <i>LORD</i> to do. He will also give (the people in) Moab to you. 


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You will destroy every city that has strong walls. (You will destroy) every important town. You will cut down every good tree. You will fill every hole where they get water. You will put stones on to every good field, so that they will be of no value.’ 


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The water was there on the next morning, at the time when (the <i>priests</i>) burnt food as gifts to (the <i>LORD</i>)! (The water) came from the direction of Edom. The land was full of water!


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All (the people in) Moab had heard that the kings had come to fight against them. So the (leaders of Moab) asked every man who could fight, whether young or old, to come. They put them on the border (of Moab). 


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When (the men from Moab) got up early (the next) morning, the sun was shining on the water. (They were) the other side of the border. The people from Moab saw that the water seemed red. (They thought that) it was like blood. 


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‘That is blood’, they said. ‘Those kings have fought each other and they have killed each other. Come on, (people from) Moab. We will take what we can find!’ 


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So the people from Moab came to where Israel’s men were. But then, Israel’s men stood up and they fought against (the people from Moab). (The people from Moab) ran away. The men from Israel attacked their country and they killed the people from Moab. 


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They destroyed the towns. Each man threw a stone on to every good field, until they covered them (with stones). They filled every hole where (the people from Moab) got water. They cut down every good tree. Only Kir Hareseth kept all its stone (walls). But men with <i>weapons</i> were all round it. They also attacked it. 


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Then the king of Moab saw that he was not beating his enemies in the war. So he took with him 700 men with <i>swords</i>. They tried to get to the king of Edom. But they failed. 


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So he took his oldest son. (This son) would have been king after him. He killed him on the wall of the city (Kir Hareseth) to make his god happy. They were very angry with (the people from) Israel. So (the people from Israel) left Moab and they returned to their own country. <n>Notes about chapter 3</n> <n>Jehoram is also called Joram in some Bibles. Samaria was the capital of Israel. The special stone of <i>Baal</i> was where people <i>worshipped Baal</i>. <i>Baal</i> was a false god. Worship means ‘to love and to be a servant of’. The kings of Israel caused their people to worship <i>Baal</i>. Perhaps this was to keep them away from God’s house in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 22:47 tells us that there was no king of Edom at this time. The king of Judah ruled Edom. So the ‘king of Edom’ here means the leader of Edom. <n>Verse 20 The water came from the direction of Edom so the people in Moab would not know about it! <n>Verse 25 Kir Hareseth was the capital of Moab. 


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There was a group of <i>prophets</i>. The wife of one of these men spoke aloud to Elisha. (She said,) ‘My husband is dead. He was your servant and he loved the <i>LORD</i>. (My husband) should have given money to a certain man. (But he did not), so that man will come to take my two children. They will become his slaves.’ 


text:
Elisha said to her, ‘How can I help you? Tell me, what have you got in (your) house?’ She said (to Elisha), ‘I, your servant, have nothing in the house, only a pot of <i>oil</i>.’ 


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Then (Elisha) said, ‘Go to the people who live near you. Ask them all to lend you many pots. The pots (must be) empty. 


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Then go into (your house). Shut the door behind you and behind your sons. Pour (the oil that you have) into all those pots. When each (pot) is full, put it by your side.’ 


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So she left (Elisha) and she shut the door behind her and behind her sons. They brought (the pots) to her and she poured (the oil into them). 


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When all the pots were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another pot.’ But he said, ‘There are no more pots!’ Then there was no more oil to pour (into pots). 


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Then she went and she told (all this) to the <i>man of God</i>. He said, ‘Go and sell the oil. Use (some of) the money to pay (that man who wants your sons). (Buy) food for you and for your sons with what you do not need to pay (the man).’


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There was a time when Elisha went to Shunem. A rich woman was there (in Shunem). She asked him to have a meal (with her family) every time that he passed (her house). So, each time that he passed (her house), he stopped there to eat (a meal). 


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Then she said to her husband, ‘Listen! I believe that this (Elisha) is a <i>holy man of God</i>. He often passes our (house). 


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We should make a small room on the roof for him. We can put into it a bed, a table, a chair and a light. Then, when he comes (to visit) us, he can stay there.’


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Gehazi was (Elisha’s) servant. (Elisha) said to (Gehazi), ‘Ask the woman from Shunem (to come here).’ So Gehazi asked her (to come) and she stood in front of him. 


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Elisha said to (Gehazi), ‘Say to her, “You have done all this work for us. So, what can (we) do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king? Or (can we speak) to the leader of the army (on your behalf)?” ’ But she replied, ‘I live (safely) among my own people.’ 


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But Elisha asked again, ‘What can we do (to help) her?’ Gehazi said, ‘(I know that) she has no son. But her husband is old.’ 


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(Elisha) said, ‘Ask her to come here.’ And when (Gehazi) had asked her to come, she stood by the door. 


text:
And (Elisha) said, ‘About this time next year, you will have a son in your arms.’ ‘No, my master’, she said, ‘do not say what is not true to your servant. (You are) a <i>man of God</i>.’ 


text:
But the woman did become <i>pregnant</i>. At that time next year she had a son. Elisha had said that this would happen.


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‘My head (hurts me)! My head (hurts me)!’ he said to his father. (His father) said to (his) servant, ‘Carry him to his mother.’ 


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So (the servant) lifted him up and carried him to his mother. (The boy) sat on his mother’s knees until midday. Then he died. 


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Then she went up(stairs) and she put (the boy) on the bed of the <i>man of God</i>. Then she shut the door (of his room) and she went out. 


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She sent a message to her husband. She said, ‘Send to me one of the servants and one of the <i>donkeys</i>. Then I will go quickly to the <i>man of God</i> and return (quickly).’ 


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(Her husband) asked, ‘Why are you going to him today? It is not a New Moon or a <i>Sabbath</i>.’ And she said, ‘Do not argue.’ 


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So she put a seat on the <i>donkey</i>. And she said to her servant, ‘Go! Lead (the way)! Do not go slowly for me, unless I say, “You must (go slowly)”.’ 


text:
So she went out (on the road) and she came to the <i>man of God</i>. (He was on) a hill (called) Carmel. (Elisha) saw her when she was a long way away. So the <i>man of God</i> said to his servant Gehazi, ‘Look! There is the woman from Shunem! 


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Run now to meet her. Ask her, “Are you well? Is your husband well? Is your child well?” ’ And she said, ‘Well.’ 


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But when she reached the <i>man of God</i> at the hill (called Carmel), she held his feet. Gehazi came to push her away. But the <i>man of God</i> said, ‘Do not stop her. She is very, very sad. But the <i>LORD</i> has hidden it from me. (The <i>LORD</i>) has not told me about it.’ 


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‘My master, I did not ask you for a son’, she said. ‘I said to you, “Do not cause me to hope (for a son).” ’ 


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(Elisha) said to Gehazi, ‘Tie your clothes up round your body. Take my stick in your hand and run (to the boy). If you meet anyone, do not speak to him. If anybody speaks to you, do not answer (them). Put my stick on the boy’s face.’ 


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But the mother of the child said, ‘The <i>LORD</i> is alive. You are alive. I will not leave you as surely as both of these things are true.’ So (Elisha) got up and he went with her. 


text:
Gehazi went in front of them. He put the stick on the boy’s face. But nothing happened and there was no sound (from the boy). So (Gehazi) went back to meet (Elisha). He said to him, ‘The boy has not woken.’


text:
(Elisha) went in (to the room). He shut the door. He and the boy were together. (Elisha) prayed to the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
Then (Elisha) went on to the bed. He lay on the boy. He put his mouth to (the boy’s) mouth. He put his eyes to (the boy’s) eyes and he put his hands to (the boy’s) hands. When Elisha lay on the boy’s dead body, it became warm. 


text:
(Elisha) went away (from the bed). He walked round the room. Then he went on to the bed and he lay down again on the boy. The boy made a noise in his nose 7 times and then he opened his eyes. 


text:
Then (Elisha) spoke to Gehazi. He said, ‘Ask the woman from Shunem (to come here).’ (Gehazi) did (that). When she came, Elisha said, ‘Take your son.’ 


text:
She came in (to the room). She fell down by his feet. She put her face near the ground. Then she took her son and she went out (from the room).


text:
Elisha went back to Gilgal. And there was a <i>famine</i> round about (Gilgal). While the group of <i>prophets</i> sat with (Elisha), he spoke to his servant. ‘Put the large pot (over the fire). Cook some <i>stew</i> for the group of prophets.’ 


text:
One of (the <i>prophets</i>) went out into the fields to get some vegetables. He found a wild plant and he picked some of its fruits. He filled the pockets of his coat with them. When he returned he cut the fruits (into pieces). He put (the pieces) into the pot of <i>stew</i>. But nobody knew (what they were). 


text:
They poured out the <i>stew</i> for the men to eat. But when they started to eat it, they shouted, ‘<i>Man of God</i>, there is poison that would kill us in the pot!’ And they could not eat (it). 


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Then (Elisha) said, ‘Get (some) flour.’ And he put it into the pot. He said, ‘Give it to the people to eat.’ And there was nothing that was dangerous in the pot.


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A man came from <i>Baal</i> Shalishah. He brought 20 loaves to the <i>man of God</i>. The baker had made the bread with flour. (It was) from the first <i>corn</i> that was ready (for people) to pick. (He also brought) some of the plant with corn still in it. (Elisha) said, ‘Give it to the people to eat.’ 


text:
But his servant said, ‘How can I give this to 100 men?’ Then (Elisha) answered, ‘Give it to the people to eat. (Do it), because the <i>LORD</i> says, “They will eat. But after (the meal) there will still be some (bread).” ’ 


text:
So the servant gave (the bread) to them. And they ate it, but they could not eat all of it. The <i>LORD</i> had said that this would happen.


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Naaman was the leader of the king of <i>Aram</i>’s army. (Naaman’s) master thought that (Naaman) was a really great man. (That was) because the <i>LORD</i> had used Naaman. (He had used him) so that (the king of) Aram won wars. (Naaman) was a great soldier. But he had an illness called <i>leprosy</i>. 


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But men from Aram had gone to Israel. They had caught a young girl. She became the servant of Naaman’s wife. 


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The girl said to her master’s wife, ‘I would like my master (Naaman) to see the <i>prophet</i> who is in Samaria. (The prophet) would take away his illness.’ 


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(Naaman) went to his master (who was the king of Aram). He told him what the girl from Israel had said. 


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The king of Aram replied, ‘Go (to Israel)! Go (there)! I will send a letter to the king of Israel.’ So Naaman went (to Israel). He took with him 10 <i>talents</i> of <i>silver</i>, 6000 <i>shekels</i> of gold, and 10 suits of clothes. 


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Also, he took the letter for the king of Israel. It said, ‘I am sending my servant Naaman to you, with this letter. I want you to take away (from him) his <i>leprosy</i>.’ 


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When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes. He said, ‘I am not God. I cannot kill people and make them alive again. This man cannot send someone to me, so that I can take away his <i>leprosy</i>. He is trying to have a quarrel with me.’


text:
Elisha, the <i>man of God</i>, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes. Then, he sent to him this message. ‘You did not have to tear your clothes. Cause the man (from Aram) to come to me. Then he will know that there is a <i>prophet</i> in Israel.’ 


text:
So Naaman went (to Elisha) with his horses and with his <i>chariots</i>. They stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 


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Elisha sent a man with a message (to Naaman). ‘Go to the (river) Jordan. Wash yourself 7 times in (the river). Then your skin will be clean. You will not have (<i>leprosy</i>, again).’ 


text:
But Naaman was angry. He went away and he said, ‘I thought that he would come out (of his house) to me. (And then he would) stand there. (And then) he would pray to the name of the <i>LORD</i> his God. (And then) he would move his hand over the <i>leprosy</i>. (I thought that) he would make me well again (like that). 


text:
Abana and Pharpar are rivers in Damascus. They are better than any of the rivers in Israel. Surely, I could wash in them and become clean!’ And he turned and he went away. He was very, very angry. 


text:
But Naaman’s servants went to him. (One of them) said, ‘My <i>father</i>, the <i>prophet</i> might have asked you to do some great thing. You surely would have done it! Now all that he says to you is, “Wash! Then you will be clean.” ’ 


text:
So (Naaman) went down to the river Jordan. He washed himself (in it) 7 times. That was what the <i>man of God</i> had asked him to do. And (Naaman’s) skin became well again. It became as clean as a young child’s (skin).


text:
Then Naaman and all his servants went back to the <i>man of God</i>. (Naaman) stood in front of (the <i>man of God</i>) and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in the whole world except the one in Israel. Now accept a gift from your servant (Naaman).’ 


text:
But (Elisha) answered (him), ‘As surely as the <i>LORD</i> is alive, I will not accept (a gift). I am (the <i>LORD</i>’s) servant.’ Naaman asked him many times (to accept a gift) but (Elisha) refused. 


text:
So Naaman said, ‘So, you will not (accept a gift). But give to me, your servant, as much earth as two <i>donkeys</i> can carry. Then your servant will never again <i>worship</i> any God but the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
But I want the <i>LORD</i> to excuse your servant for one thing. My master, (the king of Aram, often) goes into the house of the god Rimmon. He bends down (in front of Rimmon). (My master) holds my arm, so I have to bend down also. I want the <i>LORD</i> to excuse me when I do this in the house of Rimmon.’ 


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And (Elisha) said to (Naaman), ‘Go and do not let it be a trouble (to you).’ Then (Naaman) went a little way from (Elisha).


text:
Gehazi (was) the servant of Elisha, (who was) the <i>man of God</i>. (Gehazi) said to himself, ‘My master (made it too) easy for Naaman, the man from Aram. He did not accept (the gifts) that he brought. As surely as the <i>LORD</i> is alive, I will run after him. I will get something from (Naaman).’ 


text:
So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. Naaman saw that (Gehazi) was running after him. So he got down from (his) <i>chariot</i> to meet him. (Naaman asked Gehazi), ‘Is everything well?’ 


text:
‘Everything is well’, he answered. ‘My master sent me to say (this to you). Two young men have come to me. (They are) from a group of <i>prophets</i> in the hills of Ephraim. (Please) give to them a <i>talent</i> of <i>silver</i> (each) and two sets of clothes.’ 


text:
And Naaman said, ‘Yes, (I will). But take two <i>talents</i> (for each of them).’ He caused (Gehazi to accept them). He tied the two talents of <i>silver</i> into two bags, with two sets of clothes. He gave them to two of his servants and they carried them in front of (Gehazi). 


text:
When (Gehazi) came to a hill (near Elisha’s house), he took the things from the servants. He put them in the house. He sent (the servants) away and they left him. 


text:
(Gehazi) went into (the house) and he stood in front of his master. And Elisha said to Gehazi, ‘Where have you been?’ (Gehazi) answered, ‘Your servant has not been anywhere.’ 


text:
But (Elisha) said to him, ‘My spirit was with you. (It was there) when the man came down from his <i>chariot</i> to meet you. This is not the time to take money, clothes, <i>olive</i> trees, <i>vineyards</i>, groups of animals or male and female servants. 


text:
Naaman’s <i>leprosy</i> will always be with you and your children.’ Then (Gehazi) went away from (Elisha). He had leprosy. (His skin was) as white as snow.


text:
We must go to the (river that is called) Jordan. Each (one) of us can get a piece of wood there. Then we can build a place there in which we can live.’ And (Elisha) said, ‘Go (there).’ 


text:
Then one of them said, ‘Please come with your servants.’ (Elisha) replied, ‘I will (come with you).’ 


text:
While one of them was cutting down a tree, his iron axe fell into the water. ‘My master’, he said, ‘It was not my (axe)!’ 


text:
The <i>man of God</i> asked (him), ‘Where did it fall?’ He showed (Elisha) the place. Then (Elisha) cut a stick and he threw it there. It caused the iron (axe) to swim (on the water). 


text:
Then there was a war between the king of <i>Aram</i> and Israel. (The king of Aram) talked with the officers (of his army). Then he said (to them), ‘I will put my army in a certain place.’ 


text:
The <i>man of God</i> sent a message to the king of Israel. (He said), ‘Do not pass that certain place. The (army) from Aram is going down there.’ 


text:
So the king of Israel checked the place, about which the <i>man of God</i> had told him. (Elisha) told (the king) more than once that there was danger (there). (The king) was very careful in that place.


text:
This made the king of Aram very angry. He asked the officers (of his army) to come to him. He said to them, ‘Tell me (this). Which of us is helping the king of Israel?’ 


text:
One of his officers said, ‘None of us (is helping him), my master the king. Elisha is a <i>prophet</i> (who lives) in Israel. He tells the king of Israel every word that you speak in your bedroom.’ 


text:
‘Go. And find (the place) where he is’, said the king (of Aram). ‘Then I will send men and I will catch him.’ A report came back (to him), ‘(Elisha) is in Dothan.’ 


text:
So (the king of Aram) sent horses and <i>chariots</i> and a strong group (of soldiers to Dothan). They went by night and they stayed all round the city.


text:
The servant of the <i>man of God</i> got up early the next morning. He went out (and he saw) an army with horses and <i>chariots</i> all round the city. ‘Oh, my master, what can we do?’ the servant asked (Elisha). 


text:
‘Do not be afraid’, the <i>prophet</i> answered (him). ‘There are more people with us than there are with them.’ 


text:
Then Elisha prayed and he said, ‘<i>LORD</i>. Open the eyes (of my servant) so that he can see (the <i>angels</i>).’ And the <i>LORD</i> opened the eyes of the servant. And he looked. And he saw that the hills (round Dothan) were full of horses and <i>chariots</i>. (The chariots seemed to be) on fire. (They were God’s servants, and they were) all round Elisha. 


text:
When (the enemy) came down towards Elisha, he prayed to the <i>LORD</i>. He said, ‘Make these people so that they cannot see clearly.’ And (the <i>LORD</i>) did what Elisha had asked. The people could not see clearly (to recognise Elisha). 


text:
And Elisha said to them, ‘This is not the road. And this is not the city (that you are looking for). Follow me! And I will lead you to the man that you are looking for.’ And he led them to Samaria.


text:
After they had gone into the city (Samaria), Elisha prayed again. ‘<i>LORD</i>, open the eyes of these men so that they can see clearly.’ And the <i>LORD</i> opened their eyes and they saw clearly. And (they saw that) they were inside Samaria! 


text:
When the king of Israel saw (the enemy army), he asked Elisha, ‘My <i>father</i>! Should I kill them? Should I kill them?’ 


text:
(Elisha) answered, ‘You must not kill them. You would not kill men that you had caught yourself with your <i>sword</i> or bow. Give them food and water. Then they can eat and drink. After that, they can go back to their master.’ 


text:
So (the king of Israel) gave a big meal to them. When they had finished the food and the water, he sent them away. So they returned to their master, (who was the king of Aram). After this, small groups of soldiers from Aram did not go into Israel.


text:
But after that, King Ben-Hadad of Aram sent his whole army to Samaria. They marched there and they stayed all round (the city). 


text:
Then there was a bad <i>famine</i> in the city. (The army) stayed all round the city for so long, that a <i>donkey</i>’s head cost 80 <i>shekels</i> of <i>silver</i>. And a quarter of a litre of seeds cost 5 shekels. 


text:
While the king of Israel was walking past on the wall (of the city), a woman shouted to him. ‘Help me, my master the king’, she said. 


text:
The king replied, ‘Do not shout to me for help. The <i>LORD</i> must help you, because I cannot (help you). There is no flour and no <i>wine</i>.’ 


text:
Then he asked her, ‘What is the matter?’ She answered, ‘This woman (who is with me) spoke to me. (She said), “Give (to us) your son, so that we can eat him today. Tomorrow we will eat my son.” 


text:
So we cooked my son and we ate him. The next day I said to her, “Give your son (to us), so that we can eat him.” But she had hidden him.’ 


text:
When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes. He was walking along the wall. And people saw that under his other clothes he was wearing <i>sackcloth</i> (hairy clothes) next to his body. 


text:
He said, ‘I want God to do this to me, and more. (I want him to do this) if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stays on his shoulders today!’


text:
Elisha was sitting in his house. The important men of the city were with him. The king sent a man with a message. But before he arrived, (Elisha) said to the important men, ‘(The king) is sending a killer to cut off my head. When the man with the message comes, shut the door. Keep him outside the door. The sound of his master’s feet is behind him.’ 


text:
While (Elisha) was still talking to them, the man with the message came down to him. The man said, ‘This bad thing is from the <i>LORD</i>. I cannot wait for the <i>LORD</i> any longer.’ <n>Notes about chapter 6</n> <n>In verse 25, the <i>donkey</i>’s head was to use for food. It was very, very expensive. The <i>Hebrew</i> word for seeds could mean dirt from a bird called a dove. <n>In verse 27, the <i>Hebrew</i> words are not ‘flour and <i>wine</i>’. They are the words for the places where they made flour and wine. <n>Some Bibles say that the king’s name was Joram or Jehoram. <n>In verse 33, many Bible students say that these are the words of King Joram (or Jehoram). 


text:
Elisha said, ‘Listen to the word of the <i>LORD</i>. This is what the <i>LORD</i> is saying. “About this time tomorrow, 7 litres of flour will cost a <i>shekel</i> (of <i>silver</i>). 15 litres of <i>barley</i> will cost a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” ’ 


text:
The king was holding on to the arm of an officer. (The officer) said to the <i>man of God</i>, ‘This will not happen. Even if the <i>LORD</i> opens windows in the skies, (it will not happen).’ (Elisha) answered, ‘You will see it with your own eyes. But you will not eat any of it (yourself)!’


text:
At this time, there were 4 men who had <i>leprosy</i>. They were at the gate (where people) went in to the city (Samaria). They said among themselves, ‘We should not stay here. (If we stay here) we will die. 


text:
There is a <i>famine</i> in the city. If we go there we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So we will go to the place where the army from <i>Aram</i> is. We will let them catch us. If they are kind to us, we will not die. If they kill us, we will die.’ 


text:
When the evening came they got up. They went to the place where the (army from) Aram was. When they reached the edge of the place, there was nobody there. 


text:
The <i>Lord</i> had caused the soldiers from Aram to hear the sounds of horses, <i>chariots</i> and a very big army. So they said among themselves, ‘The king of Israel has brought the king of the <i>Hittites</i> and the king of Egypt to attack us!’ 


text:
So, in the evening they got up and they ran away. They left their <i>tents</i>, their horses and their <i>donkeys</i>. They left the place where they were without any changes. And they ran away to save their lives. 


text:
The men who had <i>leprosy</i> came to the edge of this place. They went in to one of the <i>tents</i>. They ate and they drank. They carried away <i>silver</i> and gold and clothes. They went away and they hid them. Then they came back. They went into another tent and they took some things from it. They also hid them.


text:
Then they said among themselves, ‘What we are doing is not the right thing to do. This is a day of good news and we are not saying anything about it. If we wait until the morning, something bad will happen to us. We must go immediately and we must tell this to the king’s servants.’ 


text:
So they went to the people who kept safely the gate of the city. They spoke to them, and they said, ‘We went into the place where the army from Aram was. There was not a man there. There was no sound from anybody. There were only horses and <i>donkeys</i> that they had tied (to something). They had left their <i>tents</i> as they were.’ 


text:
The people who kept safely the gate of the city shouted the news (to everyone else). Somebody reported it to the (people in the) king’s house. 


text:
The king got up in the night and he spoke to his officers. ‘I will tell you what the army from Aram has done to us. They know that we have no food. So they have left their <i>tents</i> and they have hidden in the fields. They are thinking, “They will surely come out of (the city). Then we will catch them while they are still alive. We will get into (their) city.” ’ 


text:
One of the (king’s) officers answered him. ‘Send some men with 5 of the horses that are still in (our) city. What will happen to them will be the same as what will happen to all Israel’s people in the city. They will be like all those among Israel’s people who have died already. They may die. So, send them, to find out what has happened.’ 


text:
So they chose two <i>chariots</i> with their horses. The king sent them to look for the army from Aram. He said to the drivers, ‘Go! Find out what has happened.’ 


text:
They followed the army from Aram as far as the (river) Jordan. The road was full of things that the army from Aram threw away. While they were running, (the army) had left clothes and <i>weapons</i> (on the road). So (the men with the <i>chariots</i>) returned to the king. They reported to him the news (about what they had found).


text:
Then the people left (the city). They took everything from the army of Aram’s <i>tents</i>. So, 7 litres of flour did cost a <i>shekel</i> (of <i>silver</i>). Also, 15 litres of <i>barley</i> did cost a shekel. This is what the <i>LORD</i> had said. 


text:
The king had put his special officer by the gate (of Samaria). He had held the arm of this officer (earlier). The people caused this officer to fall by the gate (as they ran past him). He fell under their feet and he died. The <i>man of God</i> had said that this would happen. He had said it when the king came down to his (Elisha’s) house. 


text:
The <i>man of God</i> had said to the king that it would happen (like this). ‘About this time tomorrow, 7 litres of flour will cost a <i>shekel</i> (of <i>silver</i>)’, he had said. ‘15 litres of <i>barley</i> will cost a shekel at the gate of Samaria.’ 


text:
The officer had said to the <i>man of God</i>, ‘This will not happen. Even if the <i>LORD</i> opens windows in the skies, (it will not happen).’ The <i>man of God</i> had answered, ‘You will see it with your own eyes. But you will not eat any of it (yourself)!’ 


text:
And that had really happened to him! The people had walked all over (this officer) by the gate and he had died. <n>Verse 1 This was very cheap. Everything was very different in 6:25. 


text:
Elisha had made a woman’s son alive again. (Elisha) had said to the woman, ‘Go away with your family. Stay for a time in whatever place you can (stay). (Do this) because the <i>LORD</i> says that there will be a <i>famine</i> in (this) country. It will continue for 7 years.’ 


text:
The woman had done what the <i>man of God</i> had said. She and her family went away. They stayed in the country called Philistia for 7 years. 


text:
She came back from the country called Philistia after the 7 years. She went to the king to ask for her house and for her fields. 


text:
The king was talking to Gehazi, who was the servant of the <i>man of God</i>. (The king) had said, ‘Tell me about all the great things that Elisha has done.’ 


text:
Gehazi was telling the king that (Elisha) had made dead people alive again. While (Gehazi) was doing this, the woman came in to ask for her house and her fields. It was her dead son that (Elisha) had made alive again. Gehazi said, ‘My master the king, this is the woman! And this is her son that Elisha made alive again!’ 


text:
The king asked the woman about it and she told him. Then the king asked for an officer to come to him. (The king) said to him, ‘Give everything back to her. This must include all the money from her fields, from the day that she left until now.’ <n>Ben-Hadad’s death</n>


text:
Elisha went to Damascus. Ben-Hadad, (who was) the king of Aram, was ill. Somebody told him, ‘The <i>man of God</i> has come here.’ 


text:
The king said to Hazael, ‘Take a gift with you. Go and meet the <i>man of God</i>. Ask him to ask the <i>LORD</i> this question. “Will I get well after this illness?” ’ 


text:
Hazael went to meet (Elisha). He took with him, as a gift, all the best things from Damascus. (They needed) 40 <i>camels</i> to carry them! He went in (to Elisha’s house) and he stood in front of him. He said, ‘Your son, Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, has sent me (to you). He asks, “Will I get well after this illness?” ’ <n>Ben-Hadad was not really Elisha’s son. But Ben-Hadad thought about Elisha as a man thinks about his father. 


text:
(Elisha) answered, ‘Go (back to him). Say to him, “Surely, you will get well (after your illness).” But the <i>LORD</i> has shown to me that he will surely die.’ 


text:
(Elisha) looked at him with open eyes until Hazael was ashamed. Then the <i>man of God</i> (Elisha) began to weep. 


text:
And Hazael asked, ‘Why is my master weeping?’ ‘Because I know that you will hurt Israel’s people’, answered (Elisha). (Then he said,) ‘You will burn their strong (cities). You will kill their young men with the <i>sword</i>. You will knock their children(’s heads) on the ground. You will cut their <i>pregnant</i> women open.’ 


text:
Hazael said, ‘How could your servant, who has no more power than a dog, do something like that?’ ‘The <i>LORD</i> has shown me (this). You will become king of Aram’, Elisha answered. 


text:
Then (Hazael) left Elisha and Hazael returned to his master (the king). Ben-Hadad asked him, ‘What did Elisha say to you?’ Hazael replied, ‘He told me (that) you will surely get well.’ 


text:
But the next day, (Hazael) took a thick cloth. He filled it with water. Then he put it over the king’s face until he died. So Hazael became king after (Ben-Hadad). <n>Jehoram becomes the king of Judah</n>


text:
In the 5th year that Joram was king of Israel, Jehoshaphat was still king of Judah. (Joram was) the son of Ahab. Then Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, also started to rule as king of Judah. 


text:
He did all the (bad) things that the kings of Israel (had done). He did what the family of Ahab had done. That was because he married a daughter of Ahab. (Jehoram) did very bad things in the sight of the LORD</i>. 


text:
But the <i>LORD</i> did not want to destroy Judah, because of his promise to his servant David. (The <i>LORD</i>) had promised always to leave (something like) a light (in Judah) because of David, and because of his <i>descendants</i>.


text:
While Jehoram was (king), Edom’s people decided not to obey (the king of) Judah. (Edom’s people decided) to have their own king. 


text:
So Jehoram crossed to Zair with all his <i>chariots</i>. (Zair is in Edom.) The men from Edom were all round him and (all round) the leaders of his chariots. But one night, (Jehoram’s) army started to fight. They beat (the men from Edom) that were all round him and (all round) the leaders of his chariots. But then his army hurried back home! 


text:
Even today, Edom’s people do not obey (the rulers of) Judah. (The people in a city called) Libnah (stopped obeying the king of Judah) at the same time. 


text:
Other things happened while Jehoram was king and he did other things. People wrote about them in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Judah’. 


text:
Jehoram died like his <i>ancestors</i> and people buried him in the <i>City of David</i>. (They buried) him with his <i>ancestors</i>. His son Ahaziah became king after him. <n>Ahaziah becomes the king of Judah</n>


text:
Ahaziah was the son of Jehoram, (who had been) the king of Judah. Joram (was the) son of Ahab (who had been king of Judah). Ahaziah began to rule when (Joram) had been king for (nearly) 12 years. 


text:
Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah. (She was a) granddaughter of Omri, (who had been) the king of Israel. 


text:
(Ahaziah) did all the bad things that the family of Ahab had done. (Ahaziah) did very bad things in the sight of the LORD</i>. He did what the family of Ahab had done. That was because he had married (a woman from) Ahab’s family.


text:
Ahaziah went with Joram to fight against Hazael (who was) the king of <i>Aram</i>. (Joram was) the son of Ahab. (The fight was) at Ramoth Gilead. The army from Aram hurt Joram, 


text:
so King Joram returned to Jezreel. (He went there) to get well after the army from Aram had hurt him at Ramoth. This happened when he fought Hazael, the king of Aram. Then Ahaziah went down to Jezreel to see Joram (who was the) son of Ahab. (Ahaziah was) the son of Jehoram (who had been the) king of Judah. (Ahaziah went) because (Joram) was ill. <n>Notes about chapter 8</n> <n>Verse 1 The story is in 2 Kings 4:8-37. Perhaps the <i>famine</i> was the one in 2 Kings 4:38. <n>Verses 3 and 6 Someone else had used the woman’s fields while she was away. <n>Verse 7 Aram is another name for Syria. Damascus was the capital of Aram. <n>Verse 11 Some Bible students think that Hazael looked at Elisha. The <i>Hebrew</i> words are not very clear. <n>Verse 16 These dates do not always agree with those in other parts of 2 Kings. When a king became old, his son sometimes ruled with him. Jehoram did that with Jehoshaphat. <n>Verse 19 ‘A light in Judah’ means that a <i>descendant</i> of David would always rule in Judah. 


text:
The <i>prophet</i> Elisha asked a man from the group of prophets to come (to him). (Elisha) said to him, ‘Fasten your coat into your belt. Take this bottle of <i>oil</i> with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. 


text:
When you get there, look for Jehu. (He is) the son of Jehoshaphat, (who is) the son of Nimshi. Go to him and take him away from his friends. Take him to an inside room. 


text:
Pour the oil from the bottle on to his head. Say to him, “This is what the <i>LORD</i> says (to you). ‘I make you king of Israel now.’ ” Then open the door and run away quickly!’


text:
When he arrived (at Ramoth Gilead), he found the army officers. They were sitting together. ‘Captain, I have a message for you’, he said. ‘For which of us?’ Jehu asked. ‘(Only) for you, captain’, the (young <i>prophet</i>) replied. 


text:
Jehu stood up and he went into the house. The (young <i>prophet</i>) poured the oil on to (Jehu’s) head. He said, ‘This is what the <i>LORD</i>, the God of Israel, says (to you). “I am making you king over the <i>LORD</i>’s people in Israel. 


text:
You must kill the family of your master Ahab. (In this way) you will <i>punish</i> (Ahab) because he killed my servants the <i>prophets</i>. Also, Jezebel (his wife) killed many of the <i>LORD</i>’s servants. 


text:
The whole family of Ahab must die. I will kill every man from the family of Ahab that is in Israel. (I will kill) every male slave. And I will kill every man who is not a slave. 


text:
I will make the family of Ahab like the family of Jeroboam (who was) the son of Nebat. It will be like the family of Baasha (who was) the son of Ahijah. 


text:
And dogs will eat Jezebel at a place in Jezreel. Nobody will bury her.” ’ Then (the young <i>prophet</i>) opened the door and he ran away.


text:
Jehu went out to the other officers. ‘Is everything well?’ one of them asked him. ‘Why did this crazy (<i>prophet</i>) come to you?’ ‘You know this man. And you know what he says’, Jehu answered. 


text:
‘That is not true!’ they said. ‘Tell us (what he said).’ So Jehu said, ‘This is what he told me. “This is what the <i>LORD</i> says. I am making you king over Israel.” ’ 


text:
They hurried to get their coats. They put them under (his feet) on the (stone) steps. Then they made a sound with a <i>trumpet</i>. They shouted, ‘Jehu is king!’


text:
So Jehu (who was the son of Jehoshaphat) became an enemy of Joram. (Jehoshaphat was the) son of Nimshi. Joram had been in Ramoth Gilead. All the army of Israel (was with him). They were waiting to see what Hazael (would do). (Hazael was) the king of Syria. 


text:
But King Joram then returned to Jezreel. This was to get well after his illness. The (army of) Aram had hurt him in the war with Hazael. (Hazael was) the king of Aram. Jehu said (to his officers), ‘If your purpose really is (to make me king), do not let anyone get out from the city (Jezreel). They will tell the news back in (the city called) Jezreel.’ 


text:
Then (Jehu) got into his <i>chariot</i> and he rode to Jezreel. That was because Joram was resting there (in Jezreel). Ahaziah (was) the king of Judah. He had come down (from Jerusalem) to meet Joram.


text:
A man was standing on a tall building in Jezreel and he was there to watch. He saw Jehu’s soldiers coming (towards Jezreel). He shouted, ‘I can see some soldiers (that) are coming (to us).’ Joram said, ‘Fetch a man and a horse. Send them to meet (the soldiers). Ask them. “Are you friendly to us?” ’ 


text:
The man on the horse rode away to meet Jehu. He said (to Jehu), ‘The king asks you, “Are you friendly to us?” ’ ‘It does not matter to you if we are friends’, Jehu replied. ‘Ride behind me.’ The man on the tall building reported (to Joram), ‘The man with the message has reached them, but he is not coming back (to us).’ 


text:
So the king (Joram) sent a second man (who was riding) on a horse. He came to (Jehu). Then he said, ‘The king (Joram) says, “Are you coming to us as a friend?” ’ Jehu replied, ‘It does not matter to you if we are friends. Ride behind me.’ 


text:
The man on the tall building reported (to Joram), ‘He has reached them, but he is not coming back (to us) either. The man that is driving (the <i>chariot</i>) drives like Jehu. (Jehu is) the son of Nimshi. He drives like someone that is crazy!’


text:
Then Joram said, ‘Fetch my <i>chariot</i> (to me).’ So they brought (his chariot). Then King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah rode to meet Jehu. Each (king) was in his own chariot. They met (Jehu) at the piece of ground that had belonged to Naboth. (Naboth had lived) in Jezreel. 


text:
When Joram saw Jehu he asked, ‘Have you come as a friend, Jehu?’ ‘We cannot be friends’, Jehu replied. ‘(That is because of) the things that your mother Jezebel did. People still <i>worship</i> false gods. There are women who do <i>magic</i> (in your country) still.’ 


text:
Joram turned his <i>chariot</i> and he drove away quickly. He shouted to Ahaziah, ‘Ahaziah, they are not our friends!’ 


text:
Then Jehu used his bow. He shot Joram between his shoulders. The <i>arrow</i> went through his heart. He fell down in his <i>chariot</i>. 


text:
Bidkar was Jehu’s <i>chariot</i> officer. (Jehu) said to him, ‘Pick him up! Throw him on to the field that belonged to Naboth. (Naboth was) the man from Jezreel. Remember, you and I rode together in chariots behind Ahab. (Ahab) was (Joram’s) father. Then, the <i>LORD</i> said this about (Joram). 


text:
“Yesterday, I saw the blood of Naboth. (I saw) also the blood of his sons, says the <i>LORD</i>. Surely, I will cause you to pay for this on this piece of ground, says the <i>LORD</i>.” So now, pick him up and throw him on to that piece (of ground). Do what the <i>LORD</i> has promised.’


text:
Ahaziah (was) the king of Judah. He saw what had happened (to Joram). So, he ran away past the house in his garden. Jehu followed him. (Jehu) shouted, ‘Kill him too!’ They hurt (Ahaziah) in his <i>chariot</i>. He was on the road to Gur near Ibleam. But he ran away (from them) to Megiddo, where he died. 


text:
His servants took him in a <i>chariot</i> to Jerusalem. They buried him with his <i>ancestors</i> in his <i>grave</i>. It was in the <i>City of David</i>.


text:
Ahaziah had become king of Judah when Joram (had been king) nearly 11 years. (Joram) was the son of Ahab.


text:
Then Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel heard about it. So she painted her eyes and she combed her hair. Then she looked out of a window. 


text:
While Jehu was coming through the gate (of the city), she asked him, ‘Have you come as a friend, Zimri? You are your master’s killer.’ 


text:
(Jehu) looked up at the window (and he saw her). Then he shouted, ‘Who is with me? Who?’ Two or three <i>eunuchs</i> looked down at him. 


text:
‘Throw her down’, Jehu said. So they threw her down. Some of her blood went all over the wall. Some of it went over the horses when they were kicking her with their feet. 


text:
Jehu went into (the king’s house). He ate and drank (food and drink). ‘Do something with (the dead body of) that bad woman’, he said. ‘Bury her, because she was the daughter of a king.’ 


text:
But when they went out to bury her, they did not find much. (They found only) the bones of her head, her feet and her hands. 


text:
They went back and they told this to Jehu. He said, ‘The <i>LORD</i> said that this would happen. He spoke by his servant, (who was) Elijah from Tishbe. (He said), “Dogs will eat Jezebel’s dead body. (They will do it) on a piece of ground at Jezreel. 


text:
Jezebel’s dead body will be like dirt on the ground, on that piece of ground at Jezreel. Nobody will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel’.” ’ <n>Notes about chapter 9</n> <n>Verse 31 Jezebel called Jehu ‘Zimri’. Perhaps Jezebel called Jehu ‘Zimri’ because Zimri had killed his master. (See 1 Kings 16:8-10.) <n>Verse 32 The king’s house was usually near the gate of a city. 


text:
Ahab had 70 sons. They were in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and he sent them to Samaria. (He sent them) to the officers in Jezreel. (He also sent them) to the important older men and to the people who made Ahab’s children safe. 


text:
(This was what the letter said.) ‘When this letter reaches you, your master (Ahab’s) sons will be with you. You have <i>chariots</i> and horses, a strong city and <i>weapons</i>. 


text:
Choose the best person to be king from among your master’s sons. Make him king instead of his father. Then fight on behalf of your master’s family.’ 


text:
But they were so very afraid. They said, ‘Two kings could not beat (Jehu). So we (cannot beat him)!’


text:
So these people sent a message to Jehu: <br/>· the servant with most authority in the king’s house <br/>· the man that ruled the city (Samaria) <br/>· the important older men <br/>· the people who made (Ahab’s children) safe. <n>(The message said), ‘We are your servants. We will do anything that you say. We will not make anyone (here) king. You do what is best.’


text:
So Jehu wrote to them a second letter. It said, ‘If you agree with me, maybe you will obey me. (If you do), bring the heads of your master’s sons to Jezreel. Be here by this time tomorrow.’ At that time, the 70 sons of Ahab were with the leaders of the city. (The leaders) were teaching them. 


text:
When the letter arrived, these men went to the sons of King (Ahab). They killed all 70 of them and they put their heads in baskets. Then they sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. 


text:
The man with the message arrived (in Jezreel). He told Jehu, ‘They have brought the heads of King (Ahab’s) sons.’ Then Jehu said, ‘Put them in two groups. Leave them at the gate of the city until the morning.’ 


text:
The next morning, Jehu went out. He stood in front of all the people. He said (to them), ‘You have not done anything that is wrong (to Ahab). It was I that decided (to kill) my master. It was I that killed him. But we do not know who killed all these people. 


text:
You can know this: Everything that the <i>LORD</i> has spoken against the family of Ahab will happen. The <i>LORD</i> has done what he promised to do. (He promised it) by his servant Elijah.’ 


text:
So Jehu killed everybody in Jezreel who was in the family of Ahab. (Jehu also killed Ahab’s) officers, his friends and his <i>priests</i>. They were all dead.


text:
(Jehu) then left (Jezreel), and he went towards Samaria. He came to Beth Eked. Some men who kept sheep safe were there. 


text:
And Jehu also met some people from Ahaziah’s family. (Ahaziah) was the king of Judah. (Jehu) asked them, ‘Who are you?’ They said, ‘We belong to Ahaziah’s family. We have come down here to say “welcome!” to the families of the king and his mother.’ 


text:
‘Catch them (while they are) alive!’ shouted (Jehu). So they caught them (while they were) alive. Then they killed them by the well of Beth Eked. (They killed) 42 men. (Jehu) left none of them alive.


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When (Jehu) left (Beth Eked), he met Jehonadab. (Jehonadab) was the son of Rechab and he was coming to meet (Jehu). ‘Welcome!’ said (Jehu). ‘Do you agree with me, as I agree with you?’ Jehonadab answered, ‘I do!’ ‘So give me your hand’, said (Jehu). So he did, and (Jehu) helped him up into his <i>chariot</i>. 


text:
(Jehu) said, ‘Come with me. You will see that I really want to be the <i>LORD</i>’s servant.’ So (Jehonadab) rode with (Jehu) in his <i>chariot</i>. 


text:
So (Jehu) came to Samaria. There, he killed everyone in Ahab’s family that was still alive. He killed them all. The <i>LORD</i> had told Elijah that this would happen.


text:
Then Jehu caused all the people to come together. He said to them, ‘Ahab was not a good servant of <i>Baal</i>. But Jehu will be a much better servant (of <i>Baal</i>)! 


text:
So, ask all the <i>prophets</i> of <i>Baal</i> to come (here). Also, fetch all (Baal’s) servants and his <i>priests</i>. Be sure that they are all (here). (Do this), because I want to have a big <i>sacrifice</i> for Baal. Any person who does not come will not continue to be alive.’ But Jehu was being very clever. His idea was to kill all Baal’s servant. 


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Then Jehu said, ‘Say that there will be a special meeting (to <i>worship</i>) <i>Baal</i>.’ So (Jehu’s servants) told everybody about it. 


text:
Then (Jehu) sent a notice to everyone in Israel, and all the servants of <i>Baal</i> came (to the meeting). There was nobody that did not come. They all went into the house of Baal, so that it was full from one end to the other. 


text:
Then (Jehu) said to the keeper of the clothes, ‘Bring out all the special clothes, for the servants of <i>Baal</i> (to wear).’ So he brought out the special clothes for them. 


text:
Then Jehu and Jehonadab, who was the son of Rechab, went into the house of <i>Baal</i>. (Jehu) said to the servants of <i>Baal</i>, ‘Look all round (you). Be sure that there are no servants of the <i>LORD</i> here with you. (Be sure) that there are only servants of <i>Baal</i> here.’ 


text:
So they went in (to the house of <i>Baal</i>) to make <i>sacrifices</i>. And they burned (animals) to offer (to Baal). But Jehu had put 80 (of his) men outside the house (of Baal). He had said to them, ‘Do not let any of these men run away. If one of you does, it will be your life for his life.’ 


text:
When (<i>Baal</i>’s servants) had finished the <i>sacrifice</i>, Jehu said to his soldiers and (to their) officers, ‘Go in (to the house of Baal) and kill (his servants). Do not let one of them run away.’ So they cut them (into pieces) with their <i>swords</i>. The soldiers and their officers threw (their dead bodies) out (of the house of Baal). Then they went into the inside part of the house of Baal. 


text:
They destroyed the special stone of <i>Baal</i> and they tore down the house of <i>Baal</i>. People have used it as a toilet to this day!


text:
But Jehu continued (to let people do) the <i>sins</i> of Jeroboam. (Jeroboam was) the son of Nebat. (Jeroboam) had caused Israel to <i>worship</i> young cows. (They had made the young cows) with gold. They were at Bethel and Dan. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Jehu, ‘You have done well. You have done what is right <i>in my sight</i>. You have done everything to Ahab’s family that I wanted (someone to do). So, your <i>descendants</i> will be kings of Israel for 4 <i>generations</i>.’ 


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But Jehu did not try as much as he could to obey the rules of the God of Israel. He did not turn away from the <i>sins</i> of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to do.


text:
In those days, the <i>LORD</i> began to make Israel smaller. Hazael was stronger than Israel’s people in all their country 


text:
east of (the river) Jordan. (That was) the place called Gilead, where the <i>tribes</i> of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh were. Gilead started in Aroer and it went through the Arnon Valley to Bashan. 


text:
Other things happened while Jehu was king. Everything that he did is in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. 


text:
Jehu died like his <i>ancestors</i> and people buried him in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became king after him. 


text:
Jehu ruled over Israel in Samaria for 28 years. <n>Notes about chapter 10</n> <n>Verse 9 ‘These people’ were the 70 sons of Ahab. <n>Verse 13 Some Bible students think that ‘welcome’ is a bad translation. They had come to kill the people that had killed Ahaziah, 2 Kings 9:27! <n>Verses 15 &amp; 23 Some translations have ‘that drove a <i>chariot</i>’ instead of ‘was the son of Rechab’. <n>Verse 30 ‘for 4 generations’ means Jehu’s son, Jehu’s grandson, his son’s grandson and his grandson’s grandson. 


text:
Athaliah was the mother of Ahaziah. She heard the news that her son was dead. Then, she started to kill all the king’s family. 


text:
Jehosheba was the daughter of King Jehoram. She was the sister of Ahaziah. She took Joash away from the sons of the king, because (Athaliah) was ready to kill them. Joash was the son of Ahaziah. (Jehosheba) put Joash and the woman who fed him from her breast in a bedroom. Athaliah did not kill (Joash) because (Jehosheba) had hidden him. 


text:
Athaliah ruled the country (Judah) for 6 years. All this time (Jehosheba) hid (Joash) in the house of the <i>LORD</i> (in Jerusalem).


text:
In the 7th year (that Athaliah ruled Judah), Jehoiada asked (these people) to come to him: <br/>· the leaders of groups of 100 <i>Carites</i> <br/>· the soldiers that made the <i>palace</i> safe. <n>They came to him in the house of the <i>LORD</i>. They agreed together with Jehoiada. He asked them to say a special promise, in the house of the <i>LORD</i>. Then he showed to them the king’s son (Joash).


text:
(Jehoiada) said to them, ‘This is what you must do. A third (of your soldiers) that come to work on the <i>Sabbath</i> (must do this). They must make (the door to) the <i>palace</i> safe. 


text:
(Another) third (of your soldiers must stand) at the Sur Gate. (The other) third must be at the gate of the (<i>LORD</i>’s) house. They must be behind the soldiers that usually make the (<i>LORD</i>’s) house safe. 


text:
But two groups of your soldiers do not usually work on the <i>Sabbath</i>. Those soldiers must all make the <i>LORD</i>’s house safe for the king. 


text:
You must stand all round the king. Each (soldier) must have his <i>weapons</i> in his hand (ready to use). Anybody that comes near to you, you must kill. You must stay near to the king everywhere that he goes.’


text:
The leaders of the groups of 100 (soldiers) did what Jehoiada the <i>priest</i> asked them to do. Each (leader) brought his men to Jehoiada the priest. (They brought) those (men) that worked on the <i>Sabbath</i>. They also brought those that did not (usually work on the Sabbath). 


text:
Then (Jehoiada) gave to the leaders the <i>spears</i> and the <i>shields</i> that had been King David’s. They were in the house of the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
Each soldier had his <i>weapons</i> in his hand. They stood round the king. They were near to the <i>altar</i> and to the house (of the <i>LORD</i>). They stood from the south side to the north side of the house. 


text:
Jehoiada brought (Joash,) the king’s son (and Jehoiada put him in front of all the people). He put the <i>crown</i> on to his (head) and he gave to him a copy of the <i>covenant</i>. He said that (Joash) was king. They poured <i>oil</i> on to him. They hit their hands together. Then they shouted, ‘We want the king to be alive for a long time!’


text:
But Athaliah heard the noise that the soldiers and the people made. So she went to the people that were at the house of the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
She looked and she saw the king. He was standing in the usual place (where they made someone into a king). The leaders (of the army) and the men with <i>trumpets</i> were by the king. All the people in the country (Judah) were very happy. (Many of them) blew into <i>trumpets</i>. Then Athaliah tore her clothes. She shouted, ‘<i>Treason</i>! Treason!’ 


text:
Jehoiada, the <i>priest</i>, said to each leader of 100 soldiers what they must do. ‘Bring her out (of the house of the <i>LORD</i>). Keep her between groups of soldiers. (Kill) anyone with a <i>sword</i> that follows her.’ That was because the priest had said, ‘You must not kill her in the house of the <i>LORD</i>.’ 


text:
So they took her to the place where horses went into the king’s <i>palace</i>. There they killed her.


text:
Then Jehoiada made a <i>covenant</i>. It was between the <i>LORD</i>, the king and the people. (They agreed) to be the <i>LORD</i>’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 


text:
All the people in the country (Judah) went to the house of <i>Baal</i>. They tore it into pieces. They destroyed the <i>altars</i> and the false gods. Mattan was the <i>priest</i> of Baal. They killed him in front of the altars. Then (Jehoiada) the priest put soldiers to make the house of the <i>LORD</i> safe.


text:
(Jehoiada) took with him (these people): <br/>· the leaders of 100 soldiers <br/>· the <i>Carites</i> and the soldiers <br/>· all the people of the country (Judah). <n>They all brought the king down from the house of the <i>LORD</i> into the <i>palace</i>. They went in (to the palace) through the gate where the soldiers (stayed). Then the king sat on the king’s special seat.


text:
All the people in the country (Judah) were very happy. And the city (Jerusalem) was quiet. That was because they had killed Athaliah with the <i>sword</i> at the <i>palace</i>.


text:
And Joash was 7 years old when he began to rule (Judah). <n>Notes about chapter 11</n> <n>Verse 6 Bible students do not know where the Sur gate was. <n>Verse 9 Priests were special servants of God. Priests <i>sacrificed</i> animals to God in God’s house in Jerusalem. Jehoiada was the leader of the priests. 


text:
Joash became king (of Judah) in the 7th year that Jehu (was king of Israel). Joash ruled in Jerusalem for 40 years. His mother’s name was Zibiah. (She came from) Beersheba. 


text:
In all the years that Jehoiada the <i>priest</i> taught him, Joash did right things in the sight of the LORD</i>. 


text:
But he did not remove the <i>high places</i>. The people continued to burn animals and to burn <i>incense</i> (in the high places).


text:
Joash said to all the <i>priests</i>, ‘(There is) money that people offer to God for the house of the <i>LORD</i>. Bring all this money together: <br/>· what each man pays (to the government); <br/>· what each man offers (to the <i>LORD</i>); <br/>· what each man gives (to God’s house).


text:
Each <i>priest</i> must give something from his own money. They must use the money to make repairs to the house (of the <i>LORD</i>), where people have broken it.’ 


text:
Joash had been king for 23 years. (In that time), the <i>priests</i> had not made any repairs to the house (of the <i>LORD</i>)! 


text:
So King Joash asked Jehoiada and the other <i>priests</i> to come (to him). He said to them, ‘There are no repairs to the parts of the house (of the <i>LORD</i>) where somebody has broken it. (But there should be.) Do not take any more money from the people that give it to you. Give it to (the people that make) repairs to the house (of the <i>LORD</i>).’ 


text:
The <i>priests</i> agreed that they would not take any money from the people. Also, they agreed that they would not make repairs to the house (of the <i>LORD</i>) themselves.


text:
Jehoiada the <i>priest</i> got a large box. He made a hole in the top of it. He put it outside the door of the house of the <i>LORD</i>. It was by the <i>altar</i>, on the right side (of the door). (Some) priests made the door (of the house of the <i>LORD</i>) safe. They put into the box all the money that people brought to the house of the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
Every time that there was a large amount of money in the box, they counted the money. The leader of the <i>priests</i> and the king’s servant who wrote things down (did that). (Then), they took (the money from the box) in the house (of the <i>LORD</i>). And they put it into bags. 


text:
Then they gave the money that they had counted to some men. They had made these (men) the leaders of the workers in the house of the <i>LORD</i>. (The leaders) used the money to pay the men that cut the wood. And (they used it to pay) the builders in the house of the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
(They also paid) the men that used stones. And they paid the men that cut stones. They bought wood. And they bought stones that people had cut. They bought them for the repairs to the house of the <i>LORD</i>. And they paid all the other bills for the repairs to the house (of the <i>LORD</i>).


text:
But they did not spend any of this money to buy anything that they used in the <i>LORD</i>’s house. (This was the money) that people had brought into the house (of the <i>LORD</i>). They did not use it to buy any of these things: <br/>· <i>silver bowls</i> <br/>· tools that they used to cause their lights to burn well <br/>· <i>bowls</i> (that people used) to pour (water or oil on to things) <br/>· <i>trumpets</i>.


text:
(They used all the money) to pay the workers. The (workers) used it to mend the house of the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
(The <i>priests</i>) gave the money to (the leaders of the workers). But they did not ask (these leaders) to show them the bills. Everybody was very honest. 


text:
They did not bring other money into the house of the <i>LORD</i>. (People) offered (this money) because they had done wrong things. It was for the <i>priests</i>.


text:
Hazael (was) the king of <i>Aram</i>. He went to Gath and (his army) attacked it. (His army) beat (the people in Gath). Then (Hazael) went to attack Jerusalem.


text:
Then Joash was (still) the king of Judah. He sent all these special things to Hazael (who was) the king of Aram: <br/>· the gifts that the kings of Judah who were before him had given (to God). (These kings were) Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah. <br/>· the gifts that (Joash) himself had given (to God) <br/>·&nbspnbsp; all the gold that was in the house of the <i>LORD</i> and in the king’s <i>palace</i> <n>So Hazael left Jerusalem (and he did not attack it).


text:
Other things happened while Joash was king. Everything that he did is in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Judah’. 


text:
(Joash’s) officers decided (to kill him). They killed him in the house of Millo, which is on the road down to Silla. 


text:
The officers that killed him were Jozabad, the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad, the son of Shomer. (After) he died, people buried him with his <i>ancestors</i> in the <i>City of David</i>. Amaziah, (who was) his son, became king after (Joash). <n>Notes about chapter 12</n> <n>Verse 2 Priests were special servants of God. Priests <i>sacrificed</i> animals to God in God’s house in Jerusalem. Jehoiada was the leader of the priests. <n>Verse 3 In the high places the people <i>worshipped Baal</i> and other false gods. The high places were on the tops of hills. <n>Verses 5-6 We are not sure when Joash asked for repairs to the house of the <i>LORD</i>. But when he was 30, the <i>priests</i> had not done any repairs! <n>Verse 8 The <i>priests</i> agreed that somebody else would make repairs to the house of the <i>LORD</i>. <n>Verse 18 Hazael took the special things in the <i>LORD</i>’s house. The <i>priests</i> only used these things when they <i>worshipped</i> the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
Joash (was) the son of Ahaziah, (who was) the king of Judah. When (Joash) had been king for nearly 23 years, Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria. (Jehoahaz was) the son of Jehu. (Jehoahaz) was king for 17 years. 


text:
But he did bad things in the sight of the LORD</i>. He did the same <i>sins</i> as Jeroboam did. (Jeroboam was) the son of Nebat. (Jeroboam) had also caused (the people in) Israel to do these sins. And (Jehoahaz) did not stop these things. 


text:
So the <i>LORD</i> was very, very angry with Israel. For a long time (the <i>LORD</i>) caused Hazael and Ben-Hadad to beat them. (Ben-Hadad was) the son of Hazael, who was the king of <i>Aram</i>. 


text:
Then Jehoahaz prayed to the <i>LORD</i> again. And the <i>LORD</i> listened to him because of the king of Aram. (The <i>LORD</i>) knew that (the king of Aram) was being very cruel to Israel. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> sent someone to help Israel. So they were free from the power of (the king of) Aram. So the people in Israel lived in their own homes, as they had done before (this time). 


text:
But the people in Israel still did the <i>sins</i> of the family of Jeroboam. They continued to do what Jeroboam had caused Israel to do. So, the <i>Asherah pole</i> still stood in Samaria.


text:
The king of Aram had destroyed most of the army of Jehoahaz. But God did not let him kill or destroy these: <br/>· 50 men that rode horses <br/>· 10 <i>chariots</i> <br/>· 10 000 soldiers who had to walk. <n>(The king of Aram) made everything else into very small bits of dirt.


text:
Other things happened while Jehoahaz was king. Everything that he did is in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. 


text:
Jehoahaz died like his <i>ancestors</i>, and people buried him in Samaria. Then Jehoash, (who was) his son, became king after him. <n>Jehoash becomes the king of Israel</n>


text:
(Joash) was the king of Judah. When he was 37 years old, Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria. (Jehoash was) the son of Jehoahaz. (Jehoash) was king for 16 years. 


text:
But he did bad things in the sight of the LORD</i>. He did the same <i>sins</i> as Jeroboam did. (Jeroboam was) the son of Nebat. (Jeroboam) had also caused (the people in) Israel to do these sins. And (Jehoash) continued to do them. 


text:
Other things happened while Jehoash was king. Everything that he did is in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. It includes (the report) of his war against Amaziah, (who was) the king of Judah. 


text:
Jehoash died like his <i>ancestors</i> and people buried him in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Jeroboam became king (of Israel) after him.


text:
Elisha was very ill. It was the illness from which he died. Jehoash, (who was) the king of Israel, went down to see him. (Jehoash) wept by his side. (Jehoash) said, ‘My <i>father</i>! My father! The <i>chariots</i> and the men that ride on horses in Israel!’ 


text:
Elisha said to (Jehoash), ‘Fetch a bow and (some) <i>arrows</i>.’ So he fetched him a bow and (some) arrows. 


text:
(Elisha) said to the king of Israel, ‘Hold the bow in your hands.’ When he had done this, Elisha put his hands on the hands of the king. 


text:
(Elisha) said, ‘Open the east window.’ And (the king) opened (it). ‘Shoot!’ said Elisha. And (the king) shot (the <i>arrow</i>). ‘(It is) the <i>LORD</i>’s arrow, that will beat (the enemy). It is the arrow that will destroy Aram!’ said Elisha. ‘You will completely destroy (the army of) Aram at Aphek.’ 


text:
Then (Elisha) said, ‘Take the <i>arrows</i>.’ And he took (them). And (Elisha) said to the king of Israel, ‘Hit the ground (with them).’ (The king) hit the ground three times and then he stopped. 


text:
The <i>man of God</i> was angry with (Jehoash). He said, ‘You should have hit the ground 5 or 6 times. Then you would have beaten (the army of) Aram and you would have destroyed it completely. Now you will beat it only three times.’ <n>Elisha dies</n>


text:
So Elisha died and people buried him. But, every spring, men from Moab came into the country (Israel) to rob the people. 


text:
Once, while they were burying a man, some people saw a group of those men from Moab. So they threw the man’s dead body into Elisha’s <i>grave</i>. When the dead body touched Elisha’s bones, the man became alive again! He stood on his feet.


text:
Hazael (was) the king of Aram. He was cruel to (the people in) Israel all the time that Jehoahaz was king. 


text:
But the <i>LORD</i> was kind to the people (in Israel). He loved them and he helped them. (That was) because of his <i>covenant</i> with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He did not want to kill them and he did not want to send them away from himself until now.


text:
Then Hazael, (who was) the king of Aram, died. His son, (who was) Ben-Hadad, became king after him. 


text:
Then Jehoash, (who was) the son of Jehoahaz, got back from Ben-Hadad some towns. They (were towns) that Hazael had taken from Jehoahaz. (Jehoahaz was Jehoash’s) father. Jehoash beat (Ben-Hadad) three times and he ruled Israel’s towns again. <n>Notes about chapter 13</n> <n>Verse 14 Bible students do not know what Jehoash’s words meant. It is 50 years since Elisha was in the report in 2 Kings. 


text:
Jehoash, (who was) the son of Jehoahaz, had been the king of Israel for nearly two years. It was then that Amaziah began to rule Judah. (Amaziah) was the son of Joash. 


text:
(Amaziah) was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddin. She (was born in) Jerusalem. 


text:
(Amaziah) did what was right in the sight of the LORD</i>. But he did not (do everything) as his <i>ancestor</i> David had done. (Amaziah) did everything as his father Joash had done it. 


text:
But they did not remove the <i>high places</i>. The people continued to burn animals (for <i>Baal</i>). And they continued to burn <i>incense</i> (in those places). 


text:
(Amaziah) became safe as king (of Judah). Then he killed the officers who had killed his father the king. 


text:
But he did not kill the sons of these killers. That was because of what (the writer) of the Book of the <i>Law</i> of Moses had written. The <i>LORD</i> had said that they must not do that. ‘Do not kill fathers because their children (have done wrong things). And do not kill children because their fathers (have done wrong things). Each person must die because of his own <i>sins</i>.’


text:
It was (Amaziah) that beat 10 000 men from Edom in the Valley of Salt. He beat Sela in a war. He called it Joktheel, which is its name today.


text:
Then Amaziah sent men with messages to Jehoash. (Jehoash was) the son of Jehoahaz, (who was) the son of Jehu. (Jehu) had been the king of Israel. The message was, ‘Come and meet me.’ 


text:
But Jehoash, (who was) the king of Israel, replied like this to Amaziah. (Amaziah was) the king of Judah. ‘The <i>thistle</i> that was in Lebanon sent this message to the <i>cedar</i>. (The cedar was) also in Lebanon. “Give your daughter to my son, to be his wife.” Then a wild animal in Lebanon came and it jumped on the thistle. 


text:
Yes! You have beaten Edom. And now you think that you are better (than other people). Be very happy because you have beaten (Edom). But stay at home! Do not ask for trouble. It will hurt you and (the people in) Judah.’


text:
But Amaziah did not <i>listen</i> (to Jehoash’s message). So Jehoash, (who was) the king of Israel, prepared to attack (Amaziah). (Jehoash) and Amaziah, (who was) the king of Judah, met together at Beth Shemesh, in Judah. 


text:
(The army from) Israel completely destroyed (the army from) Judah. Every man (from Judah) ran away to his home. 


text:
Jehoash, (who was) the king of Israel, caught Amaziah at Beth Shemesh. (Amaziah was) the king of Judah. (He was) the son of Joash, (who was) the son of Ahaziah. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem. He destroyed 180 metres (600 feet) of the wall of Jerusalem, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 


text:
He took all the gold and <i>silver</i> from the house of the <i>LORD</i>. He also took everything that he found in (the house of the <i>LORD</i>) and in the king’s <i>palace</i>. He also took some of the people away with him and then he returned to Samaria.


text:
Other things happened while Jehoash was king. Everything that he did is in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. It includes the war against Amaziah, (who was) the king of Judah. 


text:
So Jehoash died like his <i>ancestors</i> and people buried him in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And his son Jeroboam became king after him.


text:
Amaziah (was) the son of Joash, (who was) the king of Judah. (Amaziah) lived for 15 years after Jehoash died. (Jehoash was) the son of Jehoahaz, (who was) the king of Israel. 


text:
Other things happened while Amaziah ruled (Judah). (These things) are in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Judah’. 


text:
Some people in Jerusalem made a <i>plan</i> against (Amaziah). He ran away to Lachish. But (the people in Jerusalem) sent men after him to Lachish and they killed (Amaziah) there. 


text:
They brought him back to Jerusalem on a horse. They buried him there with his <i>ancestors</i>, in the <i>City of David</i>. 


text:
Then, all the people in Judah made Azariah king instead of his father Amaziah. (Azariah) was 16 years old. 


text:
He was (the king) who built Elath again. He won it back (by war) for Judah. That was after Amaziah died like his <i>ancestors</i>. <n>Jeroboam the Second becomes the king of Israel</n>


text:
Amaziah (was) the son of Joash, (who was) the king of Judah. When (Amaziah had been king) for nearly 15 years, Jeroboam became the king of Israel in Samaria. (Jeroboam was) the son of Jehoash. (Jeroboam) ruled (Israel) for 41 years. 


text:
He did bad things in the sight of the LORD</i>. He did not stop any of the <i>sins</i> of Jeroboam, (who was) the son of Nebat. (The son of Nebat) had caused all (the people in) Israel to do (these sins). 


text:
(Jeroboam the Second) had won back for Israel (by war places) from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah. This is what the <i>LORD</i> had spoken, by his servant Jonah. (The <i>LORD</i> is) the God of Israel. Jonah (was) the son of Amittai. (Jonah) was a <i>prophet</i> from Gath Hepher. 


text:
Everyone in Israel had trouble that hurt them a lot. And the <i>LORD</i> had seen it. There was nobody to help them, whether they were slaves or free (people). 


text:
So the <i>LORD</i> saved them. The <i>LORD</i> had said that he would not remove the name of Israel from under the skies. So he used Jeroboam, (who was) the son of Jehoash, to do this.


text:
Other things happened while Jeroboam ruled (Israel). They are in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. They include (these) things that his army did. They got Damascus back for Israel. And they got Hamath back from Judah. 


text:
Jeroboam died like his <i>ancestors</i>. (His ancestors were) the kings of Israel. Then Zechariah, (who was) his son, became king of Israel after him. <n>Notes about chapter 14</n> <n>Verse 6 See Deuteronomy 24:16. <n>Verse 7 The Valley of Salt is a valley south of the Dead Sea. Sela may be Petra, a city in Edom. ‘Today’ means when they wrote 2 Kings. <n>Verse 29 Read God’s promise in 2 Kings 10:30. Zechariah was the 4th king in Jehu’s family after Jehu himself. 


text:
Jeroboam had been king of Israel for nearly 27 years when Azariah began to rule (Judah). (Azariah) was the son of Amaziah, (who was) the king of Judah. 


text:
(Azariah) was 16 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 52 years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah. She (was born in) Jerusalem. 


text:
But he did not remove the <i>high places</i>. The people (in Judah) continued to offer (animals to <i>Baal</i>) and to burn <i>incense</i> there. 


text:
And the <i>LORD punished</i> the king. The king had the illness called <i>leprosy</i>. He had it until the day that he died. He lived in a separate house. The king’s son Jotham had to rule the <i>palace</i> and the people in the country (Judah). 


text:
Azariah did many other things while he was king. They (wrote) all those things in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Judah’. 


text:
So Azariah died like his <i>ancestors</i>. And people buried him with them in the <i>City of David</i>. His son Jotham became king after him. <n>Zechariah becomes the king of Israel</n>


text:
When Azariah had been king for nearly 38 years, Zechariah became king of Israel in Samaria. (Zechariah was) the son of Jeroboam and he ruled (Israel) for 6 months. 


text:
He did bad things in the sight of the LORD</i>, as his <i>ancestors</i> had done. He continued to do the <i>sins</i> of Jeroboam. (Jeroboam was) the son of Nebat and he had caused (the people in) Israel to do these (sins). 


text:
Shallum (was) the son of Jabesh. He (and his friends) decided to kill Zechariah. (Shallum) attacked (Zechariah) in front of the people. He killed him and he became king instead of him. 


text:
Other things happened while Zechariah ruled (Israel). They are in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. 


text:
So it happened as the <i>LORD</i> had spoken to Jehu. (The <i>LORD</i> had said,) ‘You and 4 of your <i>descendants</i> will rule Israel.’ <n>Shallum becomes the king of Israel</n>


text:
When Uzziah had been the king of Judah for 39 years, Shallum became the king (of Israel). (Shallum was) the son of Jabesh. (Shallum) ruled in Samaria for one month. 


text:
Then Menahem went from Tirzah up to Samaria. (Menahem was) the son of Gadi. He attacked Shallum, (who was) the son of Jabesh, in Samaria. He killed him and he became king (of Israel) after him. 


text:
Other things that happened when Shallum was king are in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. It includes the way that he killed (Zechariah). 


text:
When Menahem came from Tirzah, he attacked Tiphsah. (He attacked) everybody that was in the city (Tiphsah) and near it. (He did this) because they would not open their gates. He destroyed Tiphsah and he cut open all the <i>pregnant</i> women. <n>Menahem becomes the king of Israel</n>


text:
When Azariah had been the king of Judah for nearly 39 years, Menahem became the king of Israel. (Menahem was) the son of Gadi, and he ruled in Samaria for 10 years. 


text:
(Menahem) did what was bad in the sight of the LORD</i>. All the time that he was king, he continued to do the <i>sins</i> of Jeroboam. (Jeroboam was) the son of Nebat. (Jeroboam) had caused (the people in) Israel to do these sins also. 


text:
Then <i>Pul</i>, (who was) the king of Assyria, attacked the country (Israel). Menahem gave him 1000 <i>talents</i> of <i>silver</i> so that (Pul) would help (Menahem). That would make (Menahem) stronger in his own country. 


text:
Menahem caused (the people in) Israel to give him this money. He caused every rich man to give 50 <i>shekels</i> of <i>silver</i> to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria went (home). He did not stay (for a) longer (time) in the country (Israel). 


text:
The other things that happened to King Menahem are in a book. People wrote them in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. Everything that he did (is in that book). 


text:
So Menahem died like his <i>ancestors</i>. And Pekahiah, (who was) his son, became king after him. <n>Pekahiah becomes the king of Israel</n>


text:
When Azariah had been the king of Judah for nearly 50 years, Pekahiah became the king of Israel in Samaria. (Pekahiah was) the son of Menahem. He ruled (Israel) for two years. 


text:
Pekahiah did bad things in the sight of the LORD</i>. He continued to do the <i>sins</i> of Jeroboam, (who was) the son of Nebat. (Jeroboam) had caused (the people in) Israel to do these sins also. 


text:
One of his important officers was Pekah, (who was) the son of Remaliah. (Pekah) decided to kill (Pekahiah). He took 50 men from Gilead with him, and he killed Pekahiah. (He also killed) Argob and Arieh in a strong room in the king’s <i>palace</i>. (The king’s palace was) in Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah and he became king after him. 


text:
Somebody wrote the other things that King Pekahiah did in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. (The book contains) everything that Pekahiah did. <n>Pekah becomes the king of Israel and Assyria beats Israel</n>


text:
When Azariah had been king of Judah for nearly 52 years, Pekah became the king of Israel in Samaria. (Pekah was) the son of Remaliah and he ruled (Israel) for 20 years. 


text:
Pekah did bad things in the sight of the LORD</i>. He continued to do the <i>sins</i> of Jeroboam, (who was) the son of Nebat. (Jeroboam) had caused (the people in) Israel to do these sins also.


text:
While Pekah was the king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser came from Assyria. (He was) the king (of Assyria). He beat (the people in many places in Israel): Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee and all of Naphtali. He took (all) the people (that lived in these places) to Assyria. 


text:
Then Hoshea decided to kill Pekah (who was) the son of Remaliah. (Hoshea was) the son of Elah. (Hoshea) attacked (Pekah) and killed him. So (Hoshea) became king after (Pekah). It was when Jotham had been king of Judah for nearly 20 years. (Jotham was) the son of Uzziah. 


text:
Somebody wrote the other things that King Pekah did in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Israel’. (The book contains) everything that Pekah did. <n>Jotham becomes the king of Judah</n>


text:
When Pekah had been the king of Israel for nearly 2 years, Jotham began to rule Judah. (Pekah was) the son of Remaliah and (Jotham was) the son of Uzziah. 


text:
Jotham was 25 years old when he became king. And he ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years. His mother’s name was Jerusha. She was the daughter of Zadok. 


text:
But he did not remove the <i>high places</i>. The people (in Judah) continued to offer (animals to <i>Baal</i>) and to burn <i>incense</i> on them. Jotham built again the High Gate of the house of the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
Somebody wrote the other things that King Jotham did in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Judah’. (The book contains) everything that Jotham did. 


text:
Then the <i>LORD</i> began to send Rezin and Pekah against (the people in) Judah. (Rezin was) the king of Aram and (Pekah was) the son of Remaliah. 


text:
And Jotham died like his <i>ancestors</i> and people buried him with his ancestors in the <i>City of his ancestor, David</i>. His son Ahaz became king after him. <n>Notes about chapter 15</n> <n>Verse 1 In Isaiah 6:1 and also in 2 Kings 15:13, 30-34, Azariah is called Uzziah. <n>Verse 12 The 4 <i>descendants</i> were Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam the Second and Zechariah. 


text:
When Pekah had been king (of Israel) for nearly 17 years, Ahaz began to rule Judah. (Pekah was) the son of Remaliah and Ahaz was the son of King Jotham (of Judah). 


text:
Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years. He did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD</i> his God. So he was not like his <i>ancestor</i> David. 


text:
He did the bad things that the kings of Israel did. He even caused his son to walk through fire. He did all the very bad things that people had done earlier (in <i>Canaan</i>). These were (the people that) the <i>LORD</i> had caused to leave (Canaan). He did this before (his people) the <i>Jews</i> (came into Canaan). 


text:
Ahaz burned animals and other things, and also <i>incense</i> on the <i>high places</i>. (He did it) on the tops of hills and under every wide tree.


text:
Rezin (was) the king of Aram. Pekah (was) the king of Israel. (He was) the son of Remaliah. (Rezin and Pekah) marched up to Jerusalem, to fight against it. (Their armies) stayed all round Ahaz (and his city), but they could not beat him. 


text:
At that time, Rezin (who was) the king of Aram got Elath back for Aram. He caused the men from Judah to leave (Elath). People from Edom then moved into Elath. They have lived there until now. 


text:
Then Ahaz sent people with messages to Tiglath Pileser, (who was) the king of Assyria. They said, ‘I am your servant. And I will do anything that you ask me to do. Come up (to Jerusalem) and save me from the power of the kings of Aram and Israel. They are attacking me.’ 


text:
Also, Ahaz took the <i>silver</i> and gold out of the house of the <i>LORD</i>. He took the valuable things out of his own <i>palace</i>. He sent them (all) as a gift to the king of Assyria. 


text:
So the king of Assyria did what (Ahaz) had asked. He attacked Damascus and he beat its people. He sent the people that had lived there to Kir. And he killed Rezin.


text:
Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath Pileser of Assyria. (Ahaz) saw an <i>altar</i> in Damascus. He sent a picture of the altar to Uriah the <i>priest</i>. (He also sent) a plan, so that (people) could make one. 


text:
So Uriah the <i>priest</i> built an <i>altar</i>. It was the same as the (one in) the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. (Uriah) finished it before King Ahaz returned. 


text:
Then the king returned from Damascus. And he saw the <i>altar</i>. He went near it and he climbed up to it. He offered things (to false gods) on it.


text:
He offered (these things to his god) on the <i>altar</i>: <br/>· an animal (with its blood) <br/>· something with flour (but no blood) in it <br/>· a drink that he poured (on to the altar) <br/>· the blood (of animals) to bring him <i>peace</i>.


text:
A <i>bronze altar</i> stood in front of the <i>LORD</i> (in his house). It was between the new altar and the house of the <i>LORD</i>. (Ahaz) brought it from the front of the house (of the <i>LORD</i>). And he put it on the north side of the new altar.


text:
Then King Ahaz said that Uriah the <i>priest</i> must do (these things). ‘On the large new <i>altar</i>, offer these (gifts): <br/>· an animal (with its blood) in the morning <br/>· something with flour in it in the evening <br/>· an animal on behalf of the king <br/>· something with flour in it on behalf of the king <br/>· an animal as a gift on behalf of all the people in the country <br/>· something with flour in it on behalf of the people (in the country) <br/>· all the blood from the animals that you kill. <n>But I will use the <i>bronze altar</i> to ask (God) to guide me.’


text:
King Ahaz also took away pieces from the sides (of the <i>bronze altar</i>). He took the <i>bowls</i> away from the parts that people could move. He took the large <i>bowl</i> for water away from the <i>bronze</i> male cows that it was on. He put it on stone instead. 


text:
He took away the roof that they had made to cover (the king’s path) on the <i>Sabbath</i>. (It was at) the house (of the <i>LORD</i>). He removed the door outside the house (of the <i>LORD</i>) that the king used to come in through. The king of Assyria wanted him to do this. 


text:
Somebody wrote the other things that King Ahaz did, in a book. It is called ‘the reports about the kings of Judah’. (The book contains) everything that Ahaz did. 


text:
So Ahaz died like his <i>ancestors</i>. And people buried him with his ancestors in the <i>City of David</i>. And Hezekiah, (who was) his son, became king after him. <n>Notes about chapter 16</n> <n>Verse 3 ‘Walk through fire’ may mean that he killed his son by fire. 2 Chronicles 28:3 says that he burned his sons (plural) with fire. Bible students think that this was to make the false god Moloch happy. <n>Verse 4 Some of the ‘other things’ are in verse 13. <n>Verse 7 These are the words of Ahaz, which the men repeated to Tiglath Pileser. <n>Verse 9 Damascus was the capital of Syria. <n>Verse 13 Bible students are not sure whether Ahaz offered these things to the <i>LORD</i> or to <i>Baal</i>. 


text:
When Ahaz had been the king of Judah for nearly 12 years, Hoshea became the king of Israel in Samaria. (Hoshea was) the son of Elah and he ruled (Israel) for 9 years. 


text:
He did things that were very wrong in the sight of the LORD</i>. But he was not like the kings of Israel who were before him. 


text:
Shalmaneser (was) the king of Assyria. He came up (to Samaria) to attack Hoshea. He had done everything that Shalmaneser had asked him to do. (Every year) he had paid him all the money (that Shalmaneser had asked him for). 


text:
But Shalmaneser had discovered that now Hoshea was not a good friend (of Shalmaneser). (Hoshea) had sent people with a message to So, (who was) the king of Egypt. (Hoshea) did not pay any more money to the king of Assyria, as he had done every year. So Shalmaneser caught (Hoshea) and put him into a prison. 


text:
The king of Assyria attacked all the country (Israel). (His army) marched against Samaria and it stayed round it for 3 years.


text:
When Hoshea had been king (of Israel) for nearly 9 years, the king of Assyria beat the people in Samaria. He sent many of the people from Israel to Assyria. He caused them to live in these places: <br/>· Halah, <br/>· Gozan by the River Habor and <br/>· towns in Media.


text:
All this happened because (the people in) Israel had not obeyed the <i>LORD</i>. (The <i>LORD</i>) was their God, who had brought them out of Egypt. (God had) made them free from the power of Pharaoh, (who was) the king of Egypt. (But now) they had <i>worshipped</i> other gods. 


text:
They had done the things that the people (in <i>Canaan</i>) before them had done. Those people (in Canaan) were the people that the <i>LORD</i> had caused to go to other places. The people in Israel had also done things that the kings of Israel had caused them do. 


text:
The people in Israel did things against the <i>LORD</i> (who was) their God. (Those things) were not right, and they did them secretly. They built <i>high places</i> for themselves in every town. (They built them everywhere) from places where people watched (their sheep) to strong cities. 


text:
They put up special stones (for their gods) and <i>Asherah poles</i>. (They put them) on every high hill and under every wide tree. 


text:
At every <i>high place</i> they burned <i>incense</i>. The people that the <i>LORD</i> had sent out (from Canaan) before them had done that. Israel’s people did very bad things that made the <i>LORD</i> very angry. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> had sent this message to Israel and to Judah. He sent it by all his <i>prophets</i> and by everyone that he showed things to. ‘Do not do more bad things. Obey my words. (Obey) all my rules. Do everything that is in my <i>Law</i>. I told your <i>ancestors</i> that they must obey (my Law). I gave you (my Law) by my servants (who were) the prophets.’ 


text:
But the (people in Israel) would not listen. They were like their <i>ancestors</i> had been. They would not change in their minds. (Their ancestors) did not believe that the <i>LORD</i> (would help them). (The <i>LORD</i> was) their God. 


text:
They did not obey his <i>Law</i>. They did not agree with the <i>covenant</i> that (God) had made with their <i>ancestors</i>. God had said that bad things would happen to them. But they did not listen. They followed false gods that had no value. So they themselves became of no value. They did what the people that lived next to them did. But the <i>LORD</i> had said, ‘Do not do what they do!’ But they still did these things. The <i>LORD</i> had said that they should not do them! 


text:
They threw away all the <i>laws</i> of the <i>LORD</i>, (who was) their God. They made false gods for themselves. The shapes (of those gods) were the same as baby cows. (They also made) an <i>Asherah pole</i>. They fell to their knees to all the stars (in the skies) and they <i>worshipped Baal</i>. 


text:
They burned their sons and their daughters in fire (for <i>Baal</i>). They used their false gods to tell them what would happen. They used bad spirits (to do strange things). They did very, very bad things in the sight of the LORD</i>. This made him very, very angry. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> was so angry with Israel that he sent them away from himself. Only the <i>tribe</i> of Judah remained.


text:
Even Judah did not obey the <i>Law</i> of the <i>LORD</i> (who was) their God. They did the same things that Israel had done. 


text:
So the <i>LORD</i> sent away all the people out of Israel. He hurt them. He gave them to people who would rob them. They had to go away from where he lived.


text:
When (God) tore Israel away from David’s family, they made Jeroboam into their king. (Jeroboam was) the son of Nebat. Jeroboam caused Israel not to obey the <i>LORD</i>. He caused them to do very bad things. 


text:
The people in Israel continued to do all the <i>sins</i> of Jeroboam. They did not turn away from them 


text:
until the <i>LORD</i> sent them away from himself. (The <i>LORD</i>) had said by all his servants the <i>prophets</i> that this would happen. So the soldiers from Assyria took the people in Israel away from their own country. They went into <i>exile</i> in Assyria and they are still there.


text:
The king of Assyria brought people to live in the towns in Samaria. They came from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim. They lived (in Samaria) where Israel’s people had lived. They lived in its towns and they ruled Samaria. 


text:
When those people first lived (in Samaria), they did not <i>worship</i> the <i>LORD</i>. So (the <i>LORD</i>) sent <i>lions</i> among them. (The lions) killed some of the people. 


text:
They reported this to the king of Assyria. (The report said,) ‘You sent some people from (your country). You caused them to live in the towns in Samaria. But they do not know what the god of that country wants them to do. He has sent <i>lions</i> among them. The people do not know what to do. So the lions are killing them.’ 


text:
So the king of Assyria said, ‘You caught some <i>priests</i> in Samaria. Send one of them back to live there. He can teach the people what the god of that country wants them to do.’ 


text:
So they brought one of the <i>priests</i> that was in <i>exile</i> back to live in Bethel. He taught the people how to <i>worship</i> the <i>LORD</i>.


text:
But each group of people, from different countries, made its own gods. They did this in each town where they lived. They did it in the places where the people in Samaria had made <i>altars</i> on the <i>high places</i>. 


text:
The men from Babylon (<i>worshipped</i> the god called) Succoth-Benoth. The men from Cuthah (worshipped the god called) Nergal. The men from Hamath (worshipped the god called) Ashima. 


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The men from Avva (<i>worshipped</i> the gods called) Nibhaz and Tartak. The people from Sepharvaim burned their children in a fire (for their gods). The gods of the people from Sepharvaim (were called) Adrammelech and Anammelech. 


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They (all) <i>worshipped</i> the <i>LORD</i>. But they also made many of their own people <i>priests</i> (of their gods). (They <i>worshipped</i> those gods) at the gods’ houses on the <i>high places</i>. 


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They <i>worshipped</i> the <i>LORD</i>, but they also worshipped their own gods. They did what they had always done in their own countries. 


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Even today, they still do those things. They do not (really) <i>worship</i> the <i>LORD</i>, neither do they obey his <i>laws</i> and his rules. (They do not really do) the things that the <i>LORD</i> asked the <i>descendants</i> of Jacob to do. (The <i>LORD</i>) called him (and his descendants) Israel. 


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When the <i>LORD</i> made a <i>covenant</i> with the <i>Jews</i>, he said (to them), ‘Do not <i>worship</i> any other gods. Do not get down on your knees to them. Do not be their servants. Do not burn anything for them. 


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But you must <i>worship</i> only the <i>LORD</i>. He brought you out from (the country called) Egypt. He did this very powerfully and he helped you very much. You must fall to your knees to him and you must burn things (on your <i>altar</i>) to him. 


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You must always obey the words that he wrote for you. And (you must) obey him about everything. (You must obey all) his <i>laws</i> and rules. Do not <i>worship</i> other gods. 


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Always <i>worship</i> the <i>LORD</i> (who is) your God. It is he who will save you from the power of all your enemies.’ 


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Even while they were <i>worshipping</i> the <i>LORD</i>, they were also the servants of (their) <i>idols</i>. Until today, their children and their grandchildren do what their fathers did. <n>Notes about chapter 17</n> <n>Verse 9 ‘from places where people watched to strong cities’ maybe means this. ‘From lonely places to places where there were many people’. <n>Verses 11 and 30 People thought that their gods lived in their own country. This is also what verses 26-27 mean. <n>Verse 36 The <i>Hebrew</i> words for ‘very powerfully’ mean ‘by his arm’. Many students think that ‘the arm of the <i>LORD</i>’ is a name for the Son of God. 


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When Hoshea had been the king of Israel for nearly three years, Hezekiah began to rule Judah. (Hoshea was) the son of Elah and (Hezekiah was) the son of Ahaz. 


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(Hezekiah) was 25 years old when he became king. And he ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother’s name was Abijah. (She was) the daughter of Zechariah. 


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(Hezekiah) did what was right in the sight of the LORD</i>. He did what his <i>ancestor</i> David had done. 


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He removed the <i>high places</i>. He broke completely the stones (where people <i>worshipped</i>). He cut down the <i>Asherah poles</i>. He broke into pieces the <i>bronze</i> snake that Moses had made. Until then, the people in Israel had burned <i>incense</i> to it. It was called Nehushtan. 


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Hezekiah believed in the <i>LORD</i> (who is) the God of Israel. None of the other kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him. 


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He really loved the <i>LORD</i> and he always obeyed him. He obeyed the <i>laws</i> that the <i>LORD</i> had given to Moses. 


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And the <i>LORD</i> helped him in everything that he decided to do. So everything that happened was very good! He did not obey the king of Assyria. He did not become his servant. 


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He beat the people in Philistia as far as Gaza and the country that was near it. (He did this) from places where people watched to strong cities.


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Shalmaneser (was) the king of Assyria. When Hezekiah had been king for nearly 4 years, Shalmaneser marched (his army) to Samaria. (The army) stayed round Samaria (for nearly three years). That was when Hoshea had been the king of Israel for nearly 7 years. (Hoshea was) the son of Elah. 


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After three years, the soldiers from Assyria beat the people in Samaria. So they beat them when Hezekiah had been king (of Judah) for nearly 6 years. Hoshea had been the king of Judah for nearly 9 years.


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The king of Assyria took all the people out of Israel to Assyria. He caused them to live in these places: <br/>· Halah, <br/>· Gozan by the River Habor and <br/>· towns in Media.


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This happened because they had not obeyed the <i>LORD</i>. (The <i>LORD</i> was) their God. They had not obeyed his <i>covenant</i>. (The covenant contained) all the rules that Moses had told them about. (Moses was) a servant of the <i>LORD</i>. They did not listen to Moses’ words and they did not obey them.


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When Hezekiah had ruled (Judah) for nearly 14 years, Sennacherib attacked all the strong cities in Judah. He made them his cities. (Sennacherib was) the king of Assyria. 


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So King Hezekiah of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria. (Sennacherib was) at Lachish. ‘What I did was wrong. March away from me. Then I will pay everything that you ask me to pay.’ The king of Assyria asked King Hezekiah of Judah to send to him 300 <i>talents</i> of <i>silver</i> and 30 talents of gold. 


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So Hezekiah gave (to Sennacherib) all the <i>silver</i> from the house of the <i>LORD</i>. And he gave him all the silver that they found in the king’s <i>palace</i>. 


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Hezekiah (was) the king of Judah. He had covered all the doors in the house of the <i>LORD</i> with gold. And he covered the wood on which the doors hung with gold. At this time, he took it all off and he gave it to the king of Assyria. <n>Sennacherib says that he will attack Jerusalem</n>


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The king of Assyria sent (three people) from Lachish to King Hezekiah. Hezekiah was at Jerusalem. (They came) with a large army. These were the three people: <br/>· the most important leader of his army <br/>· the leader of his officers <br/>· the leader of his army where they fought. <n>They came to Jerusalem and they stopped at the <i>aqueduct</i> by the Higher Pool. It was on the road to the field (by the water) where people washed things. (It was called the Washerman’s Field.)


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They asked for the king to come to them. These (three people) went out to meet them: <br/>· Eliakim, (who was) the son of Hilkiah. He decided what would happen in the <i>palace</i>. <br/>· Shebna. He helped the king. <br/>· Joah, (who was) the son of Asaph. He wrote down the things that happened.


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The leader of (Sennacherib’s) army where they fought said this to them: <n>Say to Hezekiah, ‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says. “You should not be so happy that you have decided well. 


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You say that you have ideas. And you say that your army is strong. But what you say is very silly! Think about the man that you are believing in. Think about why you are fighting against me. 


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Think (about it)! You are hoping that Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, will help you. (But Pharaoh is like) a sharp bit of wood. It makes a hole in a man’s hand. Then it hurts him when he puts his weight on it! Pharaoh is like that to everybody who wants him to help them. 


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But maybe you will say to me, ‘We are hoping that the <i>LORD</i> will help us. He is our God.’ But I say to you, Hezekiah removed all his <i>high places</i> and his <i>altars</i>. (Hezekiah) said to the people in Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must <i>worship</i> (God) in front of this altar in Jerusalem.’ ” 


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So, come to my master, the king of Assyria, and agree with him. I will give you 2000 horses if you can put riders on them. 


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You are hoping that Egypt will give you <i>chariots</i> and men on horses. But you cannot beat one soldier that the least powerful of my master’s officers sends (to you). 


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Also, I would not come to attack and to destroy this place without a word from the <i>LORD</i>. The <i>LORD</i> himself said to me, “March against this country and destroy it.” ’


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Then Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the leader of the army where they fought, ‘Speak to (us) your servants in the language called Aramaic. We do understand it. Do not speak to us in the <i>Hebrew</i> language. All the people who are on the wall (of the city) will hear it.’ 


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But the leader of the army replied, ‘My master did not send me to say these things only to your king and to you. (He sent me) also to the men who are sitting on the wall. Like you, they will have to eat their own dirt and to drink their own <i>piss</i>.’


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Then the leader of the army stood and he shouted in the <i>Hebrew</i> language, ‘Listen to the words of the great king, (who is) the king of Assyria! 


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This is what the king says. “Do not let Hezekiah make you into fools. He cannot save you from my power. 


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Do not let Hezekiah cause you to believe that the <i>LORD</i> will help you. (Hezekiah) says, ‘The <i>LORD</i> will surely help us. He will not give this city into the power of the king of Assyria.’ 


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Do not listen to Hezekiah.” This is what the king of Assyria says. “Let me be good to you! Come out (of your city) to me! Then you will all eat (fruit) from your own <i>vines</i> and <i>fig trees</i>. You will drink water from your own wells. 


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Then I will come (to Jerusalem). And I will take you away to a country (that is) like your own country. It is a country where there is <i>corn</i> and new <i>wine</i>. There will be bread in that country and there will be <i>vineyards</i>. There will be <i>olive</i> trees in that country and there will be <i>honey</i>. Choose to live! Do not choose to die! 


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No god of any country has ever saved his country from the power of the king of Assyria. The gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah have not saved Samaria from my power. 


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None of the gods of those countries has been able to save his country from me. (So tell me) how the <i>LORD</i> can save Jerusalem from my power.” ’


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But the people (who were sitting on the wall) were quiet. They did not reply, because the king had said, ‘Do not answer him.’


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Then these people went to Hezekiah: <br/>· Eliakim, (who was) the son of Hilkiah. He decided what would happen in the <i>palace</i>. <br/>· Shebna. He helped the king. <br/>· Joah, (who was) the son of Asaph. He wrote down the things that happened. <n>They had torn their clothes. They told (Hezekiah) what the leader of (Sennacherib’s) army had said. <n>Notes about chapter 18</n> <n>Verse 4 The word ‘Nehushtan’ means ‘a piece of <i>bronze</i>’. But in <i>Hebrew</i>, it is very like the word for snake. <n>Verse 5 David and Solomon were not only kings of Judah. They were kings of all Israel, which included Judah. <n>Verse 8 ‘from places where people watched to strong cities’ maybe means this. ‘From lonely places to places where there were many people’. <n>Verse 31-32 Sennacherib offers good food and drink, not the bad food as in verse 27. Bible students do not think that Sennacherib spoke truly here! Many Bibles translate ‘let me be good to you’ like this. ‘Do not fight me.’ But the <i>Hebrew</i> word means ‘be good to’. 


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When King Hezekiah heard (the report of his servants), he tore his clothes. Then he put on <i>sackcloth</i> (hairy clothes) and he went into the house of the <i>LORD</i> (in Jerusalem). 


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And he sent Eliakim and Shebna and the leaders of the <i>priests</i> to Isaiah (who was) a <i>prophet</i>. (Isaiah) was the son of Amoz. (Eliakim was) the most important servant in the (king’s) <i>palace</i>. (Shebna was) the leader of the (king’s) government. And (Eliakim, Shebna and the priests) all wore <i>sackcloth</i> (hairy clothes). 


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And they told (Isaiah), ‘Hezekiah says, “There are many problems at this time. And (the leader of the army’s) words make me ashamed. (The problems) are like a child that is ready to be born. But (its mother) is not strong enough for it to be born. 


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Perhaps the <i>LORD</i>, (who is) your God, will do something about all the words of the leader of the army. His master is the king of Assyria. (The king) sent him to laugh in a bad way at the God who really is alive. Maybe the <i>LORD</i> your God will tell him that his words were wrong. (God) has heard them. So, pray about the people that remain (in Jerusalem).” ’ 


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Isaiah said to them, ‘Tell your master that the <i>LORD</i> says, “Do not be afraid of the words that you have heard. The servants of the king of Assyria are not important. They have said very bad things about me. 


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Listen (to me)! I will put a spirit into (the king of Assyria). Then, he will hear a certain report. When (he will hear it), he will return to his own country. And there, I will cause (someone) to kill him with a <i>sword</i>.” ’


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Then, the leader of the army heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish (city). So he left Jerusalem and he found the king (of Assyria). The king was fighting against Libnah (city). 


