# verses

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[As] the LORD your God lives, there is no nation nor kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they said, He is not there, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they did not find you.


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And it will be as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you where I know not. And when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.


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Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water?


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And Elijah said, [As] the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely be seen by him today.


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And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and you have followed the Baals.


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And now send [and] gather to me all Israel to mount Carmel, and four hundred and fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.


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And Elijah came to all the people and said, How long are you limping over two opinions? If Jehovah [is] God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, [then] follow him. And the people did not answer him a word.


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And Elijah said to the people, I, I alone, remain a prophet of Jehovah. But Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.


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And let them give us two bulls, and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces and lay [it] on wood. But place no fire. And I will dress the other bull and lay it on wood, and place no fire.


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And you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of Jehovah. And it shall be, the god that answers by fire, He is God. And all the people answered and said, The word [is] good.


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And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose one bull for yourselves, and prepare first, for you [are] many. And call on the name of your god, but place no fire.


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And they took the bull which was given them, and they dressed, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any who answered. And they leaped on the altar which was made.


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And it happened at noon Elijah mocked them and said, Cry with a great voice, for he [is] a god. Either he is meditating, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey; perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!


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And they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves with knives and spears until the blood gushed out on them, as is their way.


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And it happened when midday was past, and when they prophesied until the [time] of the offering of the evening sacrifice, there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor anyone who paid attention.


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And Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near him. And he repaired the broken down altar of the LORD.


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And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be your name.


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And with stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench around the altar big enough to contain two measures of seed.


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And he arranged the wood, and cut the bull in pieces, and placed [it] on the wood, and said, Fill four water jars with water and pour on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.


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And he said, Do [it] the second time. And they did [it] the second time. And he said, Do [it] the third time. And they did [it] the third time.


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And it happened at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that You [are] God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.


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Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You [are] Jehovah God, and that You have turned their heart back again.


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And the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the burnt sacrifice and the wood, and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that [was] in the trench.


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And when all the people saw, they fell on their faces. And they said, Jehovah, He [is] the God! Jehovah, He [is] the God!


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And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape. And they took them. And Elijah brought them down to the torrent Kishon and killed them there.


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So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel. And he threw himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.


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And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up and looked and said, Nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.


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And it happened at the seventh [time,] he said, Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up and say to Ahab, Bind up and go down, so that the rain does not stop you.


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And it happened in the meantime the heaven was black [with] clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rose and went to Jezreel.


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And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah. And he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.


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And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and all that he killed, all the prophets with the sword.


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And Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.


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And he saw, he rose and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba of Judah, and left his servant there.


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And he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he begged for his life, that he might die. And he said, It is enough. O LORD, take away my life. For I [am] no better than my fathers.


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And as he lay and slept under a broom tree, behold, then an angel touched him and said to him, Arise, eat.


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And he looked, and, behold, a cake [was] baked on the coals, and a jug of water at his head. And he ate and drank, and lay down again.


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And the angel of the LORD came to him the second time and touched him, and said, Arise, eat, because the journey [is] too great for you.


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And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.


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And he came there to a cave and stayed there. And behold, the word of the LORD [came] to him, and He said to him, What [are] you [doing] here, Elijah?


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And he said, I have been very zealous for Jehovah the God of Hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and have slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I alone, am left. And they seek to take my life away.


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And He said, Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD. [ But] the LORD [was] not in the wind. And after the wind was an earthquake, [but] the LORD was not in the earthquake.


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And after the earthquake was a fire, [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire. And after the fire [was] a still, small voice.


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And it happened when Elijah heard, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out, and stood at the cave entrance. And behold, a voice [came] to him and said, What [are] you [doing] here, Elijah?


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And he said, I have been very zealous for Jehovah, God of Hosts, because the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, have thrown down Your altars, and have slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I alone, am left. And they seek to take my life away.


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And the LORD said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you come, anoint Hazael [to be] king over Syria.


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And you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi [to be] king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint [to be] prophet in your place.


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And it will be, whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill. And whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.


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Yet I have left seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.


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And he left there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, and he [was] plowing; twelve pairs [of oxen were] before him, and he [was] with the twelfth. And Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.


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And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, please, let me kiss my father and my mother, and I will follow you. And he said to him, Go back again, for what have I done to you?


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And he turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave it to the people, and they ate. And he arose and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.


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And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. And thirty-two kings [were] with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and laid siege to Samaria, and warred against it.


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And [he] sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, and to the city, and said to him, Ben-hadad says this:


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And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O King, according to your saying I [am] yours and all that I have.


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And the messengers came again and said, Ben-hadad speaks in this way, saying, Although I have sent to you saying, You shall deliver me your silver and your gold and your wives and your sons,


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yet I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants. And it shall be, whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put [it] in their hand and take it away.


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And the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, Please mark and see how this one seeks mischief. For he sent to me for my wives and for my sons, and for my silver and for my gold. And I did not keep them back from him.


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And he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I may not do. And the messengers left and brought him word again.


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And Ben-hadad sent to him and said, May the gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.


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And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Do not let him who girds on boast himself like the one who loosens [his armor].


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And it happened he heard this word, and he [was] drinking, he and the kings in the booths, he said to his servants, Set [in order], and they set in order against the city. And they placed the engines against the city.


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And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, saying, So says Jehovah, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I [am] the LORD.


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And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, So says Jehovah, By the young men of the rulers of the provinces. And he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, You.


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And he numbered the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. And after them he numbered all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.


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And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad [was] drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.


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And the young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men coming out of Samaria.


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And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.


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So these young men of the rulers of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.


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And they each one killed his man. And the Syrians fled. And Israel pursued them. And Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the horsemen.


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And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.


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And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, Go, strengthen yourself, and watch and see what you do. For at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.


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And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods [are] gods of the hills. On account of this they were stronger than we were. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.


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And do this thing, take the kings away, each man out of his place, and put commanders in their places,


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and number an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. And we will fight against them in the plain. Are we not stronger than they? And he listened to their voice and did so.


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And it happened at the return of the year Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians that went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.


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And the sons of Israel were numbered, and were fed, and went to meet them. And the sons of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of goats. And the Syrians filled the country.


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And a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, So says Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah [is] God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys, therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I [am] Jehovah.


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And they pitched over against one another seven days. And it happened in the seventh day, and the battle came up. And the sons of Israel struck Syria, a hundred thousand footmen in one day.


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But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city. And [there] a wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of those remaining. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city, into an inner room.


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And his servants said to him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel [are] merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will save your life.


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And they bound sackcloth on their loins and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, Your servant Ben-hadad says, Please let me live. And he said, [Is] he still alive? He [is] my brother.


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And the men carefully observed, and quickly caught [it] from him, and said, And they said, Your brother Ben-hadad. And he said, Go and bring him. And Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot.


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And [Ben-hadad] said to him, The cities which my father took from your father, I will restore. And you shall make streets for you in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. And [Ahab said, I will send you away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him and sent him away.


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And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor, By the word of the LORD, please strike me! And the man refused to strike him.


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And he said to him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion shall kill you. And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him.


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And he found another man and said, Please strike me. And the man struck him, so that he wounded [him] in striking him.


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And the prophet went and waited for the king by the wayside, and disguised himself with ashes on his face.


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And as the king passed by, it happened he cried to the king. And he said, Your servant went out into the middle of the battle, and, behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, Keep this man. If he is missing by any means, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.


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And it happened as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone! And the king of Israel said to him, So [shall] your judgment be; you yourself have decided [it].


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And he hurried and took the ashes away from his face. And the king of Israel saw that he [was] one of the prophets.


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And he said to him, So says the LORD, Because you have let go out of [your] hand a man whom I devoted [to destruction], therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.


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And it happened after these things, Naboth of Jezreel had a vineyard in Jezreel, near the place of Ahab king of Samaria.


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And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard so that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it [is] near my house. And I will give you a better vineyard than it. Or, if [it seems] good to you, I will give you the worth of it in silver.


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And Naboth said to Ahab, Far be it from me, by Jehovah, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.


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And Ahab came to his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him. For he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he lay on his bed and turned away his face, and would not eat food.


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And his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, Why is your spirit so sad that you are not eating food?


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And he said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth of Jezreel and said to him, Give me your vineyard for silver. Or else, if it pleases you, I will give you [another] vineyard for it. And he answered, I will not give you my vineyard.


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And his wife Jezebel said to him, Do you now rule over Israel? Rise up, eat food, and let your heart be good. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel.


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And she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed [them] with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles in his city, dwelling with Naboth.


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And set two men, sons of Belial, before him to bear witness against him, saying, You blasphemed God and the king. And carry him out and stone him so that he may die.


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And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it [was] written in the letters which she had sent to them.


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And there came in two men, sons of Belial, and sat before him. And the men of Belial witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth blasphemed God and the king. And they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones so that he died.


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And it happened when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel, which he refused to give you for silver. For Naboth is not alive, but dead.


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And it happened when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel, to take possession of it.


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Arise, go down to meet Ahab the king of Israel in Samaria. Behold, [he is] in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to possess it.


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And you shall speak to him, saying, So says the LORD, Have you killed and also taken possession? And you shall speak to him saying, So says the LORD, In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.


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And Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy? And he answered, I have found [you] because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.


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Behold, I will bring evil on you and will take away those after you, and will cut off from Ahab him who urinates against the wall, both bond and free in Israel.


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And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation with which you have provoked [Me] to anger, and made Israel to sin.


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He who dies of Ahab in the city, the dogs shall eat. And he who dies in the field, the birds of the air shall eat.


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But there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.


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And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel.


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And it happened when Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth and walked softly.


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Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before Me? Because he humbles himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days. [But] in his son's days I will bring the evil on his house.


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And it happened in the third year, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to see the king of Israel.


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And the king of Israel said to his servants, Do you not know that Ramoth in Gilead [is] ours, and we are quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?


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And he said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth in Gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I [am] as you; my people as your people, my horses as your horses.


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And the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about four hundred men, and said to them, Shall I go against Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall I hold back? And they said, Go up! For the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king.


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And Jehoshaphat said, [Is there] not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we might inquire of Him?


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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, [There is] still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of Jehovah. But I hate him, for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.


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And the king of Israel called an officer and said, Hurry and bring Micaiah the son of Imlah to hurry.


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And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat on his throne, having put on their robes, in a floor in the entrance of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets prophesied before them.


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And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself. And he said, So says Jehovah, With these you shall push the Syrians until you have crushed them.


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And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth in Gilead and prosper, for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the king's hands.


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And the messenger that had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets [are] good to the king with one mouth. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak good.


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So he came to the king. And the king said to him, Micaiah, Shall we go against Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall we hold off? And he answered him, Go and prosper. For the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king.


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And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you tell me nothing but [what is] true, in the name of Jehovah?


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And he said, I saw all Israel scattered on the hills, like sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, These have no master. Let each man return to his house in peace.


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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?


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And he said, Hear therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.


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And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab that he may go up and fall at Ramoth in Gilead? And one said this way, and another said that way.


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And the LORD said to him, With what? And he said, I will go forth and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, You shall entice [him] and succeed also. Go forth and do so.


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And now, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you.


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But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?


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And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see in that day when you shall go into an inner room to hide yourself.


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And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son,


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and say, so says the king, Put this one in the prison and feed him with bread of affliction and the water of affliction, until I come in peace.


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And Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Listen, O people, all of them!


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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I [will] disguise myself and enter into the battle. But you put on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.


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But the king of Syria commanded his thirty-two commanders of the chariots, saying, Do not fight with small nor great, but with the king of Israel.


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And it happened when the commanders of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, Surely it [is] the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out.


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And it happened when the commanders of the chariots saw that it [was] not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.


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And a man drew a bow in his simplicity and struck the king of Israel between the joints and the breastplate. And he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand and carry me out of the army, for I am wounded.


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And the battle increased that day. And the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at evening. And the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.


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And there went a cry throughout the army when the sun went, saying, Each to his city, and each to his land.


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And [one] washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and they washed his armor, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke.


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And the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.


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Jehoshaphat [was] thirty-five years old when he began to reign. And he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.


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And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing right in the eyes of the LORD. But the high places were not taken away, for the people offered and burned incense yet in the high places.


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And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might which he showed, and how he warred, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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And the rest of the sodomites which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.


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Jehoshaphat [had] ten ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold. But they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.


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And Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.


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And Jehoshaphat lay with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.


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Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. And he reigned two years over Israel.


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And [he] did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.


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For he served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.


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And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper room in Samaria, and was sick. And [he] sent messengers and said to them, Go, ask of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.


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But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise! Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, [Is it] not because no God is in Israel [that] you go to ask of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?


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And therefore so says the LORD, You shall not come from that bed on which you have gone up, but shall surely die. And Elijah left.


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And they said to him, A man came up to meet us and said to us, Go, turn again to the king who sent you, and say to him, So says the LORD, [Is it] not because no God [is] in Israel [that you go to ask of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Therefore, you shall not come down from that bed on which you have gone up, but shall surely die.


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And they answered him, [He was] a hairy man and was bound with a girdle of leather around his loins. And he said, He [is] Elijah the Tishbite.


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And he sent to him a commander of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him. And, behold, he sat on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him, Man of God! The king has said, Come down.


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And Elijah answered and said to the commander of fifty, If I [am] a man of God, then let fire come down from the heavens and burn up you and your fifty. And there came down fire from the heavens and burned up him and his fifty.


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And he turned and he sent to him another commander of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, Man of God! So says the king, Come down quickly.


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And Elijah answered and said to him, If I [am] a man of God, let fire come down from the heavens and burn up you and your fifty. And the fire of God came down from the heavens and burned up him and his fifty.


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And he turned and sent again a third commander of fifty and his fifty. And the third commander of fifty came up and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, Man of God, Please let my life and the life of these fifty, your servants, be precious in your sight.


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Behold, fire has come down from the heavens and burned up the two commanders of the former fifties with their fifties. And now let my life be precious in your sight.


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And the Angel of the LORD said to Elijah, Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him. And he arose and went down with him to the king.


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And [he] said to him, So says the LORD, Because you have sent messengers to ask of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, [Is it] not because no God [is] in Israel to seek His word? Therefore you shall not come down off that bed on which you have gone up, but shall surely die.


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And he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because he had no son.


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And the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, [are] they not written in the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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And it happened when the LORD was to take Elijah up into Heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.


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And Elijah said to Elisha, Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said, [As] the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.


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And the sons of the prophets at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from your head today? And he said, Yes, I know. Keep silent.


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And Elijah said to him, Elisha, please stay here. For the LORD has sent me to Jericho. And he said, [As] the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho.


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And the sons of the prophets at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from your head today? And he answered, Yes, I know. Keep silent.


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And Elijah said to him, Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jordan. And he said, [As] the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And the two of them went on.


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And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went on and stood afar off across [from them]. And both of them stood by the Jordan.


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And Elijah took his mantle and rolled [it] up, and struck the waters. And they were divided here and there, so that both of them crossed over on dry ground.


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And it happened when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha. Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken away from you. And Elisha said, please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.


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And he said, You have asked a hard thing, [but] if you see me taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be.


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And it happened as they went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire [came], and they separated between them both. And Elijah went up in a tempest into Heaven.


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And Elisha saw, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his clothes and tore them in two pieces.


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He also took up the mantle of Elijah which had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of Jordan.


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And he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the waters, and said, Where [is] Jehovah God of Elijah, even He? And he also hit the waters, and they parted here and there. And Elisha went over.


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And when the sons of the prophets across in Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah rests upon Elisha! And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.


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And [they] said to him, Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master, lest the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, You shall not send.


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And they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, Send. And they sent fifty men. And they looked for three days, but did not find him.


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And they returned to him, And he was staying in Jericho. And he said to them, Did I not say to you, Do not go?


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And the men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, please, the location of this city [is] pleasant, as my lord sees. But the waters [are] bad, and the ground [is] barren.


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And he went forth to the spring of the waters and threw the salt in there, and said, So says the LORD, I have healed these waters. There shall not be any more death or barrenness from there.


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And he went up from there to Bethel. And he was going up in the highway. And little boys came out from the city and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, bald head! Go up, bald head!


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And he turned behind him and saw them, and declared them vile in the name of the LORD. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two boys of them.


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And Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.


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And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father and his mother; for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.


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But he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. He did not depart from them.


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And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and paid to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and a hundred thousand rams with the wool.


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And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up. I [am] as you are], my people as your people, my horses as your horses.


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And the king of Israel and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom went. And they went around behind for seven days' journey. And there was no water for the army, and for the cattle that followed them.


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And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab!


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And Jehoshaphat said, [Is there] not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may ask of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.


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And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. And the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to him.


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And Elisha said to the king of Israel, What do I have to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother. And the king of Israel said to him, No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.


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And Elisha said, [As] the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely if it were not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you nor see you.


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And now bring me a minstrel. And it happened when the minstrel played, the hand of the LORD came on him.


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For so says the LORD, You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain. Still that valley shall be filled [with] water, so that you may drink, both you and your cattle, and your animals.


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And this is a light thing in the sight of the LORD. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.


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And you shall strike every fortified city, and every choice city. And you shall cut down every good tree and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece [of land] with stones.


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And it happened in the morning when the food offering was offered, behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.


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And all Moab had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on [armor], and upward, and stood in the border.


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And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side red [like] blood.


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And they said, This [is] blood. The kings are surely slain, and they have stricken one another. And now, Moab, to the spoil!


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And they came to the camp of Israel, and the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them. But they [entered it and] struck Moab.


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And they beat down the cities, and each man cast his stone on every good piece [of land], and filled it. And they stopped all the wells of water, and cut down all the good trees. Only in Kir-haraseth did they leave the stones of it. But the slingers surrounded it and struck it.


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And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too strong for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, in order to break through to the king of Edom. And they could not.


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And he took his oldest son, who would have reigned in his place, and offered him [for] a burnt offering on the wall. And there was great anger against Israel. And they left him, and returned to the land.


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And a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead. And you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the lender has come to take my two children to himself for slaves.


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And Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house? And she said, Your handmaid has not a thing in the house except a pot of oil.


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And he said, Go, borrow vessels for yourself from outside, from your neighbors, empty vessels. Do not let [them] be few.


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And you shall go in and shut the door on you and your sons. And you shall pour out into all those vessels. And you shall set aside the full ones.


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And she went from him and shut the door on her and on her sons. They brought to her, and she poured out.


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And it happened when the vessels were full, she said to her son, Bring me another vessel. And he said to her, [There is] not a vessel left. And the oil stopped.


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And she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons shall live from the rest.


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And the day came when Elisha passed over to Shunem. And a great woman [was] there. And she laid hold on him to eat bread. And it happened, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread.


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And she said to her husband, Behold now, I see that this [is] a holy man of God who passes by us continually.


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Please, let us make a little room on the wall. And let us set a bed for him there, and a table, and a stool, and a lampstand. And when he comes to us, he shall turn in there.


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And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And he called her, and she stood before him.


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And he said to him, Say now to her, Behold, you have been thoughtful for us with all this care. What [is] to be done for you? Would you be spoken for to the king or to the commander of the army? And she answered, I dwell among my own people.


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And he said, What then [is] to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Truly, she has no child, and her husband is old.


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And he said, At this time, according to the time of life, you shall embrace a son. And she said, No, my lord, O man of God, do not lie to your handmaid.


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And the woman conceived and bore a son at that time that Elisha had said to her, according to the time of life.


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And [she] called to her husband and said, Please send me one of the young men and one of the asses so that I may run to the man of God and come again.


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And he said, Why will you go to him today? [It is] neither new moon nor sabbath. And she said, [It is] well.


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And she saddled an ass and said to her servant, Drive and go forward! Do not hold back [your] riding for me unless I tell you.


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And she went and came to the man of God, to Mount Carmel. And it happened when the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, the Shunammite.


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Please run now to meet her, and say to her, [Is it] well with you? [Is it] well with your husband? [Is it] well with the boy? And she answered, Well!


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And she came to the man of God to the hill, and she caught him by the feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone, for her soul [is] troubled within her. And the LORD has hidden [it] from me and has not told me.


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Then he said to Gehazi, Bind up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet any man, do not greet him. And if any greet you, do not answer him again. And lay my staff on the face of the child.


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And the mother of the child said, [As] the LORD lives, and [as] your soul lives, I will not leave you. And he arose and followed her.


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And Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the face of the child. But there [was] no voice nor hearing. And he turned back to meet him and told him, saying, The boy has not awakened.


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And he went up and lay on the boy, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And he stretched himself on the boy. And the flesh of the boy became warm.


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And he returned and walked in the house to and fro. And [he] went up and stretched himself on him. And the boy sneezed seven times, and the boy opened his eyes.


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And he called Gehazi and said, Call this Shunammite. And he called her, and she came in to him. And he said, Take up your son!


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And Elisha came again to Gilgal. And [there was] a famine in the land. And the sons of the prophets [were] sitting before him. And he said to his servant, Set on the great pot and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets.


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And one went out into the field to gather herbs. And he found a vine of the field, and gathered gourds from it in the field. And with the lap of his garment full, he came in and shredded [them] into the pot of pottage. For they did not know them.


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And they poured out for the men to eat. And it happened as they were eating of the pottage, they cried out and said, O man of God, death [is] in the pot! And they could not eat.


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And he said, Then bring meal. And he cast [it] into the pot. And he said, Pour out for the people, and they may eat. And there was no evil thing in the pot.


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And a man came from Baal-shalisha and brought the man of God bread from the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and full ears of grain in his sack. And he said, Give to the people that they may eat.


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And his servant said, What? Should I set this before a hundred men? He said again, Give to the people so that they may eat, for so says the LORD, They shall eat and shall leave [some].


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And Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and exalted man with his master, because the LORD had given deliverance to Syria by him. He was also a mighty man, [but] a leper.


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And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and captured a little girl out of the land of Israel. And she waited on Naaman's wife.


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And she said to her mistress, I wish my lord [were] with the prophet in Samaria! For he would recover him from his leprosy.


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And the king of Syria said, Go, go in and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. And he departed and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand of gold, and ten changes of clothing.


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And he came in [with] the letter to the king of Israel, saying, And now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you. And you shall recover him of his leprosy.


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And it happened when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, [Am] I God, to kill and to make alive, that this [man] sends to me to recover a man from his leprosy? For consider now, and see, for he is coiling himself toward me.


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And it happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, Why have you torn your clothes? Let him now come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.


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And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come to you, and you shall be clean.


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But Naaman was angry, and went away. And he said, Behold, I said within myself, He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place and recover the leper.


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[Are] not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? And he turned and went away in a rage.


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And his servants came near and spoke to him and said, My father, [if] the prophet had told you [to do] a great thing, would you not have done [it]? How much rather then, when he says to you, Wash and be clean?


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And he went down and dipped seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God. And his flesh came again like the flesh of a little boy, and he was clean.


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And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company. And he came and stood before him. And he said, Behold, now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel. And now please take a blessing from your servant.


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But he said, [As] the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it, but he refused.


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And Naaman said, Please shall there not then be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth? For your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Jehovah.


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In this thing may Jehovah pardon your servant, that when my master goes to the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he is supported by my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon; when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Jehovah pardon your servant in this thing.


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And Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hand that which he brought. But, [as] the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.


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And Gehazi followed after Naaman. And Naaman saw [him] running after him, and descended down from the chariot to meet him. And he said, [Is] all well?


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And he said, All [is] well. My master has sent me, saying, Behold, this now, two young men from mount Ephraim of the sons of the prophets have come to me. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.


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And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing. And he laid [them] on two of his servants. And they carried them before him.


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And he came to the hill, and he took from their hand and stowed them in the house. And he let the men go, and they departed.


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And he went in and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, Where [from], Gehazi? And he said, Your servant did not go here or there.


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And he said to him, Did not my heart go [with you] when the man turned again from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive silver and to receive clothing and olive-yards and vineyards and sheep and oxen and menservants and maidservants?


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And the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your seed forever. And he went out from his presence as leprous as snow.


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And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, Behold now, the place where we live with you [is] too small for us.


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Please let us go to Jordan. And let each man take a beam from there. And let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go.


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And it happened as one was felling a log, the axe-head fell into the water. And he cried and said, Alas, master! For it was borrowed.


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And the man of God said, Where did it fall? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick and threw [it] in there. And the iron swam.


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And the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place [shall be] my camp.


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And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you do not pass such a place, for the Syrians have come down there.


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And the king of Israel sent to the place of which the man of God told him and warned him, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.


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And the heart of the king of Syria was enraged for this thing. And he called his servants and said to them, Will you not show me which of us [is] for the king of Israel?


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And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king, but Elisha the prophet, who [is] in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.


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And he said, Go and spy where he [is], so that I may send and bring him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, [he is] in Dothan.


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And he sent there horses and chariots and a great army. And they came by night and surrounded the city.


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And the servant of the man of God arose early and went out. And, behold, an army surrounded the city, and horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, Alas, my master! What shall we do?


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And Elisha prayed and said, I pray You, LORD, open his eyes so that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.


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And they came down to it, and Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, I pray You, strike this people with blindness. And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.


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And Elisha said to them, This [is] not the way, nor [is] this the city. Follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria.


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And it happened when they came into Samaria, Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these [men] so that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw. And behold, [they were] in the middle of Samaria.


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And when he saw them, the king of Israel said to Elisha, My father, shall I strike [them]? Shall I strike [them] ?


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And he answered, You shall not strike [them]. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them so that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.


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And he prepared a great feast for them. And when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.


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And it happened after this Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his army and went up and lay siege to Samaria.


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And there was a great famine in Samaria. And, behold, they besieged it until an ass's head was [sold] for eighty [pieces] of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five silver pieces.


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And as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king!


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And he said, if the LORD does not help you, from where shall I help you? Out of the barn-floor, or out of the winepress?


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And the king said to her, What [ails] you? And she said, This woman said to me, Give your son so that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.


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And we boiled my son and ate him. And I said to her on the other day, Give your son so that we may eat him. And she has hidden her son.


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And it happened when the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. And he passed by on the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, [he had] sackcloth inside on his flesh.


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And he said, May God do so, and more also, to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.


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But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him. And he sent a man from before him. [But] before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold him fast at the door. [Is] not the sound of his master's feet behind him?


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While he still talked with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. And he said, Behold, this evil [is] from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?


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And Elisha said, Hear the word of the LORD! So says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour [will be] sold at a shekel, and two measures of barley at a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.


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And the third officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, [if] the LORD would make windows in heaven, then this thing might be. And he said, Behold, you shall see with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.


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And four men, lepers, were at the gate entrance. And they said to one another, Why do we sit here until we die?


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If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine [is] in the city, and we shall die there. And if we still sit here, we also shall die. And now come and let us fall to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we shall live. And if they kill us, we shall only die.


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And they rose up in the twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. And when they had come to the outermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, no man [was] there!


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For the LORD had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots and a noise of horses, the noise of a great army. And they said to one another, Lo, the king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians against us, to come on us.


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And they arose and fled in the twilight and left their tents and their horses and their asses, the camp, as it [was], and fled for their life.


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And when these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried silver and gold and clothing from there, and went and hid [it]. And they came again and entered into another tent and carried from there, and went and hid [it].


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And they said to one another, We are not doing right. This day [is] a day of good news, and we hold our peace. If we stay until the morning light, some punishment will come on us. And now come, so that we may go and tell the king's household.


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And they came and called to the porter of the city. And they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, no man [was] there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they [were.


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And the king arose in the night and said to his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we [are] hungry, and they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive and get into the city.


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And one of his servants answered and said, Please let [some] take five of the horses which remain, which are left in the city; behold, they [are] like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, they [are] even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed. And we will send and see.


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And they took two chariots [with] horses. And the king sent after the army of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.


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And they went after them to Jordan. And, lo, all the way [was] full of clothing and vessels which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king.


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And the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. And it happened, a measure of fine flour was [sold] for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.


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And the king appointed the third officer over the gate, [the one] on whose hand he had leaned. And the people trampled on him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.


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And it happened according to the saying of the man of God to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel: [This] shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria.


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And the third officer answered the man of God and said, Behold, [if] the LORD should make windows in heaven, then such a thing might be. And he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.


text:
And Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise and go, you and your household, and live wherever you can live. For the LORD has called for a famine. And it shall also come on the land seven years.


text:
And the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. And she went with her household, and lived in the land of the Philistines seven years.


text:
And it happened at the end of seven years, the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines. And she went forth to cry to the king for her house and for her land.


text:
And the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, Please tell me all the great things which Elisha has done.


text:
And it happened as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life cried to the king for the house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O, king, this [is] the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.


text:
And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed to her a certain eunuch saying, Restore all that [was] hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day when she left the land, even until now.


text:
And Elisha came to Damascus. And Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And they told him, saying, The man of God has come here.


text:
And the king said to Hazael, Take a present in your hand and go to meet the man of God, and ask of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?


text:
And Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Your servant Ben-hadad, king of Syria, has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover from this disease?


text:
And Elisha said to him, Go and say to him, You shall certainly recover. But the LORD has shown me that he shall surely die.


text:
And Hazael said, Why does my lord weep? And he answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire, and you will kill their young men with the sword, and will dash their children, and rip up their women with child.


text:
And Hazael said, What! [Is] your servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD has shown me that you [shall be] king over Syria.


text:
And he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, What did Elisha say to you? And he answered, He told me you would surely recover.


text:
And it happened on the next day he took a thick cloth and dipped [it] in water, and spread it on his face so that he died. And Hazael reigned in his place.


text:
And in the fifth year of Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat [being] then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.


text:
And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab did; for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD.


text:
Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David His servant's sake, as He promised him to give him a light to his sons forever


text:
And Jehoram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him. And he rose by night and struck the Edomites who were all around him, and the commanders of the chariots. And the people fled into their tents.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jehoram, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matter of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


text:
And Jehoram slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.


text:
In the twelfth year of Jehoram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign.


text:
Ahaziah [was] twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.


text:
And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab, for he [was] the son-in-law of the house of Ahab.


text:
And he went with Jehoram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth of Gilead. And the Syrians wounded Jehoram.


text:
And king Jehoram went back to be healed in Jezreel from the wounds which the Syrians had given him in Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.


text:
And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, Bind up your loins and take this box of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth in Gilead.


text:
And you shall go there, and you shall see there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. And you shall go in and make him rise up from among his brothers, and take him to an inner room.


text:
And take the box of oil and pour [it] on his head, and say, So says the LORD, I have anointed you king over Israel. And you shall open the door, and flee, and shall not wait.


text:
And [he] came in, and, behold, the commanders of the army [were] sitting. And he said, I have an errand to you, commander. And Jehu said, To which of all of us? And he said, To you, commander.


text:
And he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head and said to him, So says Jehovah God of Israel, I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.


text:
And you shall strike the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD at the hand of Jezebel.


text:
For the whole house of Ahab shall perish. And I will cut off from Ahab everyone that urinates against the wall, both bound and free.


text:
And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.


text:
And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in a part of Jezreel, and none [shall be there] to bury [her]. And he opened the door and fled.


text:
And Jehu went out to the servants of his lord. And [one] said to him, Well? Why did this mad man come to you? And he said to them, You know the man and what he had to say.


text:
And they said, [It is] false. Tell us now! And he said, This and this he spoke to me, saying, So says the LORD, I have anointed you king over Israel.


text:
And they hurried and each man took his garment and put [it] under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.


text:
And Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi plotted against Jehoram. And Jehoram was keeping [watch at] Ramoth in Gilead, he and all Israel before Hazael king, of Syria.


text:
And king Jehoram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him when he fought with Hazael the king of Syria. And Jehu said, If it is your minds, [then] let no escapee leave to go to tell [it] in Jezreel.


text:
And Jehu rode in the chariot and went to Jezreel. For Jehoram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Jehoram.


text:
And a watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel. And [he] saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Jehoram said, Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, [Is it] peace?


text:
And the rider on horseback went to meet him and said, So says the king, [Is it] peace? And Jehu said, What do you [have to do] with peace? Turn behind me! And the watchman reported, saying, The messenger came to them, but he does not come again.


text:
And he sent a second rider on horseback, who came to them and said, So says the king, [Is it] peace? And he answered, What [do you have] to do with peace? Turn behind me!


text:
And the watchman reported, saying, He came up to them, but does not come again. And the driving [is] like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.


text:
And Jehoram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Jehoram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth of Jezreel.


text:
And it happened when Jehoram saw Jehu, he said, [Is it] peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts [are so] many?


text:
And Jehu drew a bow and struck Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sank down in his chariot.


text:
And he said to Bidkar his commander, Take him up [and] throw him in the portion of the field of Naboth of Jezreel. For, remember, you and I rode together after Ahab his father, and the LORD laid this burden on him.


text:
Surely, yesterday I have seen the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, says the LORD, and I will repay you in this portion, says the LORD. And now, take [him] and throw him into the portion, according to the word of the LORD.


text:
And when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw, [he] fled by the way of the garden-house. And Jehu followed after him and said, Strike him also in the chariot, at the going up to Gur, that [is near Ibleam. And [he] fled to Megiddo, and died there.


text:
And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.


text:
And Jehu had come to Jezreel. And Jezebel heard, and had painted her face and adorned her head, and looked out at a window.


text:
And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who [is] with me? Who? And two [or] three eunuchs looked out at him.


text:
And he said, Throw her down! And they threw her down. And [some] of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses. And he trampled her.


text:
And when he had come in, he ate and drank, and said, Go, now see this cursed [woman] and bury her. For she is a king's daughter.


text:
And they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of [her] hands.


text:
And they came again and told him. And he said, [This is] the word of the LORD which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel.


text:
And the dead body of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel, [so] that they shall not say, This [is] Jezebel.


text:
And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters and sent to Samaria to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the supporters of Ahab, saying,


text:
And now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master's sons [are] with you, and chariots and horses are] with you, also a fortified city and armor,


text:
even look for the best and fittest of your master's sons, and set [him] on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.


text:
And they were exceedingly afraid and said, Behold, two kings did not stand before him; how then shall we stand?


text:
And he who [was] over the house, and he over the city, the elders also, and the guardians, sent to Jehu saying, We [are] your servants and will do all that you shall say to us; we will not make any king. Do what is good in your eyes.


text:
And he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If you [are] mine, and will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by this time tomorrow. And the king's sons, seventy persons, [were] with the great men of the city who brought them up.


text:
And it happened when the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and killed them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent to him in Jezreel.


text:
And a messenger came and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.


text:
And it happened in the morning, he went out and stood, and said to all the people, You [are] righteous. Behold, I plotted against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?


text:
Now know that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab. For the LORD has done that which He spoke by His servant Elijah.


text:
And Jehu killed all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.


text:
And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. He [was] at the shepherds' shearing-house in the way,


text:
And Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who [are] you? And they answered, The brothers of Ahaziah. And we are going down to greet the king's sons and the queen's sons.


text:
And he said, Take them alive! And they took them alive and killed them at the pit of the shearing-house, forty-two men. And he left not a man of them.


text:
And he left there and found Jehonadab the son of Rechab [coming] to meet him. And [he] greeted him and said to him, [Is] your heart right, as my heart [is] with your heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it is, give your hand. And he gave his hand. And he took him up to him into the chariot.


text:
And he came to Samaria, and killed all that remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of Jehovah which he spoke to Elijah.


text:
And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, Ahab served Baal a little, [but] Jehu shall serve him much.


text:
And now call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests. Let no one be lacking. For I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever shall be lacking, he shall not live. But Jehu was acting with cunning, to the end that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal.


text:
And Jehu sent through all Israel. And all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they came into the house of Baal. And the house of Baal was full from one end to another.


text:
And he said to him who [was] over the robe-room, Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal. And he brought [them] out for them.


text:
And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal. And he said to the servants of Baal, Search and look, that there [may] not [be] here with you any of the servants of the LORD, but only the servants of Baal.


text:
And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. And Jehu had appointed eighty men outside, and said, [If] any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escapes, his life shall be for the life of him.


text:
And it happened when he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the commanders, Go in. Kill them! Do not let any come out! And they struck them with the edge of the sword. And the guard and the commanders threw [them] out. And they went to the city, to the house of Baal.


text:
And [they] broke down the image of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal and made it a sewer-house until this day.


text:
Only, Jehu did not depart [from] the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, going after them, the golden calves in Bethel and in Dan.


text:
And the LORD said to him, Jehu, because you have done well in doing the right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that [was] in My heart, your sons of the fourth generation] shall sit on the throne of Israel.


text:
But Jehu did not care to walk in the law of Jehovah God of Israel with all his heart, for he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.


text:
In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short. And Hazael struck them in all the border of Israel,


text:
from Jordan toward the rising of the sun, all the land of Gilead, the men of Gad and of Reuben and of Manasseh, from Aroer, by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jehu and all that he did, and all his might, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matter of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


text:
And Jehu slept with his fathers. And they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.


text:
And Athaliah was the mother of Ahaziah. And when she saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed of the kingdom.


text:
But Jehosheba the daughter of king Jehoram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons [which were] killed. And they hid him from Athaliah in the bedroom, him and his nurse, so that he was not killed.


text:
And in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the rulers over hundreds, with the commanders and the guards, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the LORD, and revealed to them the king's son.


text:
And he commanded them, saying, This [is] the thing that you shall do. A third part of you who enter in on the sabbath [shall be] keepers of the watch of the king's house.


text:
And a third part [shall be] at the gate of Sur. And a third part at the gate behind the guard. And you shall keep the watch of the house, alternately.


text:
And two parts of you, all who go forth [on] the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD around the king.


text:
And you shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand. And he who comes inside the ranks, let him be killed. And they shall be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.


text:
And the rulers of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each man took his men, going in on the sabbath, with those going out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.


text:
And the priest gave king David's spears and shields, which [were] in the temple of the LORD, to the rulers of the hundreds.


text:
And the guard stood, each man with his weapons in his hand, around the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, by the altar and the temple.


text:
And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown and the testimony on him. And they made him king and anointed him, and clapped their hands and said, Let the king live!


text:
And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard [and] of the people, she came [to] the people into the temple of the LORD.


text:
And she looked, and behold, the king stood by a pillar as usually [was] done, and the rulers and the trumpeters [were] by the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, Treason! Treason!


text:
And Jehoiada the priest commanded the rulers of the hundreds, those set over the army, and said to them, Take her out between the ranks, and let the one who follows her kill [her] with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.


text:
And they laid hands on her, and she went by the way which the horses came into the king's house. And she was killed there.


text:
And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the people of Jehovah; also between the king and the people.


text:
And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal and broke it down. They broke his altars and his images completely in pieces. And they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.


text:
And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the commanders, and the guard, and all the people of the land. And they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.


text:
And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And they killed Athaliah with the sword [beside] the king's house.


text:
And in the seventh year of Jehu, Joash began to reign. And he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. And his mother's name [was] Zibiah of Beer-sheba.


text:
And Joash did the right in the sight of the LORD all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.


text:
But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.


text:
And Joash said to the priests, All the silver from things dedicated to God, which is brought into the house of the LORD, the silver from each man the silver of his valuation, all the silver that comes into any man's heart to bring to the house of the LORD,


text:
let the priests take [it] to themselves, each man from those he knows. And let them repair the breaks in the house, in all [places] where any break shall be found.


text:
And it happened in the twenty-third year of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the breaks of the house.


text:
Then king Joash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the priests, and said to them, Why are you not repairing the breaks of the house? And now take no silver from those you know, but deliver it for the breaks of the house.


text:
But Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. And he set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD. And the priests who kept the door put in it all the silver brought into the house of the LORD.


text:
And it happened when they saw that much silver [was] in the chest, the king's scribe and the high priest came up. And they bound and counted the silver that was found [in] the house of the LORD.


text:
And they gave the silver which was counted into the hands of those who did the work, those overseeing the house of the LORD. And they laid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the LORD,


text:
and to masons and cutters of stone, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the breaks of the house of the LORD, and for all that went forth for the house, to repair [it].


text:
Only, there were no bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, or any vessels of gold or vessels of silver, made for the house of the LORD from the silver which [was] brought into the house of the LORD.


text:
And they did not make an accounting with the men into whose hands they gave the silver to be given to the workmen. For they dealt faithfully.


text:
Then Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it. And Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.


text:
And Joash king of Judah took all the holy things which Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own holy things, and all the gold found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent [it] to Hazael king of Syria. And he went away from Jerusalem.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


text:
And his servants arose and made a plot. And they killed Joash in the house of Millo, which goes down [to] Silla.


text:
For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.


text:
In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, seventeen years.


text:
And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. And he did not depart from them.


text:
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, all [their] days.


text:
And Jehoahaz sought the LORD, and the LORD listened to him. For He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.


text:
And the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, so that they went out from under the Syrians. And the sons of Israel lived in their tents, as before.


text:
But they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin, [but] walked in them. And also the Asherah in Samaria stood.


text:
For He had not left a people remaining to Jehoahaz, but only fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them and had made them like the dust at threshing-time.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


text:
And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers. And they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoash his son reigned in his place.


text:
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, sixteen years.


text:
And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, [but] he walked in them.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jehoash, and all that he did, and his might which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


text:
And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.


text:
And Elisha had fallen sick with his illness in which he died. And Jehoash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over his face. And he said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen of it!


text:
And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand on the bow. And he placed his hand. And Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.


text:
And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened. And Elisha said, Shoot! And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria. For you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek until it is finished.


text:
And he said, Take the arrows. And he took [them]. And he said to the king of Israel, Strike on the ground. And he struck three times and stopped.


text:
And the man of God was angry with him, and said, You should have stricken five or six times, then you would have stricken Syria until it was finished. But now you shall strike Syria three times.


text:
And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at first of the year.


text:
And it happened as they were burying a man, behold, they spied a band. And they threw the man into the grave of Elisha. And the man went down and touched the bones of Elisha, and revived and stood up on his feet.


text:
And the LORD was gracious to them, and had pity on them, and had respect to them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And He would not destroy them, nor cast them from His presence as yet.


text:
And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz returned and took out of the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Jehoash struck him three times and recovered the cities of Israel.


text:
In the second year of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah reigned.


text:
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.


text:
And he did the right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father. He did according to all things that Joash his father did.


text:
Only, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.


text:
And it happened when the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, he killed his servants who had slain his father the king;


text:
But he did not kill the sons of the servants, according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the sons, nor shall the sons be put to death for the fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.


text:
He killed ten thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel until this day.


text:
Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.


text:
And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle which [was] in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son for a wife. And a beast of the field in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.


text:
You have indeed stricken Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Rejoice and stay at home, for why should you meddle to [your] harm, so that you should fall, you and Judah with you?


text:
But Amaziah would not hear. And Jehoash king of Israel went up. And he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, of Judah.


text:
And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and he came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits.


text:
And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels which were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


text:
And Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.


text:
And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


text:
And they made a plot against him at Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. And they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.


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And [they] brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.


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And all the people of Judah took Azariah who [was] sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.


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In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Jehoash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, forty-one years.


text:
And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin.


text:
He restored the border of Israel from the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain, according to the word of Jehovah God of Israel which He spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, who [was] from Gath-hepher.


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For the LORD had seen the affliction of Israel [to be] very bitter. And one was bound, and none [was] free, and there was no helper for Israel.


text:
And the LORD did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Jehoash.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus and Hamath, of Judah, for Israel, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


text:
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, with the kings of Israel. And his son Zachariah reigned in his place.


text:
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign.


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He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jecholiah of Jerusalem.


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Only, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.


text:
And the LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. And the king's son, Jotham, [was] over the house, judging the people of the land.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


text:
And Azariah slept with his fathers. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.


text:
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria, six months.


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And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.


text:
And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him. And he struck him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his place.


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And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they [are] written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel.


text:
This [was] the word of the LORD which He spoke to Jehu, saying, Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel until the fourth [generation]. And it was so.


text:
Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah. And he reigned in Samaria a full month.


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For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria. And he killed him and reigned in his place.


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And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he made, behold, they [are] written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel.


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Then Menahem struck Tiphsah, and all in it, and its borders, from Tirzah. Because they did not open, he struck it. He ripped up all its pregnant women.


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In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, ten years in Samaria.


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And he did evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, all his days.


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Pul, the king of Assyria came against the land. And Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver so that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.


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And Menahem took the silver from Israel, from all the mighty men of wealth (fifty shekels of silver from each man) to give to the king of Assyria. And the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land.


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And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel?


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In the fiftieth year of Uzziah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, two years.


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And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.


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But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a commander of his, conspired against him and struck him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and fifty men of the Gileadites with him. And he killed him and reigned in his place.


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And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they [are] written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel.


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In the fifty-second year of Uzziah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, twenty years.


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And he did evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.


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In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he deported them to Assyria.


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And Hoshea the son of Elah made a plot against Pekah the son of Remaliah. And he struck him and killed him and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.


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And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they [are] written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Israel.


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In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign.


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He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.


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Only, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.


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And the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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In those days the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria against Judah, and also Pekah the son of Remaliah.


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In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.


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Ahaz [was] twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.


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But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. Yes, and he made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out from before the sons of Israel.


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And he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.


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Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem for war. And they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome [him].


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At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath. And the Syrians came to Elath and lived there until this day.


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And Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I [am] your servant and your son. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.


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And Ahaz took the silver and gold which was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent a present to the king of Assyria.


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And the king of Assyria listened to him, for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it. And he carried it away captive to Kir, and killed Rezin.


text:
And King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria [at] Damascus. And [he] saw an altar at Damascus. And King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the pattern of the altar, and the form of it, according to all its work.


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And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. So Urijah the priest did until King Ahaz came in from Damascus.


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And the king came in from Damascus, and the king saw the altar. And the king approached to the altar and offered on it.


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And he offered his burnt offering and his food offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, on the altar.


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And he also brought the bronze altar which [was] before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.


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And King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, On the great altar burn the morning offering and the evening food offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice and his food offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their food offerings, and their drink offerings. And sprinkle all the blood of the burnt offerings on it, and all the blood of the sacrifice. And the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by.


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And King Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from them. And he took down the sea from off the bronze oxen under it, and put it on a pavement of stones.


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And the covered way for the sabbath which they had built in the house, and the king's entry outside, he turned from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.


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And the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


text:
And Ahaz slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.


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In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, nine years.


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And the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and had brought no taxes to the king of Assyria, as before, year by year. And the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.


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And the king of Assyria went up into all the land. And he went up to Samaria and besieged it three years.


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In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria. And he placed them in Halah, and in Habor [by] the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


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And it happened because the sons of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,


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and walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD cast out from before the sons of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which the nations had made.


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And the sons of Israel secretly did things that [were] not right against the LORD their God. And they built high places in all their cities for themselves, from the Watch Tower to the fortified city.


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And they burned incense in all the high places, like the nations whom the LORD had removed from before them; and did evil things to provoke the LORD to anger.


text:
And the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, [by] all the seers, saying, Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.


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But they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like the neck of their fathers who did not believe in the LORD their God.


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And [they] rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He testified against them. And they went after the vain thing, and became vain, and after the nations around them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them not to do like them.


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And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made molten images, two calves, for themselves. And they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.


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And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire. And they used divination and incantations, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.


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So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and turned them away from His face; not one was left, only the tribe of Judah by itself.


text:
Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes which Israel made.


text:
And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until He had cast them out of His sight.


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For He tore Israel from the house of David. And they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. And Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.


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For the sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did. They did not depart from them


text:
until the LORD turned away Israel from His face, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria until this day.


text:
And the king of Assyria brought [men] from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed [them] in the cities of Samaria instead of the sons of Israel. And they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.


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And it happened at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear Jehovah. And Jehovah sent lions among them, who killed them.


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And they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the manner of the God of the land. And He has sent lions among them, and, behold, they kill them because they do not know the way of the God of the land.


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And the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Cause one of the priests whom you removed from there to go there. And they shall go and live there, and he shall teach them the way of the God of the land.


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And one of the priests whom they had removed from Samaria came and lived in Bethel. And he taught them how they should fear the LORD.


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And every nation made gods of their own, and put [them] in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived.


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And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,


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and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their sons with fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.


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So they feared the LORD, and made to themselves, of the lowest of them, priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.


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They feared the LORD and served their own gods, according to the custom of the nations whom they removed from there.


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Until this day they do according to their former ways. They do not fear the LORD, neither do they do according to their statutes, or according to their ordinances, or according to the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the sons of Jacob, whom He named Israel.


text:
And the LORD had made a covenant and charged them, saying, You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them,


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but the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched-out arm, you shall fear Him, and you shall worship Him, and you shall do sacrifice to Him.


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And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to do forever. And you shall not fear other gods.


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And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, and you shall not fear other gods.


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And it happened, these nations feared the LORD, and they served their graven images, both their sons and their sons' sons, as their fathers did, they do until this day.


text:
And it happened in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.


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He [was] twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name [was] Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.


text:
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent which Moses had made; for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it. And he called it Nehushtan.


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He trusted in Jehovah God of Israel, and after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.


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For he clung to Jehovah. He did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses.


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And Jehovah was with him. He was blessed wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and did not serve him.


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And it happened in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.


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And at the end of three years they took it, in the sixth year of Hezekiah, it [was] the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.


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And the king of Assyria carried away Israel to Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor [by] the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,


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because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed His covenant, [and] all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not listen to them, nor do them.


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And in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.


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And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; turn back from me. Whatever you put on me I will bear. And the king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold.


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And Hezekiah gave him all the silver which was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king's house.


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At that time Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid. And he gave them to the king of Assyria.


text:
And the king of Assyria sent Tartan, and the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the cupbearers from Lachish, to king Hezekiah with a great army against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they had come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the Fuller's Field.


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And they called to the king. And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who [was] over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, went out to them.


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And the chief of the cupbearers said to them, Speak now to Hezekiah, So says the great king, the king of Assyria, What hope [is] this in which you trust?


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Do you say that a mere word of the lips [is] wisdom and strength for the war? Now on whom do you trust that you rebel against me?


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Now, behold, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, on Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.


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But if you say to me, We trust in Jehovah our God, is He not the one whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?


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And now, please give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver two thousand horses to you if you are able to set riders on them.


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And how will you turn away the face of one commander of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?


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Have I now come up against this place to destroy it without Jehovah? Jehovah said to me, Go up against this land and destroy it.


text:
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah said to the chief of the cupbearers, Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand. And do not talk with us in Jewish, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.


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And the chief of the cupbearers said to them, Has my master sent me to your master and to you, to speak these words, [and] not to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?


text:
And the chief of the cupbearers stood and cried with a loud voice in Jewish, and spoke, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:


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so says the king, Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. For he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand.


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And do not let Hezekiah make you trust in Jehovah, saying, Jehovah will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hands of the king of Assyria.


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Do not listen to Hezekiah. For so says the king of Assyria, Make with me a blessing, and come out to me, and you each shall eat of his vine, and each of his fig tree, and you each shall drink of the waters of his own cistern,


text:
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive oil and of honey, and live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he deceives you, saying, Jehovah will deliver us.


text:
Has any of the gods of the nations at all delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?


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Where [are] the gods of Hamath and of Arpad? Where [are] the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?


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Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their land out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?


text:
But the people kept silent and did not answer him a word. For the king's command was, saying, Do not answer him.


text:
And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn. And they told him the words of the chief of the cupbearers.


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And it happened when King Hezekiah heard, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth. And he went into the house of the LORD.


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And he sent Eliakim who [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.


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And they said to him, So says Hezekiah, [This is] a day of trouble and of rebuke and contempt. For the sons have come to the birth, and [there is] no strength to bring forth.


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It may be the LORD your God will hear all the words of the chief cupbearer with which his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. And you shall lift up prayer for the rest who are left.


text:
And Isaiah said to them, You shall say to your master, So says the LORD, Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.


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Behold, I will send a blast on him, and he shall hear a rumor and shall return to his own land. And I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.


text:
And the chief cupbearer returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.


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And when he heard it said of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he has come out to fight against you, he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,


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So you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.


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Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by completely destroying them. And shall you be delivered?


text:
Have the gods of the nations delivered them, nations which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the sons of Eden in Telassar?


text:
Where [is] the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and of Ivah?


text:
And Hezekiah received the letters from the hand of the messengers, and read it. And Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.


text:
And Hezekiah prayed before Jehovah and said, O Jehovah God of Israel, who dwells [between] the cherubs, You [are] God Himself, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth.


text:
LORD, bow down Your ear and hear. O LORD, open Your eyes and see, and hear the words of Sennacherib, who has sent him to taunt the living God.


text:
and have thrown their gods into the fire; for they [were] no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone, and they have destroyed them.


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And now, O, LORD our God, I beseech You, save us out of his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You [are] the LORD God, and You only.


text:
And Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, So says Jehovah God of Israel, I have heard what you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria.


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This [is] the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised you [and] laughed you to scorn. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.


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Whom have you mocked and blasphemed? And against whom have you exalted [your] voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Even against the Holy One of Israel!


text:
You have mocked the Lord by your messengers, and have said, With the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down its tall cedar trees, its choice fir trees. And I will enter into the lodgings of its borders, its densest forest;


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I have dug and drunk foreign waters, and with the sole of my feet I have dried up all the rivers of Egypt.


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Have you not heard it from afar, I made it? From days of old I fashioned it! Now I have caused it to come; that you should make fortified cities desolate heaps of ruins.


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And their people were of small power, they were fearful and put to shame. They were [like] the grass of the field, and the green herb, like the grass on the house-tops, and like grain blasted before it was grown up.


text:
Because of your rage against Me, and because your arrogance has come up into My ears, even I will put My hook in your nose, and My bridle in your lips. And I will turn you back by the way in which you came.


text:
And this shall be a sign to you: you shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springs up of the same. And in the third year, sow and reap and plant vineyards and eat the fruits of them.


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And the remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward and bear fruit upward.


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For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they who escape out of Mount Zion. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts shall do this.


text:
So the LORD says this concerning the king of Assyria. He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor throw up a bank against it.


text:
By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and shall not come into this city, says the LORD.


text:
And it happened that night, the Angel of Jehovah went out and struck a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. And they arose early in the morning, and behold, they were all dead bodies.


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And it happened as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him with the sword. And they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.


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In those days Hezekiah was sick to death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, So says the LORD, Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.


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I pray, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before You in truth and with a sincere heart, and have done good in Your sight. And Hezekiah wept with a great weeping.


text:
And it happened, Isaiah had gone out into the middle of the court, the word of the LORD came to him saying,


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Return again and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, So says the LORD, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.


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And I will add fifteen years to your days. And I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria. And I will defend this city for My own sake, and for My servant David's sake.


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And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, What [shall be] the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?


text:
And Isaiah said, This [will be] the sign from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing which He has spoken. Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?


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And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten steps. No, but let the shadow go backward ten steps.


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And Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD. And He brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.


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At that time Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah. For he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.


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And Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion which Hezekiah did not show them.


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And Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, What did these men say? And from where did they come to you? And Hezekiah said, They have come from a far country, from Babylon.


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And he said, What have they seen in your house? And Hezekiah answered, They have seen all that [is] in my house. There is nothing among my treasures which I have not shown to them.


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Behold, the days come when all that [is] in your house, and which your fathers have laid up in store until today, shall be carried into Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD.


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And of your sons which shall issue from you, which you shall father, they shall take away. And they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.


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And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, Good [is] the word of the LORD which you have spoken. And he said, [Is it] not [good] if peace and truth are in my days?


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And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool and a conduit, and brought water into the city, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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Manasseh [was] twelve years old when he began to reign. And he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Hephzibah.


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And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel.


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For he built up again the high places which his father Hezekiah had destroyed. And he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel did. And he worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them.


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And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem I will put My name.


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And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times and used fortune-tellers. And he dealt with familiar spirits and wizards. He worked much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke [Him] to anger.


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And he set a graven image of the Asherah which he had made in the house, of which the LORD had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever.


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And I will not again make the feet of Israel wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.


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But they did not listen. And Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations ever did, whom the LORD destroyed before the sons of Israel.


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Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, doing more wickedly than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols,


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therefore, so says the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I [am] bringing evil on Jerusalem and Judah, so that whoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle.


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And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the measuring line of the house of Ahab. And I will wipe Jerusalem as a dish is wiped, wiping and turning [it] upside down.


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And I will forsake the remnant of My inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies. And they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies,


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because they have done the evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt even until this day.


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And also Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin with which he made Judah to sin, in doing the evil in the sight of the LORD.


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Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin which he sinned, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. And his son Amon reigned in his place.


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Amon [was] twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.


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And he walked in all the way that his father walked, and served the idols which his father served, and worshiped them.


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And the people of the land killed all those who had plotted against King Amon. And the people of the land made his son Josiah king in his place.


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And the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, [are] they not written in the Books of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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Josiah [was] eight years old when he began to reign. And he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.


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And he did the right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.


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And it happened in the eighteenth year of Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,


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Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, so that he may count the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people.


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And let them deliver it into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the house of the Lord. And let them give it to the workers who [are] in the house of the LORD, in order to repair the breaks of the house,


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Only, the silver that is given into their hand shall not be reckoned with them, for they are dealing in faithfulness.


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And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.


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And Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought the king word again, and said, Your servants have gathered the silver that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workers, who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.


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And Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.


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And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king, saying,


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Go inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book which is found. For great [is] the wrath of the LORD which is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all which is written concerning us.


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And Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. And she lived in Jerusalem in the second [part]. And they talked with her.


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So says the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on the people of it, all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read;


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because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.


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But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, so you shall say to him, So says the LORD God of Israel, The words which you have heard,


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because your heart [was] tender and you have humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against its people (that they should become a waste and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before Me), I have heard you, says the LORD.


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Behold, even so I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace. And your eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring on this place. And they brought the king [this] word again.


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And the king went up into the house of the LORD. And all the men of Judah and all the people of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets, and all the people, from the small even to the great. And he read all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD in their ears.


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And the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all [his] heart and all [his soul, to perform the words of this covenant which was written in this Book. And all the people stood to the covenant.


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And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels which were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them to Bethel.


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And he put down the idol-worshiping priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn [incense] in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places around Jerusalem. He also put down those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of the heavens.


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And he brought out the Asherah from the house of the LORD outside Jerusalem, to the torrent Kidron, and burned it at the torrent Kidron, and stamped [it] to powder, and threw the powder of it on the graves of the sons of the people.


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And he broke down the houses of the sodomites, which [were] by the house of the LORD, where the women wove coverings for the Asherah.


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And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned [incense], from Geba to Beer-sheba. And he broke down the high places of the gates which [were] in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.


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But the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate of the unleavened [bread] among their brothers.


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And he defiled Topheth, in the valley of the sons of Hinnom, so that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.


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And he took away the horses which the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the room of Nathan-melech the eunuch, which [was] in the suburbs. And he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.


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And the altars which [were] on the top of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made, and the two courts of the house of the LORD, the king beat them down, and broke them down from there. And he threw the dust of them into the torrent Kidron.


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And the high places which [were] before Jerusalem on the right hand of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the sons of Ammon, the king defiled.


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And he broke the images in pieces, and cut down the Asherahs, and filled their places with the bones of men.


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And also the altar which [was] at Bethel, [and] the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he broke down, and burned the high place; he stamped it to powder, and burned the Asherah.


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And as Josiah turned, he spied the tombs which [were] there in the mountain. And he sent and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned [them] on the altar and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God had proclaimed, who spoke these words.


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And he said, What monument [is] that which I see? And the men of the city told him, [It is] the grave of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things which you have done against the altar of Bethel.


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And he said, Let him alone; let no one move his bones. And they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.


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And also all the houses of the high places in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke [the LORD] to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts which he had done in Bethel.


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And he killed all the priests of the high places [which were] there on the altars, and burned men's bones on them, and returned to Jerusalem.


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And the king commanded all the people saying, Prepare the Passover to the LORD your God, as [it is] written in the Book of the Covenant.


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Surely there was not held such a Passover from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah,


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And also Josiah put away the mediums, and the soothsayers, and the family gods, and the idols, and all the abominations which were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, so that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book which Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.


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And there was no king like him before him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses. And after him none rose up like him.


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But the Lord did not turn from the heat of His great wrath, with which His anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.


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And the LORD said, I will also remove Judah out of My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.


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And the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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In his days Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. And King Josiah went against him. And he killed him at Megiddo, when he saw him.


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And his servants made him ride dead in a chariot from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's place.


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Jehoahaz [was] twenty-three years old when he began to reign. And he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.


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And Pharaoh-necho put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he might not reign in Jerusalem. And he put the land to a tax of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.


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And Pharaoh-necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of Josiah his father. And he changed his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away. And he came to Egypt and died there.


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And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh. But he taxed the land to give the silver according to Pharaoh's command. He exacted the silver and the gold from the people of the land, from each one according to his worth, to give it to Pharaoh-necho.


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Jehoiakim [was] twenty-five years old when he began to reign. And he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.


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In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.


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And the LORD sent against him troops of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and troops of the Moabites, and troops of the Ammonites. And He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by His servants the prophets.


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Surely at the commandment of the Lord [this] came on Judah, to remove [them] out of His sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;


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and also for the innocent blood which he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not pardon.


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And the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?


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And the king of Egypt did not come again out of his land any more. For the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates all that [belonged to] the king of Egypt.


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Jehoiachin [was] eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name [was] Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.


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At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.


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And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother, and his servants, and his leaders, and his eunuchs. And the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.


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And [he] carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.


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And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the leaders, and all the mighty men of war, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the poorest sort of the people of the land.


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And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his eunuchs. And the mighty of the land he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.


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And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of might, seven thousand of them, and a thousand craftsmen and smiths, all who were strong and able for war.


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And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father's brother, king in his place. And he changed his name to Zedekiah.


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Zedekiah [was] twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.


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For it was through the anger of the LORD that Zedekiah happened to rebel against the king of Babylon in Jerusalem and in Judah, until [God] had put them out of His presence.


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And it happened in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came. He and all his army came against Jerusalem and pitched against it, and built a siege-mound all around it.


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on the ninth of the [fourth] month, when famine was severe in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.


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And the city was broken up, and by night all the men of war [went] by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden. And the Chaldeans were against the city all round. And the king went the way toward the plain.


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And the army of the Chaldees pursued the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. And all his army were scattered from him.


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And they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon, to Riblah. And they gave judgment on him.


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And they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with bronze chains and carried him to Babylon.


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And in the fifth month, on the seventh of the month; it was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; Nebuzaradan the chief of the executioners, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.


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And he burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem. And every great one's house he burned with fire.


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And all the army of the Chaldeans who [were] with the chief of the executioners broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around.


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And the rest of the people who were left in the city, and the fugitives who fell away to the king of Babylon, with the rest of the multitude, the chief of the executioners carried away.


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But the chief of the executioners left a few of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.


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And the bronze pillars in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the bronze sea in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke into pieces and carried the bronze from them to Babylon.


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And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze with which they ministered, they also took away.


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And the chief of the executioners took away the fire-pans, and the bowls, that [were] all of gold, and all of silver;


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also the two pillars, the one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD. The bronze of all these vessels was without weight.


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The height of the one pillar [was] eighteen cubits, and the capital on it [was] bronze. And the height of the capital [was] three cubits. And the grating and the pomegranates on the capital all around [were] all of bronze. And the second pillar had grating like these.


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And the chief of the executioners took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.


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And he took out of the city a certain eunuch who was appointed over the men of war, and five men of those who were in the king's presence, who were found in the city, and the chief scribe of the army (who called up the people of the land together), and sixty men of the people of the land found in the city.


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And Nebuzaradan the chief of the executioners took these and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.


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And the king of Babylon struck them and killed them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. And he exiled Judah from its land.


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And he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left.


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And all the commanders of the army, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor. And they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.


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And Gedaliah swore to them and to their men, and said to them, Do not fear to be the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.


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And it happened in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama of the seed of the kingdom, and ten men with him, came and struck Gedaliah, and he died, and also the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.


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And all the people, both small and great, and the commanders of the armies, arose and came to Egypt. For they were afraid of the Chaldeans.


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And it happened in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison.


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And he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who [were] with him in Babylon.


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And his allowance [was] a regular allowance given him from the king, a daily ration for every day, all the days of his life.


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And the sons of Cush were Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.


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The sons of Shem were Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.


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And to Eber were born two sons. The name of the one [was] Peleg (because in his days the earth was divided), and the name of his brother [was] Joktan.


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These [are] their generations. The first-born of Ishmael was Nebaioth, and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,


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And the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: She bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.


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And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these [are] the sons of Keturah.


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The sons of Shobal: Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.


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And these [are] the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before a king reigned over the sons of Israel: Bela the son of Beor, and the name of his city [was] Dinhabah.


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And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city [was] Avith.


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And Baal-hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place. And the name of his city [was] Pai. And his wife's name [was] Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.


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The sons of Judah: Er and Onan, and Shelah, three born to him from the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the first-born of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and He killed him.


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Their sisters [were] Zeruiah and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah [were] Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.


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And Caleb the son of Hezron fathered [sons] of Azubah [his] wife, and of Jerioth. Her sons [are] these: Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.


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And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he [was] sixty years old. And she bore him Segub.


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And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and its towns, sixty cities. All these [belonged] to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.


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And after Hezron died in Caleb-ephratah, then Abiah, Hezron's wife bore him Ashur the father of Tekoa.


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And the sons of Jerahmeel the first-born of Hezron: Ram the first-born, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, [and] Ahijah.


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And the son of Appaim [was] Ishi. And the son of Ishi [was] Sheshan. And the son of Sheshan [was] Ahlai.


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And Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, and his name [was] Jarha.


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And the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha his first-born, the father of Ziph. And the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.


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She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea. And Caleb's daughter [was] Achsah.


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These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur. The first-born of Ephratah [was] Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim;


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And the families of Kirjath-jearim [were] the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. From them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.


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The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half the Manahethites, the Zorites.


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And the families of the scribes who lived at Jabez [were] the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These [are] the Kenites who came from Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.


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And these were the sons of David, who were born to him in Hebron. The first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel. The second, Daniel, of Abigail of Carmel.


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The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur. The fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith.


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[These] six were born to him in Hebron. And there he reigned seven years and six months. And he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years.


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And these were born to him in Jerusalem Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four of Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel


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And the sons of Josiah: Johanan the first-born, Jehoiakim the second, Zedekiah the third, Shallum the fourth.


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And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister,


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And the sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah, and Jesaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.


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And the son of Shechaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.


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And the sons of Elioenai: Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Delaiah, and Anani, seven.


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And Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath. And Jahath fathered Ahumai, and Lahad. These [are] the families of the Zorathites.


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And these [were] of the father of Etam: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash, and the name of their sister [was] Hazelelponi


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and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These [are] the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.


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And Naarah bore him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These [were] the sons of Naarah.


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And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. And his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bore [him] with sorrow.


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And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that You would bless me indeed, and make my border larger, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, so that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he asked.


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And Eshton fathered Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir-nahash. These [are] the men of Rechah.


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And Meonothai fathered Ophrah. And Seraiah fathered Joab, the father of the Valley of the Craftsmen. For they [were] craftsmen.


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And the sons of Ezra: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon. And she bore Miriam and Shammai, and Ishbah, Eshtemoa's father.


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And his wife Jehudijah bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these [are] the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took.


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And the sons of his wife [were] Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.


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And the sons of Shimon: Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.


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The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked fine linen, from the house of Ashbea,


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and Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the rule over Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And [these are] ancient things.


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These [were] the potters and those who lived among plants and hedges. They lived there with the king for his work.


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And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters. But his brothers did not have many sons, and all their family did not multiply like the sons of Judah.


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and at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-birei, and at Shaaraim. These [were] their cities until the reign of David.


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and all their villages [were] around these cities, to Baal. These [were] their homes and their family line.


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and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah.


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These going by name [were] rulers in their families. And the house of their fathers increased greatly.


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And they went to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to look for pasture for their flocks.


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And they found fertile and good pasture, for the land [was] wide and quiet and peaceable. For some of the sons of Ham had lived there of old.


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And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents, and the homes that were found there, and completely destroyed them until this day, and lived in their places, because there was pasture there for their flocks.


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And [some] of them, of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men went to Mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.


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And the sons of Reuben, the first-born of Israel (for he [was] the first-born; but since he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and the genealogy is not to be counted according to the birthright;


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For Judah prevailed among his brothers, and from him [came] the chief ruler, but the birthright [was] Joseph's);


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Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away. He [was] ruler of the men of Reuben.


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And his brothers by their families, in the genealogy of their generations: Jeiel the chief, and Zechariah,


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and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baal-meon.


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And he lived as far to the east as the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.


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And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand. And they lived in their tents throughout all the east [land] of Gilead.


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And their brothers from the house of their fathers: Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.


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These [are] the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz,


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And they lived in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the open lands of Sharon, on their borders.


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All these were counted by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.


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The sons of Reuben, and the sons of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, (sons of valor, men lifting up shield and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skillful in war), [were] forty-four thousand, seven hundred and sixty who went out to the war.


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And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all who [were] with them. For they cried to God in the battle, and He was pleased to hear them, because they put their trust in Him.


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And they took away their cattle: of their camels, fifty thousand; and of sheep, two hundred fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men a hundred thousand.


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For many fell down slain, because the war [was] of God. And they lived in their places until the captivity.


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And the sons of the half tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They increased from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir, and to Mount Hermon.


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And these [were] the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of war, famous men, heads of the house of their fathers.


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And they sinned against the God of their fathers, and went lusting after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.


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And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria. And he exiled them, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, to this day.


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And the sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and [their sister] Miriam. And the sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.


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And Johanan fathered Azariah, he who acted in the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem.


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The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. And these [are] the families of the Levites according to their fathers.


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And these [are] the men whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark had rest.


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And they ministered before the dwelling-place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. And they waited on their office according to their order.


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And these [are] the ones who waited with their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,


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And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,


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And their brothers the sons of Merari [stood] on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,


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And their brothers, the Levites, [were] appointed for all kinds of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.


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But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.


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And these [are] their dwelling-places throughout their camps, within their borders, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, for the lot was theirs.


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And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, and Libnah with its open lands, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with their open lands,


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And out of the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its open lands, and Alemeth with its open lands, and Anathoth with its open lands. All their cities throughout their families [were] thirteen cities.


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And to the sons of Kohath left of the family of that tribe, cities were given out of the half tribe, the half of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.


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And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.


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And to the sons of Merari [were given] by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.


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And they gave these cities which are called by their names, out of the tribe of the sons of Judah, and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin.


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And [some] of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.


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And they gave to them for the cities of refuge, Shechem in Mount Ephraim, with its open lands, also Gezer with its open lands,


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And out of the half tribe of Manasseh: Aner with its open lands, and Bileam with its open lands, for the family of the rest of the sons of Kohath.


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To the sons of Gershom [were given] out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its open lands, and Ashtaroth with its open lands.


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And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its open lands, and Hammon with its open lands, and Kirjath-aim with its open lands.


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To the rest of the sons of Merari [were given] out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with its open lands, Tabor with its open lands.


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And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan: out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness, with its open lands, and Jahzah with its open lands,


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And out of the tribe of Gad they gave Ramoth in Gilead with its open lands, and Mahanaim with its open lands,


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And the sons of Tola: Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers house, [these] to Tola, great men of might in their generations. Their number in the days of David [was] twenty-two thousand and six hundred.


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And the son of Uzzi was Izrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah: Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five. All of them chiefs.


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And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, [were] bands of soldiers for war, thirty-six thousand men. For they had many wives and sons.


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And their brothers among all the families of Issachar [were] great men of might, being in all, by their genealogies, eighty-seven thousand.


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And the sons of Bela: Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five heads of their fathers' house, mighty men of valor. And their genealogy, twenty-two thousand and thirty-four.


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And the sons of Becher: Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these [were] the sons of Becher.


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And their genealogy by their generations, heads of their fathers' house, mighty men of valor, twenty thousand and two hundred.


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And the son of Jediael was Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tarshish, and Ahishahar.


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All these [were] the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valor, seventeen thousand and two hundred men, going out to war for battle.


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The sons of Manasseh: Ashriel, the son born to his Syrian concubine with Machir the father of Gilead,


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and Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim; and the name of his sister [was] Maachah. And the name of the second [was] Zelophehad. And Zelophehad had daughters.


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And Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name Peresh. And the name of his brother [was] Sheresh, and his sons [were] Ulam and Rakem.


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And the son of Ulam was Bedan. These [were] the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.


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And the sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,


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and Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead. And the men of Gath, natives in the land, killed them because they came down to take away their cattle.


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And he went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.


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And their possessions and habitations: Bethel and its towns, and eastward to Naaran, and westward to Gezer, with its towns; and Shechem and its towns, to Gaza and its towns.


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And by the borders of the sons of Manasseh: Beth-shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these lived the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel.


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All these [were] the sons of Asher, heads of their fathers' house, choice, mighty warriors, heads of the rulers. And their enrollment in the warfare in the battle, their number [was] twenty-six thousand men.


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And these [are] the sons of Ehud, these are the heads of the fathers of the people of Geba; and they exiled them to Manahath.


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And Shaharaim fathered [sons] in the land of Moab, after he had sent them away. Hushim and Baara [were] his wives.


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And Beriah and Shema [were] heads of the fathers of the people of Aijalon, who drove away the people of Gath;


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And Mikloth fathered Shimeah. And these also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, across from them.


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And Ner fathered Kish, and Kish fathered Saul. And Saul fathered Jonathan, and Malchishua and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.


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And Ahaz fathered Jehoadah. And Jehoadah fathered Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri. And Zimri fathered Moza.


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And Azel [had] six sons, and these their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these [were] the sons of Azel.


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And the sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his first-born; Jehush, the second; and Eliphelet, the third.


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And the sons of Ulam were mighty men, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, a hundred and fifty. All these [were] the sons of Benjamin.


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So all Israel enrolled themselves. And behold, they [were] written in the book of the kings of Israel. And Judah was exiled to Babylon for their sins.


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And the first people in their possessions in their cities [were] the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the temple slaves.


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And in Jerusalem lived of the sons of Judah, and of the sons of Benjamin, and of the sons of Ephraim, and Manasseh:


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Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the sons of Pharez the son of Judah.


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and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah,


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and their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men [were] chief of the fathers to their fathers' house.


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and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God,


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and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer,


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and their brothers, heads of their fathers' house, seventeen hundred and sixty very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.


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And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari,


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and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,


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and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.


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And the gatekeepers [were] Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman; and their brothers, Shallum [was] the chief.


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And before they [were] at the king's gate eastward, they [were] gatekeepers in the companies of the sons of Levi.


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And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of the house of his father, the Korahites, [were] over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle. And their fathers [were over the army of the LORD, keepers of the entry.


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And Phinehas the son of Eleazar [was] the ruler over them in time past, [and] the LORD [was] with him.


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Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah [was] gatekeeper of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.


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All these chosen for gatekeepers in the gates [were] two hundred and twelve. These by their genealogies, in their villages, [were] the ones David and Samuel the seer ordained in their set office.


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So they and their sons [were] over the gates of the house of the LORD, the house of the tabernacle, by watches.


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For they [were] in faithfulness, the four chief gatekeepers; they [were] Levites, and were over the rooms, and over the treasuries of the house of God.


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And they lived around the house of God, because the duty [was] on them. And they [were] to open it morning by morning.


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And [certain] of them [were] over the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by count.


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Some of them also [were] appointed to oversee the vessels and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.


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And Mattithiah, of the Levites, who [was] the first-born of Shallum the Korahite, [was] faithful over the work of the pans.


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And others of the sons of the Kohathites, from among their brothers, [were] over The Bread of Arrangement, to prepare sabbath by sabbath.


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And these [were] the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites in the chambers, they [were] free of duty, for they were employed in that work day and night.


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These chief fathers of the Levites [were] chief throughout their generations. These lived at Jerusalem.


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And Mikloth fathered Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brothers at Jerusalem, across from their brothers.


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And Ner fathered Kish. And Kish fathered Saul. And Saul fathered Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.


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and Ahaz fathered Jarah. And Jarah fathered Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri. And Zimri fathered Moza.


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And to Azel [were] six sons, and these their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. These [were] the sons of Azel.


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And the Philistines fought with Israel. And the men of Israel fled from the face of the Philistines, and fell down dead in Mount Gilboa.


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And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.


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And the battle went sorely against Saul. And the archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers.


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And Saul said to his armor-bearer, Draw your sword and pierce me with it, lest these uncircumcised ones come and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not, for he was very much afraid. So Saul took a sword and fell on it.


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And all the men of Israel in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons had died. And they left their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.


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And it happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, and they found Saul and his sons fallen in Mount Gilboa.


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And they stripped him, and carried his head and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry news to their idols and to the people.


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And all the mighty men arose and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.


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And Saul died for his sin which he committed against the LORD, against the word of the LORD, which he did not keep, and also for seeking of a medium, to inquire, and


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And also in time past, even when Saul was king, you [were] the one who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD your God said to you, You shall feed My people Israel, and you shall be ruler over My people Israel.


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And all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron. And David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.


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And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites [were] the people of the land.


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And the people of Jebus said to David, You shall not come in here. But David took the stronghold of Zion, which [is] the city of David.


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And David said, Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first and was chief.


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And he built the city all around, even from Millo all around. And Joab repaired the rest of the city.


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And these [were] the chief of the mighty men whom David [had], making themselves strong with him in his kingdom, with all Israel to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.


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And this [is] the number of the mighty men whom David [had]: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, the chief of the captains. He lifted up his spear against three hundred, who were killed by him at one time.


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He was with David at Pas-dammim. And there the Philistines were gathered together to battle and a portion of the field was full of barley. And the people fled from before the Philistines.


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And they set themselves in the midst of that place, and delivered it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD saved [them] by a great deliverance.


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And three of the mighty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam. And the Philistine army camped in the Valley of the Giants.


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And David longed and said, Oh that someone would give me drink from the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [was] by the gate!


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And the three broke through the Philistine army and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and took [it], and brought [it] to David. But David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.


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And he said, May my God forbid me to do this thing. Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in danger? For they brought it with their lives. And he [was] not willing to drink it. These three mighty ones did these things.


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And Abishai the brother of Joab [was] chief of the three. For lifting up his spear against three hundred, he killed them, and had a name among the three.


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Of the three, he was more honorable than the two for he was their captain. However, he did not attain the first three.


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Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a mighty man of Kabzeel, had done many acts. He killed two lion-like men of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day.


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And he killed an Egyptian, a man of stature, five cubits high. And in the Egyptian's hand [was] a spear like a weaver's beam. And he went down to him with a staff and wrenched the spear out of the Egyptians hand, and killed him with his own spear.


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Behold, he was honorable among the thirty, but did not attain the [first] three. And David set him over his court.


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And these [were] the ones who came to David to Ziklag, while banned from the face of Saul the son of Kish. And they [were] among the mighty men, helpers of the war,


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right and left-handed, armed with bows, with stones, and with arrows, with the bow from the brothers of Saul, of Benjamin.


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The chief [was] Ahiezer, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Berachah, and Jehu of Anathoth


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and Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,


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And of the Gadites mighty men separated themselves to David into the stronghold in the wilderness, men of the army for battle, setting in order shield and buckler, and their faces [were] the faces of a lion, and as gazelles on the heights for swiftness:


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These [were] the sons of Gad, captains of the army. One of the least [was] over a hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.


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These [were] they who went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks. And they put all those of the valleys to flight, toward the east and toward the west.


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And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, If you have come to me in peace, to help me, my heart shall be knit to you. But if you come to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, let the God of our fathers look on it and rebuke it.


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And the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty. [And he said], We [are] yours, David, and on your side, son of Jesse. Peace, peace be on you, and peace on your helpers. For your God has helped you. And David received them and made them captains of the band.


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And [some] from Manasseh fell to David when he came with the Philistines to battle against Saul. (But they did not help them. For the lords of the Philistines sent him away on advice, saying, He will fall to his master Saul with our heads.)


text:
As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him these from Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of the thousands who [were] from Manasseh.


text:
And they helped David against the band, for they [were] all mighty men of power, and [were] commanders in the army.


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For at [that] time they came to David day by day to help him, until [it was] a great army, like an army of God.


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And these [were] the numbers of the chiefs of those armed for war who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.


text:
And Jehoiada [was] the leader of the Aaronites, and with him [were] three thousand and seven hundred.


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And the sons of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul [were] three thousand. And before, the most of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.


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And of the sons of Ephraim [were] twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous throughout the house of their fathers.


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And from the half tribe of Manasseh [were] eighteen thousand, who [were] chosen by name to come and make David king.


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And from the sons of Issachar, [men] who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them [were] two hundred. And all their brothers [were] at their command.


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From Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all the weapons of war, fifty thousand who could keep rank. [They were] not of a double heart.


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And from Naphtali, a thousand captains; and with them with shield and spear [were] thirty-seven thousand.


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And on the other side of Jordan, from the Reubenites, and of the Gadites, and from the half tribe of Manasseh, with all of the weapons of war for battle [were] a hundred and twenty thousand.


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All these [were] men of war, keeping rank, they came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over Israel. And also all the rest of Israel [was] of one heart to make David king.


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And they [were] with David three days, eating and drinking. For their brothers had prepared food for them.


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And also those who were near them, even to Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen. And they brought food, meal, cakes of figs and bunches of raisins, and wine and oil, and oxen and sheep abundantly. For there [was] joy in Israel.


text:
And David said to all the congregation of Israel, If it is good to you, and if it has broken forth from the LORD our God, let us send to our brothers, those remaining in all the lands of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites in their cities that they be gathered to us.


text:
And David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even to the entering of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim.


text:
And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath-jearim of Judah, to bring up from there the ark of Jehovah God, He who dwells between the cherubs, whose name is called on it.


text:
And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab. And Uzza and Ahio led the cart.


text:
And David and all Israel played before God with all [their] might, and with singing, and with lyres, and with harps, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.


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And when they came to the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark for the oxen stumbled.


text:
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark. And he died there before the LORD.


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And David was displeased because the LORD had made a break on Uzza. And he called that place The Breach of Uzza to this day.


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And David did not bring the ark to himself to the City of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.


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And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had.


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And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timbers of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house.


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And David saw that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted on high, because of His people Israel.


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And these [were] the names of the children whom he [had] in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,


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And the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, and all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard, and went out against them.


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And David asked of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You deliver them into my hand? And the LORD said to him, Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.


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And they came up to Baal-perazim. And David struck them there. Then David said, God has broken in on my enemies by my hand like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place The Breaking of Baal.


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And David asked again of God. And God said to him, Do not go up after them. Turn away from them, and come on them over against the weeping trees.


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And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the weeping trees, then you shall go out to battle. For God has gone forth before you to strike the army of the Philistines.


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And David did as God commanded him. And they struck the army of the Philistines from Gibeon to Gezer.


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And [David] made houses for himself in the City of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.


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Then David said, No one ought to carry the ark of God except the Levites, for God has chosen them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to Him forever.


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And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place which He had prepared for it.


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And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab.


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And he said to them, You [are] the heads of the fathers of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place which I have prepared for it.


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For because you did not do it at the first, Jehovah our God made a break on us, since we did not seek Him in due order.


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And the priests and the Levites made themselves pure in order to bring up the ark of Jehovah God of Israel.


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And the sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders, with the staves on it, as Moses commanded according to the Word of the LORD.


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And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to choose their brothers to be the singers with instruments of music, lyres, and harps, and cymbals, sounding by lifting the voice with joy.


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And the Levites chose Heman the son of Joel, and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah. And from the sons of Merari their brothers, was Ethan the son of Kushaiah.


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And with them [were] their brothers of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.


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and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with harps [set] to Alamoth.


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And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, [were] to lead with lyres on the octave.


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And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, [was] for song. He instructed about the song, because he [was] skillful.


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And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew with the trumpets before the ark of God. And Obed-edom and Jehiah [were] gatekeepers for the ark.


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And it happened, David and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.


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And it happened as God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they offered seven bulls and seven rams.


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And David [was] clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites who carried the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers. David also had on him an ephod of linen.


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And all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with harps and lyres.


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And it happened [as] the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the City of David, Michal the daughter of Saul, looking out a window, saw king David dancing and playing. And she despised him in her heart.


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And they brought the ark of God and set it in the middle of the tent which David had pitched for it. And they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.


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And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.


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And he divided to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread and a portion, and a raisin cake.


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And he appointed [certain] of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise Jehovah God of Israel:


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Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom. And Jeiel praised with instruments of harps and with lyres; and Asaph made a sound with cymbals.


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Also Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests [praised] with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.


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Then on that day David first delivered [this psalm] into the hand of Asaph and his brothers in order to thank the LORD:


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Give to the LORD the glory of His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.


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Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. And let them say among the nations, The LORD reigns.


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Then shall the trees of the forest sing out at the presence of the LORD, because He comes to judge the earth.


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And say, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us, and deliver us from the nations, so that we may give thanks to Your holy name, [and] glory in Your praise.


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Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel forever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.


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And he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for Asaph and his brothers, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required;


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also Obed-edom, with their brothers, sixty-eight; and Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun and Hosah [to be] gatekeepers.


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And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place at Gibeon,


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to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the burnt offering morning and evening without end, and [to do] according to all that is written in the law of the LORD which He commanded Israel.


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And [he left] with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were called by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy [endures] forever.


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And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those making a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun [were] gatekeepers.


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And it happened as David sat in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD [is] under curtains.


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For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel until today, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle [to another.]


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Wherever I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people, saying, Why have you not built Me a house of cedars?


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And now you shall say this to My servant David, So says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, so that you should be ruler over My people Israel.


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And I have been with you wherever you have walked, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men in the earth.


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And I will set a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall live in their place and shall be moved no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,


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and since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. And I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house.


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And it will be, when your days have ended so that you must go [to be] with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, who shall be from your sons. And I will make his kingdom sure.


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I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. And I will not take My mercy away from him as I took [it] from him who was before you.


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And I will settle him in My house, and in My kingdom forever. And his throne shall be established forever.


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And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who [am] I, O, Jehovah God, and what is my house, that You have brought me here?


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And this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God, for You have also spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.


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O LORD, for Your servant's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, in making known all [these] great things.


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O LORD, [there is] none like You, neither [any] God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.


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And what one nation in the earth [is] like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem [to be] His own people, to make You a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You have redeemed out of Egypt?


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And You have chosen Your people Israel for Yourself, for a people forever. And You, LORD, became their God.


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And now, O LORD, let the thing which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as You have said.


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Let it even be established, so that Your name may be magnified forever, saying, The LORD of hosts [is] the God of Israel, a God to Israel. And [let] the house of David Your servant be established before You.


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For You, O my God, have told Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found [in his heart] to pray before You.


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And now let it please You to bless the house of Your servant so that it may be before You forever. For You have blessed, O LORD, and it [is] blessed forever.


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And it happened after this, David struck the Philistines and humbled them. And he took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.


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And David struck Hadarezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.


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And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. David also hamstrung all the chariot [horses], but kept from them a hundred chariots.


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And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians.


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Then David placed [troops] in Syria, [in] Damascus. And the Syrians became David's servants, bringing gifts. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.


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And David took the shields of gold which [were] on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.


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And David brought very much bronze from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.


text:
he sent Hadoram his son to king David to ask of his welfare, and to praise him because he had fought against Hadarezer and had beaten him. For Hadarezer had war with Tou. And [he sent] all kinds of vessels of gold and silver and bronze.


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And King David dedicated them to the LORD, with the silver and the gold which he brought from all the nations, from Edom, and from Moab, and from the sons of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.


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And he put guards in Edom. And all the men of Edom [became] David's servants. And the LORD kept David safe wherever he went.


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And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar [were] the priests. And Shavsha [was] scribe.


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And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And the sons of David [were] first ones at the hand of the king.


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And it happened after this, Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died. And his son reigned in his place.


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And David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun, in order to comfort him.


text:
But the rulers of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, Is David honoring your father in your eyes, because he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?


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And Hanun took David's servants and shaved them, and cut off their garments in half, to the buttocks, and sent them away.


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And [some] came and told David how the men were treated. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Stay at Jericho until your beards are grown, and [then] return.


text:
And the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves stink before David, and Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia and out of Maachah of Syria, and out of Zobah.


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And they hired thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and pitched before Medeba. And the Ammonites gathered themselves from their cities and came to battle.


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And the sons of Ammon came out and put the battle in order before the gate of the city. And the kings who had come [were] by themselves in the field.


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And Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, and he chose out of all the choice young men of Israel and set in order against the Syrians.


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And he delivered the rest of the people into the hand of his brother Abishai. And they set in order against the sons of Ammon.


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And he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.


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Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves bravely for our people, and for the cities of our God. And let the LORD do what is good in His sight.


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And Joab and the people with him drew near before the Syrians to the battle. And they fled before him.


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And when the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they also fled before his brother Abishai. And they entered into the city. And Joab came to Jerusalem.


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And the Syrians saw that they were beaten before Israel, and sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians who [were] beyond the river. And Shophach the captain of the army of Hadarezer went before them.


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And it was told to David. And he gathered all Israel and passed over Jordan and came on them. And he set in order against them. And David set in order against the Syrians, and they fought with him.


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But the Syrians fled before Israel. And David killed seven thousand of the Syrians [in] chariots, and forty thousand footmen; and he killed Shophach the commander of the army.


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And the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were beaten before Israel, and they made peace with David and became his servants. And Syria was not willing to help the sons of Ammon any more.


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And it happened after the year had ended, at the time kings go forth, Joab led out the power of the army and wasted the country of the sons of Ammon. And he came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and destroyed it.


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And David took the crown of their king from off his head and found its weight a talent of gold. And precious stones [were] in it. And it was set on David's head, and he also brought exceeding much spoil out of the city.


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And he brought out the people who [were] in it. And [they] sawed with saws and with sharp tools of iron, and with the axes. And so David did with the cities of the sons of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.


text:
And it happened after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the children of the giant. And they were humbled.


text:
And there was war again with the Philistines. And Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear [was] like a weavers' beam.


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And again there was a battle in Gath, and a man of stature was there, and his fingers and toes [were] twenty-four, six [on each hand] and six [on each foot]. And he also had been born son of the giant.


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These were born to the giant in Gath. And they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.


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And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go number Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan. And bring the number of them to me so that I may know.


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And Joab answered, May the LORD add to His people a hundred times, but my lord the king, [are] they not all my lord's servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?


text:
But the king's word prevailed against Joab. And Joab departed and went up and down all Israel, and came again to Jerusalem.


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And Joab gave the sum of the census of the people to David. And in all Israel there were one million and a hundred thousand men who drew sword. And in Judah [were] four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew sword.


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And David said to God, I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. But now, I beseech You, remove the iniquity of Your servant for I have done very foolishly.


text:
Go and speak to David, saying, So says the LORD: I offer you three [things]. Choose one of them so that I may do it to you.


text:
either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtake you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, even the plague in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the border of Israel. And now say what word I shall bring again to Him who sent me.


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And David said to Gad, I am in great distress. Let me fall now into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies [are] very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.


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And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. And as he was destroying, the LORD looked. And He repented of the evil and said to the angel who destroyed, Enough! Stay your hand now! And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


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And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between the earth and the heavens, and his sword drawn in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem. And David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.


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And David said to God, Did not I command to number the people? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed. But these sheep, what have they done? I pray You, let Your hand be on me, O LORD my God, and on my father's house, but not on Your people, that they should be plagued.


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And the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an altar to the LORD in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


text:
And Ornan turned back and saw the angel. And his four sons with him hid themselves. And Ornan was threshing wheat.


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And David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David. And he went out of the threshing-floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground.


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Then David said to Ornan, Give me the place of this threshing-floor, so that I may build an altar in it to the LORD. You shall give it to me for the full price, so that the plague may be stayed from the people.


text:
And Ornan said to David, Take for yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. Lo, I give the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the food offering. I give it all.


text:
And King David said to Ornan, No, but I will truly buy it for the full silver. For I will not take what [is] yours for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.


text:
And David built an altar there to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the LORD. And He answered him from Heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.


text:
At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.


text:
For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, [were] at that time in the high place at Gibeon.


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But David could not go before it to ask of God, for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.


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Then David said, This [is] the house of the LORD God, and this [is] the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.


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And David commanded the strangers in the land of Israel to be gathered. And he set masons to cut squared stones to build the house of God.


text:
And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings, and bronze in abundance without weight,


text:
and also cedar trees without number, for the Sidonians and the Tyrians brought in cedar trees in abundance to David.


text:
And David said, Solomon my son [is] young and tender, and the house to be built for the LORD is to be highly magnificent, for a name and for beauty to all the lands. I will now prepare for it. And David prepared abundantly before his death.


text:
And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God.


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But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, You have shed much blood and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to My name because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight.


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Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. And I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.


text:
He shall build a house for My name. And he shall be My son, and I [will be] his Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.


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Now, my son, may the LORD be with you and bless you, and build the house of the LORD your God as He has said of you.


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Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and direct you concerning Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.


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Then you shall prosper, if you take heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses, concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not fear, nor be dismayed.


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And, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a million talents of silver, and of bronze and iron without weight, for it is in abundance. I have prepared timber also, and stone, and you may add to them.


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And there [are] many workmen with you, cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of skillful men for every kind of work.


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Of the gold, the silver, and the bronze, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and may the LORD be with you.


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Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the people of the land into my hand. And the land is humbled before the LORD and before His people.


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Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. Arise therefore and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.


text:
And the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward. And their number by their heads, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.


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Of these, twenty-four thousand [were] to set forward the work of the house of the LORD, and six thousand officers and judges.


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And four thousand [were] gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which [David] made for praising.


text:
The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These [were] the chief of the fathers of Laadan.


text:
And Jahath [was] the chief, and Zizah the second. But Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons. Therefore they were in one roster, according to [their] father's house.


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The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was separated so that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to Him, and to bless in His name forever.


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And the sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.


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of the sons of Hebron, Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.


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And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but had daughters. And their brothers, the sons of Kish, took them.


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These [were] the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers, the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their heads, the ones who did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.


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For David said, The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people so that they may dwell in Jerusalem forever,


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and also to the Levites, so that they shall no [more] carry the tabernacle, nor any of its vessels for its service.


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because their office [was] to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God


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both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for food offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all kinds of measure and size,


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And [they] were to offer all burnt sacrifices to the LORD in the sabbath, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded to them, continually before the LORD,


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and that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the Holy Place, and the charge of their brothers, the sons of Aaron, in the service of the house of the LORD.


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And the divisions of the sons of Aaron [were]: The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.


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And David distributed them according to their offices in their service, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar.


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And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar. And so they were divided. Among the sons of Eleazar [were] sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.


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So they divided them by lot, one sort with another. For the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.


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And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the rulers, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and [before] the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites. One principal household was taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.


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These [were] their orderings in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, to Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.


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The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These [were] the sons of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.


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And they also cast lots along with their brothers, the sons of Aaron, before David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, the head of the fathers, as well as his younger brother.


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And David and the army commanders separated to the service those of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who [were] prophets with lyres and with cymbals. And the number of the workmen according to their service was:


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of the sons of Asaph, Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons under the hands of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king.


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Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, [and Shimei], six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre to give thanks and to praise the LORD.


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Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Josh-bekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.


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All these [were] the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.


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All these [were] under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.


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So the number of them, with their brothers who [were] instructed in the songs of the LORD, all that [were] skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.


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And the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph; the second was to Gedaliah, with his brothers and sons, twelve;


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For the divisions of the gatekeepers: Of the Korahites: Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.


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And the sons of Meshelemiah: Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,


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And the sons of Obed-edom: Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,


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Also sons [were] born to his son Shemaiah, who ruled for the house of their father, for they [were] mighty men of valor.


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The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brothers [were] strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.


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All these [were] the sons of Obed-edom. They and their sons and their brothers [were] able men for strength for the service, and there [were] sixty-two of Obed-edom.


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Also to Hosah, of the sons of Merari, [were] sons: Simri was the chief ( though] not the first-born, yet his father made him the chief),


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Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth. All the sons and brothers of Hosah [were] thirteen.


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among these [were] the divisions of the gatekeepers, among the chief men, having charges like their brothers, to minister in the house of the LORD.


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And they cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.


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And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah; then Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots. And his lot came out northward.


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to Shuppim and Hosah westward, with the gate of Shallecheth, by the highway going up, guard corresponding to guard.


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Eastward [were] six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward the storehouse, two by two.


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And of the Levites, Ahijah [was] over the treasures of the house of God and over the treasures of the dedicated things.


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the sons of Jehieli: Zetham and Joel his brother, [who were] over the treasures of the house of the LORD,


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And his brothers by Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.


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This Shelomith and his brothers [were] over all the treasures of the holy things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the commanders over thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had given.


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and all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated. Whoever had dedicated [anything, it was] at the hand of Shelomith and of his brothers.


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Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons [were] for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.


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Of the men of Hebron, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, [were] officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.


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Jerijah [was] the chief among the men of Hebron. He was of the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.


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And his brothers, mighty men, [were] two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers whom King David made rulers over the men of Reuben, of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter having to do with God and the affairs of the king.


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And the sons of Israel according to their number, the chief fathers and commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in any matter of the divisions, who came in and went out month by month for all the months of the year, [were] twenty-four thousand of every division.


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Over the first division for the first month [was] Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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And over the division of the second month [was] Dodai the Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth [was] also the ruler. In his division also [were] twenty-four thousand.


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The third commander of the army for the third month [was] Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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This [is that] Benaiah who [was] mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty. And in his division [was] Ammizabad his son.


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The fourth for the fourth month [was] Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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The fifth commander for the fifth month [was] Shamhuth the Izrahite. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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The sixth for the sixth month [was] Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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The seventh for the seventh month [was] Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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The eighth for the eighth month [was] Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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The ninth for the ninth month [was] Abiezer the Anethothite, of the Benjamites. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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The tenth for the tenth month [was] Maharai of Netopha, of the Zerahites. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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The eleventh for the eleventh month [was] Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the sons of Ephraim. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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The twelfth for the twelfth month [was] Heldai of Netopha, of Othniel. And in his division [were] twenty-four thousand.


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And over the tribes of Israel, the ruler of the Reubenites [was] Eliezer the son of Zichri. The ruler of the Simeonites [was] Shephatiah the son of Maachah.


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Over Judah [was] Elihu, of the brothers of David. The ruler of Issachar [was] Omri the son of Michael.


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The ruler of Zebulun [was] Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah. The ruler of Naphtali [was] Jerimoth the son of Azriel.


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The ruler of the sons of Ephraim [was] Hoshea the son of Azaziah. The ruler of the half tribe of Manasseh [was] Joel the son of Pedaiah.


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The ruler of the [half] tribe of Manasseh in Gilead [was] Iddo the son of Zechariah. The ruler of Benjamin [was] Jaasiel the son of Abner.


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[The ruler] of Dan [was] Azareel the son of Jeroham. These [were] the rulers of the tribes of Israel.


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But David did not take the number of those from twenty years old and under, because the LORD had said [He would] increase Israel like the stars of the heavens.


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Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he did not finish because wrath fell against the sons of Israel for this. And the number did not go up in the account of the chronicles of King David.


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And over the king's treasures [was] Azmaveth the son of Adiel. And over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the strongholds, [was] Jehonathan the son of Uzziah.


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And over the vineyards [was] Shimei of Ramah. Over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars [was] Zabdi the Shiphmite.


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And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that [were] in the low plains [was] Baal-hanan of Geder. And over the cellars of oil [was] Joash.


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And over the herds that fed in Sharon [was] Shitrai of Sharon. And over the herds in the valleys [was] Shaphat the son of Adlai.


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And over the flocks [was] Jaziz the son of Hagar. All these [were] the rulers of the substance which [was] King David's.


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And Jonathan, David's uncle, [was] an adviser, a wise man and a scribe. And Jehiel the son of Hachmoni [was] with the king's sons.


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And after Ahithophel [was] Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. And the general of the king's army [was] Joab.


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And David gathered to Jerusalem all the rulers of Israel, the rulers of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that ministered to the king by division, and the commanders over the thousands, and commanders over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the eunuchs and the mighty ones, even to every mighty one of valor.


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And David the king stood up on his feet and said, Hear me, my brothers and my people. I [had] in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building.


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But God said to me, You shall not build a house for My name, because you [have been] a man of war and have shed blood.


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But the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be the ruler, and of the house of Judah the house of my father. And in my father's house He was pleased to make me king over all Israel.


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And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.


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And He said to me, Solomon your son shall build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him [to be] My son, and I will be his Father.


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And I will establish his kingdom forever if he will always do My commandments and My judgments, as at this day.


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And now in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God, so that you may possess this good land and leave [it] for an inheritance for your sons after you forever.


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And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind. For the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you. But if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.


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Take heed now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do [it].


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And David gave to his son Solomon the pattern of the porch, and of its houses, and of its treasuries, and of its upper rooms, and of its innermost rooms, and of the place of the mercy-seat,


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and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the rooms all around the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the holy things;


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And for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD;


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even gold by weight for [things] of gold, for all instruments of every kind of service; silver for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels every kind of service;


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and by weight for the lampstands of gold, and for their lamps of gold, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps. And he gave for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and for its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;


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and by weight gold for the tables of the showbread, for every table; silver for the tables of silver;


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and pure gold for the flesh-hooks, and the bowls, and the cups; and for the golden basins by weight for each basin, and by weight for each basin of silver;


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and the altar of incense refined gold by weight, and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubs, who spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.


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And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]. Do not fear, nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, [will be] with you. He will not fail you nor leave you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.


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And, behold, the divisions of the priests and the Levites are for all the service of the house of God. And [there shall be] with you every willing, skillful man for every kind of workmanship, for any kind of service. Also the rulers and all the people will be according to all your words.


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And David the king said to all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, [is] young and tender, and the work [is] great. For the palace [is] not for man, but for the LORD God.


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And I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for [things of] gold, and the silver for [things] of silver, and the bronze for [things] of bronze, the iron for [things] of iron, and wood for things] of wood, onyx stones, and [stones to] be set, and also stones of antimony, and stones of many colors, and every precious stone, and stones of alabaster, in abundance.


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And also, because I have delighted in the house of my God, out of my own treasure of gold and silver I have given to the house of my God over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,


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three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses;


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the gold for [things] of gold, and the silver for [things] of silver, and for all kinds of work by the hands of skillful workers. And who [is] willing to consecrate his service this day to the LORD?


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And the chiefs of the fathers, and the rulers of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly.


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And they gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents of gold and ten thousand darics, and ten thousand talents of silver, and eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.


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And he [who had] precious stones gave to the treasury of the house of the LORD by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.


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And the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD. And David the king also rejoiced with great joy.


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And David blessed the LORD before all the congregation. And David said, Blessed [are] You, LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever.


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O LORD, Yours [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and, the majesty. For all in the heavens and in the earth [is Yours]. Yours [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and You lift up [Yourself] to all as Head.


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And the riches and the honor [are] from You, and You reign over all. And in Your hand [is] power and might. And [it is] in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all.


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But who [am] I, and who my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things [are] from You, and we have given to You that which is Yours.


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For we [are] strangers before You, and pilgrims, as our fathers [were]. Our days on the earth [are] like a shadow, and none abides.


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O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name [comes] from Your hand, and is all Your own.


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I know also, my God, that You try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. I, in the uprightness of my heart, have willingly offered all these things. And now I have seen with joy Your people who are present here to offer willingly to You.


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O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and prepare their heart to You.


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And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the magnificent house [for] which I have made ready.


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And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God! And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed and worshiped the LORD, and [bowed] to the king.


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And they sacrificed sacrifices to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the next day after that day a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.


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And they ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed [him] before the LORD as ruler, and Zadok [to be] as priest.


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And Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of David his father. And he was blessed, and all Israel obeyed him.


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And all the rulers and the mighty men, and also all the sons of king David submitted themselves to Solomon the king.


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And the LORD made Solomon very great in the sight of all Israel, and placed on him [such] royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.


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And the time that he reigned over Israel [was] forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three [years] in Jerusalem.


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And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place.


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And the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,


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with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the lands.


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And Solomon the son of David was made strong in his kingdom, and the LORD his God [was] with him and made him very great.


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And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.


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And Solomon and all the congregation with him went to the high place at Gibeon. For there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.


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But the ark of God David had brought up from Kirjath-jearim to the place which David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.


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And he put the bronze altar which Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the congregation of the LORD sought to it.


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And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which [was] at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.


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And Solomon said to God, You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me to reign in his stead.


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Now, O LORD God, Your promise to David my father has been fulfilled. For You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.


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Give me now wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people. For who can judge this Your great people?


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And God said to Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, nor honor, nor the life of your enemies, nor yet have asked for long life but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may judge My people, over whom I have made you king.


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wisdom and knowledge [is] granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, nor shall any after you have the like.


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And Solomon came [from] the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.


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And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. And he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.


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And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem like stones, and he made cedar trees as plentiful as the sycamore trees in the valley.


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And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt and Kue. The king's merchants received [them] from Kue at a price.


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And they carried up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred [shekels] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. And so they brought out [horses] for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their hands.


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And Solomon counted out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand as cutters in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.


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And Solomon sent to Hiram the king of Tyre, saying, As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house to dwell in, [so deal with me.]


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Behold, I am building a house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate [it] to Him, and to burn before Him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel.


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But who is able to build Him a house, since the heavens and heaven of the heavens cannot contain Him? Who [am] I then, that I should build Him a house, except only to burn sacrifice before Him?


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And now send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and one who is skillful to engrave with the skillful men who [are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.


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And send me cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees out of Lebanon. For I know that your servants are skillful to cut timber in Lebanon. And, behold, my servants [shall be] with your servants


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in order to prepare plenty of timber for me. For the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.


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And behold, I will give to the hewers, those who cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.


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And Hiram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD has loved His people, He has made you king over them.


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And Hiram said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son blessed with judgment and understanding, who might build a house for the LORD and a house for his kingdom.


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the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father [was] a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in bronze, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson. He also can engrave any kind of engraving, and can invent every device which shall be put to him, with your skillful men, and with the skillful men of my lord David your father.


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And now the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants.


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And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need. And we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa. And you shall carry it up to Jerusalem.


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And Solomon numbered all the aliens in the land of Israel, according to the numbering with which David his father had numbered them. And they [were] found to be a hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred.


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And he set seventy thousand of them [to be] bearers of burdens, and eighty thousand to be cutters in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people to work.


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And Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah, where He appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


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Now these [are] the foundations Solomon [laid], to build the house of God. The length [by] cubits according to the first measure, sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.


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And the porch on the front, the length according to the breadth of the house, [was] twenty cubits, and the height a hundred and twenty. And he overlaid it inside with pure gold.


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And he made the ceiling of the greater house with fir wood, which he overlaid with fine gold. And he set palm trees and chains on it.


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He also overlaid the house, the beams, the posts, and its walls, and its doors, with gold. And he engraved cherubs on the walls.


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And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length [was] by the front, of the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and its breadth, twenty cubits. And he overlaid it with fine gold, to six hundred talents.


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And the wings of the cherubs [were] twenty cubits long. One wing [was] five cubits, touching to the wall of the house; and the other wing five cubits, touching to the wing of the other cherub.


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And [one] wing of the other cherub [was] five cubits, touching to the wall of the house; and the other wing five cubits, touching to the wing of the other cherub.


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The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits. And they stood on their feet, and their faces [were] inward.


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He also made two pillars of thirty-five cubits high in front of the house, and the capital on the tops of each of them [was] five cubits.


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And he made chains, [as] in the holy place, and put them on the tops of the pillars. And he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains.


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And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left. And he called the name of the one on the right Jachin, and the name of the one on the left Boaz.


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And he made an altar of bronze. Twenty cubits [was] the length of it, and twenty cubits its breadth, and ten cubits its height.


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And He cast a sea of melted bronze, ten cubits from brim to brim. It was round, and five cubits [was] its height. And a line of thirty cubits went around it.


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And under it was the shape of oxen, under it and all around it for ten cubits, going all around the sea. Two rows of oxen [were] cast when it was cast.


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It stood on twelve oxen, three facing the north, and three facing the west, and three facing the south, and three facing the east. And the sea [was] set above on them, and all their hinder parts [were] inward.


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And its thickness [was] a handbreadth, and its brim like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies. It received [and] held three thousand baths.


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He also made ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them. They washed in them such things as they offered for the burnt offering. But the sea [was] for the priests to wash in.


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And he made ten lampstands of gold according to their form, and set [them] in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.


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And He made ten tables, and placed [them] in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left. And he made a hundred basins of gold.


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And he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze.


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And Hiram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. And Hiram finished the work that he was to make for King Solomon for the house of God:


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the two pillars, and the bowls, and the capitals on the tops of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two bowls of the capitals which [were] on the top of the pillars,


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and four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths, two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two bowls of the capitals on the pillars.


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And Hiram made the pots, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all their vessels of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the LORD.


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And Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance. For the weight of the bronze could not be found out.


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And Solomon made all the vessels [for] the house of God, and the golden altar, and the tables on which the showbread [was set];


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and the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, so that they should burn according to the law before the holy place;


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and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, [of] pure gold; and the entrance of the house, the inner doors of it for the Holy of Holies, and the doors of the house of the temple, [of] gold.


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And all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated. And he put the silver and the gold, and all the vessels among the treasures of the house of God.


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And Solomon gathered the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the sons of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which [is] Zion.


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And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that [were] in the tabernacle. The priests [and] the Levites brought these up.


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And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were gathered to him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen which could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.


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And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, to the Holy of Holies in the house, into the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubs.


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For the cherubs spread out [their] wings over the ark, and the cherubs covered the ark and its staves above.


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And they drew out the staves so that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle. But they were not seen outside. And there it is until this day.


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Nothing [was] in the ark except the two tables which Moses put [in it] at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel when they came out of Egypt.


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And it happened as the priests came out of the holy [place], for all the priests present were sanctified, and did not wait by division.


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And the Levitical singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brothers, [being] clothed in white linen, having cymbals and with harps and lyres, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets,


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and [they] were as one to the trumpeters and to the singers, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and as they lifted up [their] voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, [saying], For He is good, for His mercy [endures] forever, the house was filled with a cloud, the house of the LORD,


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so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God!


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And the king turned his face and blessed the whole congregation of Israel. And all the congregation of Israel stood.


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And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, who has with His hands fulfilled that which He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying,


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From the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt I have not chosen any city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, so that My name might be there. Nor have I chosen any man to be a ruler over My people Israel.


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But now I have chosen Jerusalem, so that My name might be there, and now I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.


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But the LORD said to David my father, Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart.


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But you shall not build the house; but your son, who shall come forth out of your loins, shall build the house for My name.


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And the LORD has lifted up His word that He has spoken. For I have risen up in place of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.


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And I have put the ark in it, in which [is] the covenant of the LORD which He made with the sons of Israel.


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And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands.


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For Solomon had made a bronze scaffold, five cubits long and five cubits broad and three cubits high. And he had set it in the midst of the court. And he stood on it, and kneeled down on his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward Heaven.


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And he said, O LORD God of Israel, [there is] no God like You in Heaven or in earth. You keep Your covenant and show mercy to Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.


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You have kept with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him. And You spoke with Your mouth, and have fulfilled [it] with Your hand, as [it is] this day.


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And now, O LORD God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in My sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk in My law, as you have walked before Me.


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And now, O LORD God of Israel, let Your word be proven true, which You have spoken to Your servant David.


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But truly will God in deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, Heavens and heaven of the heavens cannot contain You! How much less this house which I have built?


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And You have turned toward the prayer of Your servant, and to his cry, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant prays before You.


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I pray that Your eyes may be open on this house day and night, on the place of which You have said that You would put Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant prays toward this place.


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And You will listen to the cries of Your servant, and of Your people Israel, which they shall pray toward this place, and You will hear from Your dwelling place, from Heaven, and shall hear and forgive.


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If a man sins against his neighbor, and if an oath is laid on him to make him swear, and if the oath comes before Your altar in this house,


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then hear from Heaven, and do, and judge Your servants by repaying the wicked, by bringing his way back on his own head, and by justifying [the] righteous, by giving to him according to his righteousness.


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And if Your people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy because they have sinned against You, and if they shall return and confess Your name, and shall pray and cry before You in this house,


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then hear from Heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them again into the land which You give to them and to their fathers.


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When the heavens shall be shut up, and there is no rain because they have sinned against You; if they pray toward this place, and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them,


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then hear from Heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, when You have taught them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.


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If there is famine in the land, if there is a plague, if blasting or mildew, locusts or ravagers, if their enemies have distressed them in the gates of their land, with any plague and any sickness;


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whatever prayer, whatever cry shall be made by any man, or by all Your people Israel, when everyone shall know his own plague and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house;


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then hear from Heaven, Your dwelling-place, and forgive, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart You know. For You only know the hearts of the sons of men.


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Do this so that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways, as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.


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And also to the stranger who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your great name's sake, and Your mighty hand, and Your stretched out arm, if they come and pray in this house;


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then hear from Heaven, from Your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to You for, so that all people of the earth may know Your name, and fear You, as Your people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.


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If Your people go out to war against their enemies by the way that You shall send them, and if they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name,


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If they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin), and if You are angry with them and deliver them up before their enemies, and they carry them away captives to a land far off or near,


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yet if they think within themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn and pray to You in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done wrong and have dealt wickedly


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if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity where they have carried them captives, and if they pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers and toward the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name;


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then hear from Heaven, from Your dwelling-place, their prayer and their cries, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.


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And now arise, O LORD God, into Your resting-place, You, and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints rejoice in goodness.


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O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed. Remember the good deeds of David Your servant.


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And when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices. And the glory of the LORD filled the house.


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And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.


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And when all the sons of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the house, they bowed [their] faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, For [He is] good, for His mercy [endures] forever.


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And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. And the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.


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And the priests waited on their offices, and the Levites with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because His mercy [endures] forever, when David praised by their ministry. And the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.


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And Solomon made the middle of the court before the house of the LORD holy. For there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the food offerings, and the fat.


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And at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath to the river of Egypt.


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And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly. For they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.


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And on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shown to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people.


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So Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house. And all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he did with success.


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And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for a house of sacrifice.


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If I shut up the heavens, and there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people;


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if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.


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For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, so that My name may be there forever. And My eyes and My heart shall be there forever.


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And you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and shall observe My statutes and My judgments,


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then I will make the throne of your kingdom sure, as I have covenanted with David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man [to be] ruler in Israel.


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But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and if you shall go and serve other gods and worship them,


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then I will pluck them up by the roots out of My land which I have given them. And this house which I have sanctified for My name, I will cast out of My sight, and I will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.


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And this house, which is high, shall be a wonder to everyone who passes by it, so that [they] shall shudder and say, Why has the LORD done this to this land and to this house?


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And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore He has brought all this evil on them.


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And it happened at the end of twenty years, Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house.


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As to the cities that Hiram had given to Solomon, Solomon had built them, and he caused the sons of Israel to live there.


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And he built Beth-horon the upper and Beth-horon the lower, fenced cities with walls, gates, and bars.


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And he built Baalath, and all the store cities which Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.


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All the people [who were] left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who [were] not of Israel,


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of their sons who [were] left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel did not destroy, Solomon made them subject to forced labor until this day.


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And of the sons of Israel, Solomon did not make any servants for his work. But they [were] men of war, and commanders of his officers, and commanders of his chariots, and his horsemen.


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And these [were] the chief of King Solomon's officers, two hundred and fifty who bore rule over the people.


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And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David to the house which he had built for her. For he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places] into which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.


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And Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD which he had built before the porch,


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even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the Feast of Unleavened [Bread], and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles.


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And according to the order of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required; and the gatekeepers by their divisions at every gate; for so David the man of God had commanded.


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And they did not depart [from] the command of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.


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And all the work of Solomon was prepared until the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. And the house of the LORD was complete.


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And Hiram sent ships to him by the hand of his servants, and servants who knew [the] sea. And they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took four hundred and fifty talents of gold from there, and brought [them] to King Solomon.


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And the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, and came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that carried spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones. And she came in to Solomon and spoke with him of all that was in her heart.


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And Solomon told her all her questions. And there was nothing hidden from Solomon which he did not tell her.


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and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers and their apparel, and his burnt offerings that he offered up in the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.


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And she said to the king, The word that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom is true.


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But I did not believe their words until I came, and my eyes had seen. And behold, the one half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You are greater than the fame which I heard.


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Happy [are] your men, and happy are these your servants who stand always before you and hear your wisdom.


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Blessed [be] the LORD your God, who delighted in you to set you on His throne to [be] king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them to do judgment and justice.


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And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and an abundance of spices, and precious stones. And there has not been any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.


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And also the servants of Hiram, and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.


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And the king made terraces to the house of the LORD with the algum trees, and terraces to the king's palace, and lyres and harps for singers. And there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.


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And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides what she had brought to the king. And she returned and went away to her own land, she and her servants.


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And the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,


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besides [that] from the traders, and that the merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.


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And King Solomon made two hundred targets [of] beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.


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And he [made] three hundred shields [of] beaten gold. Three hundred [shekels] of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.


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And there [were] six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold. fastened to the throne. And there [were] stays on each [side] of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays.


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And twelve lions stood there on the one [side], and on the other, on the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.


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And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon [were] of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon [were] of pure gold. None [were] of silver. It was not prized in the days of Solomon.


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For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.


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And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart.


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And they each brought his present, vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and clothing, weapons, and spices, horses, and mules, a ration year by year.


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And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he put in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.


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And he reigned over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.


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And the king made silver in Jerusalem like stones, and he made cedar trees as the sycamore trees in the low plains.


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And the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, [are] they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah of Shiloh, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?


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And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.


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And it happened when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who [was] in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard [it], Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.


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Your father made our yoke heavy. And now lighten the heavy service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.


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And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What advice do you give [me] to return answer to this people?


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And they spoke to him saying, If you are kind to this people and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.


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But he departed from the advice which the old men gave him and listened to the young men who were brought up with him, who stood before him.


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And he said to them, What advice do you give that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Lighten the yoke which your father put on us?


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And the young men who were brought up with him spoke to him saying, In this way shall you answer the people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten our yoke, this you shall say to them, My little [finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.


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And now my father put a heavy yoke on you, and I will surely add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.


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And Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king commanded, saying, Come again to me on the third day.


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and answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.


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And the king did not listen to the people, for [the] revolution was from God so that the LORD might perform His word which He spoke by the hand of Ahijah of Shiloh to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


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And all Israel [saw] that the king would not listen to them, and the people answered the king saying, What part do we have in David? And we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now, David, see to your own house. And all Israel went to their tents.


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And King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who [was] over the forced labor. And the sons of Israel stoned him with stones so that he died. But King Rehoboam [was] warned to get up into [his] chariot to flee to Jerusalem.


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And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem and gathered a hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors from the house of Judah, to fight against Israel, so that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.


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Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,


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So says the LORD, You shall not go up nor fight against your brothers. Let every man return to his house. For this thing is done by Me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.


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And he fortified the strongholds and put commanders in them, and stores of food, and of oil and wine.


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And [he put] in each separate city shields and spears, and made them very strong, and Judah and Benjamin were his.


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For the Levites left their open lands and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priests' office to the LORD.


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And he ordained priests for himself for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.


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And after them, those who gave their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel, out of all the tribes of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers.


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And they made the kingdom of Judah stronger, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years. For three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.


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And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as a wife for himself, [and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse,


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And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom, who bore Abijah to him, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.


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And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines (for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).


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And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, [to be] ruler among his brothers, in order to make him king.


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And he dealt wisely and dispersed all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all the fortified cities. And he gave them food in abundance. And he demanded many wives.


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And it happened when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had made himself strong, he departed from the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.


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And it happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had sinned against the LORD


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with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. And the people who came with him out of Egypt [were] without number: Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.


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And Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and [to] the rulers of Judah who were gathered to Jerusalem because of Shishak. And [he] said to them, So says the LORD, You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.


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And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will give them some deliverance. And My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.


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But they shall be his servants, so that they may know My service, and the service of the kings of the countries.


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And Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house. He took all. And he carried away the shields of gold which Solomon had made.


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In place of these King Rehoboam made shields of bronze, and gave [them] into the hands of the chief of the guard who kept the entrance of the king's house.


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And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and carried them and brought them again into the guardroom.


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And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him so that He would not destroy [him] altogether. And also things went well in Judah.


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And king Rehoboam strengthened himself at Jerusalem, and reigned. For Rehoboam [was] forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there. And his mother's name [was] Naamah the Ammonitess.


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And the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, [are] they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And the wars of Rehoboam and Jeroboam [lasted] all their days.


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And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place.


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He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.


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And Abijah set the battle in order with an army of mighty men of war, four hundred thousand chosen men. Jeroboam also set the battle in order against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, mighty men of valor.


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And Abijah stood up on mount Zemaraim, in the hills of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel.


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Should you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?


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Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, has risen up and has rebelled against his lord.


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And there are gathered to him vain men, the sons of Belial, and have made themselves strong against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, and Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted and could not withstand them.


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And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hands of the sons of David. And you [are] a great multitude, and there [are] with you golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods.


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Have you not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made priests to yourselves like the peoples of the lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, he may be a priest of [those who are] no gods.


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But as for us, Jehovah [is] our God, and we have not forsaken Him. And the priests who minister to the LORD are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in the work.


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And they burn to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense, and the showbread on the pure table, and the lampstand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the LORD our God. But you have forsaken Him.


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And behold, God Himself [is] with us as Commander, and His priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!


text:
But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come around behind them, so that they were in front of Judah, and the ambush [was] behind them.


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And Judah turned, and, behold, the battle [was] before and behind. And they cried to the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.


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And the men of Judah shouted. And it happened as the men of Judah shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.


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And Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter. And there fell down dead five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel.


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And the sons of Israel were humbled at that time, and the sons of Judah won because they relied on the LORD God of their fathers.


text:
And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages, and Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages.


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And Jeroboam did not recover strength again [in] the days of Abijah. And the LORD struck him and he died.


text:
And Abijah became mighty, and married fourteen wives, and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, [are] written in the inquiry of the prophet Iddo.


text:
And Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.


text:
For he took away the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the Asherahs.


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And he commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.


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He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images. And the kingdom was quiet before him.


text:
And he built fortified cities in Judah. For the land had rest, and he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.


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And he said to Judah, Let us build these cities and make walls around [them], and towers, gates and bars, while the land [is] still before us. Because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought, and He has given us rest on every side. And they built and were blessed.


text:
And Asa had an army which bore bucklers and spears, three hundred thousand out of Judah. And out of Benjamin there [were] two hundred and eighty thousand who bore shields and drew bows; all these mighty men of valor.


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And Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men, and three hundred chariots. And he came to Mareshah.


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And Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in order in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.


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And Asa cried to the LORD his God and said, LORD, [it is] nothing with You to help, whether with many or with him who has no power. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let man prevail against You.


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And Asa and the people with him pursued them to Gerar. And the Cushites fell, for none was left alive of them. For they were destroyed before the LORD and before His army. And they carried away very much plunder.


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And they struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came on them. And they plundered all the cities, for there was very much plunder in them.


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And they struck the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance and returned to Jerusalem.


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And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD [is] with you while you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will be found by you. But if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.


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And for a long time Israel [had been] without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.


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And when they turned in their trouble to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them.


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And in those times [there was] no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in, but great tumult [was] on all the people of the lands.


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And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim. And he renewed the altar of the LORD before the porch of the LORD.


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And [he] gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon. For they fell to him out of Israel in great numbers, when they saw that the LORD his God [was] with him.


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And [they] offered to the LORD in that day part of the plunder which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.


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And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul,


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and that whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.


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And they swore to the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with ram's horns.


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And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought Him with their whole desire. And He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.


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And also [as to] Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from [being] queen mother, because she had made an idol in a grove. And Asa cut down her idol and stamped it and burned [it] at the torrent Kidron.


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But the high places were not taken away out of Israel. But the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.


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And he brought into the house of God the things which his father had dedicated, and which he himself had dedicated, silver and gold and vessels.


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In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, so that he might let no one go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.


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And Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,


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A treaty between you and me, as [there was] between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he may depart from me.


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And Ben-hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. And they struck Ijon and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.


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And Asa the king took all Judah. And they carried away the stones of Ramah, and timber with which Baasha was building. And he built with it Geba and Mizpah.


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And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand.


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Were not the Cushites and the Libyans a huge army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand.


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For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro in all the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart [is] perfect toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore from now on you shall have wars.


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And Asa was angry with the seer and put him in a prison-house. For [he was] in a rage with him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.


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And behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they [are] written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa [was] diseased in his feet, until his disease [was] very grievous. Yet in his disease he did not seek to the LORD, but to the physicians.


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And they buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and kinds [of spices] prepared by the perfumers art. And they made a very great burning for him.


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And [he] placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set troops in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken.


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And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father David and did not seek to Baals.


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But he looked to the God of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.


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And the LORD made the kingdom sure in his hand. And all Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat. And he had great riches and honor.


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And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD. And he took away the high places and Asherahs out of Judah.


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And in the third year of his reign he sent to his rulers, to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.


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And with them [he sent] Levites, Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites. And with them he sent Elishama and Jehoram the priests.


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And they taught in Judah and [had] the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went around throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.


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And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.


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And from the Philistines they brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. Also the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats.


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And he had much business in the cities of Judah. And the men of war, mighty men of valor, [were] in Jerusalem.


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And these [were] their numbers, for the house of their fathers from Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the chief, and with him were three hundred thousand mighty men of valor.


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And on his hand, Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.


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And from Benjamin [was] Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield.


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These waited on the king, besides [those] whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.


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And after [some] years [he] went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him, and for the people that were with him. And he persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.


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And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I [am] as you, and my people are as your people, and [we] with you in the war.


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And the king of Israel gathered four hundred men of the prophets and said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I wait? And they said, Go up, for God will deliver [it] into the king's hand.


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But Jehoshaphat said, [Is there] not a prophet of Jehovah here besides, so that we might ask of Him?


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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, [There is] yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD. But I hate him, for he never prophesied good to me, but always evil. The same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.


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And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat each of them on his throne, clothed in robes. And [they] sat in a grain floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets prophesied before them.


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And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself. And he said, And says the LORD, With these you shall push Syria until they are crushed.


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And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead and be blessed. For the LORD shall deliver [it] into the king's hand.


text:
And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one Mouth, and please let your word be like one of theirs, and speak good.


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And he came to the king. And the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I wait? And he said, Go up and be blessed. And they shall be delivered into your hand.


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And the king said to him, How many times shall I warn you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of Jehovah?


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And he said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that [have] no shepherd. And the LORD said, These [have] no master; let them return, each man to his own house in peace.


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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?


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Again he said, And hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of Heaven were standing on His right hand and [on] His left.


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And the LORD said, Who shall tempt Ahab king of Israel so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke saying in one way, and another saying in another way.


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And a spirit came out and stood before the LORD and said, I will tempt him. And the LORD said, With what?


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And he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [the LORD] said, You shall tempt him, and you are able. Go out and do so.


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And now behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil against you.


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And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek. And he said, Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?


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And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day when you shall go into an inner room to hide yourself.


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And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son.


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And you shall say, So says the king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I return in peace.


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And Micaiah said, If you certainly return in peace, [then] the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Listen, all you people.


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And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself and will go to the battle. But you put on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself. And they went to the battle.


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And the king of Syria had commanded the commanders of the chariots with him, saying, Do not fight with small or great, but only with the king of Israel.


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And it happened when the commanders of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, It [is] the king of Israel. And they surrounded him to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. And God moved them [to leave] him.


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For it happened when the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.


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And a [certain] man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joinings and the breastplate. And he said to the charioteer, Turn your hand, and you shall bring me out of the army, for I am wounded.


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And the battle increased that day; and the king of Israel was made to stand up in [his] chariot against the Syrians until the evening. And about the time of the sunset he died.


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And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. And he said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the ungodly and love those who hate the LORD? And by this [bring] wrath on you from before the LORD.


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But there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the Asherahs out of the land and have prepared your heart to seek God.


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And Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD God of their fathers.


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And he said to the judges, Take heed what you do. For you do not judge for man, but for the LORD, who [is] with you in the judgment.


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And now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Be careful and act wisely, for [there is] no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.


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And Jehoshaphat set some of the Levites and [of] the priests and of the chief of the fathers of Israel in Jerusalem for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.


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And he charged them, saying, And you shall act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.


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And whatever cause shall come to you from your brothers that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them so that they do not sin against the LORD, and wrath come on you and your brothers. Do this and you shall not sin.


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And behold, Amariah the chief priest [is] over you in all matters of the LORD. And Zebadiah the son of Ishmael is the ruler of the house of Judah for all the king's matters. Also the Levites shall be] officers before you. Take courage and act, and the LORD shall be with the good.


text:
And it happened after this the sons of Moab, and the sons of Ammon came in, and with them [others] besides the Ammonites, to battle against Jehoshaphat.


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And they came in and spoke to Jehoshaphat, saying, A great multitude has come against you from beyond the sea on this side of Syria. And behold, they [are] in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.


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And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the LORD, and called for a fast throughout all Judah.


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And Judah gathered themselves to ask of the LORD. Even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.


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And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,


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and said, O LORD God of our Fathers, [are] You not God in Heaven? And do You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? And [is there] power and might in Your hand, so that none is able to withstand You?


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[Are] You not our God? Did [You] not drive out the people of this land before Israel, and give it to the seed of Your friend Abraham forever?


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If evil comes on us, [whether] the sword, judgment, or plague, or famine, and we stand before this house and in Your presence (for Your name [is] in this house) and cry to You in our affliction, then You will hear and help.


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And now, behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them,


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behold, they reward us by coming to cast us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit.


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O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no might against this great company which comes against us. Nor do we know what to do, but our eyes [are] on You.


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And the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the congregation.


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And he said, Listen, all Judah, and you people of Jerusalem, and king Jehoshaphat! So says the LORD to you, Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude. For the battle [is] not yours, but God's.


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Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz. And you shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.


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You shall not fight in this [battle]. Set yourselves and stand, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD [will be] with you.


text:
And Jehoshaphat bowed his face to the ground. And all Judah and the people of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.


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And the Levites, of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.


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And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you people of Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and so you shall be established. Believe His prophets, and so you shall be blessed.


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And he consulted with the people, and he appointed singers to the LORD and praisers to praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD, for His mercy [endures] forever.


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And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who had come against Judah. And they were beaten.


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For the sons of Ammon and Moab stood up against the people of mount Seir to completely kill and destroy. And when they had made an end of the people of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.


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And when Judah came to the watchtower in the wilderness, they looked at the multitude. And behold! They [were] dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.


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And Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their plunder, they found among them in abundance both riches and precious jewels in great number with the dead bodies, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away. And they were three days in gathering of the plunder, it was so much.


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And on the fourth day they gathered themselves in the Valley of Blessing. For there they blessed the LORD. And the name of the same place was called the Valley of Blessing until this day.


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And they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy. For the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.


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And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of [those] countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.


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And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.


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And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and did not depart from it, doing the right in the sight of the LORD.


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But, the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts to the God of their fathers.


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And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which [were] taken up in the /Book of the Kings of Israel.


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And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel; he did wickedly to do so.


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And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. And they made the ships in Ezion-geber.


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And Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has broken your works. And the ships were broken so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.


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And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his place.


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And he had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah. All these [were] the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.


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And their father gave them great gifts of silver and of gold and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah. But the kingdom he gave to Jehoram, because he [was] the first-born.


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And when Jehoram had risen up to the kingdom of his father, he made himself strong and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also [many] of the rulers of Israel.


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And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like the house of Ahab for he had the daughter of Ahab for a wife. And he did the evil in the eyes of the LORD.


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And the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and as He promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever.


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And Jehoram went forth with his rulers, and all his chariots with him. And he rose up by night and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, and the commanders of the chariots.


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And the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah until this day. The same time Libnah revolted from under his hand, because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.


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Besides he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the people of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and led astray Judah.


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And a writing came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, So says the LORD God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,


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but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the people of Jerusalem to go lusting like the fornications of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers of your fathers house ( who were] better than you),


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behold, the LORD will strike your people with a great plague, and your sons, and your wives, and all your goods.


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And you [shall have] great sickness by disease in your bowels, until your bowels fall out because of the sickness day by day.


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And the LORD stirred up the spirit of the Philistines against Jehoram, and of the Arabians who [were] near the Ethiopians.


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And they came up into Judah and broke into it, and carried away all the stuff that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives, so that there was not a son left with him except Ahaziah, the youngest of his sons.


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And it happened as days and as the time went out, at the end of two years, his bowels fell out because of his sickness. And he died of painful diseases. And his people made no burning for him like the burning of his fathers.


text:
He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. And they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.


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And the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place. For the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older ones. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.


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Ahaziah's [dynasty was] forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name [was] Athaliah the daughter of Omri.


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And he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab. For they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his ruin.


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He also walked after their advice and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians struck Jehoram.


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And he returned to be healed in Jezreel, because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.


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And by coming to Jehoram, the destruction of Ahaziah was of God. He went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.


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And it happened when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the rulers of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, the servants of Ahaziah, he killed them.


text:
And he looked for Ahaziah. And they caught him (for he was hidden in Samaria), and brought him to Jehu. And when they had killed him, they buried him because they said, He [is] the son of Jehoshaphat who looked to the LORD with all his heart. And the house of Ahaziah had no power still to keep the kingdom.


text:
And Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, and she arose and spoke to [destroy] all the royal seed of the house of Judah.


text:
But Jehoshabeath the daughter of the king took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons who were killed. And she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. And Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah) hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him.


text:
And in the seventh year Jehoiada made himself strong. And he took the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri into covenant with him.


text:
And they went about in Judah and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.


text:
And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD has said of the sons of David.


text:
This [is] the thing that you shall do. A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, [shall be] keepers of the doors.


text:
And a third part [shall be] at the king's house. And a third part shall be at the gate of the foundation. And all the people [shall be] in the courts of the house of the LORD.


text:
But let none come into the house of the LORD except the priests, and those of the Levites who minister. They shall go in, for they [are] holy. But all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.


text:
And the Levites shall surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. And whoever comes into the house, he shall be put to death. But you be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.


text:
And the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded. And every man took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with the ones who were to go [out] on the sabbath. For Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the divisions.


text:
And Jehoiada the priest delivered to the commanders of hundreds king David's spears and bucklers and shields, which [were] in the house of God.


text:
And he set all the people, each man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.


text:
And they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him, and [gave him] the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, Let the king live!


text:
And Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, and she came to the people into the house of the LORD.


text:
And she looked, and behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entrance, and the rulers and the trumpets by the king. And all the people of the land [were] rejoicing and sounding with trumpets, and the singers with instruments of music, and giving signals to praise. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, Treason! Treason!


text:
And Jehoiada the priest brought out the commanders of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, Take her out of the ranks. And whoever follows her shall be killed with the sword. For the priest said, Do not kill her [in the house of the LORD.


text:
And they laid hands on her; and she came to the entrance of the Gate of the Horses, beside the king's house, and they executed her there.


text:
And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people.


text:
And all the people went to the house of Baal and broke it down, and smashed his altars and his images. And they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.


text:
And Jehoiada chose the officers of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as [ it is] written in the law of Moses, with joy and with singing, by the hands of David.


text:
And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that the unclean in any way could not go in.


text:
And he took the commanders of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD. And they came through the Upper Gate into the king's house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.


text:
And all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet after they had killed Athaliah with the sword.


text:
Joash [was] seven years old when he began to reign. And he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Zibiah of Beer-sheba.


text:
And he gathered together the priests and the Levites and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather silver from all Israel to repair the house of your God from year to year. And see that you hasten the matter. And the Levites did not hasten [it].


text:
And the king called for Jehoiada and said to him, Why have you not made the Levites bring in the collection out of Judah and out of Jerusalem, according to Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?


text:
For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, have broken up the house of God. And also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD they have given to Baals.


text:
And the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD.


text:
And they gave a call in Judah and in Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection [that] Moses the servant of God [laid] on Israel in the wilderness.


text:
And all the rulers and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and threw into the chests until [it was] finished.


text:
And it happened at the time the chest was brought into the king's office by the Levites, and when they saw that the silver [was] abundant, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it and carried it to its place again. So they did day by day, and gathered a great amount of silver.


text:
And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD. And they hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also artisans in iron and bronze, to mend the house of the LORD.


text:
And the workmen worked, and the work was completed by them, and they set the house of God in its proper state and made it strong.


text:
And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the silver before the king and Jehoiada. Of this silver were made vessels for the house of the LORD, vessels to minister and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they continually offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada.


text:
But Jehoiada became old, and was full of days when he died. He [was] a hundred and thirty years old when he died.


text:
And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and toward His house.


text:
And after the death of Jehoiada the rulers of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them.


text:
And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served Asherahs and idols. And wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt.


text:
Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them again to the LORD. And they testified against them. But they would not listen.


text:
And the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people and said to them, So says God, Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot be blessed? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has also forsaken you.


text:
And they conspired against him and stoned him [with] stones at the command of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.


text:
And Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD will seek [you out].


text:
And it happened at the end of the year the army of Syria came up against him. And they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the rulers of the people from among the people, and sent all the plunder of them to the king of Damascus.


text:
For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the God of the fathers. And they executed judgment against Joash.


text:
And when they had departed from him (for they left him in great diseases), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died. And they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.


text:
And these are the ones who conspired against him Zabad the son of Shimeath of Ammon, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.


text:
And [as to] his sons, and the greatness of the burdens on him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.


text:
Amaziah [was] twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.


text:
And it happened when the kingdom was made sure to him, he killed his servants who had killed his father, the king.


text:
But he did not kill their sons, but as [it is] written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The father shall not die for the sons, nor shall the sons die for the] fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.


text:
And Amaziah gathered Judah and made them commanders over thousands and commanders over hundreds, according to the houses of the fathers, for all Judah and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice [men, able] to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.


text:
But a man of God came to him saying, O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD [is] not with Israel, with all the sons of Ephraim.


text:
But if you will go, do [it]! Be strong for the battle, for God shall make you fall before the enemy, for God has power to help and to throw down.


text:
And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what [shall we] do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give you much more than this.


text:
And Amaziah separated them, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. And their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.


text:
And Amaziah made himself strong, and led forth his people, and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the sons of Seir.


text:
And the sons of Judah carried away captive ten thousand alive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock so they were all broken in pieces.


text:
And the sons of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah from Samaria even to Beth-horon, and struck three thousand of them and took much plunder.


text:
And it happened after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir and set them up [to be] his gods, and bowed down himself before them and burned incense to them.


text:
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and He sent to him a prophet who said to him, Why have you sought after the gods of the people which could not deliver their own people out of your hand?


text:
And it happened as he talked with him, [the king] said to him, Have we made you of the king's counsel? Stop! Why should you be stricken? And the prophet stopped. And he said, I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.


text:
And Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come let us look one another in the face.


text:
And Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah saying, The thistle that [was] in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son for a wife. [And a beast of the field in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle down.


text:
You have said, Lo, I have stricken the Edomites, and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home why should you meddle to [your] hurt, so that you should fall, you and Judah with you?


text:
But Amaziah would not hear, for it [was] from God so that He might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.


text:
And Jehoash the king of Israel went up. And they saw one another in the face, he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh of Judah.


text:
And Jehoash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits.


text:
And [he took] all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels which were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.


text:
And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, [are] they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?


text:
And after the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a plot against him in Jerusalem. And he fled to Lachish. But they sent to Lachish after him and killed him there.


text:
And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, and he [was] sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah's place.


text:
Uzziah [was] sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Jecoliah of Jerusalem.


text:
And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God blessed him.


text:
And he went out and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities around Ashdod, and among the Philistines.


text:
And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal, and the Meunites.


text:
And the Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah. And his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt, for he was made very strong.


text:
And, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate, and at the Turning, and fortified them.


text:
And he built towers in the desert, and dug many wells. For he had many cattle, both in the low country and in the plains. He [also] had husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains, and in Carmel. For he loved the earth.


text:
And, Uzziah had an army of making war, going out to war by troops, according to the number of their oversight by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, [one] of the king's leaders.


text:
The whole number of the heads of the fathers of the mighty men of power [was] two thousand and six hundred.


text:
And under their hand [was] an army of three hundred and seven thousand, five hundred, that made war with mighty power to help the king against the enemy.


text:
And Uzziah prepared for them, for all the army, shields and spears and helmets and coats of armor and bows and stones for the slings.


text:
And he made engines in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones with. And his name spread far abroad. For he was wonderfully helped until he was strong.


text:
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to ruin. For he sinned against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.


text:
And they withstood Uzziah the king and said to him, [It is] not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but to the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the temple, for you have sinned. Nor shall it be for your honor from the LORD God.


text:
And Uzziah was angry. And he [had] a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.


text:
And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him. And, behold, he [was] leprous in his forehead! And they thrust him out from there. Yes, he himself hurried to go out also, because the LORD had stricken him.


text:
And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a separate house a leper. For he was cut off from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son [was] over the king's house, judging the people of the land.


text:
And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial of the kings. For they said, He [is] a leper. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.


text:
Jotham [was] twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.


text:
And he did the right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did. Only, he did not enter into the temple of the LORD. And the people still did evilly.


text:
And He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them. And the sons of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. This the sons of Ammon paid to him, both the second year and the third.


text:
And the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they [are] written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.


text:
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.


text:
Ahaz [was] twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. But he did not do the right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father.


text:
And he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the sons of Israel.


text:
And He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.


text:
And the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. And they struck him and carried away a great captivity, and brought [them] to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.


text:
And Pekah the son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all mighty men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.


text:
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah [who was] next to the king.


text:
And the sons of Israel carried away captive two hundred thousand of their brothers, women, and daughters, and also took away much plunder from them and brought the plunder to Samaria.


text:
But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name [was] Oded. And he went out before the army that came to Samaria and said to them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hands, and you have killed them in a rage which reaches up to Heaven.


text:
And now you intend to keep under the sons of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen to you. [Are there] not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?


text:
And now hear me, and deliver again the captives which you have taken captive of your brothers. For the fierce wrath of the LORD [is] on you.


text:
And certain of the heads of the sons of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them who came from the war.


text:
And they said to them, You shall not bring the captives here. For we have offended the LORD, and you intend to add to our sins and to our trespass. For our trespass is great, and [there is] fierce wrath against Israel.


text:
And the men who were called by name rose up and took the captives and clothed all that were naked among them with the plunder, and dressed them, and shod them, and made them eat and drink, and anointed them, and led the feeble ones on asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. And they returned to Samaria.


text:
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with its villages, and Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo and its villages. And they lived there.


text:
For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel. For he loosed [immorality] in Judah, and sinned grievously against the LORD.


text:
For Ahaz took away a portion [of] the house of the LORD, and [of] the house of the king, and [of] the rulers, and gave [it] to the king of Assyria. But [it was] no help to him.


text:
For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus who struck him. And he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.


text:
And Ahaz gathered the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD. And [he] made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.


text:
And in each separate city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.


text:
And the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


text:
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem. But they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.


text:
Hezekiah began to reign [being] twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Abijah the daughter of Zechariah.


text:
In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.


text:
And he said to them, Hear me, Levites, now sanctify yourselves and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry out the filthiness out of the holy [place].


text:
For our fathers have sinned and did the evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the house of the LORD, and have turned [their] backs.


text:
Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the sanctuary to the God of Israel.


text:
Therefore the wrath of the LORD was on Judah and Jerusalem, and He has delivered them to trouble, to ruin, and to hissing as you see with your eyes.


text:
For lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives [are] in captivity for this.


text:
And [it is] in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us.


text:
My sons, do not be negligent now. For the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.


text:
And the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites. And of the sons of Merari arose Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel. And of the Gershonites: Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah.


text:
And they gathered their brothers and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the command of the king, by the words of the LORD, to clean the house of the LORD.


text:
And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to clean [it]. And they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took [it] out to the torrent Kidron.


text:
And they began to sanctify on the first of the first month. And on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of the LORD. And they made the house of the LORD pure in eight days, and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.


text:
And they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, We have cleaned all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and the showbread table, and all its vessels.


text:
And we have prepared and sanctified all the vessels which king Ahaz in his reign cast away in his sin. And behold, they [are] before the altar of the LORD.


text:
And Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.


text:
And they brought seven bulls and seven rams and seven lambs and seven he-goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer [them] on the altar of the LORD.


text:
And they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled [it] on the altar. And they killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also killed the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood on the altar.


text:
And they brought out the he-goats [for] the sin offering before the king and the congregation. And they laid their hands on them.


text:
And the priest killed them, and they made atonement with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded the burnt offering and the sin offering [to be made] for all Israel.


text:
And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, according to the command of David, and of Gad the king's seer and Nathan the prophet. For the commandment was] by the hand of the LORD by His prophets.


text:
And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began with the trumpets and with the instruments [ordained] by David king of Israel.


text:
And all the congregation worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this [went on] until the burnt offering was finished.


text:
And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.


text:
And Hezekiah the king and the rulers commanded the Levites to sing praise to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.


text:
And Hezekiah answered and said, And you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings. And as many as were of a free heart [brought] burnt offerings.


text:
And the number of the burnt offerings which the congregation brought was seventy oxen, a hundred rams, two hundred lambs. All these [were] for a burnt offering to the LORD.


text:
But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. And their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves. For the Levites [were] more upright of heart to make themselves pure than the priests.


text:
And also the burnt offerings [were] in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings for [every] burnt offering. And the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.


text:
And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people. For the thing happened suddenly.


text:
And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel.


text:
And the king and his leaders, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, took counsel to keep the Passover in the second month.


text:
For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not made themselves pure enough, nor had the people gathered to Jerusalem.


text:
And they established a decree to send a notice throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem. For not many [of them] had done as it was written.


text:
And the runners went with the letters from the king and his rulers to Israel and Judah, and according to the command of the king, saying, O sons of Israel, turn again to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped out of the hands of the king of Assyria.


text:
And do not be like your fathers and like your brothers who sinned against the LORD God of their fathers, and He made them for a horror, as you see.


text:
And do not be stiffnecked like your fathers. Yield yourselves to the LORD and enter into His temple which He has sanctified forever. And serve the LORD your God, so that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.


text:
For if you turn again to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will have mercies before those who lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land. For the LORD your God [is] gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.


text:
And the runners passed from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun. But they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.


text:
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the command of the king and of the rulers, by the word of the LORD.


text:
And many people gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened [Bread] in the second month, a very great congregation.


text:
And they arose and took away the altars in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense they took away, and threw [them] into the torrent Kidron.


text:
And they killed the Passover on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed and made themselves pure, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.


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And they stood in their place in their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood from the hand of the Levites.


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For many in the congregation [were] not sanctified. And the Levites were over the killing of the passovers for every one [who was] not clean, to sanctify them to the LORD.


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For many of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not been cleansed, but ate the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, May the good LORD pardon everyone


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[who] prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not [cleansed] according to the purification of the sanctuary.


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And the sons of Israel found at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened [Bread] seven days with great gladness. And the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day with loud instruments to the LORD.


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And Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD. And they ate the appointed things seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.


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And the whole gathering agreed to keep another seven days. And they kept [another] seven days with gladness.


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For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the congregation a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep. And the rulers gave to the congregation a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep. And a great number of priests sanctified themselves.


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And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and who lived in Judah, rejoiced.


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And there was great joy in Jerusalem. For from the days of Solomon the son of David the king of Israel [there was] nothing like this in Jerusalem.


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And the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people. And their voice was heard, and their prayer came to His holy dwelling-place, to Heaven.


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And when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the images in pieces, and cut down the Asherahs, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, even to the end. And all the sons of Israel returned, each to his possession, into their own cities.


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And Hezekiah set the courses of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.


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And the king's portion from his goods [was] for burnt offerings, and for burnt offerings, of the morning and the evening and the burnt offerings of the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as [it is] written in the law of the LORD.


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And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites so that they might be strong in the law of the LORD.


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And as the command spread, the sons of Israel brought plentifully of the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field. And the tithe of all [things] they brought in abundance.


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And the sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid it up by heaps.


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In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished in the seventh month.


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And Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, and they blessed the LORD and His people Israel.


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And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him and said, Since [the people] began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left. For the LORD has blessed His people, and this great store is left.


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and brought in the offerings and the tithes and the [things] dedicated to God faithfully. And over them [was] Cononiah the Levite ruler, and Shimei his brother the next.


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And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, [were] overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the command of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.


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And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper toward the east, [was] over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the sacrifices of the LORD and the most holy things.


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And next to him Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in [their] set office, to give to their brothers by divisions, to the great as well as to the small,


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besides registering the males from three years and upward, to everyone who enters into the house of the LORD, giving his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their divisions


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both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, and their charges by their divisions,


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and to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation. For in their set office they set themselves apart in holiness.


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And to the sons of Aaron, the priests, in the fields of the open lands of their cities, in each separate city [were] the men who were named by name, to give shares to all the males among the priests, and to all who were counted by genealogies among the Levites.


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And Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and did the good and the right and the true before the LORD his God.


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And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did [it] with all his heart, and prospered.


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After these things done in faithfulness, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, came and entered into Judah, and camped against the fortified cities, and commanded to break them open to himself.


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And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he [had set] his face to fight against Jerusalem,


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he took counsel with his rulers and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains outside the city. And they helped him.


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And there were gathered many people, who stopped all the fountains, and the torrent which ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the king of Assyria come and find much water?


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And he made himself strong and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised [it] up to the towers, and another wall outside, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.


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And he set commanders of war over the people and gathered them to himself in the street of the gate of the city. And he spoke to their heart, saying,


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Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of the king of Assyria, or for all the multitude with him. For [there are] more with us than with him.


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With him [is] an arm of flesh, but with us [is] the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.


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After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem; and he [was] against Lachish, and all his forces with him against Hezekiah king of Judah, and against all Judah in Jerusalem, saying,


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Does not Hezekiah persuade you to give yourselves over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?


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Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before one altar and burn incense on it?


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Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the people of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands in any way able to deliver their lands out of my hands?


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Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers completely destroyed [is] able to deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?


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And now do not let Hezekiah deceive you or persuade you in this way, nor yet believe him. For no god of any nation was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers. How much less shall your god deliver you out of my hand?


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He also wrote letters to revile the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, As the gods of the nations of [other] lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver His people out of my hand.


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And they cried out with a loud voice [in] Jewish to the people of Jerusalem on the wall, in order to frighten them and to trouble them, so that they might take the city.


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And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of the hands of man.


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And for this [reason] Hezekiah the king and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz prayed and cried to Heaven.


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And the LORD sent an angel to cut off all the mighty men of power, and the leaders and commanders in the camp of the king of Assyria. And he returned with shame of face to his own land. And he came into the house of his god, and those from his own bowels killed him there with the sword.


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And the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [others], and guided them on every side.


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And many brought gifts to the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from that time on.


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In those days Hezekiah was sick to death, and prayed to the LORD. And He spoke to him, and He gave him a sign.


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But Hezekiah did not give again according to the good [done] to him, for his heart was lifted up. And there was wrath on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.


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And Hezekiah was humbled for the pride of his heart, he and the people of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.


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And Hezekiah had exceedingly much riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all kinds of pleasant jewels.


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And he made storehouses for the increase of grain and wine and oil, and stalls for all kinds of animals, and stalls for flocks.


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And he provided himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds, in abundance. For God had given him very many things.


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And Hezekiah himself stopped the upper water courses of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah was blessed in all his works.


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But, in [regard to] the ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon who sent to him to ask about the wonder that was done in the land, God left him in order to try him, to know all that was in his heart.


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And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they [are] written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the highest of the tombs of the sons of David. And all Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh reigned in his place.


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Manasseh [was] twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.


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But he did the evil in the sight of the LORD, like the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the sons of Israel.


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For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asherahs, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them.


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And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall My name be forever.


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And he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He also practiced secret arts, and used fortune-telling, and used witchcraft, and dealt with mediums, and with soothsayers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD in order to provoke Him to anger.


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And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever.


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Nor will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have set apart for your fathers; only if they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.


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And Manasseh made Judah and the people of Jerusalem to err, to do worse than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the sons of Israel.


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And the LORD brought on them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh among the thorns and bound him with chains and carried him to Babylon.


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And when he was in affliction, he sought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.


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And he prayed to Him, and He was entreated of him, and heard his prayer, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that Jehovah [is] God.


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And after this he built a wall outside the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance of the Fish Gate, and went around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. And he put army commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.


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And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and threw [them] out of the city.


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And he repaired the altar of the LORD and sacrificed on it peace offerings and thank-offerings. And he commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.


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And the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they [are written] in the Book of the Kings of Israel;


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and his prayer, and his entreaty, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places and set up Asherahs and graven images, before he was humbled, behold, they [are] written among the Matters of the Seers.


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And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And his son Amon reigned in his place.


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And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did; and to all the graven images that his father Manasseh had made, Amon sacrificed, and served them.


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And [he] did not bow before the LORD, like the humbling of his father Manasseh. For Amon himself multiplied guilt.


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And the people of the land killed all those who conspired against king Amon. And the people of the land made his son Josiah to reign in his place.


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And he did the right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and did not turn aside to the right nor to the left.


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For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek after the God of David his father. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Asherahs, and the carved images, and the molten images.


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And they broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence. And he cut down the images which [were] on high above them, and the Asherahs. And the carved images and the molten images he also broke in pieces and made dust [from them, and scattered on the graves of the ones who had sacrificed to them.


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And [so he did] in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even to Naphtali, with their tools round about.


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And he broke down the altars and the Asherahs, and had beaten the carved images into powder, and cut down all the idols in all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.


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And in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.


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And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and they delivered the silver that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin, and they returned to Jerusalem.


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And they put [it] in the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the LORD. And they gave it [to] the workmen who worked in the house of the LORD, to repair and mend the house.


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They gave to the artisans and builders, to buy cut stone and timber for joints, and beams to build up the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.


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And the men did the work faithfully. And the overseers of them [were] Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, and of the Levites, all who [were] skillful with instruments of music;


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and over the bearers of burdens, and overseers of all who worked the work in any manner of service. And of the Levites [were] scribes and officers and gatekeepers.


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And when they brought out the silver that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD by Moses.


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And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.


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And Shaphan carried the Book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was given into the hands of your servants, they are doing.


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And they poured out the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.


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And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.


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And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan. and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying,


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Go inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found. For great [is] the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD to do according to all that is written in this Book.


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And Hilkiah, and those of the king, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the robes. (And she lived in Jerusalem in the second [part].) And they spoke to her about this.


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So says the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil on this place and upon its people, all the curses that are written in the Book which they have read before the king of Judah,


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because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. And My wrath shall be poured out on this place and shall not be quenched.


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And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, so shall you say to him, So says the LORD God of Israel whose words you have heard,


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Because your heart [was] tender and you humbled yourself before your God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and humbled yourself before Me, and tore your garments and wept before Me, I have even heard also, says the LORD.


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Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, nor shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place and upon its people. And they brought the king word again.


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And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the people of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people from the great to [the] small. And he read in their ears all the words of the Book of the Covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.


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And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.


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And he caused all who were found in Jerusalem and in Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem, to stand to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.


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And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the territories that [belonged] to the sons of Israel. And he made all that were present in Israel to serve, to serve the LORD their God. All his days they did not depart from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.


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And Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem. And they killed the passover lamb on the fourteenth of the first month.


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And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD.


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And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. [It shall] not [be] a burden on your shoulders. And serve the LORD your God and His people Israel,


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and prepare by the houses of your fathers, according to your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.


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And stand in the holy [place] according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brothers, the sons of the people, and the division of the families of the Levites.


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And kill the passover lamb, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brothers so that [they] may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.


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And Josiah gave to the people from the flock, lambs and kids, all for the Passover offerings, for all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand oxen. These [were] from what the king owned.


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And his rulers offered to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings two thousand, six hundred [sheep], and three hundred oxen.


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And Conaniah, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for Passover offerings five thousand [sheep] and five hundred oxen.


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And the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their divisions, according to the king's command.


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And they killed the passover lamb, and the priests sprinkled from their hands, and the Levites skinned [them].


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And they removed the burnt offerings so that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer to the LORD, as [it is] written in the book of Moses; and so they did to the oxen.


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And they roasted the passover lamb with fire according to the law. But the holy [offerings] they boiled in pots, and in kettles, and in pans, and carried to all the sons of the people.


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And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron were offering up the burnt offerings and the fat until nightfall. And the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.


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And the singers, the sons of Asaph [were] in their place, according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's seer. And the gatekeepers [were] at every gate. It was not for them to depart from their service; for their brothers the Levites prepared for them.


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And all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of king Josiah.


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And the sons of Israel present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened [Bread] seven days.


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And there was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet. Yea, none of the kings of Israel kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were found, and the people of Jerusalem.


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After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates. And Josiah went out against him.


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But he sent messengers to him, saying, What have I to do with you, king of Judah? [I do] not [come] against you today, but against the house [with which] I have war. For God commanded me to make haste. You must cease from [opposing] God, who [is] with me, so that He does not destroy you.


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But Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him. And he did not listen to the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.


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And the archers shot at king Josiah. And the king said to his servants, Take me away, for I am grievously wounded.


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And his servants took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.


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And Jeremiah mourned for Josiah. And all the singing men and the singing women have spoken of Josiah in their lamentations until this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel. And behold, they [are] written in the Lamentations.


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And the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, [are] according as it [is] written in the law of the LORD,


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and his deeds, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.


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And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem.


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Jehoahaz [was] twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.


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And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and laid a fine of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold on the land.


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And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt.


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Jehoiakim [was] twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD his God.


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And Nebuchadnezzar carried away [some] of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.


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And the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they [are] written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.


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Jehoiachin [was] eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD.


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And when the year had ended, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of the house of the LORD. And he made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.


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Zedekiah [was] twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.


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And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He was not humbled before Jeremiah the prophet, from the mouth of the LORD.


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And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart from turning to the LORD God of Israel.


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Also all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD which He had made holy in Jerusalem.


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And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending, for He had pity on His people and on His dwelling-place.


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But they mocked the messengers of God and despised His words, and ill-treated His prophets until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until [there was] no healing.


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And He caused the king of the Chaldeans to go up against them. And he killed their choice ones by the sword in the house of their holy place, and had no pity on the young man and the virgin, the old man and the very aged; He gave all into his hand.


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And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his rulers, he brought all [these] to Babylon.


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And they burned the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all the palaces of it with fire, and destroyed all its beautiful vessels.


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And the ones who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia,


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to fulfill the word of the LORD in the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of the desolation it kept the sabbath, to the full measure of seventy years.


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And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the LORD in the mouth of Jeremiah might be done, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also in writing, saying,


text:
So says Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth have been given to me by the LORD God. And He has commanded me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah. Who [is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God [be] with him, and let him go up.


text:
And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might he fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also in writing, saying,


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So says Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah.


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Who [is there] among you of all His people? Let his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah, and build the house of Jehovah God of Israel (He is God) which is in Jerusalem.


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And whoever remains in any place where he resides, let the men of his place help him with silver and with gold and with goods and with animals, besides the freewill offering for the house of God that [is] in Jerusalem.


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And the chiefs of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, and all whose spirit God had raised, rose up to go up to build the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem.


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And all those who [were] around them made [their] hands strong with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with precious things, besides all [being] willingly offered.


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And Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem and had put them in the house of his gods.


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Even those Cyrus king of Persia brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.


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And this [is] the number of them: thirty platters of gold, a thousand platters of silver, twenty-nine knives,


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thirty basins of gold, four hundred and ten silver basins of a second [kind], [and] a thousand other vessels.


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All the vessels of gold and of silver [were] five thousand and four hundred. All [these] Sheshbazzar brought up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.


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And these [are] the sons of the province who went up out of the captivity, of those who had been exiled, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled to Babylon. And these came again to Jerusalem and Judah, each one to his city.


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These are the ones who came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. [This is] the number of the men of the people of the sons of Israel:


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The sons of the gatekeepers: The sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-nine.


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And these [were] they who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, [and] Immer, but they could not show their father's house and their seed, whether they [were] of Israel:


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And of the sons of the priests, the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai (who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name).


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These looked for their register [among] those who were counted by genealogy, but they were not found. Therefore they were polluted from the priesthood.


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And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.


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besides their servants and their maids, seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And among them [were] two hundred singing men and singing women.


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And [some] of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in its place.


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They gave according to their ability to the treasure of the work, sixty one thousand drachmas of gold, and five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priest's garments.


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And the priests, and the Levites, and [many] of the people, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the temple slaves, lived in their cities. And all Israel in their cities.


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And when the seventh month had come, and the sons of Israel [were] in the cities, the people gathered themselves as one man to Jerusalem.


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And Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers. And they built the altar of the God of Israel in order to offer burnt offerings on it, as [it is] written in the law of Moses the man of God.


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And they set the altar on its bases, for fear [was] on them because of the people of those countries. And they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings both morning and evening.


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And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as [it is] written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required.


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And afterward they [offered] the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were set apart, and of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the LORD.


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From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not laid.


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They gave silver also to the masons and to the carpenters. And they gave meat and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and to the people of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.


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And in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all they who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began. And they chose the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.


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And Jeshua stood up together [with] his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, to set forward the workmen in the house of God the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.


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And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their robes with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to David king of Israel.


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And they sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, because [He is] good, for His mercy [endures] forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.


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But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, ancient men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. And many shouted aloud for joy


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so that the people could not tell the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people. For the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.


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And when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the captivity built the temple to the LORD God of Israel,


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then they came to Zerubbabel and to the chief of the fathers, and said to them, Let us build with you, for we seek your God, even as you. And we have sacrificed to him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.


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But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said to them, You have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God. But we ourselves together will build to the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.


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Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.


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And they hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.


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And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.


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And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the letter [was] written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.


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Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this way.


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Then Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the judges, and the emissaries, the consuls, the officials, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites,


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and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest of [the province] Beyond the River, and now,


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this [is] the copy of the letter which they sent to him, to Artaxerxes the king. Your servants the men of the province Beyond the River, and so now,


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let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have come to Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and the evil city, and have set up [its] walls, and have joined the foundations.


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And let it be known to the king that if this city is built and the walls set up, then they will not pay toll, taxes, or custom, and you shall endanger the revenue of the kings.


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And because we have eaten the salt of the palace, and it was not right for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we have sent and notified the king,


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so that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers, and you shall find in the book of the records, and shall know that [this] city [is] a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have rebelled in it in the past, for which cause that city was destroyed.


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We notify the king that if this city is built and the walls of it set up, then you shall have no portion Beyond the River.


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The message the king sent to Rehum the chancellor, and [to] Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the rest Beyond the River, Peace! And now,


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And I commanded, and search has been made, and it is found that this city has lifted up itself against kings in the past, and rebellion and revolt have been made in it.


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There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all Beyond the River. And toll, taxes, and custom was paid to them.


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Now make a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built until the decree shall be given from me.


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And when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter [was] read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they hurried to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them stop by force and power.


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Then the work of the house of God at Jerusalem ceased. So it ceased to the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.


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Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, [who was] over them.


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Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God at Jerusalem. And with them [were] the prophets of God helping them.


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At the same time Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond the River, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, came to them and said this to them Who has commanded you to build this house and to make this wall?


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But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they could not cause them to stop until the matter came to Darius, and answer by letter concerning this had been returned.


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The copy of the letter which Tatnai, governor of [the province] Beyond the River, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions, the officials Beyond the River, sent to Darius the king:


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Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is being built [with] great stones, and timber is being laid in the walls, and this work goes on fast and is blessed in their hands.


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Then we asked those elders [and] said this to them, Who commanded you to build this house and to make these walls?


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We also asked their names in order to notify you so that we might write the names of the men who are the chief of them.


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and they returned this answer to us, saying, We are the servants of the God of Heaven and earth. And we build the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up.


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But after our fathers had provoked the God of Heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away to Babylon.


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But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, King Cyrus gave an order to build this house of God.


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And also the vessels of gold and silver from the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they [were delivered to one whose name [was] Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.


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And he said to him, Take these vessels and go. Carry them into the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in His place.


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Then the same Sheshbazzar came [and] laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem. And since that time even until now it has been building, but is not finished.


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And therefore, if [it seems] good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was given from Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem. And let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.


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Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the scrolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.


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And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that [was] in the province of the Medes, a scroll. And in it [was] a record written thus:


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In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem. Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid. The height of it shall be] sixty cubits, and the breadth of it shall be sixty cubits,


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[with] three rows of great stones and a row of new timber. And let the expenses be given out of the king's house.


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And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be given back and brought again to the temple which [ is] at Jerusalem, to their place, and place them in the house of God.


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And Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-boznai, and your companions, the officials Beyond the River, keep away from there.


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Let the work of this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.


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Also I make a decree as to what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God, that at once expense be given to these men from the king's goods, from the tax Beyond the River, so that they may not have to stop.


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And that which they have need of, both young bulls and rams and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of Heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the choice of the priests at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail,


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so that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God of Heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.


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Also I have made a decree that whoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house and be set up, and let him be hanged on it. And let his house be made a dunghill for this.


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And may the God who has caused His name to dwell there destroy all kings and people who shall put their hand to alter [or] to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree. Let it be done with speed.


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Then Tatnai, governor of [the province] Beyond the River, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.


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And the elders of the Jews built, and they were blessed through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished [it] according to the command of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.


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And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.


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And the sons of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the sons of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.


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And they offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs. And for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.


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And they set the priests in their sections, and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God which [is] at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.


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For the priests and the Levites [were] purified together, all of them pure. And they slaughtered the passover [lamb] for all the sons of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.


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And the sons of Israel ate, all who had come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the uncleanness of the nations of the land, in order to seek the LORD God of Israel.


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And [they] kept the Feast of Unleavened [Bread] seven days with joy. For the LORD had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to make their hands strong in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.


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And after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,


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this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he [was] a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. And the king granted him all he asked, according to the hand of the LORD his God on him.


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And there went up [some] of the sons of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the temple slaves, to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.


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For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.


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For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do [it], and to teach statutes and judgments in Israel.


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And this [is] the copy of the letter which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of His statutes to Israel.


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Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of Heaven, perfect [peace], and now:


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From me was made a decree that everyone of the people of Israel, and their priests and Levites in my kingdom, who desire of their own free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with you;


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since you have been sent by the king, and by his seven counselors to ask about Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God in your hand;


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and to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose house [is] in Jerusalem,


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and all the silver and gold which you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the free will offering of the people and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God in Jerusalem.


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Before all of this, you shall diligently buy with this money, bulls, rams, lambs, with their food offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.


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And whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after the will of your God.


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Also the vessels which are given you for the service of the house of your God, deliver them before the God of Jerusalem.


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And whatever more shall be needful for the house of God, which you shall have need to give, give [it] out of the king's treasure house.


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And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who [are] Beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of Heaven, shall ask of you, it shall be done exactly,


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to a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without saying.


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Whatever is commanded by the God of Heaven, let it be carefully done for the house of the God of Heaven for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?


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Also, we notify you, that in regard to any of the priests and the Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple slaves, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, taxes, or custom on them.


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And now, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God that [is] in your hand, set officers and judges who may judge all the people who [are] Beyond the River, all who know the laws of your God; and teach them who do not know.


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And whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether [it is] to death, or to exile, or to confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.


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Blessed [be] the LORD God of our fathers, who has put this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,


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and has extended mercy before the king and his counselors and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was made strong as the hand of the LORD my God [was] on me, and I gathered out of Israel chief men to go up with me.


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These [are] now the chief of their fathers, and the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.


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From the sons of Phinehas; Gershom. From the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. From the sons of David, Hattush.


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From the sons of Shechaniah, from the sons of Parosh, Zechariah. And with him were counted by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty.


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And from the last sons of Adonikam, these: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.


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And I gathered them to the river which runs to Ahava. And we stayed there in tents three days. And I looked over the people and the priests, and did not find there any of the sons of Levi.


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Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.


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And I sent them with command to Iddo the chief of the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo, to his brothers the temple slaves, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.


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And by the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of understanding, from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;


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also of the temple slaves whom David and the rulers had chosen for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple slaves. All of them were called by name.


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Then I called a fast there at the river Ahava, so that we might humble ourselves before our God, in order to seek from Him a right way for us and for our little ones, and for all our goods.


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For I was ashamed to ask of the king troops and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God [is] on all those who seek Him for good, but His power and His wrath are] against all those who forsake Him.


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Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them.


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And I weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, the offering of the house of our God, which the king and his counselors and his lords, and all Israel who were there, had offered.


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And I weighed into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels of a hundred talents, of gold a hundred talents


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And I said to them, You [are] holy to the LORD, and the vessels [are] holy. And the silver and the gold [are] a free-will offering to the LORD God of your fathers.


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Watch and keep [them] until you weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and the chief of the fathers of Israel at Jerusalem [in] the rooms of the house of the LORD.


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So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring [them] to Jerusalem to the house of our God.


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And we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth of the first month, to go [to] Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was on us, and He delivered us from the hand of [the] enemy, and from ambushers by the way.


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And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest. And with him [was] Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them [was] Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites.


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They were weighed by number [and] by weight of every one. And all the weight was written at that time.


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The sons of those who had been exiled, who had come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve young bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve he-goats [for] a sin offering. All this [was] a burnt offering to the LORD.


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And they delivered the king's orders to the king's lieutenants and to the governors of [the province] Beyond the River. And they helped the people and the house of God.


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And at the end of these things, the rulers came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands. But [they are doing according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.


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For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons. So the holy seed has mixed themselves with the people of [those] lands. Yes, the hand of the leaders and overseers has been chief in this sin.


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And when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down stricken dumb.


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Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel was gathered to me, because of the sin of those who had been exiled. And I remained dumb until the evening sacrifice.


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And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my affliction. And tearing my garment and my mantle, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God.


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And I said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to You, my God. For our iniquities have increased over [our] heads, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.


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Since the days of our fathers [we have been] in a great sin until this day. And for our iniquities we, our kings, our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to shame of face, as it is this day.


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And now for a little time grace has been [shown] from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape and to give us a nail in His holy place, so that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little life in our bondage.


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For we [were] slaves, yet our God has not left us in our bondage, but has given mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us some life, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its waste, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.


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which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, The land into which you go to possess it, [is] an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to the other with their uncleanness.


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And now do not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth forever, so that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it] for an inheritance to your sons forever.


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And after all that has come on us for our evil deeds and for our great sin, since You our God have punished us less than our iniquities [deserve], and have given us such an escape as this,


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should we again break Your commandments and join hands with the people of these abominations? Would You not be angry with us until You had crushed [us], until there is no remnant nor survivor?


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O LORD God of Israel, You [are] righteous. For we are left a remnant that has escaped, as today. Behold, we [are] before You in our sins, for we cannot stand before You because of this.


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And when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there gathered to him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children, for the people wept [with] a great weeping.


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And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have sinned against our God and have taken strange women from the people of the land. Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.


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And now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the women, and such as have been born of them, according to the counsel of the Lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. And let it be done according to the Law.


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Then Ezra arose and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear that they should do according to this word. And they swore.


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Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went into the room of Johanan the son of Eliashib. And he went there, and he ate no bread nor drank water. For he mourned because of the sin of those who had been exiled.


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And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the sons of the captivity, to gather themselves to Jerusalem,


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and that who ever would not come within three days, according to the advice of the rulers and the elders, all he owned would be lost, and he himself separated from the congregation of the exiles.


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Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves to Jerusalem within three days. It [was] the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month. And all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of [this matter, and for the great rain.


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And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, You have sinned, and have taken strange women to increase the sin of Israel.


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And now confess to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His pleasure. And separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange women.


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But the people [are] many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside. And the work is not of one or two days. For we who have sinned in this thing are many.


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And let our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all those who have taken strange women in our cities, come at a set time, and with them the elders of every city and its judges, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter has turned from us.


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Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah made a stand against this. And Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.


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And the sons of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, [with] certain heads of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by names, were separated. And they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.


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And they made an end with all the men who had taken strange women by the first day of the first month.


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And among the sons of the priests, these were found who had taken strange women: From the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers were Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.


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And they gave their hands that they would put away their women. And [being] guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their sin.


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And from the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same [is] Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.


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And from Israel: From the sons of Parosh, Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah and Benaiah.


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And from the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel. and Binnui, and Manasseh.


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The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it happened in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,


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Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and men of Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.


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And they said to me, The remnant left of the captivity there in the province [is] in great affliction and shame. And the wall of Jerusalem [is] broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.


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And it happened when I heard these words, I sat down and wept. And I mourned [for] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of Heaven.


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And I said, I pray You, O LORD God of Heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments;


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let Your ear now be open, and Your eyes open, so that You may hear the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You now, day and night, for the sons of Israel Your servants, and confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both I and my father's house have sinned.


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We have acted very wickedly against You, and have not kept the commandments nor the statutes nor the judgments which You commanded Your servant Moses.


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I pray You, remember the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, [If] you sin, I will scatter you among the nations,


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but [if] you turn to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though you were cast out to the outermost part of the heavens, [yet] I will gather you from there and will bring you to the place that I have chosen to set My name there.


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And these [are] Your servants and Your people whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.


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O LORD, I pray You, let now Your ear be open to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name. And I pray You, bless Your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. (For I was the king's cupbearer.)


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And it happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine [was] before him. And I took up the wine and gave [it] to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence before.


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And the king said to me, Why [is] your face sad, since you [are] not sick? This [is] nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was very much afraid.


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And [I] said to the king, Let the king live forever. Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, [lies] waste, and its gates are burned with fire?


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and I said to the king, If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I pray that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, so that I may build it.


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And the king said to me (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall your journey be? And when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time.


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And I said to the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors Beyond the River, so that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah,


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and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the kings forest, so that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which [belong] to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house into which I shall enter. And the king granted me what I asked, according to the good hand of my God upon me.


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And I came to the governors of [the province] Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. And the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.


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And Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard. And it grieved them very much that there had come a man to seek the good of the sons of Israel.


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And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me. And I did not tell to a man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem. And [there was] no animal with me, except the animal that I rode upon.


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And I went out by night by the Valley Gate, even before the Jackal Fountain, and to the Dung Gate, and looked at the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down, and its gates which were burned with fire.


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And I went on to the Fountain Gate, and to the King's Pool. But [there was] no place for the animal that was under me to pass.


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And I went up in the night by the brook and looked at the wall, and turned back, and entered by the Valley Gate, and returned.


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And the rulers did not know where I had gone, nor what I was doing. Nor had I told the Jews as yet, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.


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And I said to them, You see the distress that we [are] in, how Jerusalem is wasted, and the gates of it are burned with fire. Come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no more be a reproach.


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And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, and also the king's words that he had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up to build. So they made their hands strong for good.


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But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us. And they said, What [is] this that you do? Will you rebel against the king?


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And I answered them and said to them, The God of Heaven, He will bless us, and we, His servants, will arise and build. But you have no portion or right or memorial in Jerusalem.


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Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They sanctified it and set up its doors, even to the Tower of Meah they sanctified it, to the Tower of Hananeel.


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But the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate, who laid its beams and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.


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And next to them Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.


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And next to them the Tekoites repaired. But their nobles did not put their necks to the work of their Lord.


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And the Old Gate was repaired by Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and set up its doors and its locks and its bars.


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And next to them Melatiah of Gibeon repaired, and Jadon of Meron, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, to the throne of the governor Beyond the River.


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Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths, repaired. And next to him Hananiah, the son of [one of] the perfumers, repaired. And they fortified Jerusalem to the Broad Wall.


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Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired, even across from his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabniah repaired.


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Malchijah the son of Harim and Hashub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired the other piece, and the Tower of the Furnaces.


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And next to him Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters repaired.


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Hanun, and the people of Zanoah, repaired the Valley Gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and a thousand cubits on the wall to the Dung Gate.


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But the Dung Gate was repaired by Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-haccerem. He built it and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.


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And the Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallum the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah. He built it and covered it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah by the King's Garden, and to the stairs that go down from the City of David.


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After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, repaired across from the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.


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After him the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani, repaired. Next to him Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, repaired in his part.


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And next to him, Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another piece across from the ascent to the armory at the corner.


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After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the corner to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.


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After him Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz repaired another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.


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After him Benjamin and Hashub repaired across from their house. After him Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah repaired by his house.


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After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another piece, from the house of Azariah to the corner even to the tower.


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Palal the son of Uzai [repaired] across from the corner, and the tower which lies out from the king's high house, by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh [repaired].


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And the temple-slaves who lived in Ophel repaired across from the Water Gate toward the east, and the tower that sticks out.


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After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, opposite the great tower that sticks out, even to the wall of Ophel.


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After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired across from his house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired.


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After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another piece. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired across from his room.


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After him Malchiah the goldsmith's son repaired to the place of the temple-slaves, and of the merchants, across from the Miphkad Gate, and to the going up of the corner.


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But it happened when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was angry and greatly displeased, and mocked the Jews.


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And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they bring to life the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?


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And Tobiah the Ammonite [was] beside him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox goes up, he shall even break down their stone wall.


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Oh our God, hear, for we are despised. And turn their curse upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity.


