# verses

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 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days the land was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.


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


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 Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.


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 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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 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, Onan and Shelah; which three were born to him of Shua's daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh; and He killed him.


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 Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;


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 Caleb the son of Hezron fathered children by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab and Ardon.


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 Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he took as wife when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub.


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 Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.


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 After that Hezron was dead in Caleb Ephrathah, then Abijah Hezron's wife bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa. 


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 The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem and Ahijah.


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 The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph. The son of Mareshah was Hebron.


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 She bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena, and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.


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 These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,


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 Shobal the founder of Kiriath Jearim was the ancestor of the people Haroeh and half of the people of Menuhoth.


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 The families of Kiriath Jearim: The Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites and the Mishraites; of them came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.


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 The sons of Salma: Bethlehem and the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.


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 The families of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came of Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.


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 Now these were the sons of David, who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess;


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 the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;


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 Six were born to him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.


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 These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel;


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 The sons of Josiah: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.


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 The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel, and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam, and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister;


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 The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah; the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah.


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 The sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. The sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah and Shaphat, six.


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 Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath; and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.


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 These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi;


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 and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the founder of Bethlehem.


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 Jabez was more honourable than his brothers: and his mother named him Jabez saying, Because I bore him with sorrow.


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 Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that it not be to my sorrow! God granted him that which he requested.


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 Eshton became the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These are the men of Recah.


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 Meonothai became the father of Ophrah: and Seraiah became the father of Joab the father of Ge Harashim; for they were craftsmen.


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 The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon; and she bore Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.


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 His wife the Jewess bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. These are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took.


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 The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.


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 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked fine linen, of the house of Ashbea;


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 and Jokim, the men of Cozeba, Joash and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. The records are ancient.


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 These were the potters, and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah where they lived and worked for the king.


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 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers didn't have many children, neither did all their family multiply like the children of Judah.


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 Beth Marcaboth and Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and at Shaaraim. These were their cities to the reign of David.


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 and all their villages that were around the same cities, to Baal. These were their habitations, and they have their genealogy.


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 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 mentioned by name were princes in their families; and their fathers' houses increased greatly.


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 They went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.


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 They found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, quiet and peaceable; for those who lived there before were of Ham.


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 These written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and attacked their tents, and the Meunim who were found there, and destroyed them utterly to this day, and lived in their place; because there was pasture there for their flocks.


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 Some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to Mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.


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 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, because 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 reckoned after the birthright.


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 For Judah prevailed above his brothers, and of him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph's):


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 and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath Pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.


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 His brothers by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief, Jeiel, 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 up to Nebo and Baal Meon:


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 and eastward he lived even to the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their livestock were multiplied in the land of Gilead.


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 In the days of Saul, they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they lived in their tents throughout all the land east of Gilead. 


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 Their brothers of their fathers' houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber, seven.


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 These were 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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 They lived in Gilead in Bashan, and in its towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, as far as their borders.


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 All these were reckoned 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 Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, that were able to go forth to war.


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 They were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them; for they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him.


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 They took away their livestock; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of donkeys two thousand, and of men one hundred thousand.


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 For there fell many slain, because the war was of God. They lived in their place until the captivity. 


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 The children of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land: they increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon, Senir and Mount Hermon.


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 These were the heads of their fathers' houses: even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses.


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 They trespassed against the God of their fathers, and played the prostitute after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them.


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 The God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tiglath Pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, to this day.


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 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.


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 Johanan became the father of Azariah (he it is who executed the priest's office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem),


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 Jehozadak went into captivity when Yahweh carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.


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 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' households.


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 These are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of Yahweh, after that the ark had rest.


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 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon had built the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem; and they served in their office according to their order.


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 These are those who waited, and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, son of Samuel,


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 On the left hand were their brothers the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch,


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 But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.


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 Now these are their dwelling places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the first lot),


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 To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its suburbs;


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 and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its suburbs; Allemeth with its suburbs and Anathoth with its suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.


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 To the rest of the sons of Kohath were given by lot, out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities.


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 To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.


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 To the sons of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.


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 They gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, out of the tribe of the children of Simeon and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name.


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 Some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.


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 They gave to them the cities of refuge: Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its suburbs; Gezer also with its suburbs;


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 and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its suburbs and Bileam with its suburbs, for the rest of the family 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 suburbs, and Ashtaroth with its suburbs;


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 and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs; Hammon with its suburbs and Kiriathaim with its suburbs.


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 To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono with its suburbs; Tabor with its suburbs;


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 and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them, out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its suburbs; Jahzah with its suburbs,


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 The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Shemuel, heads of their fathers' houses, of Tola; mighty men of valour in their generations. Their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred.


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 The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Isshiah, five; all of them chief men.


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 With them, by their generations, after their fathers' houses, were bands of the army for war, thirty-six thousand; for they had many wives and sons.


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 Their brothers among all the families of Issachar, mighty men of valour, reckoned in all by genealogy, were eighty-seven thousand. 


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 The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth and Iri, five; heads of fathers' houses, mighty men of valour. They were reckoned by genealogy twenty-two thousand and thirty-four.


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 The sons of Becher: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher.


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 They were reckoned by genealogy, after their generations, heads of their fathers' houses, mighty men of valour, twenty thousand two hundred.


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 The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish and Ahishahar.


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 All these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers' households, mighty men of valour, seventeen thousand and two hundred, who were able to go forth in the army for war.


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 The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bore. She bore Machir the father of Gilead.


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 Machir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maacah; and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.


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 Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.


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 Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to take away their livestock.


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 He went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son, and he named him Beriah, because it went evil with his house.


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 Their possessions and habitations were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with its towns; Shechem also and its towns, to Azzah and its towns;


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 and by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these lived the children of Joseph the son of Israel. 


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 All these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers' houses, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. The number of them reckoned by genealogy for service in war was twenty-six thousand men.


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 These are the sons of Ehud, who are the heads of fathers' households of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath:


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 Shaharaim divorced his two wives, Hushim and Baara. Later, when he lived in the country of Moab, he married Hodesh


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 and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of fathers' households of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;


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 These were heads of fathers' households throughout their generations, chief men: these lived in Jerusalem.


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 Mikloth became the father of Shimeah. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, over against their brothers.


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 Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab and Eshbaal.


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 Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza.


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 Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.


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 The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, one hundred and fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.


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 So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies - they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience.


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 Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites and the Nethinim.


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 In Jerusalem lived of the children of Judah, of the children of Benjamin and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:


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 Uthai the son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, of the children of Perez son of Judah.


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 and Ibneiah son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah;


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 and their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men were heads of fathers' households by their fathers' houses.


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 and Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the ruler of God's house;


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 and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer;


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 and their brothers, heads of their fathers' houses, one thousand seven hundred and sixty; very able men for the work of the service of God's house.


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 and Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.


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 who previously served in the king's gate eastward: they were the porters for the camp of the children of Levi.


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 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of his father's house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent. Their fathers had been over the camp of Yahweh, keepers of the entry.


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 All these who were chosen to be porters in the thresholds were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the prophet ordained in their office of trust.


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 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of Yahweh, even the house of the tent, as guards.


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 Their brothers, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them;


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 for the four chief porters, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the rooms and over the treasuries in God's house.


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 They lodged around God's house, because that duty was theirs. To them pertained its opening morning by morning.


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 Certain of them were in charge of the vessels of service; for by count were these brought in and by count were these taken out.


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 Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense and the spices.


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 Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans.


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 Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath.


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 These are the singers, heads of fathers' households of the Levites, who lived in the rooms and were free from other service; for they were employed in their work day and night.


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 These were heads of fathers' households of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men. They lived at Jerusalem. 


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 Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, over against their brothers.


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 Ahaz became the father of Jarah; and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza;


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 Azel had six sons, whose names are: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.


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 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.


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 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.


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 The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was badly wounded by the archers.


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 Then Saul said to his armour bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armour bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it.


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 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.


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 It happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.


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 They stripped him, and took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to their idols, and to the people.


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 all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.


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 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, against the word of Yahweh, which he didn't keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire,


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 and didn't inquire of Yahweh. Therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.


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 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.


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 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh your God said to you, "You shall be shepherd of My people Israel, and you shall be prince over My people Israel'.


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 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh by Samuel.


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 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus). The Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.


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 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, You shall not come in here. Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is the city of David.


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 David said, Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.


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 Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Yahweh concerning Israel.


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 This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.


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 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.


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 They stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory.


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 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.


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 David was thirsty and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!


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 The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David. David would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh,


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 and said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.


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 Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.


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 Of the three, he was more honourable than the two, and was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the three.


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 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, had done mighty deeds. He killed two lion-like men of Moab. He went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.


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 He killed an Egyptian, a man of great 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 plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.


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 Behold, he was more honourable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the three; and David set him over his guard.


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 Also the mighty men of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,


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 The Names of David's Followers Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself in secret because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war.


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 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow. They were of Saul's brothers of Benjamin.


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 The chief was Ahiezer; then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite,


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 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,


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 Of the Gadites there separated themselves to David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valour, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes on the mountains:


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 These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army: he who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand.


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 These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.


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 David went out to meet them and responded to them: If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.


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 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse. Peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.


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 Of Manasseh also there fell away some to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle; but they didn't help them; for the lords of the Philistines sent him away after consultation, saying, He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.


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 As he went to Ziklag, there joined him of Manasseh, Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh.


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 They helped David against the band of rovers; for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the army.


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 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God. The Numbers of David's Supporters


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 These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of Yahweh.


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 Of the children of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul, three thousand; for hitherto the majority of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.


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 Of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous men in their fathers' houses.


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 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, came and made David king.


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 Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their heads were two hundred; and all their brothers were under their command.


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 Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, with all kinds of instruments of war, fifty thousand, who could command and were not of double heart.


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 Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, forty thousand.


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 On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all kinds of instruments of war for the battle, one hundred and twenty thousand.


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 All these being men of war, who could order the battle array, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel were also of one heart to make David king.


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 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had made preparation for them.


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 Moreover those who were near to them, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, and on camels, mules and oxen, food of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, and cattle and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.


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 David Takes the Ark of God David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.


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 David said to all the assembly of Israel, If it seems good to you, and if it is of Yahweh our God, let us send abroad everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves to us.


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 All the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.


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 So David assembled all Israel together, from Shihor the brook of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.


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 David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of Yahweh God who dwells between the cherubim, that is called by the Name.


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 They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.


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 David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.


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 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.


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 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzza, and He struck him, because he put forth his hand to the ark; and there he died before God.


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 David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken forth on Uzza; and he called that place Perez Uzza, to this day.


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 So David didn't move the ark to him into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.


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 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and Yahweh blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that he had.


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 Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.


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 David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel; for his kingdom was exalted on high, for His people Israel's sake.


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 When the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. David heard of it, and went out against them.


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 David inquired of God saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand? Yahweh said to him, Go up; for I will deliver them into your hand.


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 So they came up to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and David said, God has broken my enemies by my hand, like the breach of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.


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 David inquired again of God; and God said to him, You shall not go up after them. Turn away from them, and come on them opposite the mulberry trees.


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 It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.


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 David did as God commanded him; and they struck the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.


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 David made himself houses in the city of David; and he 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 but the Levites; for Yahweh has chosen them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to Him forever.


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 David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh to its place, which he had prepared for it.


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 David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab,


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 and said to them, You are the heads of the fathers' households of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you may bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.


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 For because you didn't carry it at first, Yahweh our God broke out against us, because we didn't seek Him according to the ordinance.


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 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel.


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 The children of the Levites bore the ark of God with its poles on their shoulders, as Moses commanded according to the word of Yahweh.


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 David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers the singers, with instruments of music, stringed instruments and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.


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 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;


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 and with them their brothers of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the doorkeepers.


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 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah, with stringed instruments set to Alamoth;


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 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead.


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 Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.


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 Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.


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 So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the house of Obed-Edom with joy.


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 It happened, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, that they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.


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 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites who bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers; and David wore an ephod of linen.


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 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with stringed instruments and harps.


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 As the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.


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 David's Song of Praise They brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. They offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.


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 When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh.


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 He dealt to each one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, a portion of meat and a cake of raisins.


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 He appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of Yahweh, and to celebrate and to thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel:


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 Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;


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 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.


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 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to His name. Bring an offering, and come before Him. Worship Yahweh in holy array.


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 Say, "Save us, God of our salvation! Gather us together and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise'.


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 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, "Amen', and praised Yahweh.


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 So he left there, before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, Asaph and his brothers, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required;


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 and Obed-Edom with their brothers, sixty-eight; Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers;


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 and Zadok the priest, and his brothers the priests, before the tabernacle of Yahweh in the high place that was at Gibeon,


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 to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which He commanded to Israel.


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 With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because His grace endures forever;


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 and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God; and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate.


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 It happened that as David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is under curtains.


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 for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tent to another.


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 In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of My people saying, "Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?''


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 Now therefore, you shall tell My servant David, "Thus says Yahweh of Armies, I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over My people Israel.


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 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.


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 I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more. Neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,


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 and from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will build you a house.


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 It shall happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who shall be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.


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 I will be his father, and he shall be My son. I will not take My sure mercies away from him, as I took it from him that was before you;


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 but I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever. His throne shall be established forever'.


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 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.David's Response to the Covenant


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 Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh; and he said, Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that You have brought me thus far?


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 This was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the estate of a man of high degree, Yahweh God.


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 What can David say yet more to You concerning the honour which is done to Your servant? For You know Your servant.


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 Yahweh, for Your servant's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have worked all this greatness, to make known all these great things.


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 Yahweh, there is none like You, neither is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.


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 What single nation in the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to Himself for a people, to make You a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed out of Egypt?


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 Now, Yahweh, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as You have spoken.


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 Let Your name be established and magnified forever, saying, "Yahweh of Armies is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. The house of David Your servant is established before You'.


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 For You, my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You.


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 Now it has pleased You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.


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 David's Prosperity After this, it happened that David struck the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.


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 David struck Hadadezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.


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 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand footmen; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them enough for one hundred chariots.


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 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men.


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 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.


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 David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.


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 From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much brass, with which Solomon made the bronze laver, the pillars and the vessels of brass.


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 he sent Hadoram his son to king David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him (for Hadadezer had wars with Tou); and he had with him all kinds of vessels of gold and silver and brass.


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 King David also dedicated these to Yahweh, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations; from Edom, Moab, the children of Ammon, the Philistines and from Amalek.


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 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.


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 He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.


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 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief around the king.


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 David's Conflict with Ammon It happened after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.


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 David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.


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 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Do you think that David honours your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven't his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?


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 So Hanun took David's servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.


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 Then there went certain persons and told David how the men were served. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.


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 When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.


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 So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. The children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.


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 The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city. The kings who had come were by themselves in the field.


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 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.


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 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.


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 He said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you are to help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.


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 Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God. May Yahweh do that which seems good to Him.


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 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.


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 When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.


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 When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.


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 It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, passed over the Jordan and came on them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.


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 The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians seven thousand charioteers, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the army.


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 When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and served him. From then on, the Syrians would not help the children of Ammon.


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 At the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, Joab led forth the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah and overthrew it.


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 David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set on David's head; and he brought forth the spoil of the city, a great amount.


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 He brought forth the people who were therein, and cut them with saws, and with iron picks, and with axes. David did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. The Sons of the Giant Are Killed


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 After this, there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.


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 There was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.


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 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were twenty-four, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was born to 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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 David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring me word, so that I may know the sum of them.


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 Joab said, May Yahweh make His people a hundred times as many as they are; but, my lord the king, aren't they all my lord's servants? Why does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guilt for Israel?


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 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.


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 Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to David. All those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men who drew sword; and in Judah were four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew sword.


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 David said to God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. But now, put away, I beg You, the iniquity of Your servant; for I have done very foolishly.


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 Go and speak to David saying, "Thus says Yahweh, I offer you three things. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you'.


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 either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days' suffering the sword of Yahweh, even plague in the land, and the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the borders of Israel'. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.


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 David said to Gad, I am in distress. Let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Yahweh; for His mercies are very great. Let me not fall into the hand of man.


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 God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was about to destroy, Yahweh saw, and He relented of the disaster, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David's Intercession for Israel


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 David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.


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 David said to God, Isn't it I who commanded the people to be numbered? It is even I who have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand, O Yahweh my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against Your people, that they should be plagued.


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 Then the angel of Yahweh commanded Gad to tell David that David should go up, and make an altar to Yahweh in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


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 Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.


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 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself 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, that I may build thereon an altar to Yahweh. You shall sell it to me for the full price, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.


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 Ornan said to David, Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes. Behold, I give the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal offering. I give it all.


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 King David said to Ornan, No; but I will most certainly buy it for the full price. For I will not take that which is yours for Yahweh, nor offer a burnt offering without cost.


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 David built an altar to Yahweh there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on Yahweh; and He answered him from the sky by fire on the altar of burnt offering.


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 At that time, when David saw that Yahweh had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.


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 For the tabernacle of Yahweh, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon.


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 But David couldn't go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.


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 Then David said, This is the house of Yahweh God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.


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 David gave orders to gather together the foreigners who were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to cut worked stones to build God's house.


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 David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings; and brass in abundance without weight;


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 and cedar trees without number; for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought cedar trees in abundance to David.


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 David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all nations. I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.


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 Then he called for Solomon his son, and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel.


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 David said to Solomon his son, As for me, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God.


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 But the word of Yahweh came to me saying, "You have shed blood abundantly, 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 peace. I will give him peace from all his enemies all around; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.


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 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 for ever'.


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 Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and prosper you, and build the house of Yahweh your God, as He has spoken concerning you.


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 May Yahweh give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel; that so you may keep the law of Yahweh your God.


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 Then you will prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Yahweh gave Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid, neither be dismayed.


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 Now, behold, I have made a great effort in preparing for the house of Yahweh one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance. I have also prepared timber and stone; and you may add to them.


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 There are also workmen with you in abundance, cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of men who are skilful in every kind of work:


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 of the gold, silver, brass and iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and may Yahweh be with you.


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 Isn't Yahweh your God with you? Hasn't He given you rest on every side? For He has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before Yahweh and before His people.


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 Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Yahweh your God. Arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of Yahweh God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Yahweh.


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 The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and over: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.


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 David said, Of these, twenty-four thousand are to oversee the work of the house of Yahweh; six thousand are to be officers and judges;


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 four thousand are to be doorkeepers; and four thousand are to praise Yahweh with the instruments which I made for giving praise.


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 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' households of Ladan.


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 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah didn't have many sons; therefore they combined to become a father's house.


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 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was sanctified, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, forever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to minister to Him, and to bless in His name, forever.


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 The sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.


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 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.


text:
 Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only; and their brothers the sons of Kish took them as wives.


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 These were the sons of Levi after their fathers' houses, even the heads of the fathers' houses of those who were counted individually, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and over.


text:
 For David said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people; and He dwells in Jerusalem forever.


text:
 Their ministry was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Yahweh, in the courts, and in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of God's house;


text:
 for the showbread also, and for the fine flour for a meal offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all kinds of measure and size.


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 and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Yahweh;


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 and that they should keep the duty of the Tent of Meeting, and the duty of the holy place, and the duty of the sons of Aaron their brothers, for the service of the house of Yahweh.


text:
 These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.


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 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.


text:
 David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.


text:
 There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar. They were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers' houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers' houses, eight.


text:
 Thus were they divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.


text:
 Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers' households of the priests and of the Levites; one father's house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.


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 This was their ordering in their service, to come into the house of Yahweh according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as Yahweh, the 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 after their fathers' houses.


text:
 These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers' households of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers' households of the chief even as those of his younger brother.


text:
 The Sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments and cymbals. The number of those who did the work according to their service was:


text:
 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order of the king.


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 Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh.


text:
 Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth.


text:
 All these were the sons of Heman the king's prophet of the words of God, to lift up the horn. God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.


text:
 All these were under the hands of their father for the singing ministry in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, for the service of God's house: Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.


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 The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to Yahweh, even all who were skilful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.


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 They cast lots for their offices, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.


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 Now the first lot of Asaph came forth to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, he and his brothers and sons were twelve:


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 For the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.


text:
 Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,


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 Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,


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 Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born, who ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valour.


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 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose brothers were capable men, Elihu and Semachiah.


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 All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom: they and their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service; sixty-two of Obed-Edom.


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 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him 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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 Of these were the divisions of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brothers, to minister in the house of Yahweh.


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 The lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.


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 To Shuppim and Hosah, westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watch against watch.


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 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the storehouse two and two.


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 These were the divisions of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari. 


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 Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of God's house, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.


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 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers' households belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.


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 His brothers: of Eliezer, Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son and Shelomoth his son.


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 This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers' households, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated.


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 All that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated, whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, 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 Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valour, one thousand seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Yahweh, and for the service of the king.


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 Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers' households. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.


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 His brothers, men of valour, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers' households, whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.


text:
 Now the children of Israel after their number, the heads of fathers' households and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king, in any matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year--of every division were twenty-four thousand.


text:
 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.


text:
 Over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his division; and Mikloth the ruler; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.


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 The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, chief; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.


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 This is that Benaiah, who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty; and of his division was Ammizabad his son.


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 The fourth captain 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 captain for this fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.


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 The sixth captain 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 captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his division were twenty-four thousand.


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 The eighth captain 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 captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites: and in his division were twenty-four thousand.


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 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.


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 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.


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 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 


text:
 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah:


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 of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:


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 of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:


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 But David didn't take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Yahweh had said He would increase Israel like the stars of the sky.


text:
 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but didn't finish; and there came wrath for this upon Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David.


text:
 Over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. Over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah.


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 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite. And over the increase of the vineyards for the winecellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite.


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 And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite. And over the cellars of oil was Joash.


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 And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.


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 And over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. And over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.


text:
 Also Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counsellor, a man of understanding, and a scribe. Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons.


text:
 and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. The captain of the king's army was Joab.


text:
 David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the captains of the companies who served the king by division, the captains of thousands and hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valour, to Jerusalem.


text:
 Then David the king stood up on his feet and said, Hear me, my brothers and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building.


text:
 But God said to me, "You shall not build a house for My name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood'.


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 However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.


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 Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh's kingdom over Israel.


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 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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 I will establish his kingdom forever, if he continues to do My commandments and My ordinances as he does at this time'.


text:
 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.


text:
 You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh 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.


text:
 Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it. David's Preparation for the Temple


text:
 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple, and of its houses, and of its treasuries, and of the upper rooms of it, and of the inner rooms of it, and of the place of the mercy seat;


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 and the pattern of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of Yahweh, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God's house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;


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 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Yahweh;


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 of gold by weight for the gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;


text:
 by weight also for the lampstands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps; and for the lampstands of silver, by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lampstand;


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 and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;


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 and the forks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;


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 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, the cherubim, that spread out, and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.


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 All this, said David, I have been made to understand in writing from the hand of Yahweh, even all the works of this pattern.


text:
 David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of Yahweh is finished.


text:
 Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of God's house. There shall be with you in all kinds of work every willing man who has skill, for any kind of service. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command.


text:
 David the king said to all the assembly, Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Yahweh God.


text:
 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the brass for the things of brass, the iron for the things of iron and wood for the things of wood; onyx stones and stones to be set, stones for inlaid work and of various colours, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.


text:
 In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,


text:
 even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the house;


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 of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself this day to Yahweh?


text:
 Then the princes of the fathers' households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king's work, offered willingly;


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 and they gave for the service of God's house five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, and of silver ten thousand talents, of brass eighteen thousand talents and of iron a hundred thousand talents.


text:
 They with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of Yahweh, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.


text:
 Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a complete heart they offered willingly to Yahweh: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.


text:
 Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.


text:
 Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and You are exalted as head above all.


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 Both riches and honour come from You, and You rule over all; in Your hand is power and might; it is in Your hand to make great, and to give strength to all.


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 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given You.


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 For we are strangers before You, and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining.


text:
 Yahweh 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. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now have I seen with joy Your people, that are present here, offer willingly to You.


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 Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of 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 for You.


text:
 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 palace, for which I have made provision.


text:
 David said to all the assembly, Now bless Yahweh your God! All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before Yahweh and the king.


text:
 They sacrificed sacrifices to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the next day after that day, even one thousand bulls, one thousand rams and one thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,


text:
 and ate and drink before Yahweh on that day with great gladness. They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him to Yahweh to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.


text:
 Then Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.


text:
 All the princes, the mighty men, and also all the sons of king David submitted themselves to Solomon the king.


text:
 Yahweh magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.


text:
 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.


text:
 He died in a good old age, full of days, riches and honour; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.


text:
 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, in the history of Nathan the prophet and in the history of Gad the seer,


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 with accounts of all his reign and his might, and the circumstances which he and all Israel experienced, and those of all the kingdoms of the surrounding countries.


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 to the church of God which is at Corinth, those that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours.


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 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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 God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 


text:
 Now I urge you brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.


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 For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.


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 By this I mean, that each one of you is saying: I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.


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 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas. Besides these, I do not know whether I baptized any other.


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 For Christ sent me not so much as to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not in the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no power. 


text:
 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us who are saved it is the power of God.


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 For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nothing.


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 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?


text:
 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know God, it was God's good pleasure through the apparent foolishness of the message preached to save them that believe-


text:
 But to them that are called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.


text:
 Consider your calling, brothers; not many of you had worldly wisdom, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.


text:
 But God chose the foolish things of the world, that He might put to shame those that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that He might put to shame the things that are strong.


text:
 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are.


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 But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who was made to us by God to be our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.


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 And I brothers, when I came to you, I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.


text:
 And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power;


text:
 We speak wisdom, however, among them that are mature. Yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.


text:
 But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even that which was hidden, which God foreordained before the ages for our glory,


text:
 which not one of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


text:
 But as it is written: Things which eye saw not and ear heard not and which did not enter into the heart of man, whatever things God prepared for them that love Him,


text:
 God revealed them to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.


text:
 For who among men knows the things of a man, save the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the things of God nobody knows, save the Spirit of God.


text:
 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, so that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.


text:
 Which things also we speak about, but not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but in words that the Spirit teaches, combining spiritual things with spiritual.


text:
 Now the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


text:
 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 


text:
 And I, brothers, can not speak to you as spiritual people, but as carnal people, as infants in Christ.


text:
 I fed you with milk, not with solid food. For you were not yet able to bear it; no, not even now are you able.


text:
 For you are still carnal. For whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are you not carnal and do you not walk after the manner of men?


text:
 Who then is Apollos? And who is Paul? Ministers through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him.


text:
 So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters, but God that gives the increase.


text:
 Now he that plants and he that waters are one, but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.


text:
 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds upon it. But let each man take care how he builds upon it!


text:
 each man's work shall be revealed. For the day of judgment shall declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire itself shall test each man's work of what sort it is.


text:
 If anyone's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet as having passed through fire.


text:
 If anyone destroys the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy; and such are you.


text:
 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.


text:
 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: He takes the wise in their craftiness.


text:
 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come- all are yours.


text:
 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or any man's judgment. I do not judge even myself.


text:
 For I know nothing against myself in my own conscience. Yet hereby I am not justified; but he that judges me is the Lord.


text:
 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.


text:
 Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes. That from us you might learn not to go beyond the things which are written, so that none of you get puffed up, one against the other.


text:
 For who makes you to differ? And what have you that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?Paul's Qualification to Teach the Corinthians


text:
 Already are you filled, already you have become rich, you have come to reign without us. Yes, and I hope that you will indeed reign, that we also might reign with you.


text:
 For I think God has sent us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.


text:
 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have glory, but we have dishonour.


text:
 Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling-place;


text:
 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the garbage of the world, the scum of the earth, even until now.


text:
 For though you have ten thousand would be teachers in Christ, yet you have not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus it was me who begat you through the gospel.


text:
 For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.


text:
 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and I will discover not the talk of those that are inflated with pride, but the power.


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 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such immorality as is not even among the Gentiles, that one of you has taken to himself his father's wife.


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 Instead of grieving, you have become arrogant. Remove the one who has done this deed from among you.


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 For I truly, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him that has done this thing,


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 I command you that in the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are gathered together (and my spirit is present with you when you do), with the power of our Lord Jesus,


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 deliver such a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.


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 Purge out the old yeast so that you may be a new lump, even as you actually are. For our Passover lamb has been sacrificed, even Christ.


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 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the bread of sincerity and truth which has no yeast.


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 I did not mean with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters. For you must go out of the world to do this.


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 But as it is, I wrote to you not to keep association, if anyone that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. With such a one have no association, not even to eat.


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 Don't Take Believers to Law Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbour, go to law before the unrighteous and not rather take it before the saints?


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 Or do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?


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 If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are of no account in the church.


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 I say this to move you to shame. What! Is there not among you even one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brothers?


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 But as it is with you at the moment, brother goes to law with brother- and that before unbelievers!


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 No, already there is totally a defect in you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather take wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?


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 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,


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 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.


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 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.


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 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.


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 Food for the belly and the belly for food, but God shall bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.


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 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? God forbid.


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 Or do you not know that he that is joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For the scripture says: The two shall become one flesh.


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 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.


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 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? And you are not your own;


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 for you were bought with a price. Glorify God therefore in your body and spirit, for they are God's. 


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 But because there is so much immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.


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 The wife has no power over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise also the husband has no power over his own body, but the wife does.


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 Do not deprive one another, unless it is for an agreed time, so that you may give yourselves to prayer and then come together again, that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


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 Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. However each man has his own gift from God, one after this manner and another after that.


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 But to the married I give this instruction; not I, but the Lord: That the wife should not leave her husband


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 (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband) and the husband should not leave his wife.


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 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.


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 And the woman that has an unbelieving husband and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.


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 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother. Else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.


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 Yet if the unbelieving departs, let him depart. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases; but God has called us to peace.


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 For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you shall save your wife?


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 Only as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.


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 Was anyone called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.


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 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing- but the keeping of the commandments of God is all important.


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 For he that was called in the Lord being a slave, is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's slave.


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 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.


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 I think therefore that it is good by reason of the present distress that is upon us, that a man should remain as he is.


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 But should you marry, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh, and I would spare you. 


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 But this I say brothers, because the time is shortened, that from this time forward both those that have wives may be as though they had none;


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 those that weep, as though they wept not, those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not, and those that buy, as though they possessed not.


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 And those that use the world, as not using it to the full. For the fashion of this world passes away.


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 But I would have you to be free of worries. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.


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 and is divided. Also the woman that is unmarried or betrothedis anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she that is married is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.


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 And this I say for your own profit. Not that I may cast a snare upon you, but so you may do what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.


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 But if anyone thinks that he behaves himself inappropriately toward his betrothed, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he will. He sins not. Let them marry.


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 But he that stands steadfast in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desires under control, and has determined this in his heart, to remain betrothed; he shall do well.


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 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.


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 A wife is bound for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband dies she is free to be married to whoever she chooses. But only in the Lord.


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 But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I am certain that I also have the Spirit of God. 


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 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols. We know that we all have knowledge; yet knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.


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 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol has real existence and there is no God but one.


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 For though there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are gods many and lords many,


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 yet to us there is only one God, the Father, of whom are all things and we are everything to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, for the sake of whom are all things, and we exist for His sake.


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 However there is not in all men that knowledge, but some being used until now to the idol, eat things sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled.


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 But food will not commend us to God. Neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. Nor, if we eat, are we the better.


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 For if a man sees you who have knowledge dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be encouraged to eat things sacrificed to idols?


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 And thus, sinning against the believers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.


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 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh again, so that I do not cause my brother to stumble. 


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 Paul's View of a Paid Ministry Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my works in the Lord?


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 If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


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 Have we no right to lead a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?


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 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who feeds a flock and does not drink the milk of the flock?


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 For it is written in the law of Moses: You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God cares,


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 or did He say it entirely for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written. Because he that ploughs ought to plough in hope, and he that threshes, hopes to partake in the harvest.


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 If others have this rightful claim over you, do we not have more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.


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 Do you not know that they that labour in the temple get their food from the temple, and they that serve at the altar have their portion from that which is sacrificed on the altar?


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 But I have used none of these things, and I do not write these things that it may be so done in my case. For it is better for me to die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.


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 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about. For necessity is laid upon me. For woe to me, if I do not preach the gospel.


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 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if against my own will, then I have clearly had a stewardship entrusted to me.


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 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel. 


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 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews. To them that are under the law, I became as one under the law (though I am not under the law), that I might gain those that are under the law.


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 To them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.


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 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.


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 Do you not know that they that run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run like this, so that you may attain the prize.


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 And every man that strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.


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 But like an athlete I discipline my body and make it my slave; lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. 


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 Brothers, I would not have you ignorant that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea,


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 and did all drink the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them; and the rock represented Christ.


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 However with most of them God was not well pleased; for their dead bodies were scattered over the wilderness.


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 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they lusted.


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 Neither be you idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.


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 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and so in one day twenty three thousand died.


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 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written about for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.


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 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.


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 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?


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 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I would not have you sharing communion with demons.


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 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.


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 All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.


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 If one of them that do not believe invites you to a feast and you are inclined to go, whatever is set before you eat, asking no question for conscience sake.


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 But if anyone says to you: This has been offered in sacrifice to idols! Do not eat it for the sake of he that tells you, and for conscience sake.


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 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other's. One may ask: Why is my liberty judged by another's conscience?


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 The principle is that whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do or do not- do all to the glory of God.


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 Even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but that of the many, that they may be saved. 


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 Now I praise you who remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, as I delivered them to you.


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 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.


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 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonours her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.


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 For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn; but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.


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 For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man.


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 But if anyone seems to be contentious, let them know we have no such custom, neither do the churches of God. 


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 But in giving you this instruction, I do not praise you- for you come together not for the better but for the worse.


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 For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it.


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 What, have you not houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who do not have? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I do not praise you!


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 For I received of the Lord that which I in turn delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread,


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 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said: This is my body, which is for you. This do in remembrance of me.


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 In the same manner also the cup, after supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.


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 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.


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 Therefore whoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.


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 For he that eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not discern the body of the Lord.


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 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, that your coming together be not to condemnation. About the other things I will give instruction when I come. 


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 You know that when you were Gentiles you were led away to those dumb idols, in whichever way you might have been led.


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 Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking in the Spirit of God says Jesus is accursed. And no one can say Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.


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 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit.


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 To another faith through the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings through the same one Spirit.


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 And to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy and to another discerning of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.


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 All these gifts are energized by one and the same Spirit, apportioned to each man according as he is willing to receive it.


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 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though being many, are one body; so also is Christ.


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 For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. 


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 If the foot shall say: Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body- that would not make it not a part of the body.


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 And if the ear shall say: Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body- that would not make it not a part of the body.


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 If the whole body were an eye, where is the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where is the smelling?


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 Therefore the eye cannot say to the hand: I have no need of you; nor the head to the feet: I have no need of you.


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 And those parts of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our unattractive parts have more abundant covering;


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 whereas our more attractive parts have no need of this. But God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honour to that part which lacked it,


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 so that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another.


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 And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.


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 And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then those who do miracles, then the gifts of healing, helping, administration and various kinds of languages.


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 If I speak with all the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become like sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.


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 And if I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.


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 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.


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 does not behave itself inappropriately, is not self seeking, is not easily provoked, keeps no record of evil done,


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 Love never fails; but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away. Whether there be speaking in foreign languages, this shall cease. Whether there be the gift of knowledge, it shall be done away.


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 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I am a man, I have put away childish things.


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 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know fully, even as also I have been fully known.


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 Pursue love, and in this pursuit therefore earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that of prophecy.


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 For he that speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God. For no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.


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 Now I would wish that you all speak with tongues, but especiallyI wish that you should prophesy; for greater is he that prophesises than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interpret, that the church may receive edification.


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 But now, brothers, if I came to you speaking with tongues, without speaking to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching- what shall I profit you?


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 Even things without life which give a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?


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 For if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle, who shall prepare himself for war?


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 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech easily understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.


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 If then I do not know the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian and he that speaks will be a barbarian to me.


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 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also.


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 Else if you bless with the spirit, how shall he that is in the place of the unlearned say the Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say?


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 However in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.


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 In the law it is written: By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak to this people, and not even thus will they hear Me, says the Lord.


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 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving but to those that believe.


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 If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned or unbelieving people, will they not say that you are mad?


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 But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all.


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 The secrets of his heart are revealed, and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.


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 What is it then, brothers? As it is, when you come together, each one has a Psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. But let all things be done to edify.


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 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three; and even then in turn, and let one interpret.


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 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.


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 Let the women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also said the law.


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 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their men at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.


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 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandment of the Lord.


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 Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, wherein also you stand.


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 By which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.


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 For I delivered to you first of all that which also I received: That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,


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 Then he appeared to above five hundred believers at once, of whom the greater part remain until now (but some have fallen asleep);


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 For I am the least of the apostles, who is unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


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 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than all of them. Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.


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 Whether I or they, so we preach and so you believed. The Crucial Importance of Christ's Resurrection 


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 Now if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?


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 Yes, we are found false witnesses of God. Because we witnessed of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised-


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 Then comes the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.


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 For He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when He said all things are put in subjection, it is evident that He is excepted who did subject all things to him.


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 And when all things have been subjected to him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to Him that did subject all things to him, that God may be all in all.


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 Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are people baptized for them?


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 If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.


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 Awake to soberness righteously, and do not sin. For some among you have no knowledge of God. I speak this to move you to shame. 


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 And what you sow is not the plant body that shall later be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or some other grain.


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 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes.


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 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is one and the glory of the earthly is another.


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 There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for one star differs from another star in glory.


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 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.


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 So also it is written: The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.


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 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy, and as is the heavenly, such are they that are heavenly.


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 Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither does corruption inherit incorruption.


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 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.


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 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to fulfilment the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.


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 Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. 


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 Paul's Plans for Corinth Now concerning the collection for the saints, do as I instructed the churches in Galatia.


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 Upon the first day of the week let each one of you, as your income allows, put some money aside and store it up so that no collections are needed when I come.


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 And when I arrive, whomsoever you shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your generosity to Jerusalem.


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 But I will come to you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia (for I plan to pass through Macedonia).


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 And perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go further.


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 Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear while he is with you. For he does the work of the Lord, as I do.


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 Let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me. For I expect him with the brothers.


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 But as touching Apollos the brother, I pleaded with him to come to you with the brothers; but he was unwilling to come right now, but he will come when he shall have the opportunity.


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 You know the family of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to serving the saints; now I beseech you, brothers,


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 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus. For what was lacking on your part they supplied;


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 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.


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 That which existed from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we saw and our hands handled, concerning the word of life.


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 The life was manifested and we have seen and testify and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which existed with the Father and was manifested to us.


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 What we have seen and heard, we declare to you also, so that you may also have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.


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 And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you: That God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.


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 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.


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 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


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 My little children, these things write I to you, so you may not sin. And if anyone sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.


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 He that says: I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.


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 But who keeps his word, in him truly has the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him. 


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 Beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard.


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 But now, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you. Because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines.


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 But he that hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 


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 I write to you fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you little children, because you know the Father.


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 I have written to you fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you young men, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.


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 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.


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 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.


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 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you heard that antichrist comes, even now have there arisen many antichrists. Whereby we know that it is the last hour.


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 They went out from us but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be revealed, that all these are not of us.


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 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it! And because no lie is of the truth.


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 Who is the liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist: he that denies the Father and the Son.


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 Whoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father. He that confesses the Son has the Father also.


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 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also shall abide in the Son and in the Father.


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 And as for you, the anointing which you received of him abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you all things and is true and is no lie and even as it taught you, so you are to abide in him.


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 And now, little children, abide in him. That, when he shall be manifested, we may have boldness and not be ashamed before him at his coming.


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 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone also that does righteousness is begotten of him.


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 Look what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God. And we are! For this cause the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.


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 Beloved, now are we children of God; and it is not yet revealed what we shall be. We know that, when He shall be manifested, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him even as He is.


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 Whoever abides in him does not keep on in sin. Whoever keeps on in sin has not seen him, nor truly knows him. 


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 My little children, let no one lead you astray. He that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.


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 He that keeps on in sin is of the Devil. For the Devil sins from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil.


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 Whoever is begotten of God does not keep on in sin, because his seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on in sin, because he is begotten of God.


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 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he that does not love his brother.


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 Not as Cain, who was of the evil one, who killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.


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 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He that does not love abides in death.


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 Whoever hates his brothers is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.


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 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.


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 But whosoever has the world's goods and sees his brothers in need, and shuts up his compassion from him, how does the love of God abide in him?


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 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.


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 And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as He gave us commandment.


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 And he that keeps His commandments abides in Him and He in him. And hereby we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He gave us.


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 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God. Because many false prophets have gone out into the world.


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 Hereby do you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is of God.


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 And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus came in the flesh is not of God, and they are proved to be of the antichrist; of whom you have heard that it comes, and now is already in the world.


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 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them. Because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.


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 We are of God. He that knows God hears us. He who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 


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 Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God, and everyone that loves is begotten of God and knows God.


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 Herein was the love of God manifested to us, in that God has sent His only Son into the world that we might live through him.


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 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.


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 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.


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 And we know and have believed the love which God has toward us. God is love, and he that abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.


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 In this way is love made perfect with us, so that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. Because as he is, even so are we in this world.


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 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; because fear has punishment, and he that fears is not made perfect in love.


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 If a man says, I love God, and hates his fellow believers, he is a liar. For he that does not love his fellow believers whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.


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 God's Children Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God; and whoever loves Him that begat, loves him also that is begotten of Him.


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 For whatever is begotten of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith.


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 This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ. Not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.


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 For there are three who testify, the spirit and the water and the blood; and the three agree in one.


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 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. For the witness of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.


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 He that believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself. He that does not believe God has made Him a liar; because he has not believed in the witness that God has given concerning His Son.


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 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.


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 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.


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 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we obtain the requests we have asked of him.


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 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask and God will give him life for them that sin not to death. There is a sin unto death. Not concerning this do I say that he should make requests.


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 We know that whoever is begotten of God does not keep on in sin; but he that was begotten of God keeps himself, and the evil one touches him not.


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 And we know that the Son of God came, and has given us an understanding so that we truly know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.


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 Adonijah's Rebellion Now king David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn't keep warm.


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 Therefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin. Let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie on your chest, so that my lord the king may keep warm.


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 So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.


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 The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king didn't know her intimately.


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 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king. Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.


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 His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? And he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.


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 He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest: they followed Adonijah and helped him.


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 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.


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 Adonijah killed sheep and cattle and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants:


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 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon saying, Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn't know it?


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 Now therefore come, please let me give you advice, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon.


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 Go in to king David and tell him, "Didn't you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? Why then does Adonijah reign?'


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 Bathsheba went in to the king into the room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.


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 She said to him, My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your handmaid, "Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne'.


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 He has killed cattle, fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn't called Solomon your servant.


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 You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.


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 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.


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 They told the king, saying, Here is Nathan the prophet! When he had come in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.


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 Nathan said, My lord, king, have you said, "Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?'.


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 For he is gone down this day, and has killed cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, and the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Even now they are eating and drinking before him and saying, "Long live king Adonijah!'.


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 But he hasn't called me, even me your servant, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.


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 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven't shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?


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 Then king David answered, Call to me Bathsheba. She came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.


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 most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh the God of Israel, saying, "Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place;' most certainly so will I do this day.


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 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and showed respect to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live forever!


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 King David said, Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. They came before the king.


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 The king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.


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 Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, "Long live king Solomon!'.


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 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.


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 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, Amen. May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so too.


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 As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. 


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 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and caused Solomon to ride on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.


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 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon!


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 All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound.


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 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet he said, Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?


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 While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.


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 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king's mule.


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 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.


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 Moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David saying, "May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne'; and the king bowed himself on the bed.


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 Also thus said the king, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it'.


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 Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.


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 It was told Solomon saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, "Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword'.


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 Solomon said, If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.


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 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.


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 and keep the instruction of Yahweh your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances and His testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn yourself.


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 This is so that Yahweh may establish His word which He spoke concerning me saying, "If your children take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you', He said, "a man on the throne of Israel'.


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 Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me and what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was about his waist, and in his shoes that were on his feet.


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 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.


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 Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I vowed to him by Yahweh saying, "I will not put you to death with the sword'.


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 Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.


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 The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 


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 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, Do you come peaceably? He said, Peaceably.


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 He said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother's; for it was his from Yahweh.


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 He said, Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you "no'), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.


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 Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.


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 Then she said, I ask one small petition of you; don't deny me. The king said to her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you.


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 King Solomon answered his mother, Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.


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 Then king Solomon vowed by Yahweh saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.


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 Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as He promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day.


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 To Abiathar the priest the king said, Go to Anathoth, to your own fields; for you are worthy of death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord Yahweh before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.


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 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfil the word of Yahweh, which He spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.


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 The news came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom. Joab fled to the tabernacle of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.


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 It was told king Solomon, Joab has fled to the tabernacle of Yahweh, and behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada saying, Go, fall on him.


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 Benaiah came to the tabernacle of Yahweh and said to him, Thus says the king, "Come forth!'. He said, No; but I will die here. Benaiah brought the king word again saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.


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 The king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father's house.


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 Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn't know it: Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.


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 So shall their blood return on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed forever. But to David, and to his seed, and to his house, and to his throne, there shall be peace forever from Yahweh.


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 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.


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 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army; and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.


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 The king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and don't go out anywhere from there.


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 For on the day you go out, and pass over the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall surely die: your blood shall be on your own head.


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 Shimei said to the king, The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.


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 It happened at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told Shimei saying, Behold, your servants are in Gath.


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 Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.


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 The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Didn't I adjure you by Yahweh and warn you, saying, "Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die?'. You said to me, "The saying that I have heard is good'.


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 Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh, and the commandment that I have instructed you with?


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 The king said moreover to Shimei, You know all the wickedness which your heart knows full well, what you did to David my father. Therefore Yahweh shall return your wickedness on your own head.


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 But king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Yahweh forever.


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 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.


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 Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Yahweh, and the wall of Jerusalem all around.


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 At that time the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for the name of Yahweh.


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 Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.


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 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.


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 Solomon said, You have shown to Your servant David my father great grace, according as he walked before You in truth, righteousness and in uprightness of heart with You. You have kept for him this great grace, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.


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 Now, Yahweh my God, You have made Your servant king instead of David my father. I am but a little child. I don't know how to go out or come in.


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 Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people, that can't be numbered nor counted for multitude.


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 Give Your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Your great people?


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 God said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;


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 therefore I have done according to your word. Behold, I have already given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.


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 I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honour, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you, all your days.


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 If you will walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.


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 Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. 


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 The one woman said, Oh my lord, I and this woman live in one house. I gave birth with her in the house.


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 It happened the third day after I gave birth, that this woman gave birth also. We were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, just us two in the house.


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 She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.


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 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.


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 The other woman said, No; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son. The other said, No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king.


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 Then the king said, The one says, "This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead'; and the other says, "No; but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one'.


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 Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill it! But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide it.


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 All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.


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 Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief officer, the king's friend;


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 Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labour.


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 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year.


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 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;


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 Ben Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (to him belonged the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him belonged the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars);


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 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer who was in the land.


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 Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.


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 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt: they brought tribute, and served Solomon all the days of his life.


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 ten head of fat cattle, twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, one hundred sheep, besides harts, gazelles, roebucks and fattened fowl.


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 For he had dominion over all on this side of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side of the River: and he had peace on all sides around him.


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 Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.


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 Those officers provided food for king Solomon, and for all who came to king Solomon's table, every man in his month; they let nothing be lacking.


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 Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds brought they to the place where the officers were, each man according to his duty. 


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 God gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding, and very great perception, according to the sand which is on the seashore.


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 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol, Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations all around.


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 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, birds, creeping things and fish.


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 There came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.


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 Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father: for Hiram had always admired David.


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 You know how that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until Yahweh put his enemies under the soles of his feet.


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 But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side. There is no adversary nor any evil occurrence.


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 Behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father saying, "Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name'.


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 Now therefore command that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon. My servants shall be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you shall say. For you know that there is not among us any who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.


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 It happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he was very pleased and said, Blessed is Yahweh this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.


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 Hiram sent to Solomon saying, I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar and concerning timber of fir.


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 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you shall receive them. You shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.


text:
 Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food for his household, and twenty measures of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.


text:
 Yahweh had given Solomon wisdom, as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a treaty together.


text:
 He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labour.


text:
 Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains;


text:
 besides Solomon's chief officers who were over the work, three thousand three hundred, who bore rule over the people who laboured in the work.


text:
 The king commanded, and they cut out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.


text:
 Solomon's builders along with Hiram's builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.


text:
 It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh.


text:
 The house which king Solomon built for Yahweh, its length was sixty cubits, and its breadth twenty, and its height thirty cubits.


text:
 The porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was its length, according to the breadth of the house. Ten cubits was its breadth before the house.


text:
 Against the wall of the house he built storeys all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the oracle; and he made side rooms all around.


text:
 The lowest storey was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around, so that the supporting beams should not should not be inserted into the walls of the house.


text:
 The house, when it was in building, was built of stone prepared at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.


text:
 The door for the middle side rooms was in the right side of the house: and they went up by winding stairs into the middle storey, and out of the middle into the third.


text:
 He built the storeys against the whole house, each five cubits high: and they were attached to the house by cedar beams.


text:
 Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes, and execute My ordinances, and keep all My commandments to walk in them; then will I establish My word with you, which I spoke to David your father.


text:
 He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.


text:
 He built twenty cubits on the back part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling: he built them for it within, for an inner sanctuary, even for the most holy place.


text:
 There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen. 


text:
 He prepared an inner sanctuary in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.


text:
 Within the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in its height; and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar.


text:
 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the inner sanctuary; and he overlaid it with gold.


text:
 The whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished: also the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold.


text:
 Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing to the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.


text:
 He set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.


text:
 He carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, inside and outside.


text:
 For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood: the lintel and door posts were a fifth part of the wall.


text:
 So he made two doors of olive wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim, and on the palm trees.


text:
 In the same way he also made for the entrance of the temple door posts of olive wood, out of a fourth part of the wall;


text:
 and two doors of fir wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.


text:
 He carved cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work.


text:
 In the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all its parts, and according to all its fashion. Thus he was seven years in building it.


text:
 For he built the house of the forest of Lebanon; its length was one hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars.


text:
 It was covered with cedar above over the forty-five beams, that were on the pillars; fifteen in a row.


text:
 He made the porch of pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits; and a porch before them; and pillars and a threshold before them.


text:
 He made the hall of judgment for the throne where he was to judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from floor to floor.


text:
 His house where he was to dwell had another court within the porch, which was of the same plan. He made also a house for Pharaoh's daughter (whom Solomon had taken as wife), like this porch.


text:
 All these were of costly stones, even of cut stone, according to measure, sawn with saws, inside and outside, even from the foundation to the coping, and so on the outside to the great court.


text:
 The foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.


text:
 The great court around had three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams; like the inner court of the house of Yahweh, and the porch of the house. 


text:
 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill, to work all works in brass. He came to king Solomon, and performed all his work.


text:
 For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, each eighteen cubits high: and a line of twelve cubits encircled both of them around.


text:
 He made two capitals of molten brass, to set on the tops of the pillars: the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits.


text:
 There were nets of chequer work, and wreaths of chain work, for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.


text:
 So he made the pillars; and there were two rows around on the one network, to cover the capitals that were on the top of the pillars: and he did so for the other capital.


text:
 There were capitals above also on the two pillars, close by the cushion which was beside the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred, in rows around on the other capital.


text:
 He set up the pillars at the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called its name Jachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called its name Boaz.


text:
 He made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits encircled it.


text:
 Under its brim around there were buds which encircled it, for ten cubits, encircling the sea: the buds were in two rows, cast when it was cast.


text:
 It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south and three looking toward the east; and the sea was set on them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.


text:
 It was a handbreadth thick: and its brim was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths.


text:
 He made the ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits its breadth, and three cubits its height.


text:
 and on the panels that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and on the ledges there was a pedestal above; and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work.


text:
 Every base had four bronze wheels, and axles of brass; and the four feet of it had supports: beneath the basin were the supports molten, with wreaths at the side of each.


text:
 The mouth of it within the capital and above was a cubit: and its mouth was round after the work of a pedestal, a cubit and a half; and also on its mouth were engravings, and their panels were foursquare, not round.


text:
 The four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axles of the wheels were in the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.


text:
 The work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axles, and their rims, and their spokes, and their naves, were all molten.


text:
 In the top of the base was there a round compass half a cubit high; and on the top of the base its stays and its panels were of the same.


text:
 On the plates of its stays, and on its panels, he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths all around.


text:
 He made ten basins of brass: one basin contained forty baths; and every basin was four cubits; and on every one of the ten bases one basin.


text:
 He set the bases, five on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, toward the south.


text:
 Hiram made the basins, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he worked for king Solomon in the house of Yahweh:


text:
 the two pillars, and the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars;


text:
 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars;


text:
 and the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: even all these vessels, which Hiram made for king Solomon, in the house of Yahweh, were of burnished brass.


text:
 Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: the weight of the brass could not be found out. 


text:
 Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Yahweh: the golden altar, and the table whereupon the show bread was, of gold;


text:
 and the lampstands, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, of pure gold; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold;


text:
 and the cups, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, of the temple, of gold.


text:
 Thus all the work that king Solomon worked in the house of Yahweh was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of Yahweh.


text:
 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the families of the people of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.


text:
 All the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.


text:
 They brought up the ark of Yahweh, and the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; all these the priests and the Levites brought up.


text:
 King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.


text:
 The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.


text:
 For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.


text:
 The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary; but they were not seen outside: and there they are to this day.


text:
 There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.


text:
 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication 


text:
 The king turned his face about, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.


text:
 He said, Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to David my father, and has with His hand fulfilled it, saying,


text:
 "Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house that My name might be there; but I chose David to be over My people Israel'.


text:
 Now it was with the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.


text:
 But Yahweh said to David my father, "Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.


text:
 Nevertheless, you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your body, he shall build the house for My name'.


text:
 Yahweh has established His word that He spoke; for I have risen up in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.


text:
 There I have set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh which He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.


text:
 Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;


text:
 and he said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above nor on earth beneath; who keeps covenant and grace with Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;


text:
 who has kept with Your servant David my father that which You promised him. Yes, You spoke with Your mouth, and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.


text:
 Now therefore, may Yahweh, the 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 children take heed to their way, to walk before Me as you have walked before Me'.


text:
 Now therefore, God of Israel, please let Your word be verified, which You spoke to Your servant David my father.


text:
 But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain You; how much less this house that I have built!


text:
 Yet have respect for the prayer of Your servant, and for his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You this day;


text:
 that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day toward the place of which You have said, "My name shall be there;' to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.


text:
 Listen to the supplication of Your servant, and of Your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place. Yes, hear in heaven, Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.


text:
 If a man sins against his neighbour, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before Your altar in this house;


text:
 then hear in heaven, and do, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.


text:
 When Your people Israel are struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against You; if they turn again to You, and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this house:


text:
 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which You gave to their fathers.


text:
 When the sky is 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:


text:
 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, and of Your people Israel, when You teach 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.


text:
 If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is;


text:
 whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all Your people Israel, who shall each know the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:


text:
 then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart You know; (for You, even You only, know the hearts of all the children of men;)


text:
 Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for Your name's sake


text:
 (for they shall hear of Your great name, and of Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house;


text:
 hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to You for; that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.


text:
 If Your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to Yahweh toward the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name;


text:
 If they sin against You (for there is no man who doesn't sin), and You are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;


text:
 yet if they shall repent in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to You in the land of those who carried them captive, saying, "We have sinned, and have done perversely; we have dealt wickedly;'


text:
 if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to You towards their land, which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name:


text:
 then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, your dwelling place, and maintain their cause;


text:
 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against You; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them


text:
 (for they are Your people, and Your inheritance, which You brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron);


text:
 that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant, and to the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they cry to You.


text:
 For You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your inheritance, as You spoke by Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh. 


text:
 It was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication to Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.


text:
 Blessed be Yahweh, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by Moses His servant.


text:
 that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes and his ordinances which He commanded our fathers.


text:
 Let these my words, with which I have made supplication before Yahweh, be near to Yahweh our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel, as each day shall require;


text:
 Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as you do at this day.


text:
 Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to Yahweh, twenty two thousand head of cattle, and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of Yahweh.


text:
 The same day the king made the middle of the court holy that was before the house of Yahweh; for there he offered the burnt offering, and the meal offering, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before Yahweh was too little to receive the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the fat of the peace offerings.


text:
 So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.


text:
 On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David His servant, and to Israel His people.


text:
 It happened, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of Yahweh, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,


text:
 Yahweh said to him, I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before Me. I have made this house holy, which you have built, to put My name there forever; and My eyes and My heart shall be there constantly.


text:
 As for you, if you will walk before Me, as David your father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My ordinances;


text:
 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, according as I promised to David your father saying, "There shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel'.


text:
 But if you turn away from following Me, you or your children, and don't keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;


text:
 then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.


text:
 Though this house is so high, yet shall everyone who passes by it be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, "Why has Yahweh done thus to this land, and to this house?';


text:
 and they shall answer, "Because they forsook Yahweh their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold of other gods, and worshiped them, and served them. Therefore Yahweh has brought all this evil on them'.


text:
 It happened at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of Yahweh and the king's house


text:
 (now Hiram the king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire), that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.


text:
 Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they didn't please him.


text:
 He said, What cities are these which you have given me, my brother? He called them the land of Cabul to this day.


text:
 This is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised, to build the house of Yahweh, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.


text:
 Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it for a present to his daughter, Solomon's wife.


text:
 and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.


text:
 As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel;


text:
 their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, of them Solomon raised a levy of bondservants to this day.


text:
 But of the children of Israel Solomon made no bondservants; but they were the men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.


text:
 These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, who bore rule over the people who laboured in the work.


text:
 But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David to her house which Solomon had built for her: then he built Millo.


text:
 Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he built to Yahweh three times a year, burning incense with them, on the altar that was before Yahweh. So he finished the house.


text:
 King Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.


text:
 Hiram sent in the navy his servants, sailors who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.


text:
 They came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.


text:
 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to test him with hard questions.


text:
 She came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that carried spices, and very much gold and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him of all that was in her heart.


text:
 Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hidden from the king which he didn't tell her.


text:
 and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, and his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in her.


text:
 She said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom.


text:
 However I didn't believe the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it. Behold, the half was not told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.


text:
 Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.


text:
 Blessed is Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.


text:
 She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones. There came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.


text:
 The navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir a great quantity of almug trees and precious stones.


text:
 The king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of Yahweh, and for the king's house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen, to this day.


text:
 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants. Solomon's Wealth 


text:
 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,


text:
 besides that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.


text:
 King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.


text:
 he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.


text:
 There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays.


text:
 Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps: there was nothing like it made in any kingdom.


text:
 All king Solomon's drinking vessels 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 nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.


text:
 For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.


text:
 They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.


text:
 Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.


text:
 The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.


text:
 The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; and the king's merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.


text:
 A chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred and fifty; and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, they brought them out by their traders.


text:
 Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites;


text:
 of the nations concerning which Yahweh said to the children of Israel, You shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomon joined to these in love.


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 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.


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 For it happened, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as was the heart of David his father.


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 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.


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 Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and didn't go fully after Yahweh, as did David his father.


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 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.


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 Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,


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 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he didn't keep that which Yahweh commanded.


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 Therefore Yahweh said to Solomon, Because this is done by you, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.


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 Notwithstanding I will not do it in your days, for David your father's sake; but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.


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 However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David My servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. Solomon's Adversaries 


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 For it happened, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the army was gone up to bury the slain, and had struck every male in Edom


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 that Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child.


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 They arose out of Midian, and came to Paran; and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and appointed him food, and gave him land.


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 Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.


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 The sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh.


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 When Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to my own country.


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 Then Pharaoh said to him, But what have you lacked with me, that behold, you seek to go to your own country? He answered, Nothing, however please only let me depart.


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 God raised up an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah.


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 He gathered men to him, and became captain over a troop, when David killed them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and lived therein, and reigned in Damascus.


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 He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief of Hadad: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. Ahijah's Prophecy 


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 Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, he also opposed the king.


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 This was the reason why he opposed the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father.


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 The man Jeroboam was a brave man; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he put him in charge of all the labour of the house of Joseph.


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 It happened at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; now Ahijah had put on a new garment; and they two were alone in the field.


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 He said to Jeroboam, Take ten pieces; for thus says Yahweh the God of Israel, "Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you


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 (but he shall have one tribe, for My servant David's sake and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel);


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 because they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon. They have not walked in My ways, to do that which is right in My eyes, and to keep My statutes and My ordinances, as David his father did.


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 However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David My servant's sake whom I chose, who kept My commandments and My statutes;


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 To his son will I give one tribe, that David My servant may have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Me to put My name there.


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 I will take you, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires, and shall be king over Israel.


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 It shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in My ways, and do that which is right in My eyes, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as David My servant did; that I will be with you, and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.


text:
 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.


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 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, aren't they written in the book of the acts of Solomon?


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 Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.


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 It happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam therefore lived in Egypt;


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 and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam saying,


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 Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.


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 King Rehoboam took advice 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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 They said, If you will be a servant to this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.


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 But he ignored the advice of the old men which they had given him, and took advice with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.


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 He said to them, What advice do you give, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me saying, "Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?'.


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 The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him saying, Thus you shall tell this people who spoke to you saying, "Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter to us;' you shall say to them, "My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.


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 Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions'.


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 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king asked, saying, Come to me again the third day.


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 The king answered the people roughly, and forsook the advice of the old men which they had given him,


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 and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.


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 So the king didn't listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about of Yahweh, that He might establish His word which Yahweh spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 


text:
 When all Israel saw that the king didn't listen to them, the people answered the king saying, What portion have we in David? Neither do we have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David. So Israel departed to their tents.


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 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labour; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to get himself up to his chariot, to escape to Jerusalem.


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 It happened, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.


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 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.


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 Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people saying,


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 "Thus says Yahweh, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is of Me'. So they listened to the word of Yahweh, and returned and went their way, according to the word of Yahweh.


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 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there, and built Penuel.


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 If this people goes up to offer sacrifices in the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.


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 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and see your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!


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 He made houses on high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.


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 Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; he did so in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.


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 He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar, to burn incense.


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 There came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Yahweh to Beth El: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense.


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 He cried against the altar by the word of Yahweh and said, Altar, altar, thus says Yahweh: "Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name. On you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men's bones on you'.


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 He gave a sign the same day saying, This is the sign which Yahweh has spoken: Behold, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.


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 It happened, when the king heard the saying of the man of God which he cried against the altar in Bethel, that Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, Seize him! His hand, which he put out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to himself.


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 The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of Yahweh.


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 The king answered the man of God, Now entreat the favour of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me again. The man of God entreated Yahweh, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.


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 The king said to the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.


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 The man of God said to the king, Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place;


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 for so was it commanded me by the word of Yahweh saying, "You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that you came'.


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 Now there lived an old prophet in Bethel; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king.


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 Their father said to them, Which way did he go? Now his sons had seen which way the man of God went, who came from Judah.


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 He said to his sons, Saddle the donkey for me. So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it.


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 He went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. He said to him, Are you the man of God who came from Judah? He said, I am.


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 He said, I may not return with you, nor go in with you; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place.


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 For it was said to me by the word of Yahweh, "You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came'.


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 He said to him, I also am a prophet as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the word of Yahweh, saying, "Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water'. He lied to him.


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 It happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of Yahweh came to the prophet who brought him back;


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 and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, Thus says Yahweh, "Because you have been disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh, and have not kept the commandment which Yahweh your God commanded you,


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 but came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which He said to you, Eat no bread, and drink no water; your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers'.


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 It happened, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back.


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 When he had gone, a lion met him by the way, and killed him. His body was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body.


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 Behold, men passed by, and saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.


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 When the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, It is the man of God who was disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh has delivered him to the lion, which has mauled him and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spoke to him.


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 He went and found his body cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body, nor mauled the donkey.


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 The prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. He came to the city of the old prophet to mourn, and to bury him.


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 It happened, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.


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 For the saying which he cried by the word of Yahweh against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely happen.


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 After this thing Jeroboam didn't return from his evil way, but again made priests of the high places from among all the people. Whoever wanted to, he consecrated him, that there might be priests of the high places.


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 This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth.


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 Jeroboam said to his wife, Please get up and disguise yourself, that you won't be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Go to Shiloh. Behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spoke concerning me that I should be king over this people.


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 Take with you ten loaves, cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the child.


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 Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.


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 Yahweh said to Ahijah, The wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son; for he is sick. This is what you shall tell her; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman.


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 It was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, you wife of Jeroboam! Why do you pretend to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy news.


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 Go, tell Jeroboam, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over My people Israel,


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 and tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you; and yet you have not been as My servant David who kept My commandments, and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only that which was right in My eyes,


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 but you have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made you other gods and molten images, to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back:


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 therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, he who is shut up and he who is left free in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away dung, until it is all gone.


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 He who dies of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and he who dies in the field shall the birds of the sky eat: for Yahweh has spoken it'.


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 All Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.


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 Moreover Yahweh will raise Him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is the day! What? Even now.


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 Yahweh will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and He will root up Israel out of this good land which He gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking Yahweh to anger.


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 He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin. 


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 Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.


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 All Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spoke by His servant Ahijah the prophet.


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 The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


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 Jeroboam reigned for twenty two years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place. Rehoboam's Reign 


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 Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh 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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 Judah did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, even worse than all that their fathers had done.


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 For they also built themselves high places, and pillars and Asherim on every high hill, and under every green tree;


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 and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Yahweh drove out before the children of Israel.


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 It happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem;


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 and he took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king's house; he took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.


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 King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.


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 It was so, that as often as the king went into the house of Yahweh, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard room.


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 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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 Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and his mother's name was Naamah the Ammonitess. Abijam his son reigned in his place.


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 Abijam's Reign Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah.


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 He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father.


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 Nevertheless for David's sake, Yahweh his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem;


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 because David had done that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and didn't turn aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.


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 The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.


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 Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his place. Asa's Reign 


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 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.


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 Also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.


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 But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days.


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 He brought into the house of Yahweh the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.


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 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.


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 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to Ben Hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,


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 There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.


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 Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.


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 Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah; none was exempted: and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.


text:
 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.


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 Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place. Nadab's Reign 


text:
 Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years.


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 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.


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 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.


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 As soon as he was king, he struck all the house of Jeroboam: he didn't leave to Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had destroyed him; according to the saying of Yahweh which He spoke by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite;


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 for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked Yahweh the God of Israel, to anger.


text:
 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah for twenty-four years.


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 He did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.


text:
 The Destruction of Baasha's Family The word of Yahweh came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,


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 Because I exalted you out of the dust, and made you prince over My people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made My people Israel to sin, to provoke Me to anger with their sins;


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 behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


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 The dogs will eat Baasha's descendants who die in the city; and he who dies of his in the field- the birds of the sky will eat.


text:
 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
 Moreover by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of Yahweh against Baasha, and against his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he struck him.


text:
 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years.


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 His servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah:


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 and Zimri went in and struck him and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.


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 It happened, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he struck all the house of Baasha: he didn't leave him a single male, neither of his relatives, nor of his friends.


text:
 Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,


text:
 for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned, and with which they made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities.


text:
 Now the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.


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 The people who were encamped heard say, Zimri has conspired, and has also struck the king: therefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.


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 It happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over himself with fire, and died,


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 for his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.


text:
 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.


text:
 But the people who followed Omri prevailed against the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.


text:
 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel for twelve years. He reigned six years in Tirzah.


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 He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer the owner of the hill.


text:
 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities.


text:
 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


text:
 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son reigned in his place. Ahab's Evil Reign 


text:
 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and he reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.


text:
 Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh above all that were before him.


text:
 It happened, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.


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 Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.


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 In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho: he laid its foundation with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.


text:
 Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the foreigners of Gilead, said to Ahab, As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.


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 Go away from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.


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 So he went and did according to the word of Yahweh; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.


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 The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.


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 Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you.


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 So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her and said, Please get me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.


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 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.


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 She said, As Yahweh your God lives, I don't have a cake, but a handful of flour in a pitcher, and a little oil in a pitcher. Behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.


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 Elijah said to her, Don't be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son.


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 For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth'.


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 The jar of meal didn't empty, neither did the jar of oil fail, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Elijah. Elijah Raises the Widow's Son 


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 It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him.


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 She said to Elijah, What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!


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 He said to her, Give me your son. He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the room where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed.


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 He cried to Yahweh and said, Yahweh my God, have You also brought evil on the widow with whom I stay, by killing her son?


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 He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh and said, Yahweh my God, please let this child's soul come into him again.


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 Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.


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 Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the room into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, Behold, your son lives.


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 The woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is truth.


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 It happened after many days, that the word of Yahweh came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.


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 for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Yahweh, that Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water).


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 Ahab said to Obadiah, Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, so that we don't lose all the animals.


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 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.


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 As Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, Is it you, my lord Elijah?


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 He said, Wherein have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?


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 As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, "He is not here', he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they didn't find you.


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 It will happen, as soon as I am gone from you, that the spirit of Yahweh will carry you I don't know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can't find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared Yahweh from my youth.


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 Wasn't it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred men of Yahweh's prophets with fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?


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 Elijah said, As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.


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


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 Now therefore 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 the Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table.


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 Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. The people answered him not a word.


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 Then Elijah said to the people, I, even I only, am left a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.


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 Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.


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 You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh. The God who answers by fire, let him be God. All the people answered, It is well said.


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 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.


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


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 It happened at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, Cry louder; for he is a god! Either he is musing, or he has gone aside to the toilet, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.


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 They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.


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 It was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the offering; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any who responded.


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 Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the altar of Yahweh that was thrown down.


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


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 With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh. He made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed.


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 He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.


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 He said, Do it a second time; and they did it the second time. He said, Do it a third time; and they did it the third time.


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 It happened at the time of the offering of the offering, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, Yahweh, 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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 Answer me, Yahweh, answer me, that this people may know that You, Yahweh, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.


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 Then the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood, the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.


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 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, He is God!


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 Elijah said to them, Seize the prophets of Baal! Don't let one of them escape! They seized them. Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there. 


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


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 He said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. He went up and looked, and said, There is nothing. He said seven times, Go again.


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 It happened at the seventh time that he said, Behold, a small cloud, like a man's hand, is rising out of the sea. He said, Go up, tell Ahab, "Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn't stop you'.


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 It happened in a little while, that the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.


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 The hand of Yahweh was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.


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 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don't make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time!


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 When he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.


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 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough. Now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.


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 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat!


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 He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again.


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 The angel of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.


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 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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 He came there to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?


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 He said, I have been very zealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars and slain Your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.


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 He said, Go out, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake.


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 After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.


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 It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, Why are you still here, Elijah?


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 He said, I have been very zealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down your altars and slain Your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.


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 Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 


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 You shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.


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 It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.


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 Yet will I leave 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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 So he departed to there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was ploughing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over to him, and threw his mantle on him.


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


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 He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, killed them and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him.


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 Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.


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 The king of Israel answered, It is according to your saying, my lord, O king. I am yours, and all that I have.


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 The messengers came again and said, Ben Hadad says, "I sent indeed to you, saying, You shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children;


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 but 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, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away'.


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 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, my gold; and I didn't deny him.


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 Therefore 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 cannot do'. The messengers departed, and delivered the message.


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 Ben Hadad sent to him and said, The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.


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 The king of Israel answered, Tell him, "Don't let him who puts on his armour brag like he who takes it off'.


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 It happened, when Ben Hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Prepare to attack! They prepared to attack the city.


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 Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, Thus says Yahweh, "Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am Yahweh'.


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 Ahab said, By whom? He said, Thus says Yahweh, "By the young men of the princes of the provinces'. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? He answered, You.


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 Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them, he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.


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 They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.


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 The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, Men are coming out from Samaria.


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 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 went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.


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 They each killed his opponent. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.


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


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 The prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, Go, strengthen yourself, and mark, 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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 The servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.


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 Muster an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. We will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than them. He listened to their voice, and did so.


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 It happened at the return of the year, that Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.


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 The children of Israel were mustered and were provisioned, and went against them. The children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of young goats; but the Syrians filled the country.


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 A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, Thus says Yahweh, "Because the Syrians have said, Yahweh is a god of the hills, but He is not a god of the valleys; therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh'.


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 They encamped opposite one another seven days. So it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand footmen of the Syrians in one day.


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 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner room.


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 His servants said to him, See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth on our bodies, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he will save your life.


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 So they put sackcloth on their bodies and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Your servant Ben Hadad says, "Please let me live'. He said, Is he still alive? He is my brother.


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 Now the men observed diligently, and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, Your brother Ben Hadad. Then he said, Go, bring him. Then Ben Hadad came out to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.


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 Ben Hadad said to him, The cities which my father took from your father I will restore. You shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. I, said Ahab, will let you go with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and let him go. 


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 A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the word of Yahweh, Please strike me! The man refused to strike him.


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 Then he said to him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, behold, as soon as you are departed from me, a lion shall kill you. As soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and killed him.


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 Then he found another man, and said, Please strike me. The man struck him, smiting and wounding him.


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 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.


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 As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he said, Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me and said, "Guard this man! If by any means he be missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver'.


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 As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone. The king of Israel said to him, So your judgment shall be; you yourself have decided it.


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 He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized that he was of the prophets.


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 He said to him, Thus says Yahweh, "Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people'.


text:
 Ahab and Naboth's Vineyard It happened after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, right next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.


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 Ahab spoke to Naboth saying, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.


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 Naboth said to Ahab, May Yahweh forbid me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!


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 Ahab came into his house sullen and angry 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. He laid himself down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.


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 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread?


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 He said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, "Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it'. He answered, "I will not give you my vineyard'.


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 Jezebel his wife said to him, Do you really now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.


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 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, who lived with Naboth.


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 Set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them testify against him saying, "You cursed God and the king!' Then carry him out, and stone him to death.


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


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 The two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him. The base fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people saying, Naboth cursed God and the king! Then they carried him out of the city, and stoned him to death with stones.


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 It happened, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.


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 It happened, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. Ahab's Condemnation and Repentance 


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 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it.


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 You shall speak to him saying, "Thus says Yahweh, Have you killed and also taken possession?'. You shall speak to him saying, "Thus says Yahweh, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours'.


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 Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, my enemy? He answered, I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of Yahweh.


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 Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab every male, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel.


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 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 have made Israel to sin.


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 The dogs will eat him who dies of Ahab in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat him who dies in the field.


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 But there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.


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 He did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.


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 It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.


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 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 will I bring the evil on his family.


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 The king of Israel said to his servants, You know that Ramoth Gilead is ours, and we are sitting still, and don't take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?


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 He said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth Gilead? Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.


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 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? They said, Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.


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 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him; for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. Jehoshaphat said, Don't let the king say so.


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 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.


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 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron and said, Thus says Yahweh, "With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed'.


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 All the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.


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 The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him saying, See now, the prophets declare 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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 When he had come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? He answered him, Go up and prosper; and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.


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 The king said to him, How many times do I have to adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?


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 He said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, "These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace'.


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 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Didn't I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? A Vision of God's Throne Room 


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 Micaiah said, Therefore hear the word of Yahweh. I saw Yahweh sitting on His throne, and all the army of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.


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 Yahweh said, "Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One said one thing; and another said another.


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 Yahweh said to him, "How?' He said, "I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets'. He said, "You will entice him, and will also prevail. Go out and do so'.


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 Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you.


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


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 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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 Say, "Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace'.


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 Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me. He said, Listen, all you people! 


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 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes. The king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.


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 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots saying, Fight neither with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel.


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 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely that is the king of Israel! And they turned aside to fight against him. Jehoshaphat cried out.


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 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.


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 A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armour. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the battle; for I am severely wounded.


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 The battle increased that day. The king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot.


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 A cry went throughout the army about the going down of the sun saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his country!


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 They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood where the prostitutes washed themselves; according to the word of Yahweh which He spoke.


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 Now 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, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings 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. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.


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 He walked in all the way of Asa his father; he didn't turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh: however the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.


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 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they didn't go; for the ships were broken at Ezion Geber.


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 Then 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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 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; Jehoram his son reigned in his place.


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


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 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, 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, in which he made Israel to sin.


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 He served Baal and worshipped him, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.


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 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are temporary dwellers of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,


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 chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, to be obedient and sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 


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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy begat us to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


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 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you;


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 you who by the power of God are guarded through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


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 Wherein you greatly rejoice; though now, for a little while, if need be, you have suffered many trials,


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 so that the proof of your faith (more precious than gold that perishes though it is proved by fire) may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ;


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 whom you love though you have not seen him. On whom you believe, though now you do not see him, and rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory;


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 Concerning this salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you;


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 searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point to, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow them.


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 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven. Which things the Angels desire to look into.


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 Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope completely on the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.


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 And if you call on Him as Father, who without partiality judges according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear.


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 Knowing you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;


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 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake,


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 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory. So that your faith and hope might be in God.


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 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth to sincere love of the brothers, fervently love one another from the heart.


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 Having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and endures.


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 For, All flesh is as grass and all the glory of it as the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls,


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 but the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word of good news which was preached to you.


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 Be as newborn babes, longing for the spiritual milk which is without deceit, so that you may grow thereby to salvation,


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 You as living stones are being built up into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


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 Because it is contained in scripture: Look, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, chosen, precious. And he that believes in him shall not stumble.


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 Therefore, for you that believe he is precious. But to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,


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 a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence. For being disobedient, they stumble at the word; to which they also were appointed.


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 But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellence of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.


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 Who in times past were no people but now are the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.


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 Beloved, I urge you as temporary residents and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.


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 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 


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 or to governors as those sent by him to punish evil-doers and for the praise of those that do well.


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 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.


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 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the harsh.


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 For what glory is it, if,when you sin and are beaten, you shall take it patiently? But if when you do well, and suffer, you shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.


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 For this were you called. Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps.


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 Who, when he was insulted, did not retaliate with insults, when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to Him that judges righteously.


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 Who himself bore our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.


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 For you were going astray like sheep, but are now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.


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 In like manner, you wives be in subjection to your husbands. That, even if any do not obey the word, they may without the word be gained by the behaviour of their wives,


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 Whose adorning, let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;


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 but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great value.


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 For after this manner, in the past, the holy women who trusted in God also made themselves beautiful by submitting to their husbands.


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 As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. Whose children you now are, if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror.


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 You husbands, in like manner live with your wife with understanding, giving honour to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers are not impeded. 


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 Not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but instead give blessing. For this were you called, that you should inherit a blessing.


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 For he that would love life and see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil and restrain his lips so they speak no lies.


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 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 


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 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled,


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 but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord, always ready to give answer to every man that asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear.


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 Having a good conscience, that, when you are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.


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 For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that you suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.


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 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.


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 that previously were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was prepared. Wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.


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 Which is also a true likeness of how baptism does now save you: not the washing away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.


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 Who is the one at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, Angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.


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 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind. For he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.


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 You should no longer live the rest of your time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.


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 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime doing the will of the Gentiles- when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.


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 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, and so speak evil of you- you


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 For to this end was the gospel preached to those now dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.


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 according as each has received a gift, minister it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.


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 If anyone speaks, let him speak as if it were oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To whom belongs the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 


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 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as though some strange thing happened to you.


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 But insomuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice! That at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.


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 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rests upon you.


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 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters.


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 For the time of judgment begins at the house of God, and if we are judged first, what shall be the outcome of those that do not obey the gospel of God?


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 Therefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls in doing well to a faithful Creator.


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 The elders among you I urge (I who am a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who is also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed),


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 tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not reservedly but willingly, according to the will of God; not for dishonest gain, but eagerly.


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 And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, you shall receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.


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 Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder men. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another. For God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.


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 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the Devil, like a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour.


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 Stand firm in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brothers who are in the world.


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 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, shall Himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.


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 By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it!


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 Now there was a man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.


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 He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children but Hannah had no children.


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 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.


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 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters portions,


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 This went on year after year when she went up to the house of Yahweh; she provoked her, therefore she wept and didn't eat.


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 Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? Why don't you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?


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 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh's temple.


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 She vowed a vow and said, Yahweh of Armies, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and remember me and not forget Your handmaid, but will give to Your handmaid a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.


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 Now Hannah spoke in her heart, only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.


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 Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.


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 Don't count your handmaid a wicked woman, for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.


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 Then Eli answered, Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.


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 She said, Let your handmaid find grace in your sight. So the woman went her way and ate, and her face wasn't sad any more. 


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 They rose up in the morning early and worshipped before Yahweh and returned home to Ramah, and Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and Yahweh remembered her.


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 When the time had come, Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Yahweh.


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 But Hannah didn't go up, for she said to her husband, Not until the child is weaned, then I will bring him that he may appear before Yahweh and stay there forever.


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 Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him, only may Yahweh establish His word. So the woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him. 


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 When she had weaned him she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of meal and a bottle of wine, and brought him to Yahweh's sanctuary in Shiloh. The child was young.


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 She said, Oh my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.


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 Therefore I have given him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is given to Yahweh. Eli worshipped Yahweh there.


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 Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exults in Yahweh!. My horn is exalted in Yahweh. My mouth boasts over my enemies because I rejoice in Your salvation.


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 There is none as holy as Yahweh, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.


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 Talk no more so exceedingly proudly. Don't let hardness come out of your mouth, for Yahweh is a God of knowledge, though actions be not weighed.


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 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry are satisfied. Yes, the barren has borne seven; she who has many children languishes.


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 He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, to make them sit with princes and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh's; He has set the world upon them.


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 He will keep the feet of His holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength.


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 Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the sky. Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed.


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 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand.


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 He thrust it into the pan, kettle, cauldron or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.


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 Moreover, before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came and said to the man who sacrificed, Give meat to roast for the priest, for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw.


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 If the man said to him, Let the fat be burned first, and then take as much as you want; he would say, No, give it to me now, and if you don't, I will take it by force.


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 Moreover his mother made him a little robe and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.


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 Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife and said, Yahweh give you children by this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh. They went to their own home.


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 Yahweh visited Hannah and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before Yahweh.


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 Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, how they lay with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting.


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 If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against Yahweh, who shall entreat for him? However, they didn't listen to their father, because Yahweh intended to kill them.


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 The child Samuel grew and increased in favour with Yahweh and with men. Prophecy against Eli's House 


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 A man of God came to Eli and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, "Did I not reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt, in bondage to Pharaoh's house?


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 Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me? Did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?


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 Why then do you despise My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded for My dwelling, and honour your sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?'


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 Therefore Yahweh the God of Israel says, "I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before Me forever'. But now Yahweh says, "Far be it from Me. Those who honour Me I will honour, and those who despise Me shall be despised.


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 The days are coming when I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house so that there shall not be an old man in your house.


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 In distress you would look with envy upon the wealth which I would have given Israel, but there shall not be an old man in your house forever.


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 Any man of yours whom I shall not cut off from My altar, will only blind your eyes with tears and grieve your heart; all the increase of your house shall die in the prime of life.


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 This will be the sign to you which will come on your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall both die.


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 I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall minister before My anointed one forever.


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 Each one who is left in your house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, "Please put me into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread'.


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 The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. The word of Yahweh was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.


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 At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),


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 and the lamp of God hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in Yahweh's sanctuary where the ark of God was,


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 He ran to Eli, and said, Here I am, for you called me. He said, I didn't call; lie down again. He went and lay down.


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 Yahweh called again, Samuel! Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, Here I am; for you called me. He answered, I didn't call my son; lie down again.


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 Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, Here I am; for you called me. Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.


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 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down, and if He calls you, say, "Speak, Yahweh, for Your servant hears'. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.


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 Yahweh came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel said, Speak; for Your servant hears.


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 Yahweh said to Samuel, Behold, I will do something in Israel which will make both the ears of everyone who hears it tingle.


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 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.


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 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he didn't rebuke them.


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 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the guilt of Eli's house shall not be removed with sacrifice nor offering forever.


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 Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Yahweh. Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.


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 He said, What was it that He said to you? Please don't hide it from me. May God deal with you severely if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.


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 Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. He said, It is Yahweh. Let Him do what seems good to Him.


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 Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh, for Yahweh revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Yahweh.


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 Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle and encamped beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.


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 The Philistines put themselves in position against Israel; when they joined battle Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand Israelite soldiers.


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 When the people had returned to the camp the elders of Israel said, Why has Yahweh struck us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of Shiloh that it may go with us and save us out of the hand of our enemies.


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 So the people sent to Shiloh and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Armies, who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.


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 When the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the camp all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded.


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 When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout they said, What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean? When they understood that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp


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 they were afraid, for they said, God has come into the camp. They said, Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before.


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 Woe to us! Who can deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.


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 Be strong, and behave like men, you Philistines, so that you will not be servants to the Hebrews as they have been to you. Strengthen yourselves like men and fight!


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 The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated and they fled every man to his tent and there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand Israelite foot soldiers were killed.


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 A man of Benjamin ran out of the army that day and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and earth on his head.


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 When he came, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man came into the city and reported what had happened, all the city cried out.


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 When Eli heard the noise of the crying he said, What does this noise mean? The man hurried and told Eli.


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 The man said to Eli, I am the one who came out of the army, and I fled today from the battle. He said, What happened, my son?


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 The man who brought the news answered, Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons Hophni and Phinehas are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.


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 When he made mention of the ark of God, Eli fell off his seat backward by the side of the gate and his neck broke and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.


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 His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was pregnant, near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labour and gave birth, but was overcome by her pains.


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 As she was dying the women attending her said, Don't be afraid, for you have given birth to a son. But she didn't answer, neither did she pay any attention.


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 She named the child Ichabod saying, The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.


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 The Ark Goes to Ashdod, Gath and Ekron Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.


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 When the people of Ashdod arose early the next day, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. They took Dagon and set him back in his place.


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 When they arose early the next morning, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were broken off, lying on the threshold. Only Dagon's torso was intact.


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 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who comes into Dagon's house will tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.


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 But the hand of Yahweh was heavy on the people of Ashdod and those nearby, and He destroyed them, afflicting them with tumours.


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 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening they said, The ark of the God of Israel must not stay with us, for His hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god.


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 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines together and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried over to Gath. They carried the ark of the God of Israel there.


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 But after they had carried it there, the hand of Yahweh was against the city, causing panic, and He struck the men of the city, small and great, and tumours broke out upon them.


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 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!


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 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place so that it does not kill us and our people. For there was a deadly panic throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.


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 The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, asking, What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us how we should send it back to its place.


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 They said, If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it empty; by all means return Him a trespass offering, then you will be healed and you will know why His hand has not been removed from you.


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 Then they said, What should the trespass offering be, which we should send to Him? They said, Five golden tumours and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague struck you all and your lords.


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 Therefore you must make images of your tumours and your mice that are destroying the land, and give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lift His hand from you, your gods and your land.


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 Why do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had done wonders among them, didn't they send the people away and they departed?


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 Now therefore prepare a new cart, and get two milk cows which have never been yoked; tie the cows to the cart and bring their calves home from them.


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 Put the ark of Yahweh on the cart and put the jewels of gold, which you are sending Him for a trespass offering, in a chest beside it- and send it away.


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 If it goes up to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil; but if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us; it was a chance that happened to us.


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 They put the ark of Yahweh on the cart, and the chest with the mice of gold and the images of their tumours. The Ark Arrives at Beth-Shemesh 


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 The cows went straight towards Beth Shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.


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 The people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it.


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 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh and stood there beside a great stone. The people split the wood of the cart and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to Yahweh.


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 The Levites took down the ark of Yahweh and the chest with the jewels of gold and put them on the great stone, and the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices to Yahweh that day.


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 These are the golden tumours which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to Yahweh: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath and one for Ekron.


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 The number of golden mice was according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, fortified cities and country villages. The great stone on which they put the ark of Yahweh remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.


text:
 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh. He killed seventy of the men, and the people mourned, because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter.


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 The men of Beth Shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? To whom shall He go from us?


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 They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come down and take it up to your place.


text:
 The Ark Goes from Beth-Shemesh to Kiriath Jearim The men of Kiriath Jearim came and fetched up the ark of Yahweh and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh.


text:
 The ark stayed for a long time in Kiriath Jearim, twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.


text:
 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.


text:
 They gathered together to Mizpah and drew water, poured it out before Yahweh and fasted on that day. They said there, We have sinned against Yahweh. Samuel judged the people of Israel in Mizpah. 


text:
 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.


text:
 The Israelites said to Samuel, Don't cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines!


text:
 Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh, and Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.


text:
 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, but on that day Yahweh thundered with a great thunder upon the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.


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 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and killed them, all the way to Beth Kar.


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 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called it Ebenezer, saying, Yahweh helped us until now.


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 So the Philistines were subdued and they came no more within the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.


text:
 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel recovered its border out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.


text:
 He went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.


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 He always returned to Ramah where his home was, and there he judged Israel. He built there an altar to Yahweh.


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 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.


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 His sons didn't walk in his ways, but turned aside after money, taking bribes and perverting justice.


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 and they said to him, Look, you are old and your sons don't walk in your ways; now appoint a king to judge us like all the nations.


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 Yahweh said to Samuel, Listen to the people in all that they tell you; they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them.


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 As they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, in forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they also do to you.


text:
 Now therefore listen to their voice, but protest solemnly to them and show them what the king who shall reign over them will do. Samuel's Warning to Israel 


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 He said, This is what the king who shall reign over you will do: he will take your sons and appoint them to serve with his chariots and to be his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots;


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 he will appoint them to be captains of thousands and captains of fifties; he will assign some to plough his ground and reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.


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 He will take your fields, your vineyards and your olive groves, even their best, and give them to his servants.


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 He will take your male and female servants and your best young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work.


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 You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen, but Yahweh will not answer you in that day.


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 so that we may be like all the other nations, and so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.


text:
 Yahweh said to Samuel, Listen to them and give them a king. Samuel said to the men of Israel, Every man is to go back to his town.


text:
 Saul Chosen As King There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of valour.


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 He had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; there was not among the people of Israel a more impressive person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.


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 The donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. Kish said to Saul, Take now one of the servants with you and go to look for the donkeys.


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 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but they didn't find them. Then they went through the land of Shaalim and they weren't there; he went throughout the land of the Benjamites, but they didn't find them.


text:
 When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, Come, let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys and be anxious for us.


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 The servant said, Look now, in this city there is a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honour. All that he says comes true. Now, let us go there; perhaps he can tell us which way to go.


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 Then Saul said to his servant, But if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the food is finished from our bags and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?


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 The servant replied, I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God to tell us our way.


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 (In earlier times in Israel when a man went to inquire of God he would say, Come and let us go to the seer, for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer).


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 As they went up the hill to the city they found young girls going out to draw water and they asked them, Is the seer here?


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 They answered, He is. Look, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city because the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.


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 As soon as you have come into the city you will immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because it is he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards, those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up, for at this time you should find him. 


text:
 They went up to the city. As they came into the city, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.


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 Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you must anoint him to be prince over My people Israel, and he will save My people out of the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked on My people, because their cry has come to Me.


text:
 When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over My people.


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 Samuel answered Saul, I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.


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 As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, don't worry about them; they have been found. To whom has all the desire in Israel turned? Is it not to you and all your father's house?


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 Saul answered, Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?


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 Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among the guests about thirty people.


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 The cook took up the thigh and what was on it and set it before Saul. Samuel said, Here is what has been kept for you! Eat it because it has been kept for you for this occasion since I said, "I have invited guests'. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.


text:
 They arose early, at daybreak, and Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, Get up, that I may send you away. Saul arose, and they went outside together.


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 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city Samuel said to Saul, Tell the servant to go on ahead of us (and he did so), but you stay here first, so that I may tell you the message of God.


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 Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, Hasn't Yahweh anointed you to be prince over His inheritance?


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 When you have departed from me today you will find two men by Rachel's tomb, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will tell you, "The donkeys which you went to seek have been found, and your father has stopped caring about the donkeys, and is anxious for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? '.


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 Then you will go on from there and you will come to the oak of Tabor. Three men will meet you there, going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread and another carrying a bottle of wine.


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 After that you will come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is, and when you come near to the city you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, a tambourine, a pipe and a harp being played before them. They will be prophesying,


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 and the Spirit of Yahweh will come mightily on you, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be changed into another person.


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 Go down before me to Gilgal and I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings and to make sacrifices of peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you must do. 


text:
 When Saul had turned to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart, and all those signs happened that day.


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 When they came to the hill a band of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God came mightily on him and he prophesied among them.


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 When all who knew him before saw that he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?


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 A man who lived there answered, Who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets?


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 Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, Where did you go? He said, To seek the donkeys. When we saw that they were not to be found we came to Samuel.


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 Saul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the donkeys were found. But concerning the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he didn't tell him. Saul's Kingship Announced 


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 and he said to the people of Israel, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "I brought up Israel out of Egypt and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you,


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 but you have this day rejected your God, who Himself saves you out of all your calamities and your distresses. You have said to Him, "No! Set a king over us'. Now therefore present yourselves before Yahweh by your tribes and by your thousands.


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 He brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by their families, and the family of the Matrites was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken, but when they sought him he could not be found.


text:
 Therefore they asked of Yahweh further, Did the man come here? Yahweh answered, He has hidden himself among the baggage.


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 They ran and fetched him, and when he stood among the people he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.


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 Samuel said to all the people, You see the one whom Yahweh has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? All the people shouted, Long live the king!


text:
 Then Samuel told the people the regulations of the kingdom, wrote them in a book and laid it up before Yahweh. Samuel sent all the people away to their homes.


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 But some worthless fellows said, How can this man save us? They despised him and brought him no present. But he was as though he had been deaf.


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 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a treaty with us and we will serve you.


text:
 Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition I will make it with you, that each of you has his right eye put out, bringing disgrace on all Israel.


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 The elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days so that we can send messengers to all the borders of Israel, and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.


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 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these words to the people, and they all wept aloud.


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 Just then Saul came, following the oxen out of the field, and he said, What is wrong with the people that they weep? They told him what the men of Jabesh had said.


text:
 The Spirit of God came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.


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 He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whoever doesn't come forth after Saul and after Samuel, this is what shall be done to his oxen. The dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man.


text:
 Saul numbered them in Bezek and there were three hundred thousand men of Israel and thirty thousand of Judah.


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 They said to the messengers who came, Thus you shall tell the men of Jabesh Gilead: "Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance'. The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.


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 Therefore the men of Jabesh said to the Ammonites, Tomorrow we will come out to you and you can do to us what seems good to you.


text:
 The next day Saul put the people into three companies, and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and slaughtered the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. Saul's Kingship Confirmed 


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 The people said to Samuel, Who was it who said, "Shall Saul reign over us?'. Bring those men out so that we can put them to death!


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 But Saul said, No-one is to be put to death today, for today Yahweh has worked deliverance in Israel.


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 All the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal, and there they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.


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 Samuel's Farewell Samuel said to all Israel, I have listened to all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.


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 Now, the king is your leader; I am old and grey-headed and my sons are with you, and I have been your leader from my youth to this day.


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 Here I am. Testify against me before Yahweh and before His anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.


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 They said, You have not defrauded us or oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from any man.


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 He said to them, Yahweh is witness against you and His anointed is witness this day that you have not found anything in my hand. They said, He is witness.


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 Samuel said to the people, It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.


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 Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which He did to you and to your fathers.


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 When Jacob had come into Egypt and your fathers cried to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.


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 But they forgot Yahweh their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.


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 They cried to Yahweh and said, "We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh and have served the Baals and Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies and we will serve You'.


text:
 Yahweh sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety.


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 When you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, "No, we want a king to reign over us', when Yahweh your God was your king.


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 Now therefore, see the king whom you have chosen and whom you have asked for; Yahweh has set a king over you.


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 If you will fear Yahweh and serve Him, listen to His voice and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then it will be well with both you and the king who reigns over you.


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 But if you will not listen to the voice of Yahweh but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then the hand of Yahweh will be against you, as it was against your fathers. 


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 Isn't it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh to send thunder and rain, and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the eyes of Yahweh, in asking for a king.


text:
 So Samuel called to Yahweh, and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.


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 All the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God that we do not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.


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 Samuel said to the people, Don't be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil, yet don't turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart.


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 Yahweh will not forsake His people, for the sake of His great name, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you His own people.


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 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you; I will instruct you in the good and the right way.


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 Only fear Yahweh and serve Him in truth with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.


text:
 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin, and the rest of the people he sent back to their tents.


text:
 Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear!


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 All Israel heard that Saul had attacked the garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. The people were gathered together to Saul in Gilgal.


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 The Philistines assembled themselves to fight with Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen and people as numerous as the sand which is on the seashore, and they came up and encamped in Michmash, east of Beth Aven.


text:
 When the men of Israel saw that they were in great peril and the people were distressed, they hid themselves in caves, thickets, rocks, coverts and in pits.


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 Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, but Saul was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.


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 He waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel, but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him.


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 Saul said, Bring here the burnt offering to me, and the peace offerings. He offered the burnt offering.


text:
 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, to greet him.


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 Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, When I saw that the people were scattered from me and that you didn't come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled at Michmash,


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 I thought "Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven't entreated the favour of Yahweh'. I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.


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 Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God which He commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom in Israel forever.


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 But now your kingdom shall not continue. Yahweh has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over His people, because you have not kept what Yahweh commanded you.


text:
 Samuel arose and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 


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 Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were with them stayed in Geba of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.


text:
 Raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned towards Ophrah in the land of Shual;


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 another company turned towards Beth Horon, and another company turned towards the border land overlooking the valley of Zeboim facing the wilderness.


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 Now there was no smith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears.


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 All the Israelites went down to the Philistines to have their ploughshares, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened.


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 The price was two thirds of a shekel to sharpen a mattock and a ploughshare, and one third for the forks and axes, and to set the goads.


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 So on the day of battle no soldier had either sword or spear among the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and Jonathan his son had swords and spears.


text:
 The Philistines Attacked by Jonathan One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armour, Come, let us go over to the Philistines' garrison on the other side. But he didn't tell his father.


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 Saul stayed on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron; the people who were with him were about six hundred men.


text:
 Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh was there, wearing an ephod. The people didn't know that Jonathan had gone.


text:
 On each side of the pass by which Jonathan intended to go over to the Philistines' garrison there was a rocky crag; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh.


text:
 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armour, Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised people. Perhaps Yahweh will work for us, for nothing can hinder Yahweh from saving, by many or by few.


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 His armour bearer said to him, Do all that you have in mind; I am with you according to your heart.


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 If they say "Wait until we come to you!', then we will stay where we are and will not go up to them.


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 But if they say "Come up to us!', then we will go up, for Yahweh has delivered them into our hand. This will be the sign to us.


text:
 So they revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, Look, the Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in!


text:
 The men of the garrison shouted to Jonathan and his armour bearer, Come up to us and we will show you something! Jonathan said to his armour bearer, Come up after me, for Yahweh has delivered them into the hand of Israel.


text:
 Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet and his armour bearer followed, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour bearer followed and killed behind him.


text:
 That first slaughter by Jonathan and his armour bearer killed about twenty men in an area of about half an acre. 


text:
 Then panic struck the whole Philistine army, those in the camp, in the field, and among all the outposts and raiding parties, and the ground shook. There was panic.


text:
 Then Saul said to the men with him, Count now and see who is missing from us. When they had counted, Jonathan and his armour bearer were not there.


text:
 Saul said to Ahijah, Bring the ark of God here. For the ark of God was with the Israelites at that time.


text:
 While Saul was talking to the priest the tumult in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased, and Saul said to the priest, Withdraw your hand!


text:
 Saul and all the men with him were gathered together and came to the battle, and found that every man's sword was against his fellow; a very great confusion.


text:
 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines previously and had gone with them into the camp, turned to join the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.


text:
 Also all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines had fled, followed hard after them in the battle.


text:
 The men of Israel were in distress that day because Saul had bound the people with an oath saying, Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, and I have been avenged of my enemies. So none of the people ate any food.


text:
 When they had come to the forest the honey was oozing out, but no-one tasted any because the people feared the oath.


text:
 But Jonathan hadn't heard when his father commanded the people with the oath, so he dipped the end of his rod into the honeycomb and ate some, and his eyes brightened.


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 Then one of the people said, Your father bound the people with an oath saying, "Cursed is the man who eats food this day'. The people were exhausted.


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 Then Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have been brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.


text:
 How much better it would have been if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies? Would not the slaughter among the Philistines have been greater?


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 and they pounced on the spoil, and took sheep, cattle and calves and killed them on the ground and ate them with the blood.


text:
 Then they told Saul, Look, the people are sinning against Yahweh, eating meat with the blood. He said, You have broken faith. Roll a large stone here at once!


text:
 Saul said, Go out among the people and tell them, "Each man bring to me here his ox and sheep; kill them here and eat; don't sin against Yahweh by eating meat with the blood'. So each of them brought his ox with him that night, and killed them there.


text:
 Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning, and let us not leave any of them alive. They said, Do whatever seems good to you. But the priest said, Let us enquire of God.


text:
 Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel? But He didn't answer him that day. 


text:
 Saul said, Come here, all you chiefs of the people and let us find out which of us has sinned today.


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 For as Yahweh lives, Who saves Israel, even if it is Jonathan my son, he must die. But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.


text:
 Then he said to all Israel, You stand on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. The people said to Saul, Do what seems good to you.


text:
 Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, Show me the right answer. Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.


text:
 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done! Jonathan told him, I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand, and now must I die?


text:
 But the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day! So the people rescued Jonathan so that he didn't die.


text:
 After Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah and the Philistines; wherever he turned he defeated them.


text:
 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. 


text:
 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malchishua, and the names of his two daughters were Merab the firstborn and Michal the younger,


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 and the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.


text:
 There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he took him into his service.


text:
 Samuel said to Saul, Yahweh sent me to anoint you to be king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of Yahweh.


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 Thus says Yahweh of Armies, "I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel, opposing them when they came up out of Egypt.


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 Now go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have; don't spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey'.


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 Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.


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 Saul said to the Kenites, Go away from among the Amalekites so that I don't destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.


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 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, cattle, fat calves and lambs and all that was good, and wouldn't utterly destroy them; everything that was bad and worthless they destroyed utterly. 


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 It grieves Me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not obeyed My commandments. Samuel was troubled and he cried out to Yahweh all night.


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 Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, and he was told: Saul came to Carmel and he set up a monument for himself, then went down to Gilgal.


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 Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, Yahweh bless you! I have obeyed the commandment of Yahweh.


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 Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to Yahweh your God. We have utterly destroyed the rest.


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 Then Samuel said to Saul, Stop! I will tell you what Yahweh said to me last night. He said to him, Tell me.


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 Samuel said, When you were once little in your own sight, weren't you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel,


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 and Yahweh sent you on a mission and said, "Go, and utterly destroy those sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are destroyed'.


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 Why then didn't you obey the voice of Yahweh, but took the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh?


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 Saul said to Samuel, But I have obeyed the voice of Yahweh, and have gone on the mission which Yahweh gave me and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.


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 But the people took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal.


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 Samuel said, Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.


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 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, He has also rejected you from being king.


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 Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned; I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.


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 Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.


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 Samuel said to him, Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbour of yours who is better than you.


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 The Strength of Israel will not lie nor change His mind, for He is not a man that He should change His mind.


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 Then he said, I have sinned, yet please honour me now before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me so that I may worship Yahweh your God.


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 Then Samuel said, Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites! Agag came to him confidently, thinking, Surely the bitterness of death is past.


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 Samuel said, As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women! Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal.


text:
 Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death, yet Samuel mourned for Saul, and Yahweh grieved that He had made Saul king over Israel.


text:
 Yahweh said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided a king for Myself from among his sons.


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 Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hears it he will kill me. Yahweh said, Take a heifer with you and say, I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.


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 Call Jesse to the sacrifice and I will show you what you must do. You are to anoint for Me the one whom I name to you.


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 Samuel did what Yahweh said and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Do you come peaceably?


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 He said, Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. He consecrated Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.


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 But Yahweh said to Samuel, Don't look at his appearance or height, because I have rejected him. I do not look at the things man looks at; man looks at the outward appearance but Yahweh looks at the heart.


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 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, Neither has Yahweh chosen this one.


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 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, Yahweh has not chosen these.


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 Samuel said to Jesse, Are all your children here? He said, There is still the youngest; he is keeping the sheep. Samuel said to Jesse, Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.


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 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a beautiful face and handsome appearance. Yahweh said, Arise, anoint him, for this is the one.


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 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the spirit of Yahweh came mightily on David from that day on. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 


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 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp. When the evil spirit from God comes on you, he can play and you will feel better.


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 Then one of the young men said, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skilful in playing, a mighty man of valour, a man of war, who speaks well and is good-looking, and Yahweh is with him.


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 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a bottle of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul.


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 When the spirit from God was on Saul, David took the harp and played, and Saul was refreshed and felt better and the evil spirit departed from him.


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 Now the Philistines gathered their armies to battle and assembled at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and they encamped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephesdammim.


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 Saul and the men of Israel assembled and encamped in the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.


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 The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, and there was a valley between them.


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 A champion went out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.


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 He had a helmet of bronze on his head and he wore a bronze coat of mail which weighed five thousand shekels.


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 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam and his iron spear's head weighed six hundred shekels, and his shield bearer went before him.


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 He stood and shouted to the armies of Israel, Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.


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 If he is able to fight and kill me, then we will be your servants, but if I overcome him and kill him, then you will be our servants, and serve us.


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 The Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day! Give me a man and let us fight one another!


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 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse. He had eight sons and was considered an old man in the days of Saul.


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 The three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. Their names were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab and the third Shammah.


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 Jesse said to David his son, Now take an ephah of parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers;


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 and take these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand. See how your brothers are doing and bring back news.


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 Saul and David's brothers and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.


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 David rose up early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper and took the gifts, and went as Jesse had commanded him; he came to the camp as the army was going forth to the battle, shouting the war cry.


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 David left his things with the keeper of supplies and ran to the army and came and greeted his brothers. David Accepts Goliath's Challenge 


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 As he talked with them Goliath came up, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, out of the ranks of the Philistines. He shouted the same words, and David heard them.


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 The men of Israel said, Have you seen this man who keeps coming up? He comes up to defy Israel. The king has promised to give great riches to the man who kills him, and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel.


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 David said to the men who stood by him, What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?


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 The people repeated to him what they had said: This is indeed what is promised to the man who kills him.


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 Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the presumption of your heart; you have only come down to see the battle.


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 He turned away from him toward someone else and said the same, and the people answered him as before.


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 David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him.


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 Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight him; you are only a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.


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 David said, Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,


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 I went out after it and struck it, and rescued it out of its mouth. When it turned on me I caught it by its beard and killed it.


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 Your servant killed both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.


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 David said, Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go; and Yahweh be with you.


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 Saul dressed David in his own clothes. He put a bronze helmet on his head and put a coat of mail on him.


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 David strapped his sword onto his tunic and he tried to move, but he was not used to it. David said to Saul, I can't go with these; I am not used to them. So David took them off.


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 He took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag. His sling was in his hand as he drew near to the Philistine. 


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 The Philistine said to David, Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks? The Philistine cursed David by his gods.


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 He said to David, Come here and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the animals of the field.


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 Then David said to the Philistine, You come against me with a sword, a spear and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.


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 Today Yahweh will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you down and cut off your head. I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines today to the birds of the air and the wild animals of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,


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 and that all those here may know that Yahweh doesn't save with sword and spear, for the battle is Yahweh's and He will give you into our hand.


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 He put his hand into his bag, took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead and he fell on his face to the ground.


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 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him without a sword in his hand.


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 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, took hold of his sword, drew it out of its scabbard and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.


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 The men of Israel and Judah arose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gate of Ekron. The wounded of the Philistines fell down all the way to Shaaraim, Gath and Ekron.


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 David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armour in his own tent.


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 When Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, Abner, whose son is this youth? Abner said, As your soul lives, O king, I don't know.


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 As David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him to Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.


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


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 David and Jonathan When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan became bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.


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 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe he was wearing and gave it to David with his tunic and even his sword, his bow and his belt. David's Successes in Battle 


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 David went out wherever Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely, and Saul set him over the men of war, which pleased all the people and Saul's servants.


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 When David and the men returned from the slaughter of the Philistine the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.


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 The women sang one to another as they played, Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.


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 Saul was very angry; this song displeased him and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands and to me they have ascribed only thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?


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 The next day an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in his house. David played his harp, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand


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 and he threw the spear saying, I will pin David to the wall! David escaped from his presence twice.


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 Therefore Saul sent David away from him and made him his captain over a thousand, and David went out and came in before the people.


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 Saul said to David, here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh's battles. Saul thought, Don't let my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.


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 David said to Saul, Who am I, and what is my clan or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?


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 But when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as his wife.


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 Saul said, I will give her to him so that she can be a snare to him, and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David, You shall this day have a second opportunity to be my son-in-law.


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 Saul commanded his servants, Speak to David secretly and say, "Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you; now therefore be the king's son-in-law'.


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 Saul's servants told David this. David said, Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and little known?


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 Saul said, Tell David, "The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged on the king's enemies'. Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.


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 When his servants told David this, he was pleased to be the king's son-in-law. Before the allotted time


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 David arose and went with his men and killed two hundred of the Philistine men, and David brought their foreskins, and gave them in full number to the king so that he might be the king's son-in-law. Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife.


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 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth and whenever they did so, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.


text:
 Jonathan Speaks for David Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.


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 Jonathan told David, Saul my father seeks to kill you. Now therefore, please take extra care of yourself in the morning; hide in a secret place and stay there.


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 I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and I will talk with my father about you, and if I find out anything, I will tell you.


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 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Don't let the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you and he has worked well for you;


text:
 he put his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?


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 Jonathan called David and told him all this. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before. David's Successes Enrage Saul 


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 There was war again. David went out and fought the Philistines and killed them with a great slaughter, and they fled before him.


text:
 An evil spirit from Yahweh came on Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing his harp.


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 Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and the spear went into the wall. David fled, and escaped that night.


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 Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. Michal, David's wife, told him, If you don't save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.


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 Michal took an idol and laid it in the bed, put a pillow of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes.


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 Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed so that I can kill him.


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 When the messengers came in, there was just the idol in the bed, with the pillow of goats' hair at its head.


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 Saul said to Michal, Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped? Michal answered Saul, He said to me, "Let me go! Why should I kill you?'.


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 Now David fled and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and lived in Naioth.


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 Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as head over them, the spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul and they also prophesied.


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 When Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. Saul sent messengers again the third time and they also prophesied.


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 Then he went himself to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu, and he asked, Where are Samuel and David? Someone said, They are at Naioth in Ramah.


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 So he went towards Naioth in Ramah. Then the spirit of God came on him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.


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 He stripped off his clothes and he also prophesied before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?


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 David fled from Naioth in Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?


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 He said to him, Far from it; you shall not die. Look, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me, so why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.


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 But David took an oath and said, Your father knows well that I have found favour in your eyes, so he says, "Don't let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved'; but truly as Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.


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 David said to Jonathan, Look, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king; but let me go so that I can hide myself in the field until the third day at evening.


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 If your father misses me at all then say, "David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem, his city, for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family'.


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 If he says, "Very well', your servant will have peace; but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him.


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 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh. But if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?


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 Jonathan said, Never! If I should know that evil were determined against you by my father, wouldn't I tell you?


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 Jonathan said to David, By Yahweh, the God of Israel, when I have sounded out my father, by this time tomorrow or the third day, if he is favourable toward you I will send and tell you.


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 Yahweh deal with me severely, if my father intends evil against you and I don't disclose it to you so that I can send you away safely. May Yahweh be with you, as He has been with my father.


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 Also, do not cut off your kindness from my house forever, not even when Yahweh has cut off all the enemies of David from the surface of the earth. Jonathan and David's Covenant 


text:
 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Yahweh will require it at the hand of David's enemies.


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 Jonathan made David swear again, for the love that he had for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.


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 Then Jonathan said to him, Tomorrow is the new moon and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.


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 When you have waited three days, go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when this started, and stay by the stone Ezel.


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 Then I will send the boy saying, "Go, find the arrows!'. If I tell the boy "Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them', then come, for you are safe, as Yahweh lives.


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 But if I say this to the boy, "Look, the arrows are beyond you', then go your way, for Yahweh has sent you away.


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 Concerning the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Yahweh is between you and me forever.


text:
 The king sat on his seat by the wall as usual and Jonathan sat opposite and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.


text:
 Nevertheless Saul didn't say anything that day, for he thought, Something has happened to him. He is not clean. Surely he is not clean.


text:
 On the next day after the new moon, the second day, David's place was empty again. Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why didn't the son of Jesse come to eat, either yesterday or today?


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 He said, "Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city. My brother has commanded me to be there. Now, if I have found favour in your eyes, please let me go away and see my brothers'. That is why he has not come to the king's table.


text:
 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don't I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the confusion of your mother's nakedness?


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 As long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth you will not be established, nor your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!


text:
 Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.


text:
 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.


text:
 In the morning Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy went with him.


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 He said to his boy, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.


text:
 When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy, Isn't the arrow beyond you?


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 Jonathan called after the boy, Go quickly! Hurry! Don't delay! Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master.


text:
 As soon as the boy had gone David got up from the south side of the stone, fell on his face to the ground and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another and wept one with another, and David wept the most.


text:
 Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, because we have both sworn in the name of Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh shall be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed, forever'. David arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.


text:
 Then David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, Why are you alone and no-one with you?


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 David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has charged me with a task and has said to me "Let no-one know anything about it or what I have commanded you'. I have told the young men to go to a meeting place.


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 The priest answered David, There is no common bread here, but there is holy bread, if the young men have kept themselves from women.


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 David answered the priest, Truly, women have been kept from us for about three days. When I go on an expedition the bodies of the young men are holy; they are even for an ordinary journey; how much more so today?


text:
 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there apart from the Bread of the Presence that had been taken from before Yahweh, to be replaced by fresh hot bread.


text:
 Now one of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh; his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.


text:
 David said to Ahimelech, Don't you have here a spear or sword? I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me because the king's business required haste.


text:
 The priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine whom you killed in the valley of Elah is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it; there is no other except that here. David said, There is none like that. Give it to me. 


text:
 The servants of Achish said to him, Isn't this David the king of the land? Didn't they sing one to another about him in dances saying, "Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands?'.


text:
 He changed his behaviour before them and pretended to be mad, scrabbled on the doors of the gate and let his saliva fall down onto his beard.


text:
 Then Achish said to his servants, Look, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me?


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 Do I lack madmen that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?


text:
 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.


text:
 Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt and everyone who was discontented gathered themselves to him and he became their captain. About four hundred men were with him.


text:
 David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you, until I know what God will do for me.


text:
 He brought them before the king of Moab and they lived with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.


text:
 The prophet Gad said to David, Don't stay in the stronghold. Depart, and go into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and went into the forest of Hereth. 


text:
 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree in Ramah with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.


text:
 Saul said to them, Listen now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give each of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?


text:
 Is that why all of you have conspired against me so that there is no-one who tells me when my son makes a treaty with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me or tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as he does today?


text:
 Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, said: I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.


text:
 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub and all his father's house, the priests who were in Nob; and they all came to the king.


text:
 Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as he does today?


text:
 Then Ahimelech answered the king, Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and is taken into your council, and is honourable in your house?


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 Is this the first time I have inquired of God for him? Be it far from me! Don't let the king accuse his servant or any of the house of my father, for your servant knows nothing at all of all this.


text:
 The king said to the guards who stood around him, Turn and kill the priests of Yahweh because they have sided with David, and because they knew that he fled, and didn't tell me. But the servants of the king wouldn't put forth their hand to strike the priests of Yahweh.


text:
 The king said to Doeg, You turn and attack the priests! Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod.


text:
 He struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, men, women, children and nursing babies, and cattle, donkeys and sheep.


text:
 David said to Abiathar, I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all the people of your father's house.


text:
 Therefore David inquired of Yahweh, Shall I go and attack these Philistines? Yahweh said to David, Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.


text:
 David's men said to him, Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then, if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?


text:
 Then David inquired of Yahweh yet again. Yahweh answered him, Get up and go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.


text:
 David and his men went to Keilah and fought against the Philistines and carried off their livestock and killed them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.


text:
 Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah and he said, God has delivered him into my hand, for he is trapped by going into a town that has gates and bars.


text:
 David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him, so he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod here.


text:
 Then David said, O Yahweh the God of Israel, Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.


text:
 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? Yahweh, the God of Israel, I beg you, tell Your servant. Yahweh said, He will come down.


text:
 Then David said, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? Yahweh said, They will deliver you.


text:
 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and left Keilah, and went wherever they could go. Saul heard that David had escaped from Keilah so he gave up going there.


text:
 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds and in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn't deliver him into his hand.


text:
 David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life when he was in the wilderness of Ziph, in the forest.


text:
 He said to him, Don't be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father will not find you; you will be king over Israel and I shall be next to you. Saul my father well knows that.


text:
 Then the Ziphites came to Saul in Gibeah saying, Isn't David hiding among us in the strongholds in the forest, on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?


text:
 Now therefore, O king, come down when you are ready; our part will be to deliver him into the king's hand.


text:
 Please go and make sure and find out where his haunt is and who has seen him there, for they tell me that he is very crafty.


text:
 So find out all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information, and I will go with you. If he is in the area I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.


text:
 They set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul, but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.


text:
 Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon.


text:
 Saul went on one side of the mountain and David and his men on the other, and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.


text:
 But a messenger came to Saul saying, Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!


text:
 So Saul returned from pursuing David and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.


text:
 Saul's Life Spared by David When Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines he was told, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.


text:
 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.


text:
 He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were hiding in the innermost parts of the cave.


text:
 The men of David said to him, Look, the day of which Yahweh said to you, "I will deliver your enemy into your hand and you can do to him whatever you wish'. Then David got up and cut off a corner of Saul's robe secretly.


text:
 He said to his men, Yahweh forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord, Yahweh's anointed, to lift my hand against him, since he is Yahweh's anointed.


text:
 So David restrained his men with these words, and didn't allow them to attack Saul. Saul got up out of the cave and went on his way.


text:
 David also got up afterwards and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, My lord the king! When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and showed respect.


text:
 Look, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh had delivered you into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, I will not lift up my hand against my lord, for he is Yahweh's anointed.


text:
 Moreover, my father, look, here is a piece of your robe in my hand; by the fact that I cut it off and didn't kill you, you can know and see that I have no desire to hurt you and have not sinned against you, though you hunt me to take my life.


text:
 May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge the wrong you have done me; but my hand shall not be against you.


text:
 As the proverb of the ancients says, "Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness, but my hand shall not be against you'.


text:
 May Yahweh therefore be the judge and give sentence between me and you; may He plead my cause and deliver me out of your hand.


text:
 When David had finished saying this to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? Saul wept aloud.


text:
 He said to David, You are more righteous than I, for you have been good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.


text:
 You have declared this day how you have been good to me, because when Yahweh had delivered me into your hand, you didn't kill me.


text:
 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you with good for what you have done to me today.


text:
 Now I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.


text:
 Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.


text:
 Samuel died, and all Israel gathered together and mourned for him, and they buried him at his home in Ramah. David went down to the wilderness of Paran.


text:
 There was a man in Maon who had property in Carmel, and the man was very wealthy. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.


text:
 His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but the man was harsh and mean; he belonged to the family of Caleb.


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


text:
 I have heard that you are shearing your sheep. Your shepherds have been with us, and we didn't hurt them, nothing of theirs was missing all the while they were in Carmel.


text:
 Ask your young men and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find grace in your eyes, for we come at a good time. Please give whatever you can to your servants and to your son David'.


text:
 Nabal answered David's servants, Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days.


text:
 Shall I then take my bread, my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I don't know where? 


text:
 David said to his men, Every man put on his sword! Every man put on his sword and David also put on his. About four hundred men followed David and two hundred stayed by the baggage.


text:
 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, Look, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them.


text:
 But the men were very good to us and we were not hurt, nothing was missing as long as we were with them in the fields.


text:
 Now therefore consider what you should do, for evil is determined against our master and against all his household; he is such a worthless fellow that one can't even speak to him.


text:
 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two bottles of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five measures of parched grain, one hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys.


text:
 She said to her young men, Go on before me; I am following you. But she didn't tell her husband, Nabal.


text:
 As she rode on her donkey and came down in a valley, and there were David and his men coming down towards her, and she met them.


text:
 Now David had said, Surely for nothing I have kept all this fellow's possessions in the wilderness, so that nothing was missing. He has returned me evil for good.


text:
 When Abigail saw David she hurried and alighted from her donkey; she bowed down before David with her face to the ground.


text:
 She fell at his feet and said, On me, my lord, on me be the blame, and please let your handmaid speak in your ears. Hear the words of your handmaid.


text:
 Please pay no attention, my lord, to this worthless fellow Nabal. As his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is his nature; but I, your handmaid, didn't see your young men whom you sent.


text:
 Now therefore my lord, as Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, since Yahweh has withheld you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies and those who seek evil to my lord be like Nabal.


text:
 Let this gift which your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord.


text:
 Please forgive the sin of your handmaid, for Yahweh will certainly make for my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of Yahweh. Let evil not be found in you all your days.


text:
 Though men may rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, yet the life of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with Yahweh your God. He will hurl out the lives of your enemies as though from the pocket of a sling.


text:
 When Yahweh has done to my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel,


text:
 then this will not be on your conscience, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh has dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid.


text:
 Blessed is your discretion, and blessed are you for keeping me this day from the guilt of bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.


text:
 For indeed, as Yahweh the God of Israel lives who has withheld me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn't have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as a single male.


text:
 So David accepted from her what she had brought him and he said to her, Go up in peace to your house. I have listened to your words and have granted your request.


text:
 Abigail came to Nabal while he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. Nabal's heart was merry, for he was very drunk. Therefore she told him nothing until the morning.


text:
 In the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened; and his heart failed and he became like a stone.


text:
 When David heard that Nabal was dead he said, Blessed is Yahweh, who has upheld my cause against Nabal, and has kept back His servant from doing wrong. Yahweh has returned the wrongdoing of Nabal on his own head. David sent and asked Abigail to become his wife.


text:
 When his servants had come to Abigail to Carmel they said, David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.


text:
 She arose, bowed herself with her face to the earth and said, Your handmaid is ready to be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.


text:
 Abigail hurried and got onto a donkey, with five of her maids who followed her, and she went with the messengers of David and became his wife.


text:
 Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.


text:
 David Spares Saul's Life Again The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah saying, Isn't David hiding in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?


text:
 Then Saul went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.


text:
 Saul encamped by the road on the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,


text:
 David set out and came to the place where Saul had encamped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army were lying; Saul lay among the wagons and the people were encamped around him.


text:
 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? Abishai said, I will go down with you.


text:
 So David and Abishai came to the army by night and Saul lay sleeping among the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the soldiers lay around him.


text:
 Then Abishai said to David, God has delivered your enemy into your hand today. Now therefore please let me strike him to the ground with one stroke of my spear; I will not strike him a second time.


text:
 David said to Abishai, Don't destroy him, for who can put forth his hand against Yahweh's anointed and be guiltless?


text:
 David said, As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go into battle and perish.


text:
 Yahweh forbid that I should put forth my hand against Yahweh's anointed; but now please get the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.


text:
 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head and they went away; and no-one saw it or knew about it, neither did anyone awake, for they were all asleep because a deep sleep from Yahweh had fallen on them.


text:
 Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the hill far off, a great space being between them,


text:
 and David called to the army and to Abner the son of Ner, Don't you answer, Abner? Then Abner answered, Who are you who calls to the king?


text:
 David said to Abner, Aren't you a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord, the king? Someone came to destroy the king your lord.


text:
 What you have done is not good. As Yahweh lives, you are worthy to die because you have not kept watch over your lord, Yahweh's anointed. Where are the king's spear and the jar of water that was at his head?


text:
 Saul knew David's voice and said, Is that your voice, my son David? David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.


text:
 Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If Yahweh has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is men who have done it, may they be cursed by Yahweh, for they have driven me out so that I can't have a part in Yahweh's inheritance; they have said "Go and serve other gods!'.


text:
 Now therefore, don't let my blood fall to the earth far from the presence of Yahweh, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains. Saul's Repentance 


text:
 Then Saul said, I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. I have played the fool, and have erred very seriously.


text:
 Yahweh will reward every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, because Yahweh delivered you into my hand today and I wouldn't put forth my hand against Yahweh's anointed.


text:
 As your life was respected this day in my eyes, so let my life be respected in the eyes of Yahweh and let Him deliver me out of all oppression.


text:
 Then Saul said to David, May you be blessed, my son David. You will do great things and will surely triumph. So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.


text:
 David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines, then Saul will give up looking for me any more in Israel and I will escape from him.


text:
 David and the six hundred men who were with him left and went to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.


text:
 David lived with Achish at Gath with his men, each one with his household, and David had with him his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.


text:
 David said to Achish, If I have found favour in your eyes, let me be given a place in one of the cities in the country to live in. Why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?


text:
 David and his men went and made a raid on the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites; those were the inhabitants of the land from ancient times as far as Shur and Egypt.


text:
 David attacked the land and saved neither man nor woman alive; he took away the sheep, cattle, donkeys and camels and the clothing, then he returned to Achish.


text:
 When Achish said, Against whom have you made a raid today? David would say, Against the South of Judah, or against the South of the Jerahmeelites, or against the South of the Kenites.


text:
 David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring them to Gath, thinking, They might inform about us, saying, "David has done this. This was what he did all the time he lived in the country of the Philistines'.


text:
 Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel abhor him so much that he will be my servant forever.


text:
 In those days the Philistines gathered their armies together to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, You must certainly go out with me in the army, you and your men.


text:
 David said to Achish, Then you will know what your servant can do. Achish said to David, Therefore I will make you my bodyguard for life.


text:
 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. Saul had put away out of the land those who had familiar spirits and the wizards.


text:
 The Philistines gathered together and encamped in Shunem, and Saul gathered all Israel and they encamped in Gilboa.


text:
 When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn't answer him, neither by dreams nor by Urim nor by prophets. 


text:
 Then Saul said to his servants, Find me a woman who has a familiar spirit so that I can go to inquire of her. His servants said to him, There is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.


text:
 Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothing, and went with two men to the woman by night. He said, Please consult a familiar spirit for me and bring me up the one I name.


text:
 The woman said to him, Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then have you set a trap for me, to cause me to die?


text:
 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice, and said to Saul, Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!


text:
 The king said to her, Don't be afraid. What do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.


text:
 He said to her, What does he look like? She said, An old man is coming up. He is wearing a mantle. Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and showed respect.


text:
 Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? Saul answered, I am very distressed, for the Philistines make war against me and God has departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you so that you can tell me what I should do.


text:
 Yahweh has done to you as He spoke by me. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbour, to David.


text:
 Because you didn't obey Yahweh and didn't execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this to you today.


text:
 Yahweh will deliver Israel and you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.


text:
 Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth and was terrified because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all that day and all that night.


text:
 The woman came to Saul, and seeing that he was very troubled she said to him, Look, your handmaid has obeyed you and I have put my life in my hands and have done what you told me.


text:
 Now please listen to your handmaid and let me give you some food so that you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.


text:
 But he refused and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, so he listened to them. He got up from the earth and sat on the bed.


text:
 The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She hurried and killed it, and she took flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread with it.


text:
 She brought it before Saul and his servants and they ate. Then they got up, and went away that night.


text:
 The Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by the spring in Jezreel.


text:
 The lords of the Philistines marched on in units of hundreds and thousands, and David and his men marched in the rear with Achish.


text:
 Then the lords of the Philistines said, What about these Hebrews? Achish said, Isn't this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have so far found no fault in him?


text:
 But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him and said to him, Send the man back to the place you have appointed for him. He must not go down with us to battle, in case he turns against us during the fighting. How better could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord than with the heads of these men?


text:
 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, "Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands?'.


text:
 So Achish called David and said to him, As Yahweh lives, you have been upright and your conduct with me in the army has been good in my sight; I have not found evil in you since the day you came to me till this day. But the lords don't approve of you.


text:
 David said to Achish, But what have I done? What have you found against your servant all the time I have been with you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?


text:
 Achish answered David, I know that you have been pleasing to me, as an angel of God, nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, "He must not go up with us to the battle'.


text:
 Now get up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and depart as soon as it is light.


text:
 So David got up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.


text:
 When David and his men had come to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid on the South and on Ziklag, and had attacked Ziklag and burned it,


text:
 and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They didn't kill any, but carried them off and went their way.


text:
 When David and his men came to the city they found it had been burned, and their wives, their sons and their daughters taken captive.


text:
 David's two wives were taken captive: Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail who had been the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.


text:
 David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because they were grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.


text:
 David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, Please bring me here the ephod. Abiathar brought the ephod to David


text:
 and David inquired of Yahweh saying, Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them? He answered, Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them and recover all.


text:
 So David and the six hundred men who were with him went to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind had stayed.


text:
 But David pursued the Amalekites with four hundred men; two hundred had stayed behind because they were so exhausted that they couldn't go over the brook Besor.


text:
 They found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David, and gave him food and he ate, and they gave him water to drink.


text:
 They gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. When he had eaten, he revived, for he had eaten no food nor drunk any water for three days and three nights.


text:
 David asked him, To whom do you belong? Where are you from? He said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me because three days ago I fell sick.


text:
 We made a raid on the South of the Cherethites and on the territory which belongs to Judah and on the South of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.


text:
 David said to him, Will you lead me down to this raiding party? He said, Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me up into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to them.


text:
 When he had led him down, there they were, spread around over all the ground, eating, drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines and out of the land of Judah.


text:
 David fought them from twilight to the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.


text:
 There was nothing missing, small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken. David brought back everything.


text:
 He took all the flocks and herds, which they drove before the other livestock, and he said, This is David's spoil.


text:
 David came to the two hundred men who had been so exhausted that they could not follow David, who had been left behind at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and the people who were with him. When David came near them he greeted them.


text:
 But all the wicked men and troublemakers among David's followers said, Because they didn't go with us we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, just each man's wife and children; then he can take them away and depart.


text:
 David said, You must not do that, my brothers, with what Yahweh has given us. He has preserved us and delivered the forces that came against us into our hand.


text:
 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the one who goes down to the battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays with the baggage; they shall share alike.


text:
 When David came to Ziklag he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, his friends, saying, Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of Yahweh.


text:
 Saul's Suicide Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.


text:
 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.


text:
 Then Saul said to his armour bearer, Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and abuse me! But his armour bearer would not, for he was respectful. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it.


text:
 When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.


text:
 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.


text:
 They cut off his head, stripped off his armour and sent into the land of the Philistines all around to carry the news to the house of their idols and to the people.


text:
 all the valiant men arose and travelled all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan, and they went to Jabesh and burnt them there.


text:
 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.


text:
 remembering without ceasing before our God and Father your work of faith, labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 


text:
 how that our preaching of the gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance. Even as you know what manner of men we have shown ourselves toward you, for your sake.


text:
 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.


text:
 For from you has sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place your faith toward God has gone forth; so that we do not need to say anything about you.


text:
 For others report about what kind of reception you gave us and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,


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 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. 


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 As you know, previously in Philippi we suffered and were spitefully treated; but even amid much opposition we were bold in our God to tell you about the gospel of God.


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 But even as we have been approved of God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who tests our hearts.


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 For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;


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 nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.


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 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.


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 For, brothers, you remember our labour and distress, working night and day, so that we would not burden any of you while we preached the gospel of God to you.


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 You are witnesses and God also, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe.


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 As you know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, encouraging you and testifying,


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 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works powerfully in you that believe.


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 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea. For you also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews,


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 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and do not please God, and oppose all mankind,


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 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved. By doing so they fill up the full measure of their sins. But God's wrath comes upon them at last.


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 But we, brothers, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence but not in heart, endeavoured more eagerly to see your face with great desire.


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 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?


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 Paul's Great Love for the Thessalonians Wherefore when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;


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 and sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith.


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 For truly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction. Even as it came to pass and you know.


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 For this cause I also, when I could no longer endure it, sent Timothy, that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you and our labour should be in vain.


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 But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us the good news of your faith and love, and that you have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also you.


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 For this cause, brothers, in all our distress and affliction, we were comforted through hearing of your faith.


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 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,


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 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect whatever is lacking in your faith?


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 And the Lord make you increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men, even as we also toward you,


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 so that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 


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 Finally, brothers, we urge and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.


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 Let no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter. Because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.


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 But concerning love of the brothers, you have no need that anyone write to you. For you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.


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 For indeed you do it toward all the brothers that are in all Macedonia. But, brothers, we encourage you to abound more and more.


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 May you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,


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 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothingComfort From the Hope of Resurrection 


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 Brothers, we would not have you ignorant concerning those that fall asleep, lest you grieve like those who have no hope.


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 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, just as surely those that have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring up with him.


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 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are still living at the coming of the Lord, shall in no way precede those that have fallen asleep.


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 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.


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 Then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be snatched away in the clouds in the air to meet the Lord, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


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 But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that something be written to you.


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 When people are saying: Peace and safety, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no way escape.


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 But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.


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 For God has not destined us to suffer His wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,


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 But brothers, we urge you to recognize those that labour among you, who are over you in the Lord and who encourage you.


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 And we exhort you, brothers, warn the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.


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 See that no one repays anyone evil with evil, but always follow after that which is good one toward another and toward all.


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 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope.


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 To Timothy, my true child in faith. Grace, mercy and peace to you, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


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 Stay at Ephesus, just as I urged you to do when I was going into Macedonia, so that you might instruct certain men not to teach a different doctrine,


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 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than Godly edification which is in faith.


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 The intended result of this instruction is love out of a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith.


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 desiring to be teachers of the law, though they neither understand what they say, nor what they confidently affirm.


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 since we know that law is not made for a righteous man but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,


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 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,


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 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. Paul's Conversion a Pattern for All 


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 I thank him that enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service.


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 Though I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor and abusive. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.


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 Faithful is the saying and worthy of all acceptance: That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.


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 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as the chief sinner might Jesus Christ show all his patience as a pattern to those that would later believe in him to gain eternal life.


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 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.


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 This charge I commit to you, my child Timothy, in accordance with the prophecies which were made about you, that by them you may war the good warfare.


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 Holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some having thrust from them, made shipwreck of their faith.


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 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme. 


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 I urge therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men;


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 for kings, and all that are in high place, that we may lead a calm and quiet life in all Godliness and dignity.


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 To this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth, I do not lie), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.


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 In like manner, I urge that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with bashfulness and sobriety; not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly clothing,


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 But she shall be saved through the child-bearing, if they continue in faith, love and sanctification with sobriety.


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 The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober, orderly, given to hospitality, able to teach;


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 For if a man does not know how to rule his own family, how shall he take care of the church of God?


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 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace or into a snare of the devil.


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 Likewise, deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money;


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 For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.


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 But if I am delayed, I write so you may know how you ought to behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.


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 And without controversy, great is the mystery of reverence towards God: He who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, received up in glory.


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 But the Spirit says expressly, that in the last times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of the idol worshippers,


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 Forbidding to marry, and to abstain from food- which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.


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 For every creature of God is good and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving.


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 If you put the believers in mind of these things, you shall be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed.


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 For bodily exercise is profitable for a little time; but reverence towards God is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life which now is and of that which is to come.


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 For to this end we labour and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.


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 Let no one despise your youth. Be an example to those that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.


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 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given to you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.


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 Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be manifest to all.


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 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.


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 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show devotion towards their own family and to repay their parents. For this is acceptable in the sight of God.


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 Now she that is indeed a widow and alone has her hope set on God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.


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 But if anyone does not provide for his own family and specially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.


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 Let no one be registered as a widow who is under sixty years old. Only register those who have been the woman of one man and


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 well reported of for good works; if she has brought up children, if she has used hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has helped the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.


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 But refuse to register younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry,


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 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.


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 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for slander.


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 If any woman that believes has widows in her family, let her help them and let not the church be burdened, so that it may help those that are indeed widows. 


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 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and in teaching.


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 For the scripture says: You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his wages.


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 I charge you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.


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 No longer drink only water; instead use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.


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 Some men's sins are evident, preceding them to judgment; but those of others follow them there later.


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 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.


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 Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.


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 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather serve them because those whom they are serving are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. 


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 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and consents not to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which shows reverence towards God,


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 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,


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 wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, who suppose that reverence towards God is a way of gain.


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 But they that are intent on being rich fall into a temptation and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and condemnation.


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 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, which some, by seeking for, have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.


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 But you, O man of God, flee these material things and instead pursue after righteousness, reverence towards God, faith, love, patience, meekness.


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 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the everlasting life, whereunto you were called and did confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.


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 I urge you in the sight of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate made the good confession:


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 Keep the commandment without stain, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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 In due time He shall reveal him, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,


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 who only has immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable. Whom no one has seen, nor can see. To whom be honour and power eternal. Amen.


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 Instruct those that are rich in this present world, that they are not proud, nor have their hope set on the uncertain riches; but instead on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.


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 Let the rich do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;


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 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.


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 O Timothy, guard that which was committed to you, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of false knowledge,


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 Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Yahweh his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.


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 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers' households.


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 So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the Tent of Meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the wilderness.


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 But David had brought the ark of God up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.


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 Moreover the bronze altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri the son of Hur had made, was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh; and Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there.


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 Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh which was at the Tent of Meeting and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.


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 Solomon said to God, You have shown great grace to David my father, and have made me king in his place.


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 Now, Yahweh God, let your promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.


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 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this your people, that is so great?


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 God said to Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of those who hate you, neither yet have asked 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. I will give you riches, wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you; neither shall there any after you have the like. Solomon's Prosperity 


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 So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.


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 Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.


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 The king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as abundant as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.


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 The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue; the king's merchants purchased them from Kue.


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 They brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for one hundred and fifty. They also brought them out for all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria.


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 Solomon counted out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand men who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them.


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 Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre saying, As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house in which to dwell, so deal with me.


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 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, to dedicate it to Him, and to burn before Him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Yahweh our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel.


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 But who is able to build Him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a house, except just to burn incense before Him?


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 Now therefore send me a man talented to work in gold, silver, brass, iron, purple, crimson and blue, and who knows how to produce engravings, to be with the talented men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.


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 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon; for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. My servants shall be with your servants,


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 even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.


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 Behold, I will give to your servants, the cutters 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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 Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in a writing which he sent to Solomon, Because Yahweh loves His people, therefore He has made you king over them.


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 Huram continued, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel That made heaven and earth, Who has given to David the king a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, that should build a house for Yahweh, 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, talented to work in gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, timber, purple, blue, fine linen and crimson, also to engrave any kind of engraving, and to devise any device. Let there be a place appointed to him with your talented men, and with the talented men of my lord David your father.


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 Now therefore 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. We will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa; and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem.


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 Solomon numbered all the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father had numbered them; and they were found one hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred.


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 He set seventy thousand of them to bear burdens, and eighty thousand to be stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set the people to work.


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 Then Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where Yahweh appeared to David his father, which he prepared in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


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 Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of God's house. The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty cubits and the breadth twenty cubits.


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 The porch that was in front, its length, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred and twenty; and he overlaid it within with pure gold.


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 The greater house he made with a ceiling of fir wood which he overlaid with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains.


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 He overlaid also the house, the beams, the thresholds and its walls and its doors, with gold; and engraved cherubim on the walls.


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 He made the most holy place: its length, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and its breadth twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.


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 The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long. The wing of the one was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.


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 The wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, joining to the wing of the other cherub.


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 The wings of these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house.


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 Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty-five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.


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 He made chains in the oracle, and put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.


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 He set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.


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 Then he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and ten cubits in height.


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 Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass; and its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits encircled it.


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 Under it was the likeness of oxen which encircled it for ten cubits, encircling the sea. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it was cast.


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 It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south and three looking toward the east. The sea was set on them above, and all their back parts were inward.


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 It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It received and held three thousand baths.


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 He made also ten basins, and put five on the right hand and five on the left, to wash in them. Such things as related to the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.


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 He made the ten lampstands of gold according to the command concerning them; and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand and five on the left.


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 He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. He made one hundred basins of gold.


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 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with brass.


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 Huram made the pots, the shovels and the basins. So Huram made an end of doing the work that he did for king Solomon in God's house:


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 the two pillars, and the bowls, and the two capitals which were on the top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars,


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 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars.


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 Huram his father also made the pots, the shovels, the forks, and all its vessels for king Solomon for the house of Yahweh of bright brass.


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 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance; for the weight of the brass could not be estimated.


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 Solomon made all the vessels that were in God's house, the golden altar also, and the tables with the showbread on them;


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 and the lampstands with their lamps, to burn before the oracle according to the commandment, of pure gold;


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 and the snuffers, basins, spoons and fire pans, of pure gold. As for the entry of the house, the inner doors of it for the most holy place, and the doors of the main hall of the temple were of gold.


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 Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of Yahweh was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver and the gold, and all the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.


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 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers' households of the children of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.


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 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month.


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 and they brought up the ark, and the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; these the priests the Levites brought up.


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 King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled to him, were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.


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 The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.


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 For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles.


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 The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen outside. It is there to this day.


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 There was nothing in the ark except the two tables which Moses put in it at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt.


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 The priests came out of the holy place, (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, and didn't keep their divisions;


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 also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brothers, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred twenty priests sounding with trumpets).


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 The trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Yahweh; and they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Yahweh, saying, For He is good; for His loving kindness endures forever! Then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Yahweh,


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 so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of Yahweh filled God's house.


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 The king turned his face and blessed all the assembly of Israel; and all the assembly of Israel stood.


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 He said, Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel, Who spoke with His mouth to David my father and has with His hands fulfilled it saying,


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 Since the day that I brought forth My people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that My name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over My people Israel.


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 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there; and have chosen David to be over My people Israel.


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 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.


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 But Yahweh said to David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.


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 Nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your body, he shall build the house for My name.


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 Yahweh has performed His word that He spoke; for I have risen up in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.


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 Therein I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which He made with the children of Israel. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication 


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 He stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands


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 (for Solomon had made a bronze scaffold, five cubits long, five cubits broad and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and on it he stood, and kneeled down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven).


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 He said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like You, in heaven or on earth; You Who keep covenant and loving kindness with Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;


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 Who has kept with Your servant David my father that which You promised him: yes, You spoke with Your mouth, and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.


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 Now therefore, Yahweh the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You promised him saying, There shall not fail you a man in My sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.


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 Now therefore, Yahweh the God of Israel, let Your word be verified which You spoke to Your servant David.


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 But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain You; how much less this house which I have built!


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 Yet have respect for the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You;


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 that Your eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the place where you have said that You would put Your name; to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.


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 Listen to the petitions of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they shall pray toward this place. Yes, hear from Your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when You hear, forgive.


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 If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house;


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 then hear from heaven, and do, and judge your servants, bringing retribution to the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.


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 If Your people Israel be struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against You, and shall turn again and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication 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 to the land which You gave to them and to their fathers.


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 When the sky is 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 in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, when You teach 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 plague, blight or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;


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 whatever prayer and supplication be made by any man, or by all Your people Israel who shall know every man his own plague and his own sorrow of heart, and shall spread forth his hands toward this house;


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 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place and forgive, and render to each man according to all his ways, whose heart You know; (for You, even You only, know the hearts of the children of men;)


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 that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways, so long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.


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 Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, when he shall come from a far country for Your great name's sake and because of Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm; when they shall come and pray toward this house;


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 then hear from heaven, even from Your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to You for; that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as does Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.


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 If Your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way You shall send them, and 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 sins not) and You are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to a land far off or near;


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 yet if they shall repent themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, 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 to where they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers and to 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, even from Your dwelling place, their prayer and their petitions, and uphold their case and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.


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 Now, my God, let, I beg You, Your eyes be open, and let Your ears be attentive, to the prayer that is made in this place.


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 Now therefore arise, Yahweh God, into Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength: let Your priests, Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints rejoice in goodness.


