# verses

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And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.


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The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round in the back: and there were supports on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the supports.


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And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.


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And 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.


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For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.


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And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, an amount year by year.


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And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he placed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.


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And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem like stones, and cedars made he to be like the sycamore trees that are in the valley, for abundance.


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And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.


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And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out in this way.


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But king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites;


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Of the nations concerning which the LORD said to the children of Israel, You shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon stayed close to these women in his love for them.


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And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.


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For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD 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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And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not go fully after the LORD, as did David his father.


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Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.


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And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which 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 kept not that which the LORD commanded.


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Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, Seeing that 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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Nevertheless in your days I will not do it 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 will give one tribe to your son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.


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And the LORD stirred up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the royal family in Edom.


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For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the army was gone up to bury the slain, after he 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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And 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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And Hadad found great favor 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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And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.


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And 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? And he answered, Nothing: however let me go anyway.


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And God stirred up another adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:


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And he gathered men to him, and became captain over a band, when David slew those of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.


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And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.


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And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.


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And this was the reason that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the broken places of the city of David his father.


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And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the affairs of the house of Joseph.


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And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clothed himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:


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And he said to Jeroboam, Take ten pieces: for thus says the LORD, 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 the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.


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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, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:


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And to his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for myself to put my name there.


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And 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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And it shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with you, and build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.


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Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.


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And the rest of the deeds of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?


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And 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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And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)


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That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,


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Your father made our yoke hard to bear: now therefore make the hard service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve you.


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And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do you advise that I may answer this people?


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And they spoke to him, saying, 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 for ever.


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But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:


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And he said to them, What counsel do you give that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which your father did put upon us lighter?


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And the young men that were grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you speak to this people that spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter for us; thus shall you say to them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.


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And now whereas my father did burden you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father has 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 had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.


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And spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.


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Therefore the king did not listen to the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


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So when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O 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 tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made haste to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.


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And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come again, that they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.


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And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, which 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 remnant of the people, saying,


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Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your kindred the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They listened therefore to the word of the LORD, and turned to leave, according to the word of the LORD.


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Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from there, and built Penuel.


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If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.


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Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.


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And he made a house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.


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And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.


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So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast for the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.


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And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.


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And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus says the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon you shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon you, and men's bones shall be burnt upon you.


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And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD has spoken; Behold, the altar shall be torn, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.


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And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who had cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth to him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.


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The altar also was torn, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.


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And the king answered and said to the man of God, Plead now before the face of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God appealed to the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him again, and became as it was before.


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And 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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And the man of God said to the king, If you will give me half your house, I will not go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:


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For so was I instructed by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor go back by the same way that you came.


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Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken to the king, them they told also to their father.


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And their father said to them, What way did he go? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.


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And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said to him, Are you the man of God that came from Judah? And he said, I am.


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And 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 the LORD, You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor return to go by the way that you came.


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He said to him, I am a prophet also as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied to him.


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And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet that brought him back:


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And he cried out to the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus says the LORD, Seeing that you have disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you,


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But came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of which the LORD did say to you, Eat no bread, and drink no water; your carcass shall not come to the sepulcher of your fathers.


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And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the donkey, that is, for the prophet whom he had brought back.


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And when he was gone, a lion met him on the way, and slew him: and his carcass was dropped in the way, and the donkey stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcass.


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And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcass dropped in the way, and the lion standing by the carcass: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.


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And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient to the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke to him.


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And he went and found his carcass dropped in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the carcass: the lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the donkey.


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And the prophet took up the carcass of the man of God, and laid it upon the donkey, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.


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And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulcher in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:


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For the saying which he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.


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After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.


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And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from the face of the earth.


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And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray you, and disguise yourself, that you be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and go to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who told me that I should be king over this people.


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And take with you ten loaves, and cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him: he shall tell you what shall become of the child.


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And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set because of his age.


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And the LORD said to Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam comes to ask a thing of you for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shall you say to her: for it shall be, when she comes in, that she shall pretend herself to be another woman.


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And 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 yourself to be another? for I am sent to you with heavy tidings.


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Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Seeing that 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 to 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 have done evil more than all that were before you: for you have gone and made yourself other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have thrust me behind your back:


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Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam the lad that waters the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man takes away dung, till it be all gone.


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Him of Jeroboam that dies in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dies in the field shall the birds of the air eat: for the LORD has spoken it.


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And 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 the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.


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Moreover the LORD shall raise up for himself a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? he does it even now.


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For the LORD shall strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.


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And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.


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And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;


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And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.


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And the rest of the deeds 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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And the days which Jeroboam reigned were twenty two years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.


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And 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 the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.


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And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, more than all that their fathers had done.


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For they also built themselves high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.


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And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.


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And it came to pass 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 the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.


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And king Rehoboam made in their place brass shields, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house.


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And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his place.


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And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.


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Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:


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Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not 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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Now the rest of the deeds of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.


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And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his place.


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And forty one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.


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And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.


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And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.


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But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.


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And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which he had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.


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And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not permit any 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 the LORD, 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, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,


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There is an alliance between me and you, and between my father and your father: behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold; come and break your alliance with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.


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So Ben-hadad heard and consented to king Asa, and sent the captains of the armies which he had against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.


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And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.


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Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, with which Baasha had built; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.


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The rest of all the deeds of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.


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And 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.


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And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.


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And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.


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And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.


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And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he struck down all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:


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Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation with which he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not 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 began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty four years.


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And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.


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Seeing that 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 take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


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Him that dies of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dies of his in the fields shall the birds of the air eat.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.


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In the twenty sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.


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And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house 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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And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he killed all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that waters the wall, neither of his kinfolk, nor of his friends.


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Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,


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For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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In the twenty seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.


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And the people that were encamped heard it said, Zimri has conspired, and has also slain the king: therefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.


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And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,


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For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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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.


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But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.


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In the thirty first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.


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And he bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.


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For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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And in the thirty eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty two years.


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And it came to pass, 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 Eth-baal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.


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And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.


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In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.


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And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, As the LORD 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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Depart away from here, and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.


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And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.


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So he went and did according to the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.


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And 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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And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.


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Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman 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, the widow woman was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray you, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.


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And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray you, a morsel of bread in your hand.


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And she said, As the LORD your God lives, I do not have a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a jar: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.


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And Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it to me, and afterwards make for you and for your son.


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For thus says the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not be used up, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.


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And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.


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And the barrel of meal was not used up, neither did the jar of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Elijah.


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And it came to pass 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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And she said to Elijah, What have I to do with you, O you man of God? are you come to me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?


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And he said to her, Give me your son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he stayed, and laid him upon his own bed.


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And he cried out unto the Lord, and said, O LORD my God, have you also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?


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And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out unto the Lord, and said, O LORD my God, I pray you, let this child's soul come into him again.


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And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.


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And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother: and Elijah said, See, your son lives.


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And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.


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And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.


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For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifties in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)


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And Ahab said to Obadiah, Go into the land, to all springs of water, and to all brooks: perhaps we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, so that we do not lose all the beasts.


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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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And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Are you really my lord Elijah?


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And he said, What have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?


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As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, where my lord has not sent to seek you: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they had not found you.


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And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you where I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he shall slay me: but I your servant fear the LORD from my youth.


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


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And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.


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


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Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.


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And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long do you hesitate between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.


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Then said Elijah to the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.


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Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:


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And you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answers by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.


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And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.


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


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And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is on a chase, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping, and must be awaked.


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And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.


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And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.


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


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


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And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench around the altar, as large as would contain two measures of seed.


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And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.


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


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


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Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you are the LORD God, and that you have turned their heart back again.


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Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.


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And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.


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And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.


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So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he dropped down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,


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


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


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And it came to pass in the mean time, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.


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And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he tucked in his garments at the waist, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.


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


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


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And when he saw that, he arose, and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, 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 LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.


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


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And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid himself down again.


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And the angel of the LORD 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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And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.


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And he came there to a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?


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And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.


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And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:


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And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.


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And 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. And, behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?


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And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.


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


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


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And it shall come to pass, that him that escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.


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


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So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and threw his mantle upon him.


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


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And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the equipment of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.


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And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together: and there were thirty two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.


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


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And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaks Ben-hadad, saying, Although I have sent to you, saying, You shall deliver to me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children;


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Yet I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants; and it shall be, 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, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeks mischief: for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I did not 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 may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.


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And 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 that follow me.


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And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that puts on his armor boast himself as he that takes it off.


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And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.


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And, behold, there came a prophet to Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am the LORD.


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And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus says the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, You.


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Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said to him, Go, strengthen yourself, and 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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And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods are gods 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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And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their place:


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And number an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he heard and consented to their voice, and did so.


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


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And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of goats; but the Syrians filled the country.


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And there came a man of God, and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, Thus says the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.


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And they pitched one opposite the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.


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But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.


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And his servants said to him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray you, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: perhaps he will save your life.


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So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Your servant Ben-hadad says, I pray you, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.


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Now the men did diligently observe whether anything would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Your brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.


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


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And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor by the word of the LORD, Strike me, I pray you. And the man refused to strike him.


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Then said he to him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you are departed from me, a lion shall slay you. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.


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Then he found another man, and said, Strike me, I pray you. And the man struck him, so that in striking he wounded him.


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So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.


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And as the king passed by, he cried out 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, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall your life be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.


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


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And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.


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And he said to him, Thus says the LORD, Because you have let go out of your hand a man whom I appointed to complete destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.


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And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, close by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.


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And 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 the worth of it in money.


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And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it to me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.


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And Ahab came into his house gloomy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid himself down upon 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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And 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: and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard.


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And Jezebel his wife said to him, Do you 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 that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.


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


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


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And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth blasphemed God and the king. Then they took him away out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.


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And it came to pass, 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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And it came to pass, 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.


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Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to possess it.


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


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


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Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that waters the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,


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


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Him that dies of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dies in the field shall the birds of the air eat.


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


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


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And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.


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Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before me? because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.


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


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


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And he said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And 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 hold back? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.


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And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here any other prophet of the LORD, that we might inquire of him?


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


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


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And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron: and he said, Thus says the LORD, With these shall you push back the Syrians, until you have consumed them.


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And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.


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And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth: let your word, I pray you, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.


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So he came to the king. And the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we hold back? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.


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And the king said to him, How many times shall I order you that you tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?


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And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.


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


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


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And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.


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And the LORD said to him, How? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, You shall persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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But the king of Syria commanded his thirty two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.


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And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.


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And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.


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And a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and take me out of the army; for I am wounded.


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


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And there went a proclamation throughout the army about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.


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


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Now the rest of the deeds of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not 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. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.


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And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burned incense yet in the high places.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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


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Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?


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Now therefore thus says the LORD, You shall not come down from that bed on which you are gone up, but shall surely die. And Elijah departed.


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And they said to him, There came a man up to meet us, and said to us, Go, turn back to the king that sent you, and say to him, Thus says the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that you send to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore you shall not come down from that bed on which you are gone up, but shall surely die.


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And they answered him, He was a hairy man, and clothed with a waistband of leather around his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.


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Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him, You man of God, the king has said, Come down.


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And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume you and your fifty men. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty men.


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Again also he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he answered and said to him, O man of God, thus has the king said, Come down quickly.


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And Elijah answered and said to them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume you and your fifty men. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty men.


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And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him, O man of God, I pray you, let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight.


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Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in your sight.


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


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And he said to him, Thus says the LORD, Seeing that you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore you shall not come down off of that bed on which you are gone up, but shall surely die.


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


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Now the rest of the deeds of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.


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And Elijah said to Elisha, Remain here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said to him, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.


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And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from being your teacher today? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold your peace.


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And Elijah said to him, Elisha, remain here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho.


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And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said to him, Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from being your teacher today? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold your peace.


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And Elijah said to him, Remain, I pray you, here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan. And he said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And they two went on.


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And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by the Jordan.


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And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it around itself, and struck the waters, and they were divided this way and that way, so that they two went over on dry ground.


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


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And he said, You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.


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And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and it came between them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.


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


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He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan;


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And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had struck the waters, they parted this way and that way: and Elisha went over.


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And when the sons of the prophets which were watching at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.


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And they said to him, Behold now, there be with your servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray you, and seek your master: lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up, and left him on some mountain, or in some valley. And he said, You shall not send.


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And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.


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And when they came again to him, (for he stayed at Jericho,) he said to them, Did I not say to you, Do not go?


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And the men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, I pray you, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees: but the water is bad, and the ground barren.


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


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And he went up from there to Bethel: and as he was going up on the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, you bald head; go up, you bald head.


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And he turned back, and looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tore forty two children of them.


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


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


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Nevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin; he departed not from them.


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And Mesha king of Moab was an owner of sheep, and rendered to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and a hundred thousand rams, with the wool.


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


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So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they curved around on a seven days' journey: and there was no water for the army, and for the cattle that followed them.


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


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


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


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And Elisha said to the king of Israel, What have I to do with you? go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother. And the king of Israel said to him, Nay: for the LORD has called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.


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


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But now bring me a minstrel to play music. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.


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For thus says the LORD, You shall not see wind, neither shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that you may drink, both you, and your cattle, and your beasts.


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


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


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


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And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood at the border.


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And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:


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And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have struck down one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.


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And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward striking down the Moabites, even in their country.


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And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land every man dropped his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof; however the stone slingers went around it, and struck it.


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And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even to the king of Edom: but they could not.


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Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.


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Now there cried out a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor has come to take to himself my two sons to be slaves.


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And Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? tell me, what do you have in the house? And she said, Your handmaid has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil.


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Then he said, Go outside away from here and borrow vessels from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.


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And when you have come in, you shall shut the door upon you and upon your sons, and shall pour out into all those vessels, and you shall set aside that which is full.


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So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.


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And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said to her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stopped.


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Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and you and your children live off the rest.


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And it happened one day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a godly woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread.


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And she said to her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passes by us continually.


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Let us make a little chamber, I pray you, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there.


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


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And he said to him, Say now to her, Behold, you have taken care of us with all this thoughtfulness; what is to be done for you? would you like to be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the army? And she answered, I dwell among my own people.


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


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And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, you shall embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid.


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


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And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.


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And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.


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And she called to her husband, and said, Send me, I pray you, one of the young men, and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.


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


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Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; do not slow your riding for me, unless I tell you.


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So she went and came to the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:


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Run now, I pray you, to meet her, and say to her, Is it well with you? is it well with your husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.


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And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is troubled within her: and the LORD has hid it from me, and has not told me.


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Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go your way: if you meet any man, do not greet him; and if any greets you, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.


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


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And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Therefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child has not awakened.


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And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child became warm.


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Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.


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And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she had come in to him, he said, Take up your son.


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Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.


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


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And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they did not know what they were.


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So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O you man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.


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But he said, Then bring meal. And he threw it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.


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


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And his servant said, What, should I set this before a hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus says the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave some of it.


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Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honored, because by him the LORD had given deliverance to Syria: he was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper.


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And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.


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And she said to her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would heal him of his leprosy.


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And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.


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


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And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have with it sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.


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And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he tore his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray you, be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth? for your servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.


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In this thing may the LORD pardon your servant, that when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this thing.


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


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So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?


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And he said, All is well. My master has sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray you, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.


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


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And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and put them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.


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But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, Where do you come from, Gehazi? And he said, Your servant went nowhere.


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And he said to him, Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?


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The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cling to you, and to your descendents for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.


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


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Let us go, we pray you, to the Jordan, and take from there every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go.


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But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried out, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.


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


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


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


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


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Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled over this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Will you not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?


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


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


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


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And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an army surrounded the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, Alas, my master! what shall we do?


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


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And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, Strike this people, I pray you, with blindness. And he struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.


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And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria.


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And it came to pass, when they had come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.


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


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


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


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And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria.


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And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a pint of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.


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


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And he said, If the LORD does not help you, what shall I help you with? out of the barn floor, or out of the winepress?


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


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So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said to her on the next day, Give your son, that we may eat him: and she has hid her son.


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And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth underneath upon his flesh.


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


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


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And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down to him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; should I really wait for the LORD any longer?


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Then Elisha said, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.


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


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And there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why are we sitting here until we die?


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If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we remain sitting here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us give ourselves up to the army of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.


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And they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians: and when they had come to the farthest part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.


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


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Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.


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And when these lepers came to the farthest part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried from there silver, and gold, and clothing, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried from there also, and went and hid it.


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Then they said one to another, We do not do well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we stay till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.


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So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.


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


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And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray you, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even like all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.


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They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the army of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.


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


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


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And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate: and the people trampled upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.


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And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:


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And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat thereof.


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


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


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


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And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray you, all the great things that Elisha has done.


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


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


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And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come here.


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


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


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


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


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And Hazael said, But what, is your servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD has shown me that you shall be king over Syria.


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So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What did Elisha say to you? And he answered, He told me that you should surely recover.


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And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his place.


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


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


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Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him always a light, and to his children.


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So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and struck the Edomites which surrounded him, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.


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Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah until this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.


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And the rest of the deeds of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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


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In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.


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Twenty two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.


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


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And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth-gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.


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


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And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said to him, Gird up your loins, and take this box of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead:


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And when you come to there, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and take him to an inner chamber;


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Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus says the LORD, I have anointed you king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and do not delay.


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And when he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to you, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which one of us? And he said, To you, O captain.


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


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


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For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that waters the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:


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


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And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the allotment of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.


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Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said to him, Is all well? why did this mad fellow come to you? And he said to them, You know the man, and his communication.


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And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spoke he to me, saying, Thus says the LORD, I have anointed you king over Israel.


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Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.


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So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had guarded Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.


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But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your will, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.


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So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.


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


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So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What have you to do with peace? follow behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he is not coming back.


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Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What have you to do with peace? follow behind me.


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And the watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and is not coming back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.


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And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and met him in the allotment of Naboth the Jezreelite.


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And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?


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


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Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take him up, and leave him in the allotment of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how, when I and you rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;


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Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, says the LORD; and I will repay you in this portion of land, says the LORD. Now therefore take and leave him in the portion of ground, according to the word of the LORD.


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But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Strike him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.


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


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And when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and adorned her head, and looked out from a window.


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And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.


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And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trod her under foot.


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And when he had come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, now take care of this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.


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


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Therefore they came back, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the allotment of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:


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And the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the allotment of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.


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And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab's children, saying,


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Now as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor;


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Find even the best and fittest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.


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


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And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are your servants, and will do all that you shall tell us; we will not make any king: do that which is good in your eyes.


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Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If you be mine, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.


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


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


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And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, You be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?


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Know now that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah.


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So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinfolk, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.


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Jehu met with some of the family of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are you? And they answered, We are of the family of Ahaziah; and we are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen.


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And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, even forty two men; neither left he any of them.


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And when he was departed from there, he came upon Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he greeted him, and said to him, Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me your hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.


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And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spoke to Elijah.


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


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Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to make to Baal; whoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.


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


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And he said to him that was over the wardrobe room, Bring forth garments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth garments.


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And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said to the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.


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And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu sent eighty men outside, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him.


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And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they struck them down with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains carried them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.


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And they broke down the image of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a sewage house to this day.


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However from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.


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And the LORD said to Jehu, Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.


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But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.


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In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael struck them in all the territory of Israel;


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From the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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


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And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family.


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But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, from Athaliah in the bedchamber, so that he was not slain.


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And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king's son.


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And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;


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And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall you keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken into.


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And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD around the king.


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And you shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that comes within the temple, let him be slain: and you be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.


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And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with those who should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.


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And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD.


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And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.


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And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the book of the law; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.


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


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And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried out, Treason, Treason.


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But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, Put her forth outside the temple: and him that follows her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.


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


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And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD'S people; between the king also and the people.


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And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars and his images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.


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


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


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In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.


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And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.


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


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And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that is included in the numbering, the money that every man is valued at, and all the money that comes into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,


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Let the priests take it to themselves, every man from his acquaintances: and let them repair the broken places of the house, wherever any broken place shall be found.


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But it was so, that in the twenty third year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the broken places of the house.


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Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said to them, Why do you not repair the broken places of the house? now therefore receive no more money from your acquaintances, but deliver it for the broken places of the house.


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And the priests consented to receive no more money from the people, neither to repair the broken places of the house.


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But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.


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And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD.


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And they gave the money, being counted, into the hands of those who did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they gave it out to the carpenters and builders, that worked on the house of the LORD,


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And to masons, and cutters of stone, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the broken places of the house of the LORD, and for all that was given out for the house to repair it.


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However there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, from the money that was brought into the house of the LORD:


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Moreover they did not keep accounts with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.


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


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And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.


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And the rest of the deeds of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goes down to Silla.


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


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


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


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


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And Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD, and the LORD heard and answered him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.


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(And the LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforehand.


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Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)


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Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his place.


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


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And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.


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And the rest of the deeds of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.


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Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness of which he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.


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And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.


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And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek, till you have consumed them.


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And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, Strike upon the ground. And he struck three times, and stopped.


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And the man of God was angry with him, and said, You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria till you had consumed it: whereas now you shall strike Syria but three times.


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And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.


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And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they saw a band of men; and they threw the man into the sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.


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And the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.


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And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.


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In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.


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


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


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However the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.


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And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.


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But the children of the murderers he did not slay: according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.


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He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel until this day.


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


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And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son as wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.


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You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up: glory in this, and stay at home: for why should you meddle to your hurt, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?


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But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.


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


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


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Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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


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


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And the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.


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


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


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


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


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He restored the territory of Israel from the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher.


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For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.


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


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Now the rest of the deeds of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his place.


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


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


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And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;


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Except that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.


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


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And the rest of the deeds of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his place.


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In the thirty eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.


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


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And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his place.


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And the rest of the deeds of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


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This was the word of the LORD which he spoke to Jehu, saying, Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.


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Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.


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


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And the rest of the deeds of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


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Then Menahem struck Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the territory thereof from Tirzah: because they did not open to him, therefore he struck it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.


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


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


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


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


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And the rest of the deeds of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?


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


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


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


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And the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


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


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


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


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And the rest of the deeds of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.


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


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


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And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.


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However the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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


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And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am your servant and your son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.


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


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And the king of Assyria heard and consented to him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and took the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.


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And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.


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And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it for king Ahaz’ coming from Damascus.


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And when the king had come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.


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


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


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


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And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver off of them; and took down the sea off of the brass oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.


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


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Now the rest of the deeds of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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


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


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And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.


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Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.


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And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.


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Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.


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


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For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,


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And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.


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And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built themselves high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.


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And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD took away before them; and did wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:


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Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.


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


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And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had instructed them, that they should not do like them.


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


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


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Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.


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Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they established.


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And the LORD rejected all the people of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until he had cast them out of his sight.


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


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For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them;


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Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel taken away out of their own land to Assyria until this day.


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And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.


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And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.


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Therefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which you have removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he has sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.


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Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Bring to there one of the priests whom you brought from there; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.


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Then one of the priests whom they had taken away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.


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However every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they dwelt.


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


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And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adram-melech and Anam-melech, the gods of Sepharvaim.


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


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They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they took away from there.


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To this day they do according to the former manners: they do not fear the LORD, neither do they according to their statutes, or according to their ordinances, or according to the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;


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With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and instructed them, saying, You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:


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


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And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do for evermore; and you shall not fear other gods.


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So these nations feared the LORD, and served their sculptured images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they until this day.


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Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.


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Twenty five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.


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And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.


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He removed the high places, and broke the images, and cut down the groves, and broke in pieces the brass serpent that Moses had made: for until those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.


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He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.


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For he clung to the LORD, and did not depart from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.


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And the LORD was with him; and he prospered wherever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and did not serve him.


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He struck the Philistines, even to Gaza, and the territory thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.


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And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.


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And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.


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


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Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all the things that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.


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


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


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


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


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And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they had come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the field of laundry.


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And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.


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And Rab-shakeh said to them, Speak now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this in which you trust?


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You say, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?


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Now, behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.


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


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Now therefore, I pray you, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver you two thousand horses, if you be able on your part to set riders upon them.


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


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


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Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, to Rab-shakeh, Speak, I pray you, to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and do not talk with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.


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But Rab-shakeh said to them, Has my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words? has he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own urine with you?


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Then Rab-shakeh stood and cried out with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spoke, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:


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Thus says the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:


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Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.


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Do not listen to Hezekiah: for thus says the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then you may eat every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink every one the waters of his cistern:


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Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive oil and of honey, that you may live, and not die: and do not listen to Hezekiah, when he appeals to you, saying, The LORD will deliver us.


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


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Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?


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Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?


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But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.


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Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rab-shakeh.


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And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.


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


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And they said to him, Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.


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It may be the LORD your God will hear all the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD your God has heard: therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that are left.


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And Isaiah said to them, Thus shall you say to your master, Thus says the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.


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


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So Rab-shakeh went back, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.


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


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


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


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Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar?


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Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?


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


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And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, who dwell between the cherubims, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.


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LORD, bow down your ear, and hear: open, LORD, your eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, who has sent him to reproach the living God.


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


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Now therefore, O LORD our God, I plead with you, save us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are the LORD God, even you only.


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Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, That which you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.


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


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Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? and against whom have you exalted your voice, and lifted up your eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.


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By your messengers you have reproached the Lord, and have said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings within his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.


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I have dug and drunk waters from afar, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.


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Have you not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that you should be the one to lay waste fortified cities into heaps of ruins.


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Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and put to shame; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as grain blasted before it be grown up.


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Because your rage against me and your tumult has come up into my ears, therefore I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came.


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


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


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For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and those who escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.


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Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor throw up a siege mound against it.


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


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And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and struck down in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred eighty five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.


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And it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adram-melech and Sharezer his sons struck him down with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his place.


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


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I plead with you, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.


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And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,


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Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will heal you: on the third day you shall go up unto the house of the LORD.


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


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


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And Isaiah said, This sign shall you have from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?


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And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.


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And Isaiah the prophet cried out unto the Lord: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the sundial of Ahaz.


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


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And Hezekiah heard and answered them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah did not show them.


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


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And he said, What have they seen in your house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.


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Behold, the days are coming, that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, says the LORD.


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


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


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And the rest of the deeds of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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


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And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.


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


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


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And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he worked much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.


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And he set a sculptured image from the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:


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Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.


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But they did not listen: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.


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


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Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle.


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And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.


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


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Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even until this day.


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Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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


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


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


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And the people of the land slew all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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


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And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.


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


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Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered from the people:


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And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the broken places of the house,


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However there was no accounting made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.


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


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And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought back word to the king, and said, Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD.


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


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And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he tore his clothes.


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


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


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So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the school of instruction;) and they spoke with her.


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Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read:


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Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my anger shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.


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But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Concerning the words which you have heard;


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Because your heart was tender, and you have humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says the LORD.


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Behold therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered into your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought back word to the king.


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


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And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.


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


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And he put away the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.


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And he brought out the idol of the grove from the house of the LORD, outside Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it down to powder, and threw the powder of it upon the graves of the children of the people.


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And he broke down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.


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


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Nevertheless the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate of the unleavened bread among their people.


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


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And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the officer, which was located on the outside, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.


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And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and broke them down from there, and threw the dust of them into the brook Kidron.


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And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.


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


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Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he broke down, and burned the high place, and stamped it down to powder, and burned the grove.


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And as Josiah turned around, he saw the sepulchers that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchers, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.


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


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


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


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


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And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.


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


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Except in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, in which this passover was held to the LORD in Jerusalem.


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Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.


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And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.


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Nevertheless the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him with.


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


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Now the rest of the deeds of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.


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


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


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And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.


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


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


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And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold from the people of the land, from every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh Necho.


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


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


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And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servants the prophets.


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Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;


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And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?


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And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates all that belonged to the king of Egypt.


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


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


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


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


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And he took away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, except the poorest sort of the people of the land.


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


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


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


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


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For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.


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And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about.


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And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.


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And the city was broken into, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were next to the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.


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


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So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.


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And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and took him to Babylon.


text:
And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, to Jerusalem:


text:
And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.


text:
And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls of Jerusalem round about.


text:
Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that deserted to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard take away.


text:
And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brass sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.


text:
And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered, they took away.


text:
And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.


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


text:
The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the capital upon it was brass: and the height of the capital three cubits; and the twisted work, and pomegranates upon the capital round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with twisted work.


text:
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:


text:
And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of those who were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the army, which mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land that were found in the city:


text:
And the king of Babylon struck them down, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken away out of their land.


text:
And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.


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


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


text:
But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, came, and ten men with him, and struck down Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.


text:
And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.


text:
And it came to pass in the thirty seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty seventh day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;


text:
And he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;


text:
And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.


text:
And his allowance was a continual allowance given him by the king, a daily amount for every day, all the days of his life.


text:
And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.


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


text:
And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother's name was Joktan.


text:
These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,


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


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


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


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


text:
And when Husham was dead, 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.


text:
And when Baal-hanan was dead, 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.


text:
The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born to him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.


text:
Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.


text:
And Caleb the son of Hezron begot children by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.


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


text:
And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even sixty cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.


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


text:
And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah.


text:
And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether died without children.


text:
Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.


text:
Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.


text:
She bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.


text:
These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim,


text:
And the families of Kirjath-jearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.


text:
The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites.


text:
And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came from Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.


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


text:
The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:


text:
These six were born to him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty three years.


text:
And these were born to him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel:


text:
And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.


text:
And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:


text:
And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.


text:
And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.


text:
And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.


text:
And Reaiah the son of Shobal begot Jahath; and Jahath begot Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.


text:
And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:


text:
And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.


text:
And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bore him with sorrow.


text:
And 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 may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.


text:
And Eshton begot Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Rechah.


text:
And Meonothai begot Ophrah: and Seraiah begot Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.


text:
And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bore Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.


text:
And his wife Jehudijah bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.


text:
And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.


text:
And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Ben-zoheth.


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


text:
And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And these are ancient things.


text:
These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.


text:
And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his kindred had not many children, neither did all their family multiply like the children of Judah.


text:
And at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-birei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.


text:
And all their villages that were round about the same cities, as far as Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.


text:
And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;


text:
These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.


text:
And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.


text:
And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.


text:
And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and attacked their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them completely until this day, and dwelt in their land: because there was pasture there for their flocks.


text:
And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.


text:
Now 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 according to the birthright.


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


text:
Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria took away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.


text:
And his kindred by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,


text:
And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even as far as Nebo and Baal-meon:


text:
And eastward he inhabited as far as the beginning of the wilderness extending from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.


text:
And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.


text:
And their kindred of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.


text:
These are the children 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;


text:
And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the open country of Sharon, upon their borders.


text:
All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.


text:
The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear shield and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were forty four thousand seven hundred and sixty, that went out to the war.


text:
And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried out to God in the battle, and he answered them; because they put their trust in him.


text:
And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of donkeys two thousand, and of men a hundred thousand.


text:
For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their places until the captivity.


text:
And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan as far as Baal-hermon and Senir, and as far as mount Hermon.


text:
And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.


text:
And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.


text:
And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, until this day.


text:
And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.


text:
And Johanan begot Azariah, (he it is that ministered in the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)


text:
And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD took away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.


text:
The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.


text:
And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark had rest.


text:
And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they served in their office according to their order.


text:
And these are those who served with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,


text:
And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,


text:
And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,


text:
Their brethren also the Levites were appointed to all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.


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


text:
Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their territory, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.


text:
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her open country, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their open country,


text:
And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her open country, and Alemeth with her open country, and Anathoth with her open country. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.


text:
And to the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.


text:
And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.


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


text:
And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.


text:
And the remainder of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their territory out of the tribe of Ephraim.


text:
And they gave to them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her open country; they gave also Gezer with her open country,


text:
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her open country, and Bileam with her open country, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.


text:
To the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her open country, and Ashtaroth with her open country:


text:
And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her open country, and Hammon with her open country, and Kirjath-aim with her open country.


text:
To the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her open country, Tabor with her open country:


text:
And on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her open country, and Jahzah with her open country,


text:
And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her open country, and Mahanaim with her open country,


text:
And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, that is, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David twenty two thousand six hundred.


text:
And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.


text:
And with them, by their generations, according to the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, thirty six thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.


text:
And their kindred among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies eighty seven thousand.


text:
And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty two thousand and thirty four.


text:
And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.


text:
And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor, was twenty thousand two hundred.


text:
The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.


text:
All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valor, were seventeen thousand two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle.


text:
The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bore: (but his concubine the Aramitess bore Machir the father of Gilead:


text:
And Machir took as wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.


text:
And Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.


text:
And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,


text:
And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.


text:
And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bore a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.


text:
And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, as far as Gaza and the towns thereof:


text:
And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.


text:
All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of those who were ready for war and for battle was twenty six thousand men.


text:
And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:


text:
And Shaharaim begot children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.


text:
Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:


text:
And Ner begot Kish, and Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.


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


text:
And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.


text:
And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, a hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.


text:
So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were taken away to Babylon for their transgression.


text:
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.


text:
And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;


text:
Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.


text:
And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;


text:
And their kindred, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.


text:
And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;


text:
And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;


text:
And their kindred, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand seven hundred and sixty; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.


text:
And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;


text:
And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;


text:
And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.


text:
And the gatekeepers were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their kindred: Shallum was the chief;


text:
Who until this time waited in the king's gate eastward: they were gatekeepers in the companies of the children of Levi.


text:
And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his kindred, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.


text:
And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.


text:
All these which were chosen to be gatekeepers in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.


text:
So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by watches.


text:
And their kindred, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.


text:
For these Levites, the four chief gatekeepers, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.


text:
And they lodged round about the house of God, because the responsibility was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning belonged to them.


text:
And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by number.


text:
Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.


text:
And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.


text:
And other of their kindred, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every sabbath.


text:
And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were kept free: for they were employed in that work day and night.


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These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.


text:
And Mikloth begot Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their kinfolk at Jerusalem, over by their kindred.


text:
And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.


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


text:
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.


text:
And the Philistines followed close after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.


text:
And the battle went decidedly against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers.


text:
Then said Saul to his armor bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it; so that these uncircumcised do not come and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not; for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.


text:
And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.


text:
And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.


text:
And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.


text:
They arose, all the valiant men, 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.


text:
So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he did not keep, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;


text:
And did not inquire of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.


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


text:
And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, you were he that led out and brought in Israel: and the LORD your God said to you, You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over my people Israel.


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


text:
And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.


text:
And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, You shall not come here. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.


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


text:
And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.


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These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.


text:
And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.


text:
He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.


text:
And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.


text:
Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.


text:
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!


text:
And 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: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,


text:
And said, My God forbid it to me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.


text:
And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.


text:
Of the three, he was more honorable than the two; for he was their captain: however he did not attain to the first three.


text:
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many deeds; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.


text:
And he slew 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 slew him with his own spear.


text:
Behold, he was honorable among the thirty, but did not attain to the first three: and David set him over his guard.


text:
Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,


text:
Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that belonged to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,


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Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself hidden because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.


text:
They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's kindred of Benjamin.


text:
The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,


text:
And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,


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And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the stronghold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the deer upon the mountains;


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These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army: one of the least was over a hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.


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


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And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, If you be come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you: but if you be come to betray me to my enemies, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.


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Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Yours are we, 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.


text:
And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they did not help them: for the lords of the Philistines upon consultation sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.


text:
As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.


text:
And they helped David against the band of the raiders: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the host.


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For at that time day by day there came others to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.


text:
And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed for war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.


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The children of Judah that bore shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, ready armed for war.


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And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for until that time the greatest part of them had kept watch for the house of Saul.


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And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous throughout the house of their fathers.


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And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were mentioned by name, to come and make David king.


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And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their kindred were at their commandment.


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Of Zebulun, those who went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.


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And on the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, a hundred and twenty thousand.


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All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.


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And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.


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


text:
And David said to all the congregation of Israel, If it seems good to you, and that it is of the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our people everywhere, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and open country, that they may gather themselves unto us:


text:
And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.


text:
So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even to the entering of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim.


text:
And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, that dwells between the cherubims, whose name is spoken as dwelling on it.


text:
And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.


text:
And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.


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


text:
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he struck him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.


text:
And David was displeased, because the LORD had made Uzzah’s place empty: therefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.


text:
So David did not bring the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.


text:
And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.


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Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house.


text:
And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.


text:
Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,


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


text:
And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and will you deliver them into my hand? And the LORD said to him, Go up; for I will deliver them into your hand.


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So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David struck them down there. Then David said, God has broken in upon my enemies by my hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim.


text:
Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said to him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over by the mulberry trees.


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


text:
David therefore did as God commanded him: and they struck the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.


text:
And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.


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And David made himself houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.


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Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them has the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.


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And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto its place, which he had prepared for it.


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


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And said to them, You are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both you and your kindred, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.


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For because you did it not at the first, the LORD our God left an empty place among us, because we sought him not after the due order.


text:
And the children of the Levites carried the ark of God upon their shoulders with the poles on it, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.


text:
And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their kindred to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.


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


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And with them their kindred of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.


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And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;


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And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith excellently.


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


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And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.


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


text:
And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.


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And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that carried the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.


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Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.


text:
And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.


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So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.


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And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.


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And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.


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And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to call to remembrance, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:


text:
Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;


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


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Then on that day David first delivered this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.


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Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.


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Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigns.


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Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he comes to judge the earth.


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And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.


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Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.


text:
So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required:


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And Obed-edom with their kindred, sixty eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be gatekeepers:


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And Zadok the priest, and his kindred the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,


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To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;


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And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endures for ever;


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And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers.


text:
Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remains under curtains.


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For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel until this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.


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Wherever I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedars?


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Now therefore thus shall you say to my servant David, Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the sheepfold, even from following the sheep, that you should be ruler over my people Israel:


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And I have been with you wherever you have walked, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.


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Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,


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And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the LORD will build you a house.


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And it shall come to pass, when your days be expired and you must go to be with your fathers, that I will raise up your offspring after you, which 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: and I will not take my mercy 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 for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.


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And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?


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And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O God; for you have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.


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O LORD, for your servant's sake, and according to your own heart, have you done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.


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O LORD, 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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And what one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make you a name of greatness and awesomeness, by driving out nations from before your people, whom you have redeemed out of Egypt?


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Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as you have said.


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Let it even be established, that your name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David your servant be established before you.


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For you, O my God, have told your servant that you will build him a house: therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray before you.


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Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may be before you for ever: for you bless, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.


text:
Now after this it came to pass, that David struck the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.


text:
And David struck Hadarezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.


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And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left of them a hundred chariots.


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And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians twenty two thousand men.


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Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David wherever he went.


text:
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.


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Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, with which Solomon made the brass sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.


text:
He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and struck him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.


text:
Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.


text:
And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David wherever he went.


text:
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;


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


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Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.


text:
And David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David 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 honors your father, that he has sent comforters to you? are not his servants come to you in order to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?


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Therefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst close by their buttocks, and sent them away.


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Then there went certain ones, and told David how the men were treated. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Remain at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.


text:
And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah.


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So they hired thirty two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.


text:
And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that had come were by themselves in the field.


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


text:
And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.


text:
And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will help you.


text:
Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.


text:
So Joab and the people that were with him drew near before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.


text:
And 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.


text:
And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.


text:
And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon 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.


text:
But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.


text:
And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.


text:
And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah, and destroyed it.


text:
And David took the crown of their king off of his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceedingly much spoil out of the city.


text:
And he brought out the people that were in it, and made them cut with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.


text:
And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.


text:
And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.


text:
And yet again there was war at Gath, where 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 the son of the giant.


text:
These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.


text:
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.


text:
And Joab answered, The LORD make his people a hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then does my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?


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


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And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all they of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men that drew the sword: and Judah was four hundred seventy thousand men that drew the sword.


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And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I plead with you, take away the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.


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Go and tell David, saying, Thus says the LORD, I offer you three things: choose one of them, that I may do it to you.


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Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel. Now therefore consider what word I shall bring back to him that sent me.


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And David said to Gad, I am in a great difficulty: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.


text:
And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, hold back now your hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


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And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.


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And David said to God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let your hand, I pray you, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on your people, that they should be plagued.


text:
Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


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


text:
And 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.


text:
Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: you shall grant it to me for the full price: that the plague may be kept back from the people.


text:
And Ornan said to David, Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give you the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the food offering; I give it all.


text:
And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will certainly buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is yours for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.


text:
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.


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


text:
For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.


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But David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.


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


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And David commanded to gather together the foreigners that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to cut fashioned stones to build the house of God.


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


text:
And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house unto the name of the LORD my God:


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But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars: you shall not build a house unto my name, because you have shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.


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Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: 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, the LORD be with you; and make you to prosper, and build the house of the LORD your God, as he has said of you.


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Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you instruction concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.


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Then shall you prosper, if you are careful to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD instructed Moses concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; do not dread, nor be dismayed.


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Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and you may add to it.


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Moreover there are workmen with you in abundance, cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of skilled men for every manner of work.


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Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with you.


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Is not the LORD your God with you? and has he not given you rest on every side? for he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.


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


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Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their listings, man by man, was thirty eight thousand.


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Of which, twenty four thousand were to carry forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:


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Moreover four thousand were gatekeepers; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise with.


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The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.


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And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.


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And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.


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The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.


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And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.


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Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.


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These were the sons of Levi by the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their listings, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.


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For David said, The LORD God of Israel has given rest to his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:


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And also to the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.


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Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;


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Both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for food offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;


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And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded to them, continually before the LORD:


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And that they should have the oversight of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the oversight of the holy place, and the oversight of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.


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Now these are 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 ministered in the priest's office.


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And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.


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And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.


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Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.


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And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, recorded them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.


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These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.


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And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.


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And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.


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The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.


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These likewise cast lots along with their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers along with their younger brethren.


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Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service those of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the men who served according to their service was:


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Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.


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Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.


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


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All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.


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All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.


text:
So the number of them, with their kindred that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were skilful, was two hundred eighty eight.


text:
And they cast lots among the companies, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the scholar.


text:
Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his kindred and sons were twelve:


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Concerning the divisions of the gatekeepers: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.


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And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,


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Moreover the sons of Obed-edom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,


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Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valor.


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The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose kindred were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.


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All these of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their kindred, able men for strength for the service, were sixty two of Obed-edom.


text:
Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)


text:
Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and kindred of Hosah were thirteen.


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Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers, even among the chief men, having companies one beside another, to minister in the house of the LORD.


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And they cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.


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


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To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the raised way of the going up, company beside company.


text:
Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.


text:
And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.


text:
As for the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.


text:
The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.


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And his kindred by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.


text:
Which Shelomith and his kindred were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.


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And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his kindred.


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Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the external affairs over Israel, for officers and judges.


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And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his kindred, men of valor, a thousand seven hundred, were officers among those of Israel on this side of the Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.


text:
Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.


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And his kindred, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.


text:
Now the number of the children of Israel, that is, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that 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, was twenty four thousand of every division.


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


text:
And over the division of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his division was Mikloth also the commander: in his division likewise were twenty four thousand.


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


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This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his division was Ammizabad his son.


text:
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.


text:
The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his division were twenty four thousand.


text:
The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his division were twenty four thousand.


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


text:
The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his division were twenty four thousand.


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


text:
The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his division were twenty four thousand.


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


text:
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: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:


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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 did not take the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the heavens.


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Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he did not finish, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.


text:
And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:


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And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:


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And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the low plains was Baal-hanan 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 flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the possessions which were king David's.


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


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


text:
And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by division, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the property and possessions of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.


text:
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:


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But God said to me, You shall not build a house for my name, because you have been a man of war, and have shed blood.


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However the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he has chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel:


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And of all my sons, (for the LORD has given me many sons,) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.


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And he said to me, Solomon your son, he 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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Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be faithful to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.


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Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and inquire after all the commandments of the LORD your God: that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.


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And you, Solomon my son, be sure you know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.


text:
Be careful now; for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.


text:
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner rooms thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,


text:
And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:


text:
Also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.


text:
He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:


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Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.


text:
And by weight he gave gold for the tables of showbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:


text:
Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin; and likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver:


text:
And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.


text:
All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.


text:
And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.


text:
And, behold, the divisions of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with you for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with you for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at your command.


text:
Furthermore David the king said to all the congregation, 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 the LORD God.


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


text:
Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have possessions of my own, of gold and silver, which I have given 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, to overlay the walls of the houses with:


text:
The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of craftsmen. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?


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


text:
And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.


text:
And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.


text:
Then the people rejoiced, for they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.


text:
Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.


text:
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.


text:
Both riches and honor come from you, and you reign over all; and in your hand is power and might; and in your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all.


text:
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly in this manner? for all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.


text:
For we are strangers before you, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.


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O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes of your hand, and is all your own.


text:
I know also, my God, that you examine the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto you.


text:
O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and direct their heart towards you:


text:
And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.


text:
And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshiped the LORD, and the king.


text:
And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:


text:
And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.


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


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


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


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


text:
And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor: and Solomon his son reigned in his place.


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Now the deeds of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,


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With all his reign and his might, and the events that happened to him, and to Israel, and to all the kingdoms of the countries.


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And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.


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Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.


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So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.


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But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-jearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.


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Moreover the brass altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put in front of the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought it out.


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And Solomon went up to there to the brass altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.


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And Solomon said unto God, You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me to reign in his place.


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Now, O LORD 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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Give me now 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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And God said to Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of your enemies, neither have you asked for long life; but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king:


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Wisdom and knowledge is granted to you; and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, neither shall any after you have the like.


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Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.


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And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.


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And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plentiful as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the valley for abundance.


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And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: and so they brought out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, in this way.


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And Solomon assigned seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand to cut stones in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them.


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And 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 to dwell therein, even so deal with me.


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Behold, I build a house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.


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But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, except only so that we may burn sacrifice before him?


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Send me now therefore a man skilful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that has skill to engrave with the talented men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.


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Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, 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 wonderfully great.


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And, behold, I will give to your servants, the hewers that 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 writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD has loved his people, he has made you king over them.


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Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, gifted with prudence and understanding, that might build a house for the LORD, and a house for his kingdom.


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The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to engrave any manner of engraving, and to figure out every project which shall be given to him, with your skilful men, and with the skilful 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: and we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa; and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem.


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And Solomon numbered all the foreigners that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father had numbered them; and there were found a hundred and fifty three thousand six hundred of them.


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And he set seventy thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and eighty thousand to be stonecutters in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set the people to work.


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Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


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Now these are the things in which Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits according to the first measure was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.


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And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was a hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.


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And the greater house he covered with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set on it palm trees and chains.


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He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and engraved cherubims on the walls.


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And he made the most holy house, the length of which was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.


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And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.


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And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.


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And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.


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The wings of these cherubims spread themselves out twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.


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And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and fashioned cherubims on it.


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Also he made in front of the house two pillars thirty five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.


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And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.


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And 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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Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.


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Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in shape, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits went around the outside of it.


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And under it was the likeness of oxen, which did surround it: ten in a cubit, surrounding the sea. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.


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And the thickness of it was a handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths of water.


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He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.


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And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.


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He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made a 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 the doors of them with brass.


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And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God;


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That is, the two pillars, and the bowls, and the capitals which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars;


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And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were upon the pillars.


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The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh hooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make for king Solomon for the house of the LORD of shining brass.


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In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.


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Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.


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And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables on which the showbread was set;


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Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn in the proper manner before the oracle, of pure gold;


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And the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.


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Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.


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Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.


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Therefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.


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And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.


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Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled to him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.


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And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:


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For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the poles thereof above.


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And they drew out the poles of the ark, so that the ends of the poles were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen outside. And there it is 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 the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.


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And it came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then serve by company:


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Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their kindred, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)


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It even came to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endures for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;


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So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.


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And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.


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And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has with his hands fulfilled that which he spoke with his mouth to my father David, saying,


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Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler 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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But the LORD said to David my father, Seeing that it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well in that it was in your heart:


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Nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son which shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for my name.


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The LORD therefore has performed his word that he has spoken: for I am risen up in the place of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.


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And in it have I put the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.


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And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:


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For Solomon had made a brass scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,


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And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heaven, nor in the earth; who keeps covenant, and shows mercy to your servants, that walk before you with all their hearts:


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You who have kept with your servant David my father that which you have promised him; and spoken with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day.


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Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; if only your children are careful of their way to walk in my law, as you have walked before me.


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Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let your word be fulfilled, which you have spoken to your servant David.


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But will God indeed really dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house which I have built!


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Have respect therefore to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hear and grant the cry and the prayer which your servant prays before you:


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That your eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place of which you have said that you would put your name there; to hear and grant the prayer which your servant prays toward this place.


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Hear and grant therefore the supplications of your servant, and of your people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.


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If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath comes before your altar in this house;


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Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge your servants, by repaying the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.


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And if your people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; and shall return and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house;


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Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which you gave to them and to their fathers.


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When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you; yet 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 thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you have taught them the good way, in which they should walk; and send rain upon your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.


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If there be famine in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blight, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatever sore or whatever sickness there be:


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Then whatever prayer or supplication shall be made by any man, or by all your people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:


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Then hear thou from heaven your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know; (for you only know the hearts of the 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 stranger, which is not of your people Israel, but is come from a far country for your great name's sake, and your mighty hand, and your stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;


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Then hear thou from the heavens, even from your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to you for; that all people of the earth may know your name, and fear you, as do your people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.


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If your people go out to war against their enemies by the way that you shall send them, and they pray unto you toward this city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name;


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If they sin against you, (for there is no man who does not sin,) and you be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they take them away captives to a land far off or near;


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Yet if they consider themselves in the land to which they are taken captive, and turn and pray unto you in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have dealt wickedly;


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If they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have taken them captives, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, and toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name:


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Then hear thou from the heavens, even from your dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people which have sinned against you.


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Now, my God, let, I plead with 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, O LORD God, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength: let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness.


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Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.


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And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.


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And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshiped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endures for ever.


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And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.


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And the priests served in their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endures for ever, when David praised by means of their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.


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Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brass altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the food offerings, and the fat.


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Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Hamath to the river of Egypt.


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And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they performed the dedication of the altar seven days, and kept the feast seven days.


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And on the twenty third day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shown to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.


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Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously accomplished.


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And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice.


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If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;


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If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.


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For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.


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And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and shall observe my statutes and my judgments;


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Then will I establish the throne of your kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel.


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But if you turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;


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Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a disgrace among all nations.


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And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passes by it; so that he shall say, Why has the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?


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And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore has he brought all this evil upon them.


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And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,


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That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.


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Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the lower, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars;


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And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.


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As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,


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But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel did not destroy, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.


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But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.


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And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bore rule over the people.


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And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David to the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, to which the ark of the LORD has come.


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Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built in front of the porch,


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Even according to a certain amount every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.


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And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their responsibilities, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the gatekeepers also by their divisions at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.


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And they did not depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.


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Now all the work of Solomon was prepared for the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.


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And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.


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And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that carried spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him of all that was in her heart.


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And Solomon answered all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he did not tell her.


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And the food of his table, and the seating of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.


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And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in my own land of your deeds, and of your wisdom:


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However I did not believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me: for you exceed the fame that I heard.


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Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, which stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom.


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Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you to set you on his throne, to be king for the LORD your God: because your God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore he made you king over them, to do judgment and justice.


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And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.


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And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.


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And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.


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And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides recompense for that which she had brought to the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.


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Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty six talents of gold;


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Besides that which traders and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.


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And king Solomon made two hundred shields of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one shield.


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And three hundred small shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one small shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.


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And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and supports on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the supports:


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And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.


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And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not anything accounted of in the days of Solomon.


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For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: once every three years came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.


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And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.


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And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, armor, and spices, horses, and mules, an amount year by year.


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And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.


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And he reigned over all the kings from the river even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.


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And the king made silver in Jerusalem like stones, and cedar trees made he like the sycamore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer who prophesied against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?


text:
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.


text:
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.


text:
Your father made our yoke hard to bear: now therefore ease somewhat the hard service of your father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve you.


text:
And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel do you give me to return an answer to this people?


text:
And they spoke to him, saying, If you are kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.


text:
But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.


text:
And he said to them, What advice do you give that we may return an answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that your father did put upon us?


text:
And the young men that were brought up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you answer the people that spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it somewhat lighter for us; thus shall you say to them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.


text:
For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will add more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.


text:
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king told them, saying, Come again to me on the third day.


text:
And answered them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.


text:
So the king did not listen to the people: for it was caused by God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


text:
And when all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to your own house. So all Israel went to their tents.


text:
Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made haste to get up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.


text:
And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered from the house of Judah and Benjamin a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam.


text:
Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,


text:
Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your people: return every man to his house: for this thing is done by me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.


text:
And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and supplies of food, and of oil and wine.


text:
And in each city he put shields and spears, and made them exceedingly strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.


text:
For the Levites left their lands and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had discharged them from performing the priest's service unto the LORD:


text:
And he ordained for himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.


text:
And after the Levites, out of all the tribes of Israel those who set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.


text:
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.


text:
And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;


text:
And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; who bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.


text:
And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines; and begot twenty eight sons, and sixty daughters.)


text:
And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his people: for he thought to make him king.


text:
And he dealt wisely, and dispersed all his children throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them supplies of food in abundance. And he desired many wives.


text:
And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.


text:
And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,


text:
With twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.


text:
Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, Thus says the LORD, You have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.


text:
Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.


text:
And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.


text:
Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.


text:
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.


text:
Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.


text:
And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.


text:
And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.


text:
So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was forty one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.


text:
Now the deeds of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.


text:
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his place.


text:
He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.


text:
And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valor.


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And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, you Jeroboam, and all Israel;


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Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?


text:
Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, has risen up, and has rebelled against his lord.


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And there are gathered to him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.


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And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made for you for gods.


text:
Have you not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made for yourselves priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of those who are no gods.


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But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites perform their work:


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And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the showbread also they set in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we obey the instruction of the LORD our God; but you have forsaken him.


text:
And, behold, God himself is with us as our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper.


text:
But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come around behind them: so they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.


text:
And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried out unto the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.


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Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God struck down Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.


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And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.


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Thus the children of Israel were brought low at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.


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And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.


text:
Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.


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But Abijah became mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begot twenty two sons, and sixteen daughters.


text:
And the rest of the deeds of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the account of the prophet Iddo.


text:
So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.


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For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves:


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Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.


text:
And he built fortified cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.


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Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make around them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land still belongs to us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.


text:
And Asa had an army of men that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.


text:
And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Mareshah.


text:
Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.


text:
And Asa cried out unto the Lord his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we depend on you, and in your name we are going against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.


text:
And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.


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And they struck all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they plundered all the cities; for there was exceedingly much spoil in them.


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They struck also the tents of the cattle, and took away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.


text:
And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.


text:
Now for a long time Israel has been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.


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But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.


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And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great troubles were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.


text:
And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.


text:
And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they came to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.


text:
So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.


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And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.


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And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;


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That whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.


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And they swore unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.


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And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.


text:
And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and crushed it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.


text:
But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.


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And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.


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In the thirty sixth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, intending that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.


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Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,


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There is an alliance between me and you, as there was between my father and your father: behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your alliance with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.


text:
And Ben-hadad heard and consented to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the storehouse cities of Naphtali.


text:
Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, with which Baasha was building; and he built with these things Geba and Mizpah.


text:
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD your God, therefore is the army of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand.


text:
Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge army, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand.


text:
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly: therefore from this time on you shall have wars.


text:
Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.


text:
And, behold, the deeds of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.


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And Asa in the thirty ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceedingly great: yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.


text:
And they buried him in his own sepulchers, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.


text:
And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.


text:
And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and did not seek after Baalim;


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But sought the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.


text:
Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance.


text:
And his heart was uplifted in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.


text:
Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.


text:
And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.


text:
And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.


text:
And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.


text:
Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he goats.


text:
And Jehoshaphat became exceedingly great; and he built in Judah castles, and cities for storehouses.


text:
And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem.


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And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand.


text:
And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.


text:
And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.


text:
These served the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.


text:
And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.


text:
And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war.


text:
Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of the prophets four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I hold back? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.


text:
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides these, that we might inquire of him?


text:
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good to me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.


text:
And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.


text:
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat each of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.


text:
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made himself horns of iron, and said, Thus says the LORD, With these you shall push Syria until they are consumed.


text:
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.


text:
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one accord; let your word therefore, I pray you, be like one of theirs, and speak good things.


text:
And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I hold back? And he said, Go up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.


text:
And the king said to him, How many times shall I order you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?


text:
Then he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.


text:
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good to me, but evil?


text:
Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.


text:
And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke saying in this manner, and another saying in that manner.


text:
Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, How?


text:
And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, You shall entice him, and you shall also prevail: go out, and do even so.


text:
Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil against you.


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


text:
And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.


text:
Then the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and bring him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;


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And 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 return in peace.


text:
And Micaiah said, If you certainly return in peace, then the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Listen, all you people.


text:
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but you put on your robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.


text:
Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Do not fight with small or great, except only with the king of Israel.


text:
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they surrounded him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.


text:
For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.


text:
And a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn your hand, that you may carry me out of the army; for I am wounded.


text:
And the battle increased that day: however the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Syrians until the evening: and about the time of the sun going down he died.


text:
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the ungodly, and love those who hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon you from before the LORD.


text:
Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God.


text:
And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD God of their fathers.


text:
And said to the judges, Be careful what you do: for you judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.


text:
Therefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be careful and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.


text:
Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat appoint of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.


text:
And he instructed them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.


text:
And whatever cause shall come to you from your people that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them that they should not trespass against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your people: this do, and you shall not trespass.


text:
And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.


text:
It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them others besides the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.


text:
Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you from beyond the sea on this side of Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.


text:
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.


text:
And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.


text:
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,


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And said, O LORD God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in your hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand you?


text:
Are you not our God, who did drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and gave it to the descendents of Abraham your friend for ever?


text:
If, when evil comes upon us, such as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in your presence, (for your name is in this house,) and cry unto you in our affliction, then you will hear and help.


text:
And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and did not destroy them;


text:
Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.


text:
O our God, will you not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither do we know what to do: but our eyes are upon you.


text:
Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;


text:
And he said, Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, Thus says the LORD to you, Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.


text:
Tomorrow go down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and you shall find them at the end of the brook, over by the wilderness of Jeruel.


text:
You shall not need to fight in this battle: take your places, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.


text:
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.


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And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.


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And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.


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And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endures for ever.


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And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which had come against Judah; and they were struck down.


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For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, to completely slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.


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And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked towards the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.


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And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering the spoil, it was so much.


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And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, to this day.


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Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at the head of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.


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And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.


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And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.


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And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and did not depart from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.


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However the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts to seek the God of their fathers.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.


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And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:


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And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.


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Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has broken your works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.


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


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And he had brothers the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.


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And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.


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Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and killed all his brothers with the sword, and various also of the princes of Israel.


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And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife: and he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.


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However the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.


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Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites which surrounded him, and the captains of the chariots.


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So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.


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Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah to do it.


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And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,


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But have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also have slain your brothers of your father's house, which were better than yourself:


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Behold, with a great plague will the LORD strike your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your goods:


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And you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out because of the sickness day by day.


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Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:


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And they came up into Judah, and broke into it, and carried away all the goods that were found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was not a son left him, except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.


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And it came to pass, that in the course of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out because of his sickness: so he died of severe diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.


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Thirty two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. However they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchers of the kings.


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And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.


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Forty two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.


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Therefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counselors after the death of his father to his destruction.


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He walked also according to their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians struck Joram.


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And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.


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And the destruction of Ahaziah was from God by coming to Joram: for when he had come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.


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And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.


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And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep the kingdom any longer.


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But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah.


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But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not kill him.


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And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.


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And they went around in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.


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And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD has said of the sons of David.


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This is the thing that you shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be keepers of the doors;


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And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.


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But let none come into the house of the LORD, except the priests, and those of the Levites that minister; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.


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And the Levites shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever else comes into the house, he shall be put to death: but you be with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out.


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So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the divisions.


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Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.


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And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.


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Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the book of the law, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.


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Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:


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And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entrance, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and those who gave instruction in singing praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.


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Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said to them, Put her out of the temple grounds: and whoever follows her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Do not kill her in the house of the LORD.


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So they laid hands on her; and when she had come to the entrance of the horse gate by the king's house, they killed her there.


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And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.


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Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.


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Also Jehoiada restored the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.


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And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none who was unclean in any thing should enter in.


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And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.


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And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after they had slain Athaliah with the sword.


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Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.


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And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you hurry the matter. However the Levites did not hurry it.


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And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, Why have you not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?


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For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they use for Baalim.


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And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD.


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And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.


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And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and dropped it into the chest, until they had made an end.


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Now it came to pass, that whenever the chest was brought to the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.


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And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also those who worked with iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.


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So the workmen labored, and the work was finished by them, and they set the house of God in good condition, and strengthened it.


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And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, with which were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer with, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.


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But Jehoiada became old, and was full of days when he died; a hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.


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And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.


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Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and bowed down to show respect to the king. Then the king listened to them.


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And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.


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Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.


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And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God, Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.


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And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.


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Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it of you.


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And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the army of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them to the king of Damascus.


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For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.


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And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the sepulchers of the kings.


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And these are those who conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.


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Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the account of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.


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Amaziah was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.


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Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.


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But he did not kill their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.


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Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.


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But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with you; for the LORD is not with Israel, that is, with all the children of Ephraim.


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But if you will go with them, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make you fall before the enemy: for God has power to help, and to cast down.


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And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give you much more than this.


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Then Amaziah separated them, that is, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.


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And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and struck down of the children of Seir ten thousand.


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And ten thousand others left alive did the children of Judah take away captive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces.


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But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even to Beth-horon, and struck down three thousand of them, and took much spoil.


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Now it came to pass, after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.


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Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet, which said to him, Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of your hand?


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And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, Are you made one of the king's counselors? cease; why should you be struck? Then the prophet ceased, and said, I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel.


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Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.


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And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son as wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trampled down the thistle.


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You say, Lo, you have struck the Edomites; and your heart lifts you up to boast: remain now at home; why should you meddle to your hurt, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?


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But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.


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So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.


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And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.


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And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.


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


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Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?


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Now after the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.


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Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.


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Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.


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And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.


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And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.


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And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities throughout Ashdod, and among the Philistines.


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And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims.


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And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the border of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.


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Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.


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Also he built towers in the desert, and dug many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: farmers also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved farming.


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Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their record by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.


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The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand six hundred.


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And under their hand was an army, three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.


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And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the army shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and slings to throw stones.


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And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skilful men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones with. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.


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But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.


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And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:


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And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, It does not belong to you, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for you have trespassed; neither shall it be for your honor from the LORD God.


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Then Uzziah was angry, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.


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And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from there; yea, he himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had stricken him.


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And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.


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So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his place.


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Jotham was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.


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And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: however he did not enter into the temple of the LORD. And the people still acted corruptly.


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He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay to him, both the second year, and the third.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.


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And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.


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Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not do that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:


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Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.


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He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.


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Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they struck him, and took away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.


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For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.


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And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.


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And the children of Israel took away captive of their kindred two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.


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But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said to them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.


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And now you intend to keep control of the children of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?


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Now hear me therefore, and deliver back the captives, which you have taken captive of your people: for the fierce anger of the LORD is upon you.


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Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,


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And said to them, You shall not bring in the captives here: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, you intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce anger against Israel.


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And the men which were mentioned by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and dressed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their people: then they returned to Samaria.


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The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.


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For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed greatly against the LORD.


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For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria: but he did not help him.


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For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which struck him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.


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And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.


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And in each city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.


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Now the rest of his deeds and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.


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And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they did not bring him into the sepulchers of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.


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Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty five years old, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.


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And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.


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He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.


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And said to them, Hear me, you Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.


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For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs.


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Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.


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Therefore the anger of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as you see with your eyes.


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For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.


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Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us.


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My sons, do not now be negligent: for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that you should minister unto him, and burn incense.


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Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:


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And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:


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And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.


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And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out away into the brook Kidron.


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Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.


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Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the showbread table, with all the vessels thereof.


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Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.


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Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.


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And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.


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So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.


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And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands on them:


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And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.


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And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.


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And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.


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And all the congregation worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.


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And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshiped.


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Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.


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Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now you have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD; come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a generous heart brought burnt offerings.


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And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.


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But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings: therefore their kindred the Levites helped them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.


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And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.


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And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.


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And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.


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For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.


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For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.


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So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it for a long time in such a manner as it was written.


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So the messengers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, You children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.


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And be not like your fathers, and like your kindred, who trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as you see.


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Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his anger may turn away from you.


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For if you turn again to the LORD, your kindred and your children shall find compassion before those who lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return unto him.


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So the messengers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even to Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.


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Nevertheless some people of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.


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Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.


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And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.


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And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense they took away, and threw them into the brook Kidron.


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Then they killed the passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.


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And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites.


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For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites were in charge of the killing of the passover lambs for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.


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For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover lamb otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one


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That prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.


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And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.


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And Hezekiah spoke kindly to all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.


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And the whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days: and they kept another seven days with gladness.


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For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.


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And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.


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So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.


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Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.


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Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had completely destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.


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And Hezekiah assigned the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.


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He assigned also the king's portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings, that is, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.


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Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.


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And as soon as the commandment went out, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things they brought in abundantly.


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And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them in heaps.


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In the third month they began to lay the heaps on the ground, and finished them in the seventh month.


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And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.


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And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have plenty left: for the LORD has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great abundance.


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And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.


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And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.


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And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the offerings for the LORD, and the most holy things.


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And next to him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their kindred by divisions, to the great as well as to the small:


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Besides their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even to every one that enters into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their duties according to their divisions;


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Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their duties by their divisions;


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And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:


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Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the open country of their cities, in each city, the men that were recorded by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.


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And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and did that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.


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And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.


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After these things, and their establishment, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself.


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He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop up the waters of the springs which were outside the city: and they helped him.


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So there was gathered much people together, who stopped up all the springs, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?


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Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and built it up to the towers, and another wall outside, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.


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And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and encouraged them, saying,


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Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there are more with us than with him:


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With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people sustained themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.


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After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his forces with him,) to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,


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Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, What do you trust in, that you remain in the siege in Jerusalem?


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Does not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?


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Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?


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Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand?


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Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers completely destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?


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Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you in this manner, neither believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?


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He wrote also letters to reproach the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of my hand.


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Then they cried out with a loud voice in the Jews' speech to the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.


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And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.


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And for this reason Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven.


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And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he had come into the house of his god, those who came forth from his own body slew him there with the sword.


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Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.


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And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from that time on.


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In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spoke to him, and he gave him a sign.


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But Hezekiah did not repay according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.


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Nevertheless Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the anger of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.


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And Hezekiah had exceedingly much riches and honor: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;


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Storehouses also for the increase of grain, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and folds for flocks.


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Moreover he provided himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him possessions very much.


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This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.


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However in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to test him, that he might know all that was in his heart.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.


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And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchers of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.


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But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.


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For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he raised up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them.


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Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.


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And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.


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And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:


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Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.


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So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.


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Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh from among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and took him to Babylon.


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And when he was in affliction, he pleaded with the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,


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And prayed unto him: and he answered him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.


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Now after this he built a wall outside the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate, and around Ophel, and raised it up to a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fortified cities of Judah.


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And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.


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And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed on it peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.


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His prayer also, and how God answered him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up groves and sculptured images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.


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So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his place.


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But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;


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And did not humble himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.


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But the people of the land slew all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.


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And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and turned aside neither to the right hand, nor to the left.


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For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.


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And they broke down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he broke in pieces, and made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.


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And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali, with their tools round about.


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And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the sculptured images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.


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Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.


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And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.


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And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that worked in the house of the LORD, to repair and improve the house:


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Even to the craftsmen and builders they gave it, to buy cut stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.


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And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to carry it out; and other of the Levites, all that had skill for instruments of music.


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Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that did the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and gatekeepers.


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And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.


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And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.


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And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to your servants, they do it.


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And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.


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Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.


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And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying,


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Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the anger of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book.


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And Hilkiah, and those whom the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the place of instruction:) and they spoke to her to that effect.


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Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:


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Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my anger shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.


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And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, so shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which you have heard;


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Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbled yourself before me, and tore your clothes, and wept before me; I have even heard you also, says the LORD.


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Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.


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And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.


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And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.


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And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.


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And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the lands that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they did not depart from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.


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Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month.


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And he set the priests in their duties, and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD,


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And said to the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,


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And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, according to your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.


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And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your kindred the people, and according to the division of the families of the Levites.


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So kill the passover lamb, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your kindred, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.


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And Josiah gave to the people, from the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's possessions.


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And his princes gave willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the passover offerings two thousand six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.


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Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave to the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.


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So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their divisions, according to the king's commandment.


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And they killed the passover lamb, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites skinned them.


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And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.


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And they roasted the passover lamb with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings they boiled in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.


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And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.


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And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the gatekeepers waited at every gate; they could not depart from their service; for their kindred the Levites prepared for them.


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So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD, according to the commandment of king Josiah.


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And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.


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And there was no passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.


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But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I do not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: keep from meddling with God, who is with me, so that he does not destroy you.


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Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and did not listen to the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.


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And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Take me away; for I am severely wounded.


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His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchers of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.


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And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD,


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And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.


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Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem.


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Jehoahaz was twenty three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.


