# verses

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Then the Spirit of ADONAI came over him powerfully. He went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their good clothes, and gave them to the men who had 'solved' the riddle. He was boiling with rage, so he went straight up to his father's house,


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But after a while, during the wheat-harvest season, Shimshon went to see his wife. He brought a young goat for her and said to her father, 'I want to go to my wife in her room.' But he wouldn't let him.


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Her father said, 'I really thought you hated her altogether, so I gave her to your best man. But her younger sister - isn't she even prettier? Why not take her instead?'


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Shimshon said to them, 'This time I'm through with the P'lishtim! I'm going to do something terrible to them!'


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So Shimshon went and caught three hundred foxes. Then he took torches, tied pairs of foxes to each other by their tails, and put a torch in the knot of every pair of tails.


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Then he set the torches on fire and let the foxes loose in wheat fields of the P'lishtim. In this way he burned up the harvested wheat along with the grain waiting to be harvested, and the olive orchards as well.


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The P'lishtim asked, 'Who did this?' They answered, 'Shimshon the son-in-law of the man from Timnah, because he took Shimshon's wife and gave her to his best man.' Then the P'lishtim came up and burned both her and her father to death.


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Shimshon said to them, 'I will certainly have my revenge on you for doing such a thing; but after I do, I'll stop.'


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Infuriated, he began killing them right and left; it was a massacre. Then he went down and stayed in the cave at the 'Eitam Rock.


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The men of Y'hudah said, 'Why are you attacking us?' They replied, 'To arrest Shimshon, that's why - to treat him the way he treated us.'


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Then 3,000 men from Y'hudah went down to the cave at the Eitam Rock and said to Shimshon, 'Don't you know that the P'lishtim are our rulers? What are you doing to us?' He answered, 'I've only treated them the way they treated me.'


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They said to him, 'We've come down to arrest you and hand you over to the P'lishtim.' Shimshon replied, 'Swear to me that you won't fall on me yourselves.'


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They said to him, 'No, but we will tie you up and hand you over to them. However, we promise not to kill you.' So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.


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When he got to Lechi, the P'lishtim came running and shouting at him; and the Spirit of ADONAI came on him powerfully. The ropes on his arms became as weak as burnt flax and fell from his arms.


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Shimshon said, 'With the jawbone of a donkey I left heaps piled on heaps! With the jawbone of a donkey I killed a thousand men!'


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After he finished speaking he threw the jawbone away, and the place came to be called Ramat-Lechi [jawbone heights].


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Then he felt very thirsty, so he called on ADONAI, saying, 'You accomplished this great rescue through your servant. But am I now to die from thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?'


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Then God made a gash in the crater at Lechi, and water came out. When he had drunk, his spirit came back; and he revived. This is why the place was called 'Ein-HaKorei [the spring of him who called], and it is there in Lechi until now.


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The people in 'Azah were told that Shimshon had come, so they surrounded the place where he was and also set an ambush for him all night at the city gate. Their plan was to do nothing at night, but to wait until morning and then kill him.


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However, Shimshon stayed in bed until midnight; then he got up, took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two posts as well, pulled them up, bar and all, hoisted them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the hill overlooking Hevron.


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The chiefs of the P'lishtim went up to her and said, 'Coax him into telling you where his great strength comes from and how we can overcome him, so that we can tie him up and subdue him. If you do, each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.'


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D'lilah said to Shimshon, 'Please tell me what it is that makes you so strong, and how someone could tie you up and subdue you.'


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Shimshon replied, 'If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have never been dried, I will become as weak as any other man.'


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The chiefs of the P'lishtim brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried, and she tied him up with them.


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Now she had people lying in wait in the inside room. So she said to him, 'Shimshon! The P'lishtim have come for you!' But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of straw breaks when it touches fire, and the source of his strength remained unknown.


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D'lilah said to Shimshon, 'You're making fun of me, telling me lies. Now, come on, tell me what it takes to tie you up.'


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'All it takes,' he answered, 'is to tie me up with new ropes that haven't been used. Then I'll become weak and be like anyone else.'


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So D'lilah took new ropes, tied him up, and said to him, 'Shimshon! The P'lishtim have come for you!' (The people lying in wait were in the inside room.) But he broke the ropes from off his arms like a thread.


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D'lilah said to Shimshon, 'Till now you've been making fun of me and telling me lies. Tell me what it takes to tie you up.' He said, 'If you weave the seven locks of my hair across thread on a loom.'


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So she fastened her cloth work in the loom with a pin and wove his hair in, then said to him, 'Shimshon! The P'lishtim have come for you!' He awoke from his sleep and pulled away the loom pin and the interwoven cloth.


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She said to him, 'How can you say you love me when your heart isn't with me? Three times you've made fun of me, and you haven't told me the source of your great strength.'


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so that he finally told her everything. He said to her, 'No razor has ever touched my head, because I have been a nazir of God since I was born. If someone shaves me, then my strength will leave me; and I will be like any other man.'


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When D'lilah saw that he had really confided in her, she sent and summoned the chiefs of the P'lishtim with the message, 'Come up this one last time, because he has finally told me the truth.' The chiefs of the P'lishtim went up to her and brought the money with them.


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She had him go to sleep in her lap and called for a man to shave off his seven locks of hair. Then she began tormenting him, but his strength had gone away.


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She said, 'Shimshon! The P'lishtim have come for you!' He awoke from his sleep and said, 'I'll get out this time, just as I shook myself loose before.' But he didn't know that ADONAI had left him.


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So the P'lishtim seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to 'Azah. There they bound him with two bronze chains and put him to work grinding grain at the mill in the prison.


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The chiefs of the P'lishtim assembled to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. As they celebrated they sang, 'Our god has handed over to us our enemy Shimshon.'


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Upon seeing him, the people praised their god: 'Our god has handed over to us our enemy, who destroyed our land and killed so many of us.'


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When they were in high spirits they said, 'Summon Shimshon to amuse us.' So they called Shimshon out of the prison, and he amused them. When they put him between the columns,


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Shimshon said to the boy holding him by the hand, 'Let me feel the columns supporting the building, so that I can lean on them.'


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The building was full of men and women; and all the chiefs of the P'lishtim were there; in addition to them, there were about three thousand men and women on the roof, watching, as Shimshon performed.


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Shimshon called to ADONAI, 'Adonai ELOHIM, just this once, please, think of me, and please, give me strength, so that I can take revenge on the P'lishtim for at least one of my two eyes.'


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Shimshon got a good hold on the two middle columns supporting the building and leaned on them, on one with his right hand and on the other with his left.


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Then, crying, 'Let me die with the P'lishtim!' he pushed with all his might; and the building collapsed on the chiefs and on all the people inside. So he killed more at his death than he had killed during his life.


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His brothers and all his father's family came down, took him, brought him up and buried him between Tzor'ah and Eshta'ol, in the tomb of his father Manoach. He had judged Isra'el twenty years.


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He said to his mother, 'You know the 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you - you pronounced a curse about it, and you told me about it? Well, the money is with me. I took it.' His mother said, 'May ADONAI bless my son,'


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as he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. Then his mother said, 'I solemnly dedicate this money of mine to ADONAI, in order for my son to make a carved image overlaid with silver. So now I'm giving it back to you.'


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But he returned the money to his mother, and she took 200 pieces of silver and gave them to the metalworker, who made a carved image overlaid with silver which was put in Mikhay'hu's house.


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This man Mikhah owned a house of God; so he made a ritual vest and household gods and consecrated one of his sons, who became his cohen.


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There was a young man from Beit-Lechem in Y'hudah, from the family of Y'hudah, who was a Levi. He had been staying


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in Beit-Lechem, but he left there to find another place to live and came to the hills of Efrayim, where eventually he made his way to the house of Mikhah.


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Mikhah asked him, 'Where are you coming from?' He answered, 'I am a Levi from Beit-Lechem in Y'hudah, and I'm looking for a place to live.'


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Mikhah replied, 'Stay with me, and be a father and cohen for me; I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, in addition to your clothing and food.' So the Levi went in


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After Mikhah consecrated the Levi, the young man became his cohen and stayed there in Mikhah's house.


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At that time there was no king in Isra'el, and it was also at that time that the tribe of Dan was looking for a place to claim ownership of and settle in, since they had not yet been given any land of their own among the tribes of Isra'el.


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The people of Dan sent five leading men from Tzor'ah and Eshta'ol, representing their whole tribe, to spy out and explore the land. They instructed them, 'Go, and explore the land.' They came to the hills of Efrayim, to the house of Mikhah, and stayed there.


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While they were at Mikhah's house they recognized the accent of the young man, the Levi, so they approached him and said, 'Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is there for you here?'


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He answered, 'Here's the arrangement Mikhah has made with me: he pays me a wage, and I serve as his cohen.'


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The five men left, came to Layish and saw the people there living securely according to the customs of the Tzidonim, quietly and securely; since no one in the land was exercising authority that might shame them in any respect; moreover, they were far away from the Tzidonim and had no dealings with other peoples.


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When they returned to their kinsmen in Tzor'ah and Eshta'ol, they asked them what they had to report.


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They said, 'Let's go up and attack them. We've seen the land, and it's excellent. Don't delay; start moving! Go in, and take the land!


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When you go, you will come to a people who feel safe. There's plenty of land, the place lacks nothing, it has everything there is on earth, and God has given it to you.'


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They went up and camped at Kiryat-Ye'arim, in Y'hudah, which is why that place is called Machaneh-Dan [the camp of Dan] to this day (actually, it's behind Kiryat-Ye'arim).


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The men who had gone to spy out the land of Layish then said to their kinsmen, 'Are you aware that in these buildings there is a ritual vest, household gods and a carved image overlaid with silver? Decide what you ought to do.'


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They turned off the road and went to the house of the young Levi, that is, to Mikhah's house, and asked how he was doing.


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while the five who had spied out the land went in and took the idol overlaid with silver, the vest and the household gods. The cohen had stayed with the 600 soldiers by the gate.


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But when they went into Mikhah's house and took the silver-covered image, the vest and the household gods, the cohen asked them, 'What are you doing?'


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They replied, 'Be quiet, keep your mouth shut, and come with us. Be a father and a cohen for us. Which is better? To be a cohen in the house of one man or to be cohen to a whole tribe and family in Isra'el?'


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This made the cohen feel very good; so he took the ritual vest, the household gods and the image and went off with the people.


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When they were a good distance from Mikhah's house, the men who lived in the houses near his got together [with him], overtook the people from Dan


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and began shouting at them. The people from Dan turned and said to Mikhah, 'What's wrong with you, that you've gathered such a crowd?'


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He answered, 'You've taken away my god, which I made, and gone off with the cohen! What more have I got? How can you ask me, 'What's wrong with you?''


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The men from Dan replied, 'You had best say no more to us, because some of us might get angry and attack you. You could lose your life, and so might the others in your household.'


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Then the people from Dan went their way; and when Mikhah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.


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So they took what Mikhah had made and his cohen. They came to Layish, to a quiet and trusting people. They attacked, killed them and burned down the city.


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No one came to rescue them, because it was far from Tzidon, and they had no dealings with other peoples. This was in the valley near Beit-Rechov. Then the people of Dan rebuilt the city and settled there.


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They named the city Dan, after Dan their ancestor, who was born to Isra'el; although the city had previously been called Layish.


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The people of Dan set up the image for themselves. Y'honatan the son of Gershom, the son of M'nasheh, and his sons were cohanim for the tribe of the people of Dan until the day of the exile from the land.


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Thus they erected for themselves Mikhah's idol which he had made, and it remained there as long as the house of God was in Shiloh.


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In those days, when there was no king in Isra'el, there was a certain Levi living on the far side of the Efrayim hills who took a woman from Beit-Lechem in Y'hudah to be his concubine.


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But his concubine was unfaithful to him and left him to go to her father's house at Beit-Lechem in Y'hudah, where she stayed for some time, four months.


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Then her husband went after her to persuade her to return; he had his servant with him and a pair of donkeys. She brought him into her father's house; and when the girl's father saw him, he was glad to meet him.


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His father-in-law, the girl's father, kept him there; so he remained with him three days; they ate, drank and stayed there.


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On the fourth day they got up early in the morning, and he prepared to leave. But the girl's father said to his son-in-law, 'You'll feel better if you have a bite of food before you leave.'


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So the two of them sat down and ate and drank together. Then the girl's father said to the man, 'Please stay one more night, and have a good time.'


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The morning of the fifth day, he got up early to leave; but the girl's father said, 'Why don't you have something to eat, and leave this afternoon?' So the two men ate.


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When the man got up to leave with his concubine and servant, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, 'Look, it's almost evening. Please stay the night - you see that it's getting late. Stay on, enjoy yourself, and tomorrow get going early on your way home.'


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But the man wouldn't stay that night; so he got up and left with his concubine and his two saddled donkeys; and they arrived at Y'vus, also known as Yerushalayim.


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By the time they arrived at Y'vus it was nearly evening; and the servant said to his master, 'Why don't we go on into this city of the Y'vusi and stay there?'


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But his master said to him, 'We won't go into a city of foreigners which doesn't belong to the people of Isra'el. We'll go on across to Giv'ah.'


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He said to his servant, 'Let's go, and we'll get to one of those places; we'll stay in Giv'ah or Ramah.'


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So they went on and kept traveling, until the sun set on them near Giv'ah, which belongs to Binyamin.


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There they turned off the road to go and stay in Giv'ah. He went in and sat down in the city's open space, since no one had offered his home for them to spend the night.


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In time, at nightfall, an old man came from his work in the field. He was from the Efrayim hills and was staying in Giv'ah, although the residents were of Binyamin.


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The old man looked up, saw the traveler in the city's open space and said, 'Where are you going, and where are you coming from?'


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He replied, 'We're crossing from Beit-Lechem in Y'hudah to the far side of the Efrayim hills. That's where I'm from. I went to Beit-Lechem in Y'hudah, and now I'm going to the house of ADONAI; but there's no one here who will let me spend the night in his home.


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We have straw and food for our donkeys, also bread and wine for me, my concubine and the boy there with your servants; we don't need anything else.'


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The old man said, 'You're welcome to stay with me. I'll take care of anything you lack; just don't spend the night out in the open.'


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So he brought him home and gave food to the donkeys. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank.


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They were relaxing, when suddenly some men from the city, good-for-nothings, surrounded the house and began beating at the door. 'Send out the man who came home with you!' they demanded of the old man whose house it was. 'We want to have sex with him!'


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The man whose house it was went out and said to them, 'No, my brothers, please don't do anything as wrong as this. Look, he's just a guest in my house; don't do this degrading thing.


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Here's my daughter, who's a virgin, and his concubine. I'll bring them out. Mistreat them, do what you want to them, but don't do such a degrading thing to this man.'


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However, the men wouldn't listen to him; so the man took hold of his concubine and brought her out to them. They raped her and abused her all night long; only at dawn did they let her go.


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At daybreak the woman came and fell down at the door of the man's house where her husband was, and she was still there when it grew light.


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When her husband got up, opened the doors of the house, and went out to go on his way, he saw the woman lying there with her hands stretched out toward the door.


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He said to her, 'Get up! Let's go!' But there was no answer. So he loaded her body on the donkey and began his trip home.


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On arrival at his house, he got a knife, took hold of his concubine's body, cut her up into twelve pieces, and sent them to all the regions of Isra'el.


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Everyone who saw it said, 'From the day the people of Isra'el came up from Egypt until now, never has such a thing happened or been seen. What are we going to do about it? Talk it over and decide.'


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All the people of Isra'el came out, from Dan to Be'er-sheva, including Gil'ad; the community assembled with one accord before ADONAI at Mitzpah.


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The leaders of all the tribes of Isra'el presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 foot soldiers armed with swords.


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Now the people of Binyamin heard that the people of Isra'el had gone up to Mitzpah. The people of Isra'el said, 'Tell us, how was this crime committed?'


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The Levi, the husband of the murdered woman, answered, 'I came to Giv'ah, which belongs to Binyamin, I and my concubine, to stay the night;


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and the men in Giv'ah attacked me and surrounded the house I was staying in at night. They wanted to kill me, but instead they raped my concubine to death.


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I took my concubine's body, cut it into pieces and sent them throughout all the territories belonging to Isra'el; because they committed a shockingly obscene and degrading crime in Isra'el.


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we'll take ten men out of each hundred throughout all the tribes of Isra'el, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand to collect food for the others. When these come to Giv'ah in Binyamin, they will avenge the crime that was committed.'


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The tribes of Isra'el sent men throughout all the tribe of Binyamin with this message: 'What is this crime committed by some of your people?


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Turn over these good-for-nothings who are in Giv'ah at once, so that we can execute them and rid Isra'el of such evil.' But the people of Binyamin refused to obey the order of their kinsmen the people of Isra'el.


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Instead the people of Binyamin gathered themselves together from their cities and went to Giv'ah to fight the people of Isra'el.


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On that day there were 26,000 men from Binyamin armed with swords, besides the inhabitants of Giv'ah, who numbered 700 specially chosen men.


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All of these 700 specially picked men were left-handed, and every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.


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The army of Isra'el, apart from Binyamin, numbered 400,000 men with swords; they were all experienced soldiers.


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The army of Isra'el began by going up to Beit-El, where they asked God, 'Who should go up first to attack the army of Binyamin?' ADONAI said, 'Y'hudah first.'


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Then the army of Isra'el went out to attack Binyamin and set up their battle line in front of Giv'ah.


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,000 men fell. 22 The people, the men of Isra'el, restored their morale and again positioned themselves for battle where they had been the first day.


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Then the army of Isra'el went up and cried before ADONAI until evening. They asked ADONAI, 'Should we attack our kinsmen the people of Binyamin again? ADONAI answered, 'Attack them.'


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But Binyamin went out against them from Giv'ah the second day and slaughtered the army of Isra'el; 18,000 men armed with swords fell.


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Then the whole army of Isra'el, all the people, went up to Beit-El and cried and sat there in the presence of ADONAI. They fasted that day until evening, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to ADONAI,


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and Pinchas the son of El'azar, the son of Aharon, stood before it at that time. They asked, 'Should we still go out to battle again against our kinsmen the people of Binyamin, or should we stop?' ADONAI answered, 'Attack, because tomorrow I will hand them over to you.'


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and on the third day Isra'el attacked the army of Binyamin and took a position against Giv'ah as they had the other times.


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Again the army of Binyamin went out against the people. Lured away from the city, they began attacking and killing some of the people, as they had the other times - they killed about thirty men of Isra'el in the countryside and on the roads, one of which goes up to Beit-El and the other to Giv'ah.


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The army of Binyamin said, 'They're defeated, just as before.' But the army of Isra'el said, 'Let's run off and draw them away from the city onto the roads.'


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All the men of Isra'el left their places and took up a battle position at Ba'al-Tamar, while the other Isra'el men burst out of their hiding places at Ma'areh-Geva.


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Ten thousand men chosen out of all Isra'el came over to attack Giv'ah, and the combat was intense. But the army of Binyamin didn't know that they were about to be defeated.


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For ADONAI routed Binyamin in Isra'el's presence; that day the army of Isra'el destroyed 25,100 men of Binyamin, all of whom carried swords;


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and the people of Binyamin realized that they had been beaten. The men of Isra'el, trusting the ones they had put in place to ambush Binyamin, gave ground to the men of Binyamin.


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Then the men who had been lying in wait rushed in on Giv'ah, drew their swords and destroyed the city.


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The army of Isra'el and the ambushers had agreed that as a signal they would make a huge cloud of smoke rise from the city,


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at which time the men of Isra'el would turn back. When this happened, Binyamin began to attack. They killed about thirty of Isra'el's men and said, 'Clearly we're defeating them again, as in the first battle.'


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But when the smoke signal began rising from the city, the men of Binyamin looked behind them and saw the whole city going up to the sky in smoke.


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Then, as the men of Isra'el reversed direction, those of Binyamin were overcome with terror. When they saw that disaster had come upon them,


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they turned their backs on the men of Isra'el and made for the road to the desert. But the battle followed them, and those who came out of the city destroyed them from the rear.


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They surrounded the men of Binyamin, chased them and trampled them down across from Giv'ah on the east.


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They turned and fled toward the desert to the Rock of Rimmon; and 5,000 of them were killed on the roads. They followed them to Gid'om and killed another 2,000.


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Thus the total number from Binyamin who fell that day was 25,000 experienced, sword-bearing soldiers.


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The men of Isra'el turned back on the people of Binyamin and killed them with the sword, the entire city, the cattle and everything they found. Moreover, they set on fire all the cities they encountered.


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The men of Isra'el had sworn in Mitzpah that none of them would let his daughter marry a man from Binyamin.


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They said: 'ADONAI, why has this come about in Isra'el? Why should there be today in Isra'el one tribe missing?'


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The next day the people got up early, built an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.


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The people of Isra'el asked, 'Who among the tribes of Isra'el did not come up to assemble before ADONAI? For they had made a great oath to put to death whoever didn't come up to ADONAI at Mitzpah.


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The people of Isra'el became sorry for Binyamin their brother and said, 'Today one tribe has been cut off from Isra'el.


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How are we going to obtain wives for those who remain alive, since we've sworn by ADONAI that we won't let our daughters marry them?'


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Then they asked who from the tribes of Isra'el had not come up to ADONAI at Mitzpah and found that none had come from Yavesh-Gil'ad to the camp where the assembly was;


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So the gathering sent 12,000 warriors there and ordered them, 'Go, and put the people who live in Yavesh-Gil'ad to death with the sword, including women and children.


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Among the inhabitants of Yavesh-Gil'ad they found 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Kena'an.


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Then the whole gathering sent a message proclaiming peace to the people of Binyamin who were at the Rock of Rimmon.


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So Binyamin returned at that time, and the people of Isra'el gave them the women they had kept alive of the women from Yavesh-Gil'ad. But those weren't enough for them.


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The people were still sorry for Binyamin because ADONAI had made a division among the tribes of Isra'el.


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The leaders of the assembly asked, 'What are we to do for those who still don't have wives, inasmuch as all the women of Binyamin have been killed?'


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They said, 'There has to be a way to help the survivors preserve Binyamin's inheritance, so that a tribe will not be eliminated from Isra'el.


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Yet we can't give them our daughters as wives.' For the people of Isra'el had sworn, 'Cursed be whoever gives a wife to Binyamin.'


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Then they said, 'Look, each year there's a festival in honor of ADONAI in Shiloh, north of Beit-El, on the east side of the road that goes up from Beit-El to Sh'khem, and south of Levonah.'


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and keep watch. If the girls of Shiloh come out to do their dances, then come out of the vineyards, and each of you catch for himself a wife from the Shiloh girls, and go on to the land of Binyamin.


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When their fathers or brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, 'Give them as a personal favor to us, because we didn't take wives for each of them in battle. You didn't give them to them; that would have made you guilty of breaking your oath.''


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So the men of Binyamin did this - they took wives for themselves from the girls who were dancing, as many as they needed. They carried them off, went back to the land of their inheritance, rebuilt the cities and lived in them.


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The people of Isra'el then left that place, each man returned to his tribe and family, and each man went out from there to the land he had inherited.


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Back in the days when the judges were judging, at a time when there was a famine in the land, a certain man from Beit-Lechem went to live in the territory of Mo'av - he, his wife and his two sons.


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The man's name was Elimelekh, his wife's name was Na'omi, and his two sons were named Machlon and Kilyon; they were Efratim from Beit-Lechem in Y'hudah. They arrived in the plain of Mo'av and settled there.


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They took wives for themselves from the women of Mo'av; the name of the one was 'Orpah; and the name of the other was Rut. They lived there for about ten years.


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Then Machlon and Kilyon died, both of them; and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband.


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So she prepared to return with her daughters-in-law from the plain of Mo'av; for in the plain of Mo'av she had heard how ADONAI had paid attention to his people by giving them food.


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She left the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law and took the road leading back to Y'hudah.


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Na'omi said to her two daughters-in-law, 'Each of you, go back to your mother's house. May ADONAI show grace to you, as you did to those who died and to me.


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May ADONAI grant you security in the home of a new husband.'Then she kissed them, but they began weeping aloud.


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Na'omi said, 'Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb who could become your husbands?


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Go back, my daughters; go your way; for I'm too old to have a husband. Even if I were to say, 'I still have hope'; even if I had a husband tonight and bore sons;


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would you wait for them until they grew up? Would you refuse to marry, just for them? No, my daughters. On your behalf I feel very bitter that the hand of ADONAI has gone out against me.'


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She said, 'Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god; go back, after your sister-in-law.'


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But Rut said, 'Don't press me to leave you and stop following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die; and there I will be buried. May ADONAI bring terrible curses on me, and worse ones as well, if anything but death separates you and me.' 18 When Na'omi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Beit-Lechem. When they arrived in Beit-Lechem, the whole city was stirred with excitement over them. The women asked, 'Can this be Na'omi?'20 'Don't call me Na'omi [pleasant],' she answered them; 'call me Marah [bitter], because Shaddai has made my life very bitter. 21 I went out full, and ADONAI has brought me back empty. Why call me Na'omi? ADONAI has testified against me, Shaddai has afflicted me.'22 This is how Na'omi returned, with Rut the woman from Mo'av, her daughter-in-law, accompanying her from the plain of Mo'av. They arrived in Beit-Lechem at the beginning of the barley harvest.


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Na'omi had a relative on her husband's side, a prominent and wealthy member of Elimelekh's clan, whose name was Bo'az.


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Rut the woman from Mo'av said to Na'omi, 'Let me go into the field and glean ears of grain behind anyone who will allow me to.' She answered her, 'Go, my daughter.'


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So she set out, arrived at the field and gleaned behind the reapers. She happened to be in the part of the field that belonged to Bo'az from Elimelekh's clan,


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when Bo'az arrived from Beit-Lechem. He said to the reapers, 'ADONAI be with you'; and they answered him, 'ADONAI bless you.'


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The servant supervising the reapers answered, 'She's a girl from Mo'av who returned with Na'omi from the plain of Mo'av.


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She said, 'Please, let me glean and gather what falls from the sheaves behind the reapers.' So she went and has kept at it from morning until now, except for a little rest in the shelter.'


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Bo'az said to Rut, 'Did you hear that, my daughter? Don't go to glean in another field, don't leave this place, but stick here with my working girls.


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Keep your eyes on whichever field the reapers are working in, and follow the girls. I've ordered the young men not to bother you. Whenever you get thirsty, go and drink from the water jars the young men have filled.'


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She fell on her face, prostrating herself, and said to him, 'Why are you showing me such favor? Why are you paying attention to me? After all, I'm only a foreigner.'


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Bo'az answered her, 'I've heard the whole story, everything you've done for your mother-in-law since your husband died, including how you left your father and mother and the land you were born in to come to a people about whom you knew nothing beforehand.


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May ADONAI reward you for what you've done; may you be rewarded in full by ADONAI the God of Isra'el, under whose wings you have come for refuge.'


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She said, 'My lord, I hope I continue pleasing you. You have comforted and encouraged me, even though I'm not one of your servants.'


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When meal-time came, Bo'az said to her, 'Come here, have something to eat, and dip your piece of bread in the [olive oil and] vinegar.' She sat by the reapers, and they passed her some roasted grain. She ate till she was full, and she had some left over.


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When she got up to glean, Bo'az ordered his young men, 'Let her glean even among the sheaves themselves, without making her feel ashamed.


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In fact, pull some ears of grain out from the sheaves on purpose. Leave them for her to glean, and don't rebuke her.'


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So she gleaned in the field until evening. When she beat out what she had gathered, it came to about a bushel of barley.


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She picked it up and went back to the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and Rut brought out and gave her what she had left over after eating her fill.


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Her mother-in-law asked her, 'Where did you glean today? Where were you working? Blessed be the one who took such good care of you!' She told her mother-in-law with whom she had been working; she said, 'The name of the man with whom I was working today is Bo'az.'


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Na'omi said to her daughter-in-law, 'May he be blessed by ADONAI, who has never stopped showing grace, neither to the living nor to the dead.' Na'omi also told her, 'The man is closely related to us; he's one of our redeeming kinsmen.'


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Rut the woman from Mo'av said, 'Moreover, he even said to me, 'Stay close to my young men until they've finished my harvest.''


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Na'omi said to Rut her daughter-in-law, 'It's good, my daughter, for you to keep going out with his girls; so that you won't encounter hostility in some other field.'


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So she stayed close to Bo'az's girls to glean, until the end of the barley and wheat harvests; and she lived with her mother-in-law.


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Na'omi her mother-in-law said to her, 'My daughter, I should be seeking security for you; so that things will go well with you.


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Now there's Bo'az our relative -you were with his girls. He's going to be winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor.


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So bathe, anoint yourself, put on your good clothes, and go down to the threshing-floor; but don't reveal your presence to the man until he's finished eating and drinking.


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Then, when he lies down, take note of where he's lying; later, go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. He will tell you what to do.'


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After Bo'az was through eating and drinking and was feeling good, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of grain. She stole in, uncovered his feet and lay down.


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In the middle of the night the man was startled and turned over, and - there was a woman lying at his feet!


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He asked, 'Who are you?' and she answered, 'I'm your handmaid Rut. Spread your robe over your handmaid, because you are a redeeming kinsman.'


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He said, 'May ADONAI bless you, my daughter. Your latest kindness is even greater than your first, in that you didn't go after the young men, neither the rich ones nor the poor.


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And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you everything you say, for all the city leaders among my people know that you are a woman of good character.


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Now, it is true that I am a redeeming kinsman; but there is a redeemer who is a closer relative than I am.


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Stay tonight. If, in the morning, he will redeem you, fine! - let him redeem you. But if he doesn't want to redeem you, then, as ADONAI lives, I will redeem you. Now, lie down until morning.'


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She lay at his feet until morning; then, before [it was light enough that] people could recognize each other, she got up; because he said, 'No one should know that the woman came to the threshing-floor.'


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He also said, 'Bring the shawl you are wearing, and take hold of it.' She held it while he put six measures of barley into it; then he went into the city.


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When she came to her mother-in-law, she asked, 'Who are you? My daughter?'She told her everything the man had done for her.


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Then she added, 'He gave me these six measures of barley; because he said to me, 'You shouldn't return to your mother-in-law with nothing.'


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Na'omi said, 'My daughter, just stay where you are, until you learn how the matter comes out; for the man won't rest unless he resolves the matter today.'


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Meanwhile, Bo'az had gone up to the gate and had sat down there, when the redeemer of whom Bo'az had spoken passed by. 'Such-and-such,' he said, 'come over, and sit down'; so he came over and sat down.


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Then he said to the redeeming kinsman, 'The parcel of land which used to belong to our relative Elimelekh is being offered for sale by Na'omi, who has returned from the plain of Mo'av.


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I thought I should tell you about it and say, 'Buy it in the presence of the people sitting here and in the presence of the leaders of my people. If you want to redeem it, redeem it. But if it is not to be redeemed, then tell me, so that I can know, because there is no one else in line to redeem it, and I'm after you.' He said, 'I want to redeem it.'


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Then Bo'az said, 'The same day you buy the field from Na'omi, you must also buy Rut the woman from Mo'av, the wife of the deceased [son], in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property.'


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The redeemer said, 'Then I can't redeem it for myself, because I might put my own inheritance at risk. You, take my right of redemption on yourself; because I can't redeem it.'


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In the past, this is what was done in Isra'el to validate all transactions involving redemption and exchange: a man took off his shoe and gave it to the other party; this was the form of attestation in Isra'el.


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Bo'az addressed the leaders and all the people: 'You are witnesses today that I am purchasing from Na'omi all that belonged to Elimelekh and all that belonged to Kilyon and Machlon.


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Also I am acquiring as my wife Rut the woman from Mo'av, the wife of Machlon, in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property; so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his kinsmen and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.'


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All the people at the gate and the leaders said, 'We are witnesses. May ADONAI make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Le'ah, who between them built up the house of Isra'el. Do worthy deeds in Efrat; become renowned in Beit-Lechem.


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May your house, because of the seed ADONAI will give you from this young woman, become like the house of Peretz, whom Tamar bore to Y'hudah.'


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So Bo'az took Rut, and she became his wife. He had sexual relations with her, ADONAI enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.


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Then the women said to Na'omi, 'Blessed be ADONAI, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Isra'el.


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May he restore your life and provide for your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.'


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The women who were her neighbors gave it a name; they said, 'A son has been born to Na'omi,' and called it 'Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David.


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There was a man from Ramatayim-Tzofim, in the hills of Efrayim, whose name was Elkanah the son of Yerocham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tochu, the son of Tzuf, from Efrat.


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He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other P'ninah. P'ninah had children, but Hannah had no children.


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This man went up from his city every year to worship and sacrifice to ADONAI-Tzva'ot in Shiloh. The two sons of 'Eli, Hofni and Pinchas, were cohanim of ADONAI there.


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One day, when Elkanah was sacrificing, he gave a portion of the sacrifice to his wife P'ninah and portions to each of her sons and daughters;


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but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved Hannah, even though ADONAI had kept her from having children.


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He did the same every year; and each time she went up to the house of ADONAI, she taunted her so much that she would cry and not eat.


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Her husband Elkanah said to her, 'Hannah, why are you crying, and why aren't you eating? Why be so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?'


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So Hannah got up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. 'Eli the cohen was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the temple of ADONAI.


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Then she took a vow; she said, 'ADONAI-Tzva'ot, if you will notice how humiliated your servant is, if you will remember me and not forget your servant but will give your servant a male child, then I will give him to ADONAI for as long as he lives; and no razor will ever come on his head.'


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Hannah was speaking in her heart - her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard -so 'Eli thought she was drunk.


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But Hannah answered, 'No, my lord, I am a very unhappy woman. I have not drunk either wine or other strong liquor; rather, I've been pouring out my soul before ADONAI.


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Don't think of your servant as a worthless woman; because I have been speaking from the depth of my distress and anger.'


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She replied, 'May your servant find favor in your sight.' So the woman went on her way, and she ate, and her face was no longer sad.


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They got up early in the morning and worshipped before ADONAI, then returned and came to their house in Ramah. Elkanah had sexual relations with Hannah his wife, and ADONAI remembered her.


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She conceived; and in due time she gave birth to a son, whom she named Sh'mu'el, 'because I asked ADONAI for him.' 'Sh'mu'el' is derived from shem El, 'name of God,' but sounds like sha'ul me'el, 'asked from God.'


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The husband, Elkanah, went up with all his household to offer the yearly sacrifice to ADONAI and fulfill his vow.


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But Hannah did not go up, explaining to her husband, 'Not till the child has been weaned. Then I will bring him, so that he can appear before ADONAI and live there forever.'


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Her husband Elkanah answered her, 'Do what seems good to you; stay here until you have weaned him. Only may ADONAI bring about what he said.' So the woman stayed behind and nursed the child, until she weaned him.


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After weaning him, she took him up with her, along with three young bulls, a bushel of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of ADONAI in Shiloh, even though he was just a child.


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and she said, 'My lord, as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here near you, praying to ADONAI.


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Therefore, I too have loaned him to ADONAI - as long as he lives, he is on loan to ADONAI.'And he prostrated himself there before ADONAI.


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Then Hannah prayed; she said: 'My heart exults in ADONAI! My dignity has been restored by ADONAI! I can gloat over my enemies, because of my joy at your saving me.


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'Stop your proud boasting! Don't let arrogance come from your mouth! For ADONAI is a God of knowledge, and he appraises actions.


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The well-fed hire themselves for bread, while those who were hungry hunger no more. The barren woman has borne seven, while the mother of many wastes away.


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He raises the poor from the dust, lifts up the needy from the trash pile; he gives them a place with leaders and assigns them seats of honor. 'For the earth's pillars belong to ADONAI; on them he has placed the world.


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He will guard the steps of his faithful, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. For it is not by strength that a person prevails -


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those who fight ADONAI will be shattered; he will thunder against them in heaven ADONAI will judge the ends of the earth. He will strengthen his king and enhance the power of his anointed.'


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Elkanah went home to Ramah, while the child began ministering to ADONAI under the direction of 'Eli the cohen.


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The rule these cohanim followed in dealing with the people was that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the cohen's servant would come, while the meat was stewing, with a three-pronged fork in his hand.


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He would stick it in the pan, kettle, caldron or pot; and the cohen would take for himself whatever the fork brought up. This is how they dealt with all the people of Isra'el who came there to Shiloh.


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The cohen's servant would actually come before the fat had burned to smoke and say to the man who was sacrificing, 'Give the cohen meat he can roast; because he doesn't want your meat stewed, but raw.'


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If the man answered, 'First let the fat burn to smoke, then take as much as you want,' he would say, 'No, give it to me now, or I'll take it by force.'


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The sin of these young men was very serious in ADONAI's view, because they treated offerings made to ADONAI with contempt.


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But Sh'mu'el ministered in the presence of ADONAI, wearing a linen ritual vest even though he was only a child.


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Each year his mother would make him a little coat and bring it when she came up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.


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'Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, 'May ADONAI give you children from this woman because of the boy you have loaned to ADONAI'; then they would go home.


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So ADONAI took notice of Hannah, and she conceived and bore three more sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Sh'mu'el grew in the presence of ADONAI.


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When 'Eli was very old, he heard about everything his sons were doing to all Isra'el, and that they were having sex with the women doing service at the door of the tent of meeting.


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He asked them, 'Why are you doing things like this? I am hearing bad reports about you from all these people.


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If a person commits a sin against another person, the judges can mediate between them. But if a person commits a sin against ADONAI, who can intercede for him?' However, they wouldn't pay attention to what their father said, because ADONAI had decided to kill them.


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A man of God came to 'Eli and told him, 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'Didn't I reveal myself to your ancestor's clan when they were in Egypt, serving as slaves in Pharaoh's household?


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Didn't I choose him out of all the tribes of Isra'el to be my cohen, go up to my altar, burn incense and wear a ritual vest in my presence? Didn't I assign to your ancestor's clan all the offerings of the people of Isra'el made by fire?


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So why are you showing such disrespect for my sacrifices and offerings, which I ordered to be made at my dwelling? Why do you show more honor to your sons than to me, making yourselves fat with the choicest parts of all the offerings of Isra'el my people?'


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'Therefore ADONAI the God of Isra'el says, 'I did indeed say that your family and your father's family would walk in my presence forever.' But now ADONAI says, 'Forget it! I respect those who respect me, but those who despise me will meet with contempt.


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The day is coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father's family, so that no one in your family will live to old age.


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At a time when Isra'el is prospering, you will see a rival in my Dwelling; and never will anyone in your family live to old age.


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Still, I won't cut off every one of your men from my altar; because that would make your eyes grow dim, and you would waste away. Nevertheless, all your descendants will die young.


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Your sign that this will occur will be what happens to your two sons Hofni and Pinchas - they will both die on the same day.


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I will raise up for myself a faithful cohen who will do what I want and what I intend. I will make his family faithful, and he will serve in the presence of my anointed one forever.


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Everyone left in your family will come, prostrate himself before him for a silver coin or a loaf of bread, and say, 'Please, won't you give me some work as a cohen, so I can have a scrap of bread to eat?'''


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The child Sh'mu'el continued ministering to ADONAI under 'Eli's direction. Now, in those days ADONAI rarely spoke, and visions were few.


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Once, during that period, 'Eli had gone to bed - his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that it was hard for him to see.


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The lamp of God had not yet gone out; and Sh'mu'el had lain down to sleep in the sanctuary of ADONAI, where the ark of God was.


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Then he ran to 'Eli and said, 'Here I am - you called me?' But he said, 'I didn't call you; go back, and lie down.' So he went and lay down.


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ADONAI called a second time, 'Sh'mu'el!'Sh'mu'el got up, went to 'Eli and said, 'Here I am - you called me.' He answered, 'I didn't call, my son; lie down again.'


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ADONAI called, 'Sh'mu'el!' again, a third time. He got up, went to 'Eli and said, 'Here I am - you called me.' At last 'Eli realized it was ADONAI calling the child.


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So 'Eli said to Sh'mu'el, 'Go, and lie down. If you are called again, say, 'Speak, ADONAI; your servant is listening.' Sh'mu'el went and lay down in his place.


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ADONAI came and stood, then spoke as at the other times: 'Sh'mu'el! Sh'mu'el!'Then Sh'mu'el said, 'Speak; your servant is listening.'


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ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, 'Look! I am going to do something in Isra'el that will make both ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.


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On that day I will do against 'Eli everything I have said with regard to his family, from beginning to end.


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For I have told him that I will execute judgment against his family forever, because of his wickedness in not rebuking his sons, even though he knew that they had brought a curse on themselves.


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Therefore I have sworn to the family of 'Eli that the wickedness of 'Eli's family will never be atoned for by any sacrifice or offering.'


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Sh'mu'el lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of ADONAI. But Sh'mu'el was afraid to tell 'Eli the vision.


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'Eli said, 'What did he say to you? Please, don't hide it from me; may God do whatever he said and worse, if you hide from me anything he said to you.'


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So Sh'mu'el told him every word and hid nothing. 'Eli replied, 'It is ADONAI; let him do what seems good to him.'


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All Isra'el from Dan to Be'er-Sheva became aware that Sh'mu'el had been confirmed as a prophet of ADONAI.


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ADONAI continued appearing in Shiloh, for ADONAI revealed himself to Sh'mu'el in Shiloh by the word of ADONAI.


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So the word of Sh'mu'el came to all Isra'el. Isra'el went out to fight against the P'lishtim, setting up camp at Even-'Ezer, while the P'lishtim camped at Afek.


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The P'lishtim drew up in battle formation against Isra'el. The battle was fierce, and Isra'el was beaten by the P'lishtim - they killed about four thousand soldiers on the battlefield.


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When the army had returned to camp, the leaders of Isra'el asked, 'Why has ADONAI defeated us today before the P'lishtim? Let's bring the ark for the covenant of ADONAI from Shiloh to us, so that he will come among us and save us from our enemies.'


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So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark for the covenant of ADONAI-Tzva'ot, who is present above the k'ruvim. The two sons of 'Eli, Hofni and Pinchas, were there with the ark for the covenant of God.


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When the ark for the covenant of ADONAI entered the camp, all Isra'el gave a mighty shout that resounded through the land.


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On hearing the shout, the P'lishtim asked, 'What does this great shout in the Hebrews' camp mean?'Then they realized that the ark of ADONAI had arrived in the camp,


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and the P'lishtim became afraid. They said, 'God has entered the camp! We're lost! There was no such thing yesterday or the day before.


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We're lost! Who will rescue us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods that completely overthrew the Egyptians in the desert.


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Be strong; and behave like men, you P'lishtim; so that you won't become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Behave like men, and fight!'


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The P'lishtim fought, Isra'el was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. It was a terrible slaughter - 30,000 of Isra'el's foot soldiers fell.


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One of the soldiers, a man from Binyamin, ran and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and earth on his head [as a sign of mourning].


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As he arrived, 'Eli was sitting on his seat by the road, watching; because he was trembling with anxiety over the ark of God. When the man entered the city and told the news, the whole city began crying out.


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On hearing the cries, 'Eli asked, 'What does this uproar mean?' So the man hurried, came to 'Eli and told him.


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The man said to 'Eli, 'I'm the soldier that came; I escaped today from the battlefield.' He asked, 'How did things go, my son?'


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The one who had come with the news answered, 'Isra'el fled before the P'lishtim, and there was a terrible slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hofni and Pinchas, also are dead; and the ark of God was captured.


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As soon as he mentioned what had happened to the ark of God, 'Eli fell backward off his seat next to the gate, broke his neck and died; for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Isra'el forty years.


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His daughter-in-law, Pinchas's wife, was pregnant and near delivery-time. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into abnormal labor, bent over and gave birth.


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As she was dying, the women standing by her said to her, 'Don't be afraid, because you have given birth to a son.' But she didn't answer or show any sign of recognition.


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She named the child I-Khavod [without glory], saying, 'The glory has departed from Isra'el'; because the ark of God had been captured, and because of her father-in-law and husband.


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But early the next morning, when the people of Ashdod got up, there was Dagon, fallen down with his face to the ground before the ark of ADONAI. They took Dagon and set him in his place again;


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but early the following morning, when they got up, Dagon was again fallen down with his face to the ground before the ark of ADONAI; this time, the head of Dagon and both hands lay there, severed, on the threshold; all that was left of Dagon was his torso.


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This is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and those entering his temple never walk on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod.


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ADONAI began oppressing the people of Ashdod; he ravaged them, striking Ashdod and its surrounding area with tumors.


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When the people of Ashdod came to understand what was happening, they said, 'The ark of the God of Isra'el can't remain with us, because he is oppressing us and our god Dagon.'


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They summoned all the leaders of the P'lishtim and asked, 'What are we to do with the ark of the God of Isra'el?' They answered, 'Have the ark of the God of Isra'el carried to Gat.' So they carried the ark of the God of Isra'el to Gat.


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But after it arrived there, ADONAI oppressed that city, causing terrible panic. He struck the people of the city, great and small alike; tumors broke out on them.


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Next they sent the ark of God to 'Ekron; but when the ark of God arrived in 'Ekron the 'Ekronim shouted, 'Now they've brought the ark of the God of Isra'el to us, to kill us and our people!'


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So they summoned all the leaders of the P'lishtim and said, 'Send the ark of the God of Isra'el away! Let it go back to its own place, so that it won't kill us and our people!'- because death and panic pervaded the whole city; God's oppression was very heavy there.


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The people who didn't die were struck with the tumors; and the city's cries for help reached the skies.


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The P'lishtim summoned the priests and soothsayers and asked them, 'What are we to do with the ark of ADONAI? Tell us how to send it back where it belongs.'


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They said, 'If you do send off the ark of the God of Isra'el, don't send it back empty, but return it with some sort of guilt offering for him. Then you will be cured, and you will learn why he has not stopped oppressing you.'


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They asked, 'What kind of guilt offering should we send him?' and they replied, 'Five gold models of tumors and five gold rats, because that's how many leaders the P'lishtim have, and you and your leaders all had the same illness.


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So make models of your tumors and models of your rats that are infesting your land, and show respect to the God of Isra'el. Maybe he will stop oppressing you, your gods and your land.


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Why be obstinate like the Egyptians and Pharaoh were? When he had done his work among them, didn't they let the people go? - and they left.


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Now take and prepare yourselves a new cart and two milk-cows that have never been under a yoke. Harness the cows to the cart, but put their calves back in the shed.


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Then take the ark of ADONAI and lay it on the cart. In a box next to it, put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Then send it away to go off by itself,


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but watch to see if it goes up the road to Beit-Shemesh in its own territory. If it does, he is responsible for this great tragedy; if not, we will know that it is not his oppression which has been over us, but that what has been happening to us has been only by chance.'


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The men did it. They took two milk-cows, harnessed them to the cart and confined their calves to the shed.


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Then they put the ark on the cart, along with the box containing the gold rats and the models of their tumors.


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The cows made straight for the road to Beit-Shemesh and took that route, mooing as they went and turning off neither to the right nor to the left. The leaders of the P'lishtim followed them as far as the border of Beit-Shemesh.


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The people of Beit-Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley when they looked up and saw the ark. They were so happy to see it!


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The cart entered the field of Y'hoshua the Beit-Shimshi and stood there by a big rock. They cut up the wood of the cart and offered up the cows as a burnt offering to ADONAI.


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Then the L'vi'im removed the ark of ADONAI and the box that was with it, which contained the gold objects, and put them on the big rock. That same day the men of Beit-Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrifices to ADONAI.


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The gold tumors which the P'lishtim sent back as a guilt offering for ADONAI were one each for Ashdod, 'Azah, Ashkelon, Gat and 'Ekron;


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and the gold rats also corresponded to the number of all the cities of the P'lishtim that belonged to the five leaders - fortified cities and country villages. [The rock] is a witness to this day of the great mourning [which resulted from] putting the ark of ADONAI on it in the field of Y'hoshua the Beit-Shimshi;


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for [ADONAI] struck the people of Beit-Shemesh for looking at the ark of ADONAI. He killed 50,070 of the people; the people mourned because ADONAI had struck them with such a terrible slaughter.


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The people of Beit-Shemesh asked, 'Who can stand before ADONAI, this holy God? To whom can we send it, to get it away from us?'


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They sent messengers to the people living in Kiryat-Ye'arim with this message: 'The P'lishtim have returned the ark of ADONAI. Come down and bring it back up with you.'


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So the men of Kiryat-Ye'arim came and brought back the ark of ADONAI. They took it to the home of Avinadav on the hill and appointed his son El'azar to guard the ark of ADONAI.


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From the day that the ark arrived in Kiryat-Ye'arim a long time elapsed, twenty years; and all the people of Isra'el yearned for ADONAI.


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Sh'mu'el addressed all the people of Isra'el; he said: 'If you are returning to ADONAI with all your heart, then be done with the foreign gods and 'ashtarot that you have with you, and direct your hearts to ADONAI. If you will serve only him, he will rescue you from the power of the P'lishtim.'


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So they gathered together at Mitzpah, drew water and poured it out before ADONAI, fasted that day, and said there, 'We have sinned against ADONAI.' Sh'mu'el began serving as judge over the people of Isra'el at Mitzpah.


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When the P'lishtim heard that the people of Isra'el had gathered together at Mitzpah, the leaders of the P'lishtim marched up against Isra'el; and when the people of Isra'el heard about this, they were afraid of the P'lishtim.


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The people of Isra'el said to Sh'mu'el, 'Don't stop crying out to ADONAI our God for us, to save us from the power of the P'lishtim.'


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Sh'mu'el took a baby lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to ADONAI. Then Sh'mu'el cried to ADONAI for Isra'el, and ADONAI answered him.


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As Sh'mu'el was presenting the burnt offering, the P'lishtim advanced to attack Isra'el. But this time, ADONAI thundered violently over the P'lishtim, throwing them into such confusion that they were struck down before Isra'el.


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The men of Isra'el went out from Mitzpah, pursuing the P'lishtim and attacking them all the way to Beit-Kar.


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Sh'mu'el took a stone, placed it between Mitzpah and Shen, and gave it the name Even-'Ezer [stone of help], explaining, 'ADONAI has helped us until now.'


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Thus the P'lishtim were humbled, so that they no longer entered Isra'el's territory; and the hand of ADONAI was against the P'lishtim as long as Sh'mu'el lived.


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The cities between 'Ekron and Gat which the P'lishtim had captured from Isra'el were restored to Isra'el, and Isra'el rescued all this territory from the power of the P'lishtim. There was also peace between Isra'el and the Emori.


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Year by year he would travel in a circuit that included Beit-El, Gilgal and Mitzpah; and in all these places he served as judge over Isra'el.


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Then he would return to Ramah, because that's where his home was, and he would judge Isra'el there too. He also built an altar there to ADONAI.


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His firstborn was named Yo'el, while his second son was named Aviyah; they were judges in Be'er-Sheva.


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However, his sons did not follow his way of life; they turned off it to pursue riches, so that they would take bribes to distort justice.


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and said to him, 'Look, you have grown old, and your sons are not following your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.'


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ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, 'Listen to the people, to everything they say to you; for it is not you they are rejecting; they are rejecting me; they don't want me to be king over them.


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They are doing to you exactly what they have been doing to me, from the day I brought them out of Egypt until today, by abandoning me and serving other gods.


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So do what they say, but give them a sober warning, telling them what kinds of rulings their king will make.'


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He said, 'Here is the kind of rulings your king will make: he will draft your sons and assign them to take care of his chariots, be his horsemen and be bodyguards running ahead of his chariots.


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He will appoint them to serve him as officers in charge of a thousand or of fifty, plowing his fields, gathering his harvest, and making his weapons and the equipment for his chariots.


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He will expropriate your fields, vineyards and olive groves - the very best of them! - and hand them over to his servants.


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He will take the ten-percent tax of your crops and vineyards and give it to his officers and servants.


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He will take your male and female servants, your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.


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When that happens, you will cry out on account of your king, whom you yourselves chose. But when that happens, ADONAI will not answer you!'


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However, the people refused to listen to what Sh'mu'el told them, and they said, 'No! We want a king over us,


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ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, 'Do what they ask, and set up a king for them.' So Sh'mu'el told the men of Isra'el, 'Each of you, return to his city.'


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There was a man from Binyamin named Kish the son of Avi'el, the son of Tz'ror, the son of B'khorat, the son of Afiach, the son of a man from Binyamin. He was a man of substance and brave as well.


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He had a son named Sha'ul who was young and good-looking; among the people of Isra'el there was no one better-looking than he; he stood head and shoulders taller than anyone else in Isra'el.


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Once the donkeys belonging to Kish Sha'ul's father got lost. Kish said to his son Sha'ul, 'Please take one of the servants with you, go out, and look for the donkeys.'


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He went through the hills of Efrayim and the territory of Shalishah, but they didn't find them. Then they went through the territory of Sha'alim, but they weren't there. They went through the territory of Binyamin but didn't find them there either.


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On reaching the territory of Tzuf, Sha'ul said to his servant with him, 'Come, let's go back; otherwise my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.'


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His servant replied, 'Here now, there's a man of God in this city, a man who is highly respected, and everything he says proves true. Let's go to him; maybe he can tell us something about where we should go.'


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'But look,' Sha'ul said to his servant, 'if we go to the man, what can we bring him? We've used up all the bread in our packs, and there's nothing for us to give the man of God - what do we have left?'


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The servant replied again to Sha'ul: 'See, I have here in my hand a silver quarter-shekel [one-tenth of an ounce]. I will give it to the man of God to tell us which way to go.'


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(In Isra'el, back in the old days, when someone went to consult God, he would say, 'Come, let's go to the seer'; because a person now called a prophet used to be called a seer.)


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'Well said,' Sha'ul answered his servant. 'Come on, let's go.' So they went to the city where the man of God was.


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Ascending the slope to the town they found girls going out to draw water and asked them, 'Is the seer here?'


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The girls answered them, 'He's here, he's right ahead of you. Hurry now, he just came into the city today, because the people are sacrificing today at the high place.


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Find him as soon as you enter the city, before he goes up to the high place to eat; because the people won't eat until he comes and blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards, the ones invited will eat. So go on up, because this is when you will find him.'


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They went up to the city; and as they entered the city, there was Sh'mu'el coming out toward them to go up to the high place.


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'Tomorrow at about this time I will send you a man from the territory of Binyamin. You are to anoint him prince over my people Isra'el. He will save my people from the power of the P'lishtim, because I have seen my people's situation, and their cry of distress has come to me.'


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When Sh'mu'el saw Sha'ul, ADONAI said to him, 'Here is the man I told you about, the one who is going to govern my people.'


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Sh'mu'el answered Sha'ul, 'I'm the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, because you are going to dine with me today. In the morning, I will let you leave; and I will tell you everything that is on your heart.


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As for your donkeys that got lost three days ago, don't worry about them; they've been found. Now, who is it that all Isra'el wants? Isn't it you, and all your father's household?'


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Sha'ul replied, 'I'm only a man from Binyamin, the smallest tribe in Isra'el; and my family is the least important of all the families in the tribe of Binyamin! Why are you saying such a thing to me?'


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Sh'mu'el took Sha'ul and his servant, brought them into the room and had them sit in the place reserved for the most important of the invited guests, who numbered about thirty persons.


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The cook took the thigh and the adjoining meat and served it to Sha'ul. Sh'mu'el said, 'Here, this is what remains! Put it in front of you and eat - it was kept especially for you until the right time; because I said, 'I have invited the people.'' So Sha'ul dined with Sh'mu'el that day.


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They got up early. About daybreak, Sh'mu'el called out to Sha'ul on the roof, 'Get up, so I can send you on your way.' Sha'ul got up, and both of them -he and Sh'mu'el - went out.


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As they were going down, at the edge of the city, Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, 'Tell the servant to go on ahead'; so the servant went on. 'But you, stand still now, because I want you to hear what God has said.'


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Then Sh'mu'el took a flask of oil he had prepared and poured it on Sha'ul's head. He kissed him and said, 'ADONAI has anointed you to be prince over his inheritance.


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After you leave me today, you will find two men by Rachel's Tomb, in the territory of Binyamin at Tzeltzah. They will tell you that the donkeys you were searching for have been found, and that your father has stopped thinking about the donkeys and is anxious over you and asking, 'What am I to do about my son?''


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Go on from there, and you will come to the Oak of Tavor. Three men will meet you there on their way up to God at Beit-El. One of them will be carrying three kids, another three loaves of bread and the third a skin of wine.


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After that, you will come to Giv'ah of God, where the P'lishtim are garrisoned. On arrival at the city there, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by lutes, tambourines, flutes and lyres; and they will be prophesying.


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Then the Spirit of ADONAI will fall on you; you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man!


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Then you are to go down ahead of me to Gilgal, and there I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and present sacrifices as peace offerings. Wait there seven days, until I come to you and tell you what to do.'


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As it happened, as soon as he had turned his back to leave Sh'mu'el, God gave him another heart; and all those signs took place that day.


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When they arrived at the hill, and there in front of him was a group of prophets, the Spirit of God fell on him and he prophesied along with them.


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When those who knew him from before saw him there, prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, 'What's happened to Kish's son? Is Sha'ul a prophet, too?'


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Someone in the crowd answered, 'Must prophets' fathers be special?' So it became an expression -'Is Sha'ul a prophet, too?'


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Sha'ul's uncle said to him and his servant, 'Where did you go?' He answered, 'To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they hadn't been found, we went to Sh'mu'el.'


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Sha'ul answered his uncle, 'He told us that the donkeys had been found,' but said nothing to him about the matter of his being made king.


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He said to the people of Isra'el, 'Here is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el says: 'I brought Isra'el up from Egypt. I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.'


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But today you have rejected your God, who himself saves you from all your disasters and distress. You have said to him, 'No! Put a king over us!' So now, present yourselves before ADONAI by your tribes and families.'


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He had the tribe of Binyamin come forward by families, and the family of the Matri was chosen, and Sha'ul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he couldn't be found.


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They asked ADONAI, 'Has the man come here?'ADONAI answered, 'There he is, hiding, in among the equipment.'


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They ran and brought him from there, and when he stood among the people he was head and shoulders taller than anyone around.


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Sh'mu'el said to all the people, 'Do you see the man ADONAI has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?'Then all the people shouted, 'Long live the king!'


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Sh'mu'el told the people what kinds of rulings should be made in the kingdom, then wrote it on a scroll and set it down before ADONAI. After that, he sent all the people away, everyone to his own home.


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True, there were some scoundrels who said, 'How can this man save us?'They showed him no respect and brought him no gift, but he held his peace.


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Then Nachash the 'Amoni came up and set up camp to fight Yavesh-Gil'ad. All the men of Yavesh said to Nachash, 'If you will make a treaty with us, we will be your subjects.'


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Nachash the 'Amoni replied, 'I'll do it on this condition: that all your right eyes be gouged out and thus bring disgrace on all of Isra'el.'


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The leaders of Yavesh answered him, 'Give us seven days' grace to send messengers throughout Isra'el's territory; then, if no one will rescue us, we will surrender to you.'


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The messengers came to Giv'ah, where Sha'ul lived, and said these words in the hearing of the people; and all the people cried out and wept.


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As this was going on, Sha'ul came, following the oxen out of the field. Sha'ul asked, 'What's wrong with the people to make them cry like that?'They told him what the men from Yavesh had said.


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he seized a pair of oxen and cut them in pieces; then he sent them throughout the territory of Isra'el with messengers saying, 'Anyone who doesn't come and follow Sha'ul and Sh'mu'el, this is what will be done to his oxen!'The fear of ADONAI fell on the people, and they came out with united hearts.


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He reviewed them in Bezek; there were 300,000 from the people of Isra'el; the men of Y'hudah numbered 30,000.


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To the messengers that had come they said, 'Tell the men of Yavesh-Gil'ad, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have been rescued.''The messengers returned and told the men of Yavesh; they were overjoyed.


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Then the men of Yavesh said [to Nachash], 'Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do with us whatever you like.'


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The next day Sha'ul divided the people into three companies. Then they entered the camp of the 'Amoni during the morning watch and kept attacking until the heat of the day, until those who remained were so scattered that no two of them were left together.


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The people said to Sh'mu'el, 'Who are the men who said, 'Is Sha'ul to rule over us?' Hand them over to us, so we can put them to death.'


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So all the people went to Gilgal; and there in Gilgal, before ADONAI, they made Sha'ul king. They presented sacrifices as peace offerings before ADONAI there, and there Sha'ul and all the people of Isra'el celebrated with great joy.


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Sh'mu'el said to all Isra'el, 'Here, I have done everything you asked me to do -I have made a king over you.


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There is the king, walking ahead of you; but I am old and gray-headed. There are my sons with you, and I have walked at your head from when I was a boy until today.


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So here I am; now is the time to witness against me before ADONAI and before his anointed king. Does any of you think I have taken your ox or donkey, defrauded or oppressed you, or accepted a bribe to deprive you of justice? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.'


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He said, 'ADONAI is witness against you, and his anointed king is witness against you today, that you have found nothing in my hands?' They replied, 'He is witness.'


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Sh'mu'el said to the people, 'It was ADONAI who appointed Moshe and Aharon and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt.


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Now, hold still; because I am going to enter into judgment with you before ADONAI regarding all the righteous acts of ADONAI that he did for you and your ancestors.


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'After Ya'akov had entered Egypt, your ancestors cried to ADONAI; and ADONAI sent Moshe and Aharon, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and had them live here in this place.


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But they forgot ADONAI their God; so he handed them over to Sisra, commander of the army of Hatzor, and to the P'lishtim, and to the king of Mo'av; and they fought against them.


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But they cried to ADONAI and said, 'We sinned by abandoning ADONAI and serving the ba'alim and 'ashtarot. But now, if you rescue us from the power of our enemies, we will serve you.'


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So ADONAI sent Yeruba'al, B'dan, Yiftach and Sh'mu'el and rescued you from the power of our enemies on every side, and you lived securely.


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When you saw that Nachash the king of the people of 'Amon was attacking you, you said to me, 'No, we want a king to rule over us'- when ADONAI your God was your king.


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If you will fear ADONAI, serve him, obey what he says and not rebel against ADONAI's orders - if both you and the king ruling you remain followers of ADONAI your God - [then things will go well for you.]


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But if you refuse to obey what ADONAI says and rebel against ADONAI's orders, then ADONAI will oppress both you and your leaders.


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Now is wheat harvest time, isn't it? I am going to call on ADONAI to send thunder and rain. Then you will understand and see how wicked from


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Sh'mu'elADONAI's viewpoint is the thing you have done in asking for a king.'called to ADONAI, and ADONAI sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people became very much afraid of ADONAI and Sh'mu'el.


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All the people said to Sh'mu'el, 'Pray to ADONAI your God for your servants, so that we won't die; because to all our other sins now we've added this evil as well, asking for a king over us.'


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Sh'mu'el answered the people, 'Don't be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet now, just don't turn away from following ADONAI; but serve ADONAI with all your heart.


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Don't turn to the side; because then you would go after useless things that can neither help nor rescue, they are so futile.


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For the sake of his great reputation, ADONAI will not abandon his people; because it has pleased ADONAI to make you a people for himself.


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As for me, far be it from me to sin against ADONAI by ceasing to pray for you! Rather, I will continue instructing you in the good and right way.


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Only fear ADONAI, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for think what great things he has done for you!


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when he chose three thousand of Isra'el's men. Two thousand of them were with Sha'ul in Mikhmas and in the hills of Beit-El, and a thousand were with Y'honatan in Giv'at-Binyamin. The rest of the people he sent back to their respective tents.


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Y'honatan assassinated the governor of the P'lishtim in Geva. The P'lishtim heard of it; so Sha'ul had the shofar sounded throughout the land, saying, 'Let the Hebrews hear!'


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All Isra'el heard that Sha'ul had assassinated the governor of the P'lishtim and thus made Isra'el a stench in the nostrils of the P'lishtim. So the people rallied behind Sha'ul in Gilgal;


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,000 horsemen and an army as large as the number of sand grains on the seashore. They came up and pitched camp at Mikhmas, east of Beit-Aven. 6 The men of Isra'el saw that their options were limited and that the people felt so hard pressed that they were hiding themselves in caves, thickets, crevices, watchtowers and cisterns;


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while some of the Hebrews crossed the Yarden to the territory of Gad and Gil'ad. But Sha'ul was still in Gilgal, where all the people were eager to follow him.


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He waited seven days, as Sh'mu'el had instructed; but Sh'mu'el didn't come to Gilgal; so the army began to drift away from him.


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Sha'ul said, 'Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings,' and he offered the burnt offering.


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As soon as he had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, there was Sh'mu'el -he had come, and Sha'ul went out to meet and greet him.


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Sh'mu'el said, 'What have you done?' Sha'ul answered, 'I saw that the army was drifting away from me, that you hadn't come during the time appointed The Hebrew text lacks the number. and that the P'lishtim had assembled at Mikhmas.


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I said, 'Now the P'lishtim will fall on me at Gilgal, and I haven't asked the favor of ADONAI,' so I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.'


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Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, 'You did a foolish thing. You didn't observe the mitzvah of ADONAI, which he gave you. If you had, ADONAI would have set up your kingship over Isra'el forever.


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But as it is, your kingship will not be established. ADONAI has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and ADONAI has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you did not observe what ADONAI ordered you to do.'


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Then Sh'mu'el left Gilgal and went up to Giv'at-Binyamin. Sha'ul counted how many were still there with him, about 600 men.


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Sha'ul, Y'honatan his son and the men with him took up quarters at Giv'at-Binyamin, while the P'lishtim remained in camp at Mikhmas.


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Then raiding parties began coming out from the camp of the P'lishtim, three of them: one group turned toward the road leading to 'Ofrah in the territory of Shu'al;


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another group took the road toward Beit-Horon; and another company took the road toward the desert through the territory overlooking Vadi Tzvo'im.


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Now there was no metalsmith to be found anywhere in all the land of Isra'el, because the P'lishtim had said, 'We don't want the Hebrews making themselves swords or spears.'


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So whenever any of the people of Isra'el wanted to sharpen his hoe, plowshare, axe or pick, he had to go down to the P'lishtim,


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where the exorbitant prices were two-thirds of a shekel for filing a pick or plowshare and one-third of a shekel for filing an axe or setting an oxgoad in its handle.


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Thus when the time came to fight, no one in the army of Sha'ul and Y'honatan was equipped with either sword or spear; although Sha'ul and Y'honatan his son did have them.


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One day Y'honatan the son of Sha'ul said to the young man carrying his armor, 'Come, let's go across to the garrison of the P'lishtim on the other side. But he didn't tell his father.


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Sha'ul was waiting at the far edge of Giv'ah under the pomegranate tree in Migron; the force with him numbered about 600 men.


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Achiyah the son of Achituv, I-Khavod's brother, the son of Pinchas the son of 'Eli, the cohen of ADONAI in Shiloh, was carrying a ritual vest. No one knew that Y'honatan had gone.


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Between the passes by which Y'honatan was trying to cross to the garrison of the P'lishtim, there was a rocky spur on one side and another rocky spur on the other side; the name of the one was Botzetz, and of the other, Seneh.


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The one spur rose up on the north, in front of Mikhmas, and the other on the south, in front of Geva.


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Y'honatan said to his armor-bearer, 'Come on, let's go across to the garrison of these uncircumcised people. Maybe ADONAI will do something for us, since ADONAI can rescue with a few people as easily as with many.'


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But if they say,'Come up to us,' we'll go on up; and that will be the sign that ADONAI has given us victory over them.'


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So both of them let their presence be known to the garrison of the P'lishtim; and the P'lishtim said, 'Look, some Hebrews coming out of the holes they've been hiding in!'


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Then the men of the garrison said to Y'honatan and his armor-bearer, 'Come up to us; we want to show you something.' Y'honatan told his armor-bearer, 'Come on up after me, for ADONAI has handed them over to Isra'el.'


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Y'honatan climbed up, using his hands as well as his feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. The P'lishtim fell before Y'honatan, and his armor-bearer following him finished them off.


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That first slaughter, of about twenty men, was accomplished by Y'honatan and his armor bearer in a space only half as long as one side of the area a pair of oxen could plow in a day [about 200 yards].


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There was panic in the field camp among all the P'lishtim; likewise, the garrison and the raiding party panicked. Besides all this, there was an earthquake; thus it grew into panic caused by God.


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Sha'ul's men on watch in Giv'at-Binyamin could see the enemy camp scattering and running in all directions.


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Sha'ul ordered the forces with him to call the roll and see who was missing. So they called the roll, and found Y'honatan and his armor-bearer not present.


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Sha'ul told Achiyah, 'Bring the ark of God here'; for at that time the ark of God was with the people of Isra'el.


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But while Sha'ul was talking to the cohen, the uproar in the camp of the P'lishtim continued and kept getting louder. Sha'ul said to the cohen, 'Put your hand down.'


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Sha'ul and the entire force with him assembled and went to battle, but they found the P'lishtim all fighting each other in utter confusion.


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The Hebrews from the surrounding countryside who had previously been with the P'lishtim and had gone up with them into the camp deserted and went over to Isra'el with Sha'ul and Y'honatan.


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Likewise, on hearing that the P'lishtim were fleeing, all the men of Isra'el who had hidden themselves in the hills of Efrayim pursued them in battle.


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Isra'el's soldiers had been driven to exhaustion that day; but Sha'ul issued this warning to the people: 'A curse on any man who eats any food until evening, when I will have finished taking vengeance on my enemies.' So none of the people even tasted food.


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When the people had entered the forest, they saw there the honeycomb with honey dripping out; but no one put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath.


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But Y'honatan hadn't heard his father charging the people with the oath, so he put out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it in the honeycomb and raised it to his mouth; whereupon his eyes lit up.


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But one of the people said in response, 'Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, 'A curse on any man who eats any food today'; even though the people are fainting with hunger.'


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Y'honatan answered, 'My father has brought trouble to the land. Just look how my eyes have lit up because I tasted a little of this honey.


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How much greater would the slaughter of the P'lishtim have been today, then, if the people had eaten freely of the spoil they found with their enemies!'


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That day they had attacked the P'lishtim from Mikhmas to Ayalon; but the people were very exhausted.


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So the people rushed at the spoil, seizing sheep, cows and calves, slaughtering them on the ground, and eating the flesh with the blood.


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Sha'ul was told, 'Look how the people are sinning against ADONAI, eating with the blood.' He said, 'You have not kept faith! Roll a big stone to me immediately!


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Now,' Sha'ul said, 'go around among the people and tell them, 'Each of you is to bring his cow and his sheep and slaughter them here. Then eat. Don't sin against ADONAI by eating with the blood.' So each person brought his animal with him that evening and killed it there.


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Sha'ul said, 'Let's go after the P'lishtim by night. We'll plunder them until dawn; we won't leave one of them alive.' They answered, 'Do whatever seems good to you.' But the cohen said, 'Let's approach God here.'


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Sha'ul consulted God: 'Should I go down in pursuit of the P'lishtim? Will you hand them over to Isra'el?' But he didn't answer him that day.


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Sha'ul said, 'Come here, all you heads of the people. Think carefully: who has committed this sin today?


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For, as ADONAI Isra'el's deliverer lives, even if it proves to be Y'honatan my son, he must be put to death.' But no one among all the people answered him.


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Then he said to all Isra'el, 'You be on one side, and I and Y'honatan my son will be on the other side.' The people replied to Sha'ul, 'Do what seems good to you.'


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Sha'ul said to ADONAI the God of Isra'el, 'Who is right?' Y'honatan and Sha'ul were chosen by lot, and the people went free.


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Then Sha'ul said to Y'honatan, 'Tell me what you did.'Y'honatan told him, 'Yes, I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff in my hand. Here I am; I'm ready to die.'


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But the people said to Sha'ul, 'Must Y'honatan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Isra'el? Heaven forbid! As ADONAI lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground; because he worked with God today!' In this way the people rescued Y'honatan, so that he didn't die.


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So Sha'ul took over the rulership of Isra'el. He fought against all his enemies on every side - against Mo'av, the people of 'Amon, Edom, the kings of Tzovah and the P'lishtim. No matter which way he turned, he defeated them.


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He demonstrated his strength by attacking 'Amalek, and he saved Isra'el from the power of those who were plundering them.


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The sons of Sha'ul were Y'honatan, Yishvi and Malkishua, while the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the older, Merav, and of the younger, Mikhal.


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Sha'ul's wife was named Achino'am the daughter of Achima'atz; the commander of his army was named Avner the son of Ner, Sha'ul's uncle.


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As long as Sha'ul lived there was bitter war against the P'lishtim. Whenever Sha'ul saw any strong or courageous man, he recruited him into his service.


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Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, 'ADONAI sent me to anoint you king over his people, over Isra'el. Now listen to what ADONAI has to say.


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Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'I remember what 'Amalek did to Isra'el, how they fought against Isra'el when they were coming up from Egypt.


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Now go and attack 'Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, children and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.''


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Sha'ul summoned the people and reviewed them in T'la'im - 200,000 foot soldiers, with another 10,000 men from Y'hudah.


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Sha'ul said to the Keni, 'Go away, withdraw, leave your homes there with the 'Amaleki. Otherwise, I might destroy you along with them, even though you were kind to all the people of Isra'el when they came out of Egypt. So the Keni went away from among the 'Amaleki.


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Then Sha'ul attacked 'Amalek, starting at Havilah and continuing toward Shur, at the border of Egypt.


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He took Agag the king of 'Amalek alive; but he completely destroyed the people, putting them to the sword.


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However, Sha'ul and the people spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, and even the second best, also the lambs, and everything that was good - they weren't inclined to destroy these things. But everything that was worthless or weak they completely destroyed.


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'I regret setting up Sha'ul as king, because he has turned back from following me and hasn't obeyed my orders.'This made Sh'mu'el very sad, so that he cried to ADONAI all night.


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Sh'mu'el got up early in the morning to meet Sha'ul; however, Sh'mu'el was told, 'Sha'ul came to Karmel to set up a monument for himself there, but now he has left and is on his way down to Gilgal.'


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Sh'mu'el went to Sha'ul; Sha'ul said to him, 'May ADONAI bless you! I have done what ADONAI ordered.'


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Sha'ul said, 'They brought them from the 'Amaleki, because the people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to ADONAI your God. But we completely destroyed the rest.'


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Then Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, 'Stop! I'm going to tell you what ADONAI said to me last night.' He said, 'Speak.'


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Sh'mu'el then said, 'You may be small in your own sight, but you are head of the tribes of Isra'el -ADONAI anointed you king over Isra'el!


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Now ADONAI sent you on a mission and told you, 'Go and completely destroy 'Amalek, those sinners; keep making war on them until they have been exterminated.


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Why did you seize the spoil instead of paying attention to what ADONAI said? From ADONAI's viewpoint, you have done an evil thing.'


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Sha'ul said to Sh'mu'el, 'I did too pay attention to what ADONAI said, and I carried out the mission on which ADONAI sent me. I brought back Agag the king of 'Amalek, and I completely destroyed 'Amalek.


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But the people took some of the spoil, the best of the sheep and cattle set aside for destruction, to sacrifice to ADONAI your God in Gilgal.'


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Sh'mu'el said, 'Does ADONAI take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying what ADONAI says? Surely obeying is better than sacrifice, and heeding orders than the fat of rams. 'For rebellion is like the sin of sorcery, stubbornness like the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of ADONAI, he too has rejected you as king.' 24 Sha'ul said to Sh'mu'el, 'I have sinned. I violated the order of ADONAI and your words too, because I was afraid of the people and listened to what they said. 25 Now, please, pardon my sin; and come back with me, so that I can worship ADONAI.'26 But Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, 'I will not go back with you, because you have rejected the word of ADONAI, and ADONAI has rejected you as king over Isra'el.'27 As Sh'mu'el was turning around to leave, he took hold of the hem of his cloak, and it tore. 28 Sh'mu'el said to him, 'ADONAI has torn the kingdom of Isra'el away from you today and given it to a fellow countryman of yours who is better than you. 29 Moreover, the Eternal One of Isra'el will not lie or change his mind, because he isn't a mere human being subject to changing his mind.'30 Then Sha'ul said, 'I have sinned; but in spite of that, please show me respect now before the leaders of my people and before Isra'el by coming back with me, so that I can worship ADONAI your God.'31 So Sh'mu'el followed Sha'ul back, and Sha'ul worshipped ADONAI. 32 Then Sh'mu'el said, 'Bring Agag the king of 'Amalek here to me. Agag came to him in chains and said, 'Without doubt, mine will be a bitter death.'33 Sh'mu'el said, 'Just as your sword has left women childless, so will your mother be left childless among women.' Then Sh'mu'el cut Agag in pieces before ADONAI in Gilgal. 34 Sh'mu'el returned to Ramah, and Sha'ul went up to his house in Giv'at-Sha'ul. 35 Never again did Sh'mu'el see Sha'ul, until the day he died. But Sh'mu'el grieved over Sha'ul, and ADONAI regretted that he had made Sha'ul king over Isra'el.


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ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, 'How much longer are you going to go on grieving for Sha'ul, now that I have rejected him as king over Isra'el? Fill your horn with oil, and set out; I will send you to Yishai the Beit-Lachmi, because I have chosen myself a king from among his sons.'


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Sh'mu'el said, 'How can I go? If Sha'ul hears of it, he will have me killed.'ADONAI said, 'Take a female cow with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to ADONAI.'


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Summon Yishai to the sacrifice. I will tell you what to do, and you are to anoint for me the person I point out to you.'


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Sh'mu'el did what ADONAI said and arrived at Beit-Lechem. The leaders of the city came trembling to meet him and asked, 'Are you coming in peace?'


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He answered, 'In peace. I have come to sacrifice to ADONAI. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.' He consecrated Yishai and his sons and summoned them to the sacrifice.


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When they had come, he looked at Eli'av and said, 'This has to be ADONAI's anointed one, here before him.'


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But ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, 'Don't pay attention to how he looks or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. ADONAI doesn't see the way humans see - humans look at the outward appearance, but ADONAI looks at the heart.'


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Then Yishai called Avinadav and presented him to Sh'mu'el; but he said, 'ADONAI hasn't chosen this one either.'


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Yishai presented seven of his sons to Sh'mu'el; but Sh'mu'el told Yishai, 'ADONAI has not chosen these.


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Are all your sons here?' Sh'mu'el asked Yishai. He replied, 'There is still the youngest; he's out there tending the sheep.' Sh'mu'el said to Yishai, 'Send and bring him back, because we won't sit down to eat until he gets here.'


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He sent and brought him in. With ruddy cheeks, red hair and bright eyes, he was a good-looking fellow. ADONAI said, 'Stand up and anoint him; he's the one.'


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Sh'mu'el took the horn of oil and anointed him there in his brothers' presence. From that day on, the Spirit of ADONAI would fall upon David with power. So Sh'mu'el set out and went to Ramah.


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Now the Spirit of ADONAI had left Sha'ul; instead, an evil spirit from ADONAI would suddenly come over him.


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Sha'ul's servants said to him, 'Do you notice that there's an evil spirit from God that suddenly comes over you?


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Let our lord now command your servants who are here with you to look for a man who knows how to play the lyre. Then, if the evil spirit from God comes over you, he will play; and it will do you good.'


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One of the young men answered, 'Here, I've seen one of the sons of Yishai the Beit-Lachmi who knows how to play. He's a brave soldier, he can fight, he chooses his words carefully and he's pleasant-looking. Besides, ADONAI is with him.'


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Yishai took a donkey, loaded it with bread, a bottle of wine and a kid, and sent them with David his son to Sha'ul.


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David came to Sha'ul and presented himself to him. Sha'ul took a great liking to him and made him his armor-bearer.


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Sha'ul sent a message to Yishai: 'Please let David stay in my service, because I'm pleased with him.'


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So it was that whenever the [evil] spirit from God came over Sha'ul, David would take the lyre and play it, with the result that Sha'ul would find relief and feel better, as the evil spirit left him.


text:
The P'lishtim rallied their troops for war, assembling at Sokhoh in Y'hudah and setting up camp between Sokhoh and 'Azekah in Efes-Damim.


text:
Sha'ul and the men of Isra'el assembled, set up camp in the Elah Valley and drew up their battle line opposite the P'lishtim.


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The P'lishtim occupied a position on one hill and Isra'el a position on another hill, with a valley between them.


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There came out a champion from the camp of the P'lishtim named Golyat, from Gat, who was nine feet nine inches tall.


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The shaft of his spear was as big as a weaver's beam, and the iron spearhead weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer went ahead of him.


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He stood and yelled at the armies of Isra'el, 'Why come out and draw up a battle line? I'm a P'lishti, and you are servants of Sha'ul, so choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.


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If he can fight me and kill me, we'll be your slaves; but if I beat him and kill him, you will become slaves and serve us.'


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Now David was the son of that Efrati from Beit-Lechem in Y'hudah named Yishai. He had eight sons; and in the time of Sha'ul he was old - the years had taken their toll.


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Yishai's three oldest sons had followed Sha'ul to battle; the names of his three sons who went to battle were Eli'av the firstborn, next to him Avinadav, and the third Shammah.


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Yishai said to David his son, 'Please take your brothers five bushels of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread; hurry, and carry them to your brothers at the camp.


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Also bring these ten cheeses to their field officer. Find out if your brothers are well, and bring back some token from them.


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Sha'ul and your brothers, with all the army of Isra'el, are in the Elah Valley, fighting the P'lishtim.'


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David got up early in the morning, left the sheep with a helper, took his load and set out, as Yishai had ordered him. He arrived at the barricade of the camp just as the troops were going out to their battle stations and shouting the war cry.


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David left his equipment in charge of the equipment guard, ran to the troops, went to his brothers and asked if they were well.


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As he was talking with them, there came the champion, the P'lishti from Gat named Golyat, from the ranks of the P'lishtim, saying the same words as before; and David heard them.


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The soldiers from Isra'el said [to each other], 'You saw that man who just came up? He has come to challenge Isra'el. To whoever kills him, the king will give a rich reward; he'll also give him his daughter and exempt his father's family from all service and taxes in Isra'el.'


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David said to the men standing with him, 'What reward will be given to the man who kills this P'lishti and removes this disgrace from Isra'el? Who is this uncircumcised P'lishti anyway, that he challenges the armies of the living God?'


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The people answered with what they had been saying, adding, 'That's what will be done for the man who kills him.'


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Eli'av his oldest brother heard when David spoke to the men, and it made Eli'av angry at him. He asked, 'Why did you come down here? With whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is! You just came down to watch the fighting.'


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He turned away from him to someone else and asked the same question, and the people gave him the same answer.


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David said to Sha'ul, 'No one should lose heart because of him; your servant will go and fight this P'lishti.'


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Sha'ul said to David, 'You can't go to fight this P'lishti -you're just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth!'


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David answered Sha'ul, 'Your servant used to guard his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear would come and grab a lamb from the flock,


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I would go after it, hit it, and snatch the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned on me, I would catch it by the jaw, smack it and kill it.


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Your servant has defeated both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised P'lishti will be like one of them, because he has challenged the armies of the living God.'


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Then David said, 'ADONAI, who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will rescue me from the paw of this P'lishti!' Sha'ul said to David, 'Go; may ADONAI be with you.'


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Sha'ul dressed David in his own armor - he put a bronze helmet on his head and gave him armor plate to wear.


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David buckled his sword on his armor and tried to walk, but he wasn't used to such equipment. David said to Sha'ul, 'I can't move wearing these things, because I'm not used to them.' So David took them off.


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Then he took his stick in his hand and picked five smooth stones from the riverbed, putting them in his shepherd's bag, in his pouch. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the P'lishti.


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The P'lishti looked David up and down and had nothing but scorn for what he saw - a boy with ruddy cheeks, red hair and good looks.


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The P'lishti said to David, 'Am I a dog? Is that why you're coming at me with sticks?'- and the P'lishti cursed David by his god.


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Then the P'lishti said to David, 'Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds in the air and the wild animals.'


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David answered the P'lishti, 'You're coming at me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I'm coming at you in the name of ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of the armies of Isra'el, whom you have challenged.


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Today ADONAI will hand you over to me. I will attack you, lop your head off, and give the carcasses of the army of the P'lishtim to the birds in the air and the animals in the land. Then all the land will know that there is a God in Isra'el,


text:
and everyone assembled here will know that ADONAI does not save by sword or spear. For this is ADONAI's battle, and he will hand you over to us.'


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When the P'lishti got up, approached and came close to meet David, David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the P'lishti.


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David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, and hurled it with his sling. It struck the P'lishti in his forehead and buried itself in his forehead, so that he fell face down on the ground.


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Thus David defeated the P'lishti with a sling and a stone, striking the P'lishti and killing him; but David had no sword in his hand.


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Then David ran and stood over the P'lishti, took his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and finished killing him, cutting off his head with it. When the P'lishtim saw that their hero was dead, they fled.


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The men of Isra'el and Y'hudah got up, shouting, and pursued the P'lishtim all the way to Gat and the gates of 'Ekron. The wounded P'lishtim fell down all along the road from Sha'arayim to Gat and 'Ekron.


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David took the head of the P'lishti and brought it to Yerushalayim, but he put the armor of the P'lishti in his tent.


text:
When Sha'ul saw David go out to fight the P'lishti, he said to Avner, the army's commander, 'Avner, whose son is this boy?''By your life, O king,' Avner 57 As replied, 'I don't know.'


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The king said, 'Find out whose son this boy is.'David returned from killing the P'lishti, Avner took him and brought him to Sha'ul with the head of the P'lishti in his hand. 58 Sha'ul asked him, 'Young man, whose son are you?' David answered, 'I am the son of your servant Yishai the Beit-Lachmi.'


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By the time David had finished speaking to Sha'ul, Y'honatan found himself inwardly drawn by David's character, so that Y'honatan loved him as he did himself.


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That day, Sha'ul took David into his service and would not let him go home to his father's house any more.


text:
Y'honatan removed the cloak he was wearing and gave it to David, his armor too, including his sword, bow and belt.


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David would go out, and no matter where Sha'ul sent him, he was successful. Sha'ul put him in charge of the fighting men; all the people thought it good, and so did Sha'ul's servants.


text:
As David and the others were returning from the slaughter of the P'lishti, the women came out of all the cities of Isra'el to meet King Sha'ul, singing and dancing joyfully with tambourines and three-stringed instruments.


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In their merrymaking the women sang, 'Sha'ul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.'


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Sha'ul became very angry, because this song displeased him. He said, 'They give David credit for tens of thousands, but me they give credit for only thousands. Now all he lacks is the kingdom!'


text:
The following day an evil spirit from God came powerfully over Sha'ul, so that he fell into a frenzy in the house. David was there, playing his lyre as on other occasions. This time Sha'ul had his spear in his hand;


text:
and he threw the spear, thinking, 'I will pin David to the wall!' But David dodged out of the way twice.


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Therefore Sha'ul put him at a distance from himself by making him commander over a thousand; his goings and comings became public knowledge.


text:
Sha'ul said to David, 'Here is my older daughter Merav. I will give her to you as your wife; only continue displaying your courage for me, and fight ADONAI's battles.' Sha'ul was thinking, 'I don't dare touch him, so let the P'lishtim do away with him.'


text:
David's response to Sha'ul was, 'Who am I, that I should become the king's son-in-law? I don't have any kind of a life, and my father's family has no rank in Isra'el.'


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However, when it was time for Merav Sha'ul's daughter to be given to David, she was given to Adri'el the Mecholati as his wife.


text:
Sha'ul said, 'I'll give her to him, so that she can entrap him, and the P'lishtim can do away with him.' So Sha'ul said to David, 'Today you will become my son-in-law through the second [daughter].'


text:
Sha'ul ordered his servants to speak privately with David and say, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you; so become the king's son-in-law.'


text:
Sha'ul's servants said this to David; but David replied, 'Do you think being the king's son-in-law is something to be treated so casually, given that I'm a poor man without social standing?'


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Sha'ul said, 'Here's what you are to say to David: 'The king doesn't want any dowry; he wants a hundred foreskins of the P'lishtim, so that he can have vengeance on the king's enemies.' For Sha'ul was hoping to have David killed by the P'lishtim.


text:
When his servants said these words to David, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. Even before the time [for him to be married],


text:
David got up and set out, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the P'lishtim. He brought their foreskins and gave all of them to the king in order to become the king's son-in-law. Then Sha'ul gave him Mikhal his daughter as his wife.


text:
This only made Sha'ul the more afraid of David, so that Sha'ul became David's enemy for the rest of his life.


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The leaders of the P'lishtim would attack; but whenever they attacked, David was more successful than any of Sha'ul's servants; so that David acquired a great reputation.


text:
Sha'ul told Y'honatan his son and all his servants that they should have David killed. But because Y'honatan was very fond of David,


text:
he told him, 'My father Sha'ul is out to have you killed. Therefore you must be very cautious tomorrow morning. Find a well-concealed place to hide in.


text:
I will go out and stand next to my father in the countryside where you're hiding. I will talk with my father about you; and if I learn anything, I'll tell you.'


text:
Y'honatan spoke well of David to Sha'ul his father and said to him, 'The king shouldn't sin against his servant David, because he hasn't sinned against you. On the contrary, his work for you has been very good indeed.


text:
He put his life in his hands to attack the P'lishtim, and ADONAI accomplished a great victory for all Isra'el. You yourself saw it, and you were happy about it. So why do you want to sin against innocent blood by killing David without any reason?'


text:
Y'honatan called David and told him all these things. Then Y'honatan brought David to Sha'ul to be in attendance on the king, as before.


text:
War broke out again, and David went and fought the P'lishtim. He defeated them with a great slaughter, and they fled before him.


text:
Then an evil spirit from ADONAI came upon Sha'ul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing his lyre,


text:
when Sha'ul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear. But he dodged it and moved out of Sha'ul's way, so that the spear stuck in the wall. David fled, so that night he escaped.


text:
But Sha'ul sent messengers to David's house to watch for him and kill him in the morning. Mikhal David's wife told him, 'If you don't save your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be dead.'


text:
Mikhal took the household idol, laid it on the bed, put a goat's-hair quilt at its head and covered it with a cloth.


text:
Sha'ul sent the messengers to see David with the order, 'Bring him up to me, bed and all, so that I can kill him.'


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But when the messengers entered, there before them was the household idol in the bed, with the goat's-hair quilt at its head.


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Sha'ul asked Mikhal, 'Why did you deceive me this way and let my enemy go and escape?' Mikhal answered Sha'ul, 'He threatened me, 'Let me go, or I'll kill you.''


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David fled and escaped, then came to Sh'mu'el in Ramah and told him everything Sha'ul had done to him. So he and Sh'mu'el went and stayed in the prophets'dormitory.


text:
Sha'ul sent messengers to capture David. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Sh'mu'el standing and leading them, the Spirit of God fell on Sha'ul's messengers; and they too began prophesying.


text:
When Sha'ul was told, he sent other messengers; but they too began prophesying. Sha'ul sent messengers a third time, and they also prophesied.


text:
Then he himself went to Ramah. When he arrived at the big cistern in Sekhu, he asked, 'Where are Sh'mu'el and David?' Someone answered, 'They're at the prophets' dormitory in Ramah.'


text:
While on his way to the prophets' dormitory in Ramah, the Spirit of God fell on him too; and he went on, prophesying, until he arrived at the prophets' dormitory in Ramah.


text:
He also stripped off his clothes, prophesied in Sh'mu'el's presence and lay there naked all that day and all that night. Hence it continues to be an expression, 'Is Sha'ul a prophet, too?'


text:
David fled from the prophets' dormitory in Ramah, returned to Y'honatan and said, 'What have I done? Where have I gone wrong? What sin have I committed that makes your father want to take my life?'


text:
Y'honatan replied,'Heaven forbid! You're not going to die! Look, my father does nothing important or unimportant without telling me first; so why should my father hide this from me? It just won't happen!'


text:
In response David swore, 'Your father knows very well that you have made me your friend. This is why he will say, 'Y'honatan must not know this, or he will be unhappy.'As truly as ADONAI lives, and as truly as you are alive, there is only a step between me and death.'


text:
David answered Y'honatan, 'Look, tomorrow is Rosh-Hodesh, and I ought to be dining with the king. Instead, let me go and hide myself in the countryside until evening of the third day.


text:
If your father misses me at all, say, 'David begged me to let him hurry to Beit-Lechem, his city; because it's the annual sacrifice there for his whole family.'


text:
If he says, 'Very good,' then your servant will be all right. But if he gets angry, you will know that he has planned something bad.


text:
Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you bound your servant to yourself by a covenant before ADONAI. But if I have done something wrong, kill me yourself! Why turn me over to your father?'


text:
Y'honatan said, 'Heaven forbid! If I ever were to learn that my father had definitely decided to do you harm, wouldn't I tell you?'


text:
Y'honatan said to David, 'Come, let's go out in the countryside.' They went out, both of them, to the countryside.


text:
Y'honatan said to David, 'ADONAI, the God of Isra'el [is witness]: after I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, then, if things look good for David, I will send and let you know.


text:
But if my father intends to do you harm, may ADONAI do as much and more to me if I don't let you know and send you away, so that you can go in peace. And may ADONAI be with you, just as he used to be with my father.


text:
but also, after ADONAI has eliminated every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth, you are to continue showing kindness to my family forever.'


text:
Thus Y'honatan made a covenant with the family of David, adding, 'May ADONAI seek its fulfillment even through David's enemies.'


text:
Y'honatan had David swear it again, because of the love he had for him - he loved him as he loved himself.


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Y'honatan said to him, 'Tomorrow is Rosh-Hodesh, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.


text:
Then I will send my boy to recover them. If I tell the boy, 'They're here on this side of you, take them,' then come - it means that everything is peaceful for you; as ADONAI lives, there's nothing wrong.


text:
But if I tell the boy, 'The arrows are out there, beyond you,' then get going, because ADONAI is sending you away.


text:
The king sat at his usual place by the wall. Y'honatan stood up, and Avner sat next to Sha'ul, but David's place was empty.


text:
However, Sha'ul didn't say anything that day; because he thought, 'Something has happened to him, he is unclean. Yes, that's it, he isn't clean.'


text:
The day after Rosh-Hodesh, the second day, David's place was empty; and Sha'ul said to Y'honatan his son, 'Why hasn't Yishai's son come to the meal either yesterday or today?'


text:
He said, 'Please let me go, because our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother demanded that I come. So now, if you look on me favorably, please let me get away and see my brothers.' That's why he hasn't come to the king's table.'


text:
At that Sha'ul flew into a rage at Y'honatan and said, 'You crooked rebel! Don't I know that you've made this son of Yishai your best friend? You don't care that you're shaming yourself and dishonoring your mother, do you?


text:
Because as long as the son of Yishai lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be secure. Now send and bring him here to me - he deserves to die.'


text:
But Sha'ul threw his spear at him, aiming to kill; Y'honatan could no longer doubt that his father was determined to put David to death.


text:
Y'honatan got up from the table in a fury, and he ate no food the second day of the month, both because he was upset over David and because his father had put him to shame.


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The next morning Y'honatan went out into the country at the time he had arranged with David, taking with him a young boy.


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He told the boy, 'Now run and find the arrows I'm about to shoot.'As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.


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When the boy reached the place where the arrow was that Y'honatan had shot, Y'honatan shouted at the boy,'Isn't the arrow beyond you?'


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Y'honatan continued shouting after the boy, 'Quick! Hurry! Don't just stand there!' Y'honatan's boy gathered the arrows and returned to his master,


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As soon as the boy had gone, David got up from a place south of the stone, fell face down on the ground and prostrated himself three times; and they kissed one another and wept each with the other until it became too much for David.


text:
Y'honatan said to David, 'Go in peace; because we have sworn, both of us, in the name of ADONAI, that ADONAI will be between me and you, and between my descendants and yours, forever.' 1(42b) So David got up and left, and Y'honatan went back to the city.


text:
David went to see Achimelekh the cohen in Nov. Achimelekh came trembling to meet David and asked, 'Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?'


text:
David said to Achimelekh the cohen, 'The king has sent me on a mission and told me not to let anyone know its purpose or what I've been ordered to do. I've arranged a place where the guards are to meet me.


text:
Now, what do you have on hand? If you can spare five loaves of bread, give them to me, or whatever there is.'


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The cohen answered David, 'I don't have any regular bread; however, there is consecrated bread - but only if the guards have abstained from women.


text:
David answered the cohen, 'Of course women have been kept away from us, as on previous campaigns. Whenever I go out on campaign, the men's gear is clean, even if it's an ordinary trip. How much more, then, today, when they will be putting something consecrated in their packs!'


text:
So the cohen gave him consecrated bread, because there was no bread there other than the showbread that had been removed from before ADONAI to be replaced by freshly baked bread on the day the old bread was removed.


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One of the servants of Sha'ul happened to be there that day, detained before ADONAI. His name was Do'eg the Edomi, the head of Sha'ul's shepherds.


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David said to Achimelekh, 'Perhaps you have here with you a spear or a sword? I brought neither my sword nor my other weapons, because the king's mission was urgent.'


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The cohen said, 'The sword of Golyat the P'lishti you killed in the Elah Valley, is over there behind the ritual vest, wrapped in a cloth. If you want it, take it; it's the only one here.' David said, 'There's nothing like it; give it to me.'


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The servants of Akhish said to him, 'Isn't this David, king of the land? Weren't they dancing and singing to each other, 'Sha'ul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands'?'


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So, as they were watching, he changed his behavior and acted like a madman when they had hold of him, scratching marks on the doors of the city gate and drooling down his beard.


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Am I short of meshugga'im? Is that why you've brought this one to go crazy on me? Must I have this one in my house?'


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David left there and took refuge in the Cave of 'Adulam. When his brothers and the rest of his father's family heard of it, they went down to see him there.


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Then all the people in distress, in debt or embittered began gathering around him, and he became their leader; there were about four hundred with him.


text:
David went from there to Mitzpeh of Mo'av and said to the king of Mo'av, 'Please let my father and mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.'


text:
He presented them to the king of Mo'av, and they lived with him as long as David remained in his stronghold.


text:
But the prophet Gad said to David, 'Don't stay in the stronghold. Leave, and go to the land of Y'hudah.' So David left and went to the Forest of Heret.


text:
Sha'ul heard that David and the men with him had been located. Sha'ul was sitting in Giv'ah, under the tamarisk tree on the hill, with his spear in his hand and all his servants standing around him.


text:
Sha'ul said to his servants standing around him, 'Listen, you men of Binyamin! Is Yishai's son going to give any of you fields and vineyards? Is he going to make you all commanders of thousands and hundreds?


text:
Is this why you have all conspired against me, why none of you told me when my son went in league with Yishai's son? None of you is concerned about me! Otherwise you would have told me that my son had incited my servant to become my enemy, as he is now.'


text:
Then Do'eg the Edomi, who had been put in charge of Sha'ul's servants, answered,'I saw Yishai's son come to Nov, to Achimelekh the son of Achituv.


text:
The king sent to summon Achimelekh the cohen the son of Achituv, along with all his father's family, the cohanim in Nov; and all of them went to the king.


text:
Sha'ul said to him, 'Why did you conspire against me, you and Yishai's son? By giving him bread and a sword and consulting God for him, you helped him rebel against me and become my enemy, which he now is!'


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Achimelekh answered the king, 'Is there anyone among all your servants more trustworthy than David? He's the king's son-in-law, he carries out your every request, your household honors him.


text:
I didn't start consulting God for him just today. Heaven forbid! The king shouldn't accuse me or my father's family of anything! Your servant knows nothing at all about any of this!'


text:
Then the king told the guards standing around him, 'Go around, and kill the cohanim of ADONAI, because they are siding with David, and because they knew he was escaping, yet they didn't tell me.' But the king's servants refused to lift their hands against the cohanim of ADONAI.


text:
So the king said to Do'eg, 'You go around and kill the cohanim!' Do'eg the Edomi went around and fell on the cohanim; that day he killed eighty-five persons wearing linen ritual vests.


text:
He also attacked Nov, the city of the cohanim, with the sword; he put to the sword both men and women, children and babies, cattle, donkeys and sheep.


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David said to Avyatar, 'I knew it! That day, when Do'eg the Edomi was there, I knew he would tell Sha'ul. I caused the death of every person in your father's family.


text:
Stay with me; don't be afraid; because the one who is seeking my life seeks yours too. You'll be safe with me.'


text:
David consulted ADONAI, asking, 'Should I go and attack these P'lishtim?'ADONAI answered David, 'Go, and attack the P'lishtim, and save Ke'ilah.'


text:
David's men said to him, 'Look, we're already afraid here in Y'hudah. How much more, then, if we go to Ke'ilah to fight the armies of the P'lishtim!'


text:
David consulted ADONAI again; and ADONAI answered him, 'Set out, and go down to Ke'ilah, because I will hand the P'lishtim over to you.'


text:
David and his men went to Ke'ilah and fought the P'lishtim. They defeated them in a great slaughter and led away their livestock. Thus David saved the inhabitants of Ke'ilah.


text:
Now Sha'ul, on being informed that David had gone to Ke'ilah, had said, 'God has put him into my hands. He's trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.'


text:
David knew that Sha'ul was plotting something against him, so he told Avyatar the cohen, 'Bring the ritual vest here.'


text:
Then David said, 'ADONAI God of Isra'el, your servant has certainly heard that Sha'ul intends to come to Ke'ilah and destroy the city just to get me.


text:
Will the men of Ke'ilah turn me over to him? Will Sha'ul come down, as your servant has heard? ADONAI God of Isra'el, please tell your servant!'ADONAI said, 'He will come down.'


text:
Then David asked, 'Will the men of Ke'ilah hand me and my men over to Sha'ul?'ADONAI said, 'They will hand you over.'


text:
So David and his men, now around six hundred, got up, left Ke'ilah and went wherever they could. It was told Sha'ul that David had escaped from Ke'ilah, so he called off the expedition.


text:
David stayed in the desert strongholds, remaining in the hills of the Zif Desert. Sha'ul kept trying to find him, but God did not hand him over to him.


text:
David saw that Sha'ul had mounted another expedition to seek his life. David was then at Horesh in the Zif Desert.


text:
He said to him, 'Don't be afraid, because my father's forces will not find you; you will be king over Isra'el, and I will be second to you. Sha'ul my father knows this, too.'


text:
Then the two of them made a covenant in the presence of ADONAI, after which David stayed at Horesh and Y'honatan returned home.


text:
The people of Zif came to Sha'ul in Giv'ah and said, 'David is hiding himself with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on Hakhilah Hill, south of Yeshimon.


text:
So now, king, since you've wanted so much to come down, come down! Our part will be to turn him over to you.'


text:
Please go and make still more certain exactly where he is and who has seen him there, because I've been told that he's very tricky.


text:
So look closely, find out where all his hiding-places are, and come back when you're sure. Then I will go with you, and if he is there in that territory, I'll search till I find him among all the thousands of Y'hudah.'


text:
They set out and went to Zif before Sha'ul. But David and his men had gone on to the Ma'on Desert, in the 'Aravah south of Yeshimon.


text:
Sha'ul and his men went searching for him. David was told, so he came down to the rock and stayed in the Ma'on Desert. When Sha'ul heard that, he pursued David in the Ma'on Desert.


text:
Sha'ul went along one side of the mountain, while David and his men went along the other. David was hurrying to get away from Sha'ul, while Sha'ul and his men were trying to surround David and his men in order to capture them.


text:
But then a messenger came to Sha'ul, saying, 'Hurry, come, because the P'lishtim are invading the country!'


text:
So Sha'ul stopped chasing David and went to fight the P'lishtim. Therefore they called that place Sela-Hamachlekot [rock of divisions].


text:
When Sha'ul returned from pursuing the P'lishtim, he was told that David was in the desert at 'Ein-Gedi.


text:
Sha'ul took three thousand men chosen from all Isra'el and went searching for David and his men on the cliffs where the mountain goats are.


text:
Near some sheep pens along the way was a cave, and Sha'ul went inside to relieve himself. It happened that David and his men were sitting in the recesses at the back of the cave;


text:
and David's men said to him, 'Look! The day has come that ADONAI told you about when he said to you, 'I will turn your enemy over to you, and you will do to him whatever seems good to you.''Then David stole over unobserved and cut off the corner of Sha'ul's cloak.


text:
He said to his men, 'ADONAI forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord, ADONAI's anointed, as raise my hand against him! After all, he is ADONAI's anointed.'


text:
By saying this, David stopped his men and would not let them do anything to Sha'ul. Sha'ul got up, left the cave and went on his way.


text:
Then David too got up and went outside the cave, where he called after Sha'ul, 'My lord the king!' When Sha'ul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.


text:
Here, today you have seen with your own eyes that ADONAI put you in my power there in the cave. Some of my men said I should kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I won't raise my hand against my lord, because he is ADONAI's anointed.'


text:
Moreover, my father, look! Here in my hand you see the corner of your cloak. By the fact that I only cut off a piece of your cloak and didn't kill you, you can see and understand that I have no plan to do harm or rebel, and that I haven't sinned against you -even though you are seeking every chance you get to take my life.


text:
May ADONAI judge between you and me, and may ADONAI avenge me on you! But I will not lay a hand on you -


text:
The king of Isra'el has come on a campaign - after whom? Whom are you chasing? A dead dog! A single flea!


text:
ADONAI be the judge; let him decide between you and me. May he take my side and rescue me from your power!'


text:
After David had finished speaking to Sha'ul, Sha'ul said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?' Then Sha'ul cried out and wept;


text:
and he said to David, 'You are more righteous than I, because you have treated me well, while I have been treating you badly.


text:
You have made it clear to me today that you have done me good; for when ADONAI put my fate in your hands, you didn't kill me.


text:
A man finds his enemy and lets him go unharmed?! May ADONAI reward you well for what you did to me today.


text:
Now I'm certain that you will indeed become king, and that the kingship of Isra'el will be established in your hands.


text:
So swear to me by ADONAI that you will not kill my descendants after I die or blot out my name from my father's family.'


text:
Sh'mu'el died. All of Isra'el assembled to mourn him and bury him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Pa'ran Desert.


text:
Now there was a man in Ma'on who had property in Karmel. He was very rich, having three thousand sheep and a thousand goats; and he was shearing his sheep in Karmel.


text:
The man's name was Naval, and his wife was named Avigayil. The woman was intelligent and attractive, but the man was surly and mean in his actions; he belonged to the clan of Kalev.


text:
David sent off ten young men with these orders: 'Go up to Naval in Karmel, and bring him greetings from me.


text:
Say, 'Long life and shalom to you, shalom to your household, and shalom to everything that is yours!


text:
I've heard that you now have shearers. Your shepherds were with us [for a while], we did them no harm, and they found nothing missing all the time they were in Karmel.


text:
Ask your own men; they'll tell you. Therefore, receive my men favorably, since we have come on a festive day. Please give what you can to your servants and to your son David.''


text:
Naval answered David's servants, 'Who is David? Who is the son of Yishai? There are many servants nowadays running away from their masters.


text:
Am I supposed to take my bread, my water and my meat that I slaughtered for my shearers and give it to men coming from who knows where?'


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David said to his men, 'Buckle your swords on, all of you!' Each one buckled on his sword, David too; and there went up after David about four hundred men, while two hundred stayed with the equipment.


text:
But one of Naval's men told Avigayil his wife, 'David sent messengers from the desert to greet our master, and he flew on them in a rage,


text:
even though the men had been very good to us - they didn't harm us, and we found nothing missing during the entire time we went with them, while we were out in the countryside.


text:
They served as a wall protecting us day and night all the time we were with them caring for the sheep.


text:
So now decide what you are going to do, for clearly harm is on its way to our master and all his household, but he's so mean that no one can tell him anything.'


text:
Avigayil wasted no time in taking 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already prepared, six quarts of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins and 200 fig cakes, and having them loaded on donkeys.


text:
Then she said to her young men, 'Go on ahead of me, and I'll come along after you.' But she didn't tell her husband Naval.


text:
She was riding her donkey down past the hiding-place in the mountain, when David and his men descended toward her, and she met them.


text:
David had said, 'What a waste it has been guarding everything this fellow has in the desert, so that nothing of his was missing! He has repaid me bad for good!'


text:
Then he swore, 'May God do the same and more to David's enemies if I leave alive even one male of everything he owns.'


text:
When Avigayil saw David, she hurried to dismount from her donkey, fell on her face in front of David and bowed down to the ground.


text:
Having fallen at his feet, she said, 'It's all my fault, my lord, all my fault! Please let your servant speak in your ears, and listen to what your servant says.


text:
Please! My lord shouldn't pay any attention to this worthless fellow Naval, because he's just like his name -'Naval' means 'boor,' and his boorishness stays with him. But I, your servant, did not see my lord's men, whom you sent.


text:
Therefore, my lord, as ADONAI lives, and as you live, inasmuch as ADONAI has kept you from the guilt of shedding blood and from taking vengeance into your own hands - therefore, may your enemies and anyone seeking your harm be [as worthless] as Naval.


text:
Meanwhile, let this present which your servant has brought to my lord be given to the men in my lord's service.


text:
And please forgive the offense your servant has caused; because ADONAI will certainly establish my lord's dynasty, for my lord fights ADONAI's battles, and nothing bad has been found in you all your life long.


text:
Even if someone comes along searching for you and seeking your life, your life will be bound in the bundle of life with ADONAI your God. But the lives of your enemies he will fling away as if from the pouch of a slingshot.


text:
Then, when ADONAI has done all the good to my lord that he has said about you and made you ruler over Isra'el,


text:
what happens here will not have become an obstacle to you or a cause for remorse to my lord, neither that you shed blood without cause nor that my lord took vengeance into his own hands. Finally, when ADONAI has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.'


text:
and blessed be your tactfulness, and blessed be yourself for having kept me today from the guilt of shedding blood and taking vengeance into my own hands.


text:
For as ADONAI the God of Isra'el, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you hadn't rushed to meet me, not even one male would have been left to Naval by morning!'


text:
So David received from her what she had brought him, then said to her, 'Go up in peace to your home. I have listened to what you said and granted your request.'


text:
Avigayil came to Naval; there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king. He was in high spirits, because he was very drunk. So she told him nothing whatever until the next morning.


text:
In the morning, when he was sober and his wife told him what had happened, he had a stroke and became as motionless as a stone.


text:
When David heard that Naval was dead, he said, 'Blessed be ADONAI for having taken my side in the matter of Naval's insult and for having prevented his servant from doing anything bad. On the contrary, ADONAI has caused Naval's bad deeds to return on his own head.'Then David sent a message that he wanted to make Avigayil his own wife.


text:
When David's servants reached Avigayil in Karmel, they said to her, 'David has sent us to you to bring you to him to be his wife.'


text:
She got up, bowed with her face to the ground, and said, 'Your servant is here to serve you, to wash the feet of my lord's servants.'


text:
Avigayil then hurried, set out and rode off on a donkey, with five of her female servants following her; she went after David's messengers; and she became his wife.


text:
Meanwhile, Sha'ul had given Mikhal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Layish, who came from Gallim.


text:
The people from Zif went to Sha'ul in Giv'ah and said, 'David is hiding himself on Hakhilah Hill, across from Yeshimon.'


text:
Then Sha'ul set out and went down to the Zif Desert with three thousand men chosen from Isra'el, to search for David in the Zif Desert.


text:
Sha'ul pitched camp on Hakhilah Hill, across from Yeshimon, near the road. David was staying in the desert, and he saw that Sha'ul was coming into the desert after him.


text:
David set out and went to where Sha'ul had pitched his camp. He saw where Sha'ul and Avner the son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping. Sha'ul was lying inside the barricade with the troops asleep all around him.


text:
David said to Achimelekh the Hitti and Avishai the son of Tz'ruyah, Yo'av's brother, 'Who will go down with me to Sha'ul in the camp?' Avishai said, 'I will go down with you.'


text:
So David and Avishai went to the soldiers by night. Sha'ul was lying there asleep inside the barricade. His spear was stuck in the ground next to his head, with Avner and the troops asleep all around him.


text:
Avishai said to David, 'God has handed your enemy over to you today; so now, please, let me pin him to the ground with just one stroke of the spear. I won't strike him a second time.'


text:
But David said to Avishai, 'Don't destroy him! Nobody can raise his hand against ADONAI's anointed without becoming guilty!'


text:
David then added, 'As ADONAI lives, ADONAI will strike him down, or the day will come for him to die, or he will go down to battle and be swept away.


text:
ADONAI forbid that I should raise my hand against ADONAI's anointed! But now, we'll take the spear by his head and the jug of water, and get out of here.'


text:
So David took the spear and the water jug from Sha'ul's head and got away. Nobody saw or knew about it, and no one awoke, because they were all asleep - a deep sleep from ADONAI had fallen over them.


text:
David crossed to the other side and climbed to the top of the distant ridge, leaving a considerable space between them.


text:
Then David called out to the troops and to Avner the son of Ner. 'Avner! Aren't you going to answer?' Avner answered, 'Who are you, calling to the king?'


text:
David said to Avner, 'Aren't you the brave one! Who is there in Isra'el to compare with you? So why haven't you kept watch over your lord the king? Someone came in to kill the king, your lord!


text:
It's not good, what you've done! As ADONAI lives, you deserve to die; because you didn't keep watch over your lord, ADONAI's anointed. And now, see where the king's spear is, and the jug of water that was next to his head!'


text:
Sha'ul recognized David's voice and said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?'David said, 'It is my voice, my lord king!'


text:
Please, now, may my lord the king hear what his servant is saying. If it is ADONAI who has stirred you up against me, let him receive an offering. But if it's human beings, then a curse on them before ADONAI! - because, as things stand today, they have driven me out, so that I can no longer share in ADONAI's inheritance - they've said, 'Go, serve other gods!'


text:
Now don't let my blood fall on the ground away from the presence of ADONAI. The king of Isra'el has gone out in search of a single flea, as if he were hunting partridge in the mountains!'


text:
Then Sha'ul said, 'I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won't harm you any longer, because you regarded my life as precious today. Yes, I have behaved like a fool. I was altogether in the wrong.'


text:
ADONAI will give every person a reward suited to his uprightness and faithfulness. ADONAI put you in my power today, but I would not raise my hand against ADONAI's anointed.


text:
Look: just as I put great value on your life today, so may my life be given great value by ADONAI. May he deliver me from every kind of trouble!'


text:
Sha'ul answered David, 'Blessings on you, my son David! No question that you will accomplish everything you set out to do!' So David went on his way, and Sha'ul returned to his place.


text:
But David said to himself, 'One day Sha'ul will sweep me away. The best thing for me to do is to escape into the territory of the P'lishtim. Then Sha'ul will give up trying to find me here or there in Isra'el's territory, and at last I'll be free of him.'


text:
David lived with Akhish, he and his men, each man with his household - including David with his two wives Achino'am from Yizre'el and Avigayil from Karmel, Naval's widow.


text:
David said to Akhish, 'If you are now favorably disposed toward me, let me have a place to live in one of the cities in the countryside. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?'


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That very day Akhish gave him Ziklag, and that's why to this day Ziklag belongs to the kings of Y'hudah.


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he and his men began going up and raiding the G'shuri, the Gizri and the 'Amaleki (from ancient times these people had lived in the land in the direction of Shur, all the way to Egypt).


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David would attack the land, leaving alive neither men nor women, but taking the sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels and clothing. Then he would return and go to Akhish.


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Akhish would ask, 'Where were you raiding today?' and David would answer, 'Against the Negev of Y'hudah,' or 'Against the Negev of the Yerachme'eli,' or 'Against the Negev of the Keni.'


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The reason David spared neither men nor women to be brought to Gat is that he thought, 'We don't want them telling on us, saying, 'David did so-and-so.'' That's how he conducted his raids for as long as he lived in the country of the P'lishtim.


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And Akhish believed him; he said, 'David has caused his own people Isra'el to despise him utterly; he will be my servant forever.'


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In due time the P'lishtim assembled their armies for war against Isra'el. Akhish told David, 'You know, of course, that you and your men will join me and the army in battle.'


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David answered Akhish, 'I see that you already know what your servant will do.'Akhish said to David, 'For that answer, I am making you my personal bodyguard for life.'


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Now Sh'mu'el was dead; all Isra'el had mourned him and buried him in his city, Ramah. Also Sha'ul had expelled from the land those who tell the future by communicating with the dead or with a demonic spirit.


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The P'lishtim assembled; then they went and pitched camp at Shunem; while Sha'ul gathered all Isra'el together and pitched camp at Gilboa.


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But when he consulted ADONAI, ADONAI didn't answer him - not by dreams, not by urim and not by prophets.


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Then Sha'ul said to his servants, 'Try to find a woman who tells the future by communicating with the dead; I want to go and consult with her.' His servants answered him, 'Yes, there's a woman in 'Ein-Dor who tells the future by communicating with the dead.'


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So Sha'ul disguised himself by wearing different clothing, went with two men, came to the woman by night and said, 'Tell me the future, please. Bring up from the dead the person I name to you.'


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The woman answered, 'Here, you know what Sha'ul did, how he expelled from the land those who tell the future by communicating with the dead or with a demonic spirit. Why are you trying to entrap me into causing my own death?'


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When the woman saw Sh'mu'el, she let out a shriek. Then the woman said to Sha'ul, 'Why have you deceived me? You yourself are Sha'ul!'


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The king replied, 'Don't be afraid. Just tell me what you see.'The woman said to Sha'ul, 'I see a god-like being coming up out of the earth.'


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He asked her, 'What does he look like?' She said, 'An old man is coming up; he's wearing a cloak.' Sha'ul realized it was Sh'mu'el, so he bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.


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Sh'mu'el asked Sha'ul, 'Why have you disturbed me and brought me up?' Sha'ul answered, 'I'm very upset; because the P'lishtim are making war against me; and God has left me and doesn't answer me any more, neither by prophets nor by dreams. This is why I've called you, so that you can let me know what to do.'


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ADONAI has done for himself what he foretold through me -ADONAI has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to your fellow countryman David,


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because you didn't obey what ADONAI said and execute his furious anger toward 'Amalek. That's why ADONAI is doing this to you today.


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ADONAI is giving Isra'el as well as yourself over into the power of the P'lishtim, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. ADONAI will hand over Isra'el's army to the power of the P'lishtim.'


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Sha'ul immediately fell full length on the ground and became terribly frightened because of what Sh'mu'el had said. He had no strength left in him, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.


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The woman approached Sha'ul, saw that he was panic-stricken and said to him, 'Here, your servant listened to what you said; I put my life in my hands and did what you requested me to do.


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Now therefore, please, you listen to what your servant says: let me put a little food in front of you; then eat, so you will have some strength when you go on your way.'


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But he refused and said, 'I won't eat.'Then his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he heeded what they said. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed.


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The woman had a fattened calf in the house; she hurried to slaughter it; then she took flour, kneaded it and baked matzah with it.


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She served it to Sha'ul and his servants, and they ate. Afterwards, they got up; and they went away that night.


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The P'lishtim gathered all their army together at Afek, while Isra'el's army pitched camp by the spring in Yizre'el.


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The leaders of the P'lishtim were passing by with their hundreds and thousands; David and his men were bringing up the rear with Akhish.


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The chiefs of the P'lishtim asked, 'What are these Hebrews doing here?'Akhish answered the chiefs of the P'lishtim, 'This is David, who was a servant of Sha'ul, king of Isra'el. He's been with me now for well over a year, and I haven't found anything wrong with him between the time he deserted to me and now.'


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But the chiefs of the P'lishtim became angry and said to him, 'Have the man return and go back to the place you set aside for him. Don't let him go into battle with us, because on the battlefield he might become our enemy. What better way could there be for him to get reconciled with his lord than by [cutting off] the heads of our men?


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This is David! They used to dance and sing about him, 'Sha'ul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands'!'


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So Akhish summoned David and said to him, 'As ADONAI lives, you have been upright; and I myself would be more than pleased to have you go on campaign with me; because I haven't found anything wrong with you between the day you arrived and now. However, the chiefs don't trust you.


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Therefore, now, go on back; and go in peace, so as not to do what appears bad to the chiefs of the P'lishtim.


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David said to Akhish, 'But what have I done? What have you found in your servant during the time I've been with you that disqualifies me from going and fighting against the enemies of my lord the king?'


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Akhish answered David, 'I know that you are as good, from my point of view, as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the chiefs of the P'lishtim have said, 'He is not to go up with us to the battlefield.'


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So get up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you; and as soon as you are up and it gets light, leave.'


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David got up early in the morning, he and his men, to leave and go back into the land of the P'lishtim; while the P'lishtim continued up to Yizre'el.


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Three days later, when David and his men arrived in Ziklag, they found that the 'Amaleki had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had sacked Ziklag and burned it down;


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and they had taken captive the women and everyone there, great and small. They hadn't killed anyone but had carried them off as they went on their way.


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So when David and his men arrived at the city, there it was, burned down, with their wives, sons and daughters taken captive.


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David's two wives had been taken captive - Achino'am from Yizre'el and Avigayil the widow of Naval from Karmel.


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David was in serious trouble: the people were talking about stoning him to death, because all the people were in such deep grief, each man over his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in ADONAI his God.


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David said to Avyatar the cohen, the son of Achimelekh, 'Please bring the ritual vest here to me.'Avyatar brought the vest to David.


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Then David consulted ADONAI. He asked, 'Should I go in pursuit of these raiders? Will I catch up with them?' And [ADONAI] answered him, 'Go in pursuit, because you will overtake them and recover everyone and everything.'


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So David went, he and the six hundred men with him. They came to Vadi B'sor, where those who were to stay behind waited.


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Then David continued in pursuit with four hundred men, while two hundred too exhausted to cross Vadi B'sor stayed behind.


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They found an Egyptian in the countryside and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink;


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they also gave him a lump of dried figs and two bunches of raisins. After eating, he revived; because he hadn't eaten anything or drunk any water for three days and nights.


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David asked him, 'To whom do you belong, and where are you from?' He answered, 'I'm an Egyptian boy, the slave of an 'Amaleki. My master abandoned me three days ago, because I got sick.


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We raided the Negev of the K'reti, the Negev of Y'hudah and the Negev of Kalev; and we burned down Ziklag.'


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David asked him, 'Will you lead me down to this raiding party?' He said, 'If you will swear by God to me that you won't kill me or hand me back to my master, I will lead you down to the raiders.'


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He led them down, and there they were, spread out all over the ground, eating, drinking and celebrating how much spoil they had taken from the territory of the P'lishtim and the territory of Y'hudah.


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David attacked them from dawn until the evening of the next day. Not one of them escaped, except for 400 young men who jumped on camels and got away.


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They found nothing missing, big or little - not sons, not daughters, not plundered goods or anything else they had taken - David brought it all back.


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David took all the flocks and herds and drove them ahead of their own livestock, announcing, 'This is David's spoil.'


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David came to where the two hundred men were who had been too exhausted to follow him, whom they had let stay at Vadi B'sor. They came out to meet David and the people with him. When David approached them he greeted them.


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But some of the men who had gone with David were evil men, scoundrels; and they said, 'They didn't go with us, so we're not giving them any of the property we've recovered. Each man can take his wife and children and leave.'


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Then David said, 'No, my brothers, don't do this with the goods ADONAI has given us. He protected us, and he handed the raiding party over to us.


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Anyhow, no one agrees with you about this. No, the share of someone who stays with the equipment will be the same as the share of someone who goes out and fights - they will share equally.'


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When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the leaders of Y'hudah who were his friends with a note, 'Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of ADONAI.'


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Now the P'lishtim pressed their attack on Isra'el. The men of Isra'el fled before the P'lishtim, leaving their dead on Mount Gilboa.


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The P'lishtim pursued and overtook Sha'ul and his sons; and the P'lishtim killed Y'honatan, Avinadav and Malkishua, the sons of Sha'ul.


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The fighting went hard against Sha'ul; then the archers overtook and wounded him, so that he was in agony.


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Sha'ul said to his armor-bearer, 'Draw your sword and run me through with it. Otherwise these uncircumcised men will come, run me through and make sport of me.' But his armor-bearer refused, he was too frightened. So Sha'ul took his sword and fell on it.


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When the men of Isra'el who were on the other side of the valley and those who were on the far side of the Yarden saw that the men of Isra'el had fled and that Sha'ul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; then the P'lishtim came and lived in them.


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The following day, when the P'lishtim came to strip the dead, they found Sha'ul and his three sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa.


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They cut off his head, stripped off his armor and sent these all over the territory of the P'lishtim to carry the news to the temples of their idols and to the people.


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Then they put his armor in the temple for the 'ashtarot and fastened his body to the wall of Beit-Sh'an.


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all their warriors set out, traveling all night. They took the body of Sha'ul and the bodies of his sons off the wall of Beit-Sh'an, returned to Yavesh and burned them there.


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Sha'ul had died, and David had been two days in Ziklag after returning from the slaughter of the 'Amaleki.


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On the third day, there came a man from Sha'ul's camp with his clothes torn and earth on his head. He approached David, fell to the ground and prostrated himself.


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'Tell me, please, how did things go?' asked David. 'The people have fled the battle,' he answered, 'and many of them are wounded or dead. Sha'ul and Y'honatan his son are dead too.'


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David asked the young man who had told him this, 'How do you know that Sha'ul and Y'honatan his son are dead?'


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The young man who had told him said, 'I happened to be on Mount Gilboa when I saw Sha'ul leaning on his spear. The chariots and cavalry were bearing down on him.


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He said to me, 'I'm in agony, and I'm going to die, but I'm still alive. So please, stand next to me; and kill me.'


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So I stood next to him and killed him, because I was sure he was so badly wounded that he couldn't live. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.'


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They wailed and cried, and they fasted until evening for Sha'ul, for Y'honatan his son, for ADONAI's people and for the house of Isra'el; because they had fallen by the sword.


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David said to the young man who had told him, 'Where are you from?' He answered, 'I'm the son of a [resident] foreigner, an 'Amaleki.'


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David asked him, 'How is it that you weren't afraid to raise your hand to destroy ADONAI's anointed?'


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David called one of his young men and said, 'Go over to him, and kill him.' The man struck him down, and he died.


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David said to him, 'Your blood is on your own head. Your own mouth convicted you when you said, 'I killed ADONAI's anointed.''


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in order to teach the people of Y'hudah [not to underestimate] archery (the lament has been written down in the book of Yashar):


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Don't speak of it in Gat; don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon; then the daughters of the P'lishtim won't rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised won't gloat.


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'Mountains of Gilboa - may there be on you no dew, no rain, no fields with good crops; because there the shields of the heroes were dishonored, the shield of Sha'ul was no longer rubbed with oil.


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'From the blood of the dead, from the flesh of heroes, the bow of Y'honatan did not retreat or the sword of Sha'ul return unsatisfied.


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Sha'ul and Y'honatan, loved and gracious while alive, were not separated even in death; they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.


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'Daughters of Isra'el, weep over Sha'ul! He clothed you luxuriously in scarlet and put gold jewelry on your clothing.


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I grieve for you, my brother Y'honatan, you meant so much to me! Your love for me was deeper than the love of women.


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After this, David consulted ADONAI; he asked, 'Should I go up into any of the cities of Y'hudah?'ADONAI said to him, 'Go up.' David asked, 'Where should I go up?' He said, 'To Hevron.'


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So David went up there with his two wives Achino'am from Yizre'el and Avigayil the widow of Naval from Karmel.


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Then the men of Y'hudah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Y'hudah. They informed David that the men of Yavesh-Gil'ad were the ones who had buried Sha'ul.


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So David sent messengers to the men of Yavesh-Gil'ad with this message: 'May you be blessed by ADONAI, because you showed this kindness to your lord, Sha'ul, and buried him.


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Now may ADONAI show kindness and truth to you; and I too will show you favor because you have done this.


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Be strong, and be brave. Sha'ul your lord is dead, but the house of Y'hudah have anointed me king over them.'


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Avner the son of Ner, commander of Sha'ul's army, had taken Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul, brought him over to Machanayim,


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Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul was forty years old when he began to rule over Isra'el, and he ruled for two years. But the house of Y'hudah followed David.


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Avner the son of Ner and the servants of Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul went out from Machanayim to Giv'on;


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while Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah and David's servants also went out; and they met together by the pool at Giv'on. One group sat down on one side of the pool and the other on the other side.


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Avner said to Yo'av, 'If it's all right with you, let's have the young men get up and fight it out between themselves, while we watch.' Yo'av said, 'Yes, let them.'


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So they got up and paired off, twelve for Binyamin and Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul, and twelve of David's servants.


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Each one grabbed his partner by the head and drove his sword into his side, so that they fell down together. For this reason that place was named Helkat-Hatzurim [field of blades]; it is in Giv'on.


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The three sons of Tz'ruyah were there, Yo'av, Avishai and 'Asah'el. 'Asah'el was as fleet-footed as a gazelle in an open field.


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Avner said to him, 'Turn off to your right or your left, catch one of the young men and take his armor.' But 'Asah'el wouldn't turn aside and kept following him.


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Avner said again to 'Asah'el, 'Turn aside and stop following me! Why should I kill you? If I did, how could I look your brother Yo'av in the eye?'


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But he still refused to turn aside; so Avner stabbed him in the groin with the back end of the spear, so that the shaft protruded behind him. He fell down and died on the spot. Everyone who came to the place where 'Asah'el lay dead stopped there.


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Yo'av and Avishai continued in pursuit of Avner; the sun went down when they arrived at Amah Hill, across from Giach along the Giv'on Desert road.


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The people of Binyamin gathered themselves together into a phalanx behind Avner and stood on top of a hill.


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Then Avner called out to Yo'av, 'Must the sword go on devouring forever? Don't you know that in the end it can produce only bitterness? How long will it be, then, before you tell the people to quit pursuing their brothers?'


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Yo'av said, 'As God lives, if you hadn't said something, there is no doubt that the people would have kept following their brothers all night long.'


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Then Yo'av sounded the shofar, and with that the people halted. They stopped pursuing Isra'el, and they stopped fighting.


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Avner and his men went through the 'Aravah all that night; they crossed the Yarden, went through all of Bitron and arrived at Machanayim.


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Yo'av returned from following Avner. When he brought the troops together for review, nineteen of David's servants were missing, along with 'Asah'el.


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They took 'Asah'el and buried him in his father's tomb in Beit-Lechem. Then Yo'av and his men marched all night, so that they reached Hevron at daybreak.


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The war between the house of Sha'ul and the house of David dragged on, but David grew stronger, while the house of Sha'ul became weaker.


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Sons were born to David in Hevron. His firstborn was Amnon, whose mother was Achino'am from Yizre'el;


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his second, Kil'av, whose mother was Avigayil the widow of Naval from Karmel; the third, Avshalom, whose mother was Ma'akhah the daughter of Talmai king of G'shur;


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During the war that was going on between the house of Sha'ul and the house of David, Avner strengthened his position in the house of Sha'ul.


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Sha'ul had had a concubine named Ritzpah, the daughter of Ayah; and [Ish-Boshet] challenged Avner: 'Why did you go and sleep with my father's concubine?'


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These words of Ish-Boshet's enraged Avner. 'What am I,' he shouted, '[that you treat me with such contempt]? A dog's head in Y'hudah? Till this moment I have shown only kindness to the house of Sha'ul your father, and to his brothers and to his friends; and I haven't handed you over to David. Yet you choose today to pick a fight with me over this woman!


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May God bring terrible curses on Avner and worse ones yet if I don't accomplish what ADONAI swore to David-


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to transfer the kingdom from the house of Sha'ul and set up the throne of David over Isra'el and Y'hudah, from Dan all the way to Be'er-Sheva!'


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Avner immediately sent envoys to David with this message: 'Who is going to control the land? If you make yourself my ally, I will use my power to bring all Isra'el over to you.'


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David sent this reply: 'Very well, I will be your ally - on one condition: you will not come into my presence unless at the same time you bring with you Mikhal Sha'ul's daughter.'


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David sent messengers to say to Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul, 'Give me back my wife Mikhal. I betrothed her to myself for 100 foreskins of the P'lishtim.'


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Her husband went with her, crying as he went, and followed her to Bachurim. But when Avner told him, 'Go back,' he returned.


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Then Avner conferred with the leaders of Isra'el. He said, 'In the past, you wanted David to be king over you.


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So now, do it. For ADONAI has said of David, 'Through my servant David I will rescue my people Isra'el from the power of the P'lishtim and from the power of all their enemies.''


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Avner also spoke with the people of Binyamin. Then Avner went to Hevron and reported to David everything that had been agreed to by Isra'el and the house of Binyamin.


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When Avner came to David in Hevron he brought twenty men with him. David held a feast for Avner and his men.


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Avner said to David, 'I must get up and go to gather all Isra'el to my lord the king, so that they can make a covenant with you. Then you will be able to rule over everything your heart desires.' David sent Avner off, giving him safe conduct.


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Just then David's men and Yo'av returned from a raid, bringing a lot of plunder with them. But Avner was not with David in Hevron, because he had sent him off under safe conduct.


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When Yo'av and all his army had arrived, Yo'av was told, 'Avner the son of Ner came to the king, but he sent him off, and he has left under safe conduct.'


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Yo'av went to the king and said, 'What have you done? Here, Avner came to you, and you sent him away, and now he's gone! Why?


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You know Avner the son of Ner - he came only to deceive you, to learn what campaigns you're planning and to find out everything you're doing!'


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After leaving David, Yo'av sent messengers after Avner, and they brought him back from the water cistern at Sirah without David's knowledge.


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Upon Avner's return to Hevron, Yo'av took him aside into the space between the outer and inner city gates as if to speak with him privately; and there he struck him in the groin, so that he died - thus avenging the death of 'Asah'el his brother.


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Afterwards, when David heard of it, he said, 'I and my kingdom are forever innocent of the death of Avner the son of Ner.


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Let it fall on the head of Yo'av and all his father's family. May Yo'av's family always have someone with a hemorrhage or tzara'at, or who has to walk with a cane, or who dies by the sword or who lacks food.'


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Thus Yo'av and Avishai his brother killed Avner, because he had killed their brother 'Asah'el during the battle in Giv'on.


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But David said to Yo'av and all those with him, 'Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn over Avner.' King David himself walked behind the body as it was carried.


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The king sang this lament over Avner: 'Should Avner have died like a thug? Your hands weren't tied, your feet weren't fettered; you fell like one who falls at the hands of criminals.' Then all the people wept over him more than ever. 35 All the people came to David and tried to make him eat some bread while it was still daytime; but David swore, 'May God bring terrible curses on me and worse ones yet if I taste bread or anything else until the sun goes down.'36 All the people took note of this, and it pleased them; whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 So that day, all the people and all Isra'el understood that the king had had no part in the killing of Avner the son of Ner. 38 The king said to his servants, 'You realize that a leader, a great man, has fallen today in Isra'el. 39 Even though I have just been anointed king, I feel weak today; and these men, the sons of Tz'ruyah, are too brutal for me. May ADONAI repay the criminal as his crime deserves!'


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When Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul heard that Avner had died in Hevron, his courage failed; and all Isra'el became alarmed.


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Sha'ul's son had two men who were captains of raiding parties, one called Ba'anah and the other Rekhav, sons of Rimmon the Be'eroti, of the people of Binyamin (for Be'erot is counted as part of Binyamin,


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Now Y'honatan the son of Sha'ul's had a son, and he was lame in both legs. He had been five years old when the news about Sha'ul and Y'honatan came from Yizre'el. His nurse had gathered him up and fled; but as she was hurrying to get away, he fell and became lame. His name was M'fivoshet.


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The sons of Rimmon the Be'eroti, Rekhav and Ba'anah went and arrived during the heat of the day at the home of Ish-Boshet as he was taking his afternoon rest.


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They went right into the house, as if they were coming to get wheat, and stabbed him in the groin; then Rekhav and Ba'anah his brother escaped.


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They entered the house as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, stabbed him and killed him; then they beheaded him, took his head and fled all night along the road through the 'Aravah.


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They brought the head of Ish-Boshet to David in Hevron and said to the king, 'Here is the head of Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul your enemy, who wanted to take your life. Today ADONAI has taken revenge on Sha'ul and his son for the sake of my lord the king.'


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But David answered Rekhav and Ba'anah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Be'eroti, 'As ADONAI lives, who has rescued me from every kind of difficulty,


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when someone told me, 'Here, Sha'ul is dead,' thinking to himself that he was bringing good news, I didn't reward him for his news but seized him and killed him in Ziklag.


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How much more, when criminals have killed an innocent man in his own house on his own bed, shouldn't I hold you responsible for his death and rid the earth of you?'


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David then gave the order to his men, and they put them to death, cutting off their hands and feet and hanging them up next to the pool at Hevron. But they took the head of Ish-Boshet and buried it in Avner's grave at Hevron.


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Then all the tribes of Isra'el came to David in Hevron and said, 'Here, we are your own flesh and bone.


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In the past, when Sha'ul was king over us, it was you who led Isra'el's military campaigns; and ADONAI said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Isra'el, and you will be chief over Isra'el.''


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So all the leaders of Isra'el came to the king in Hevron, and King David made a covenant with them in Hevron in the presence of ADONAI. Then they anointed David king over Isra'el.


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In Hevron he ruled over Y'hudah seven years and six months; then in Yerushalayim he ruled thirty-three years over all Isra'el and Y'hudah.


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The king and his men went to Yerushalayim to attack the Y'vusi, the inhabitants of that region. They taunted David, 'You won't get in here! Even the blind and the lame could fend you off!'- in other words, they were thinking, 'David will never get in here.'


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What David said on that day was, 'In order to attack the Y'vusi, you have to climb up [from the spring outside the city] through the water tunnel. Then you can do away with those [so-called] 'lame and blind'' (whom David despises - hence the expression, 'The 'blind and lame' keep him from entering the house').


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David lived in the stronghold and called it the City of David. Then David built up the city around it, starting at the Millo [earth rampart] and working inward.


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Hiram king of Tzor sent envoys to David with cedar logs, and with them were carpenters and stonemasons; and they built David a palace.


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David then knew that ADONAI had set him up as king over Isra'el and increased his royal power for the sake of his people.


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David took for himself more concubines and wives in Yerushalayim after coming from Hevron, so that still more sons and daughters were born to David.


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When the P'lishtim heard that David had been anointed king over Isra'el, all the P'lishtim went up in search of David. On learning of it, David went down to the stronghold.


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David consulted ADONAI, asking, 'Should I attack the P'lishtim? Will you hand them over to me?'ADONAI answered David, 'Attack; I will certainly hand the P'lishtim over to you.'


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So David went to Ba'al-P'ratzim and defeated them there. He said, 'ADONAI has broken through my enemies for me like a river breaking through its banks.' This is why he called the place Ba'al-P'ratzim [Lord of breaking through].


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When David consulted ADONAI, he said, 'Don't attack! Circle behind them, and engage them opposite the balsam trees.


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When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, advance; because then ADONAI has gone out ahead of you to defeat the army of the P'lishtim.'


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David did exactly as ADONAI had ordered him to do and pursued his attack on the P'lishtim from Geva all the way to Gezer.


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Then David, taking along the entire force he had with him then, set out for Ba'alei-Y'hudah to bring up from there the ark of God, which bears the Name, the name of ADONAITzva'ot enthroned above the k'ruvim.


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They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Avinadav on the hill, with 'Uzah and Achyo, the sons of Avinadav, driving the new cart.


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They led it from the house of Avinadav on the hill, with the ark of God; Achyo walked in front of the ark.


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David and the whole house of Isra'el celebrated in the presence of ADONAI with all kinds of musical instruments made of cypress-wood, including lyres, lutes, tambourines, rattles and cymbals.


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When they arrived at Nakhon's threshing-floor, the oxen stumbled; and 'Uzah put out his hand to steady the ark of God.


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But ADONAI's anger blazed up against 'Uzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his offense, so that he died there by the ark of God.


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It upset David that ADONAI had broken out against 'Uzah; that place has been called Peretz-'Uzah [breaking-out of 'Uzah] ever since.


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So David would not bring the ark of ADONAI into the City of David; rather, David took it over to the house of 'Oved-Edom the Gitti.


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The ark of ADONAI stayed in the house of 'Oved-Edom the Gitti for three months; and ADONAI blessed 'Oved-Edom and all his household.


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King David was told, 'ADONAI has blessed the house of 'Oved-Edom and everyone who belongs to him, thanks to the ark of God.' So David went and joyously brought the ark of God up from the house of 'Oved-Edom into the City of David.


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When those bearing the ark of ADONAI had gone only six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened sheep.


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So David and all the house of Isra'el brought up the ark of ADONAI with shouting and the sound of the shofar.


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As the ark of ADONAI entered the City of David, Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul, watching from the window, saw King David leaping and spinning before ADONAI; and she was filled with contempt for him.


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They brought the ark of ADONAI in and put it in its place inside the tent that David had set up for it. David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before ADONAI.


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When David had finished offering the burnt offering and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of ADONAI-Tzva'ot.


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Then he distributed to all the people of Isra'el, to everyone there, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a portion of meat and a raisin cake, after which the people all left for their homes.


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When David returned to bless his household, Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul came out to meet him and said, 'Such honor the king of Isra'el earned for himself today - exposing himself before his servants' slave-girls like some vulgar exhibitionist!'


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David answered Mikhal, 'In the presence of ADONAI- who chose me over your father and over everyone in his family to make me chief over ADONAI's people, over Isra'el - I will celebrate in the presence of ADONAI!


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I will make myself still more contemptible than that, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes, but those slave-girls you mentioned will honor me!'


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After the king had been living in his palace awhile and ADONAI had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,


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the king said to Natan the prophet, 'Here, I'm living in a cedar-wood palace; but the ark of God is kept in a tent!'


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'Go and tell my servant David that this is what ADONAI says: 'You are going to build me a house to live in?


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Since the day I brought the people of Isra'el out of Egypt until today, I never lived in a house; rather, I traveled in a tent and a tabernacle.


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Everywhere I traveled with all the people of Isra'el, did I ever speak a word to any of the tribes of Isra'el, whom I ordered to shepherd my people Isra'el, asking, 'Why haven't you built me a cedar-wood house?''


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'Therefore say this to my servant David that this is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'I took you from the sheep-yards, from following the sheep, to make you chief over my people, over Isra'el.


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I have been with you wherever you went; I have destroyed all your enemies ahead of you; and I am making your reputation great, like the reputations of the greatest people on earth.


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I will assign a place to my people Isra'el; I will plant them there, so that they can live in their own place without being disturbed any more. The wicked will no longer oppress them, as they did at the beginning,


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and as they did from the time I ordered judges to be over my people Isra'el; instead, I will give you rest from all your enemies. ''Moreover, ADONAI tells you that ADONAI will make you a house.


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When your days come to an end and you sleep with your ancestors, I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your own flesh and blood; and I will set up his rulership.


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I will be a father for him, and he will be a son for me. If he does something wrong, I will punish him with a rod and blows, just as everyone gets punished;


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nevertheless, my grace will not leave him, as I took it away from Sha'ul, whom I removed from before you.


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Thus your house and your kingdom will be made secure forever before you; your throne will be set up forever.''


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Then David went in, sat before ADONAI and said, 'Who am I, Adonai ELOHIM; and what is my family, that has caused you to bring me this far?


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Yet in your view, Adonai ELOHIM, even this was too small a thing; so you have even said that your servant's dynasty will continue on into the distant future. This is [indeed] a teaching for a man, Adonai ELOHIM -


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It is for the sake of your word and in accordance with your own heart that you have done all this greatness and revealed it to your servant.


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Therefore, you are great, ADONAI, God; for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you - everything we have heard confirms that.


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Who can be compared with your people, with Isra'el? What other nation on earth did God set out to redeem and make into a people for himself? You made yourself a reputation by doing for your land things that even for you are great and terrifying, for the sake of your people whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt and from other nations and from their gods.


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So now, ADONAI, God, establish forever the word you have spoken to your servant and his house; do what you have promised.


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May your name be magnified forever, so that it will be said, 'ADONAI-Tzva'ot is God over Isra'el, and the dynasty of your servant David will be set up in your presence.'


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You, ADONAI-Tzva'ot, God of Isra'el, have disclosed to your servant, 'I will build you a house.'This is why your servant has the courage to pray this prayer to you.


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Now, Adonai ELOHIM, you alone are God; your words are truth; and you have made this wonderful promise to your servant.


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So may it please you to bless the family of your servant and thereby cause it to continue forever in your presence. For you, Adonai ELOHIM, have said it. May your servant's family be blessed forever by your blessing.'


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Some time afterwards, David attacked the P'lishtim and subdued them; David took Meteg-Amah out of the hands of the P'lishtim.


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He also defeated Mo'av; making them lie down on the ground, he measured them with a length of cord; for every two lengths to be put to death he designated one length to be kept alive. The people of Mo'av became subjects of David and paid tribute.


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David, on his way to establish his dominion as far as the Euphrates River, also defeated Hadad'ezer the son of Rechov king of Tzovah.


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David captured 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. He reserved enough horses for 100 chariots and disabled the rest.


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When people of Aram from Dammesek came to the aid of Hadad'ezer king of Tzovah, David killed 22,000 men of Aram.


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Then David put garrisons among the people of Aram in Dammesek; Aram became subject to David and paid tribute. ADONAI gave victory to David wherever he went.


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David took the gold shields which Hadad'ezer's servants were wearing and brought them to Yerushalayim.


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To'i sent Yoram his son to King David to greet and congratulate him on fighting and defeating Hadad'ezer, for Hadad'ezer had been at war with To'i. Yoram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold and articles of bronze,


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which King David dedicated to ADONAI, along with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he conquered -


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Aram, Mo'av, the people of 'Amon, the P'lishtim, 'Amalek, and the spoil taken from Hadad'ezer son of Rechov, king of Tzovah.


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David stationed garrisons in Edom; he put garrisons throughout all of Edom, and all the people of Edom became subject to him. ADONAI gave victory to David wherever he went.


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Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah was commander of the army, Y'hoshafat the son of Achilud was chief adviser,


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B'nayahu the son of Y'hoyada was in charge of the K'reti and P'leti [serving as the king's bodyguards], and David's sons were cohanim.


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David inquired, 'Is there anyone still alive from the family of Sha'ul, to whom, for Y'honatan's sake, I can show kindness?'


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In Sha'ul's household there had been a servant named Tziva, and they summoned him to David. The king asked him, 'Are you Tziva?' and he answered, 'At your service.'


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The king said, 'Is there anyone still alive from the family of Sha'ul, to whom I can show God's grace?'Tziva said to the king, 'There is still Y'honatan's son with the lame legs.'


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The king said to him, 'Where is he?' and Tziva answered, 'He's there in the house of Makhir the son of 'Ammi'el, in Lo-D'var.'


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M'fivoshet the son of Y'honatan, the son of Sha'ul, came to David, fell on his face and prostrated himself. David said, 'M'fivoshet!' and he answered, 'Here is your servant!'


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David said to him, 'Don't be afraid, for I am determined to be kind to you for the sake of Y'honatan your father. I will restore to you all the land of Sha'ul your [grand]father, and you will always eat at my table.'


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He prostrated himself and said, 'What is your servant that makes you pay such attention to a dead dog like me?'


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The king called to Tziva, Sha'ul's servant, and said to him, 'I have given everything Sha'ul and his family owned to your master's [grand]son.


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You are to work the land for him, you, your sons and your slaves. Harvest the crops, so that your master's [grand]son will have food to feed his family; but M'fivoshet your master's [grand]son will always eat at my table.'Tziva had fifteen sons and twenty slaves.


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Tziva said to the king, 'Your servant will do everything my lord the king commands his servant, although M'fivoshet has been eating at my table as one of the king's descendants.'


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M'fivoshet had a young son whose name was Mikha. Everyone living in Tziva's house was a servant of M'fivoshet.


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But M'fivoshet lived in Yerushalayim; he always ate at the king's table, and he was lame in both legs.


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David said, 'I will show grace to Hanun the son of Nachash, as his father showed grace to me.' So David sent his servants to pass him a message of comfort concerning his father. David's servants entered the territory of the people of 'Amon;


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but the leaders of the people of 'Amon said to Hanun their lord, 'Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending people to comfort you? Hasn't David actually sent his servants to you in order to look the city over, reconnoiter it and overthrow it?'


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So Hanun took David's servants, shaved off half their beards, cut off their clothes halfway up, at their buttocks, and then sent them away.


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On hearing how they had been treated, David sent a delegation to meet them, because the men had been deeply humiliated. The king said, 'Stay in Yericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.'


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Aware that they were utterly abhorrent to David, the people of 'Amon sent and hired 20,000 Aram foot soldiers from Beit-Rechov and Tzovah, the king of Ma'akhah with 1,000 men, and 12,000 soldiers from Tov.


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The army of 'Amon came out and went into battle formation at the entrance to the city gate; the men of Aram from Tzovah and Rechov and the men of Tov and Ma'akhah were by themselves in the open countryside.


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When Yo'av saw that he would be fighting on two fronts, ahead and behind, he chose the best troops of Isra'el to deploy against Aram;


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while the rest of the army he put under the command of Avishai his brother to deploy against the army of 'Amon.


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He said, 'If Aram is too strong for me, you help me; but if the army of 'Amon is too strong for you, then I will come and help you.


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Take courage, and let's be strong for the sake of our people and the cities of our God. May ADONAI do what seems good to him.'


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When the people of 'Amon saw that Aram had fled, they likewise fled before Avishai and retreated into the city. Yo'av returned from the people of 'Amon and went to Yerushalayim.


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Hadad'ezer sent and brought out the people of Aram who lived beyond the [Euphrates] River. They came to Heilam with Shovakh the commander of Hadad'ezer's army at their head.


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It was reported to David; so he gathered all Isra'el together, crossed the Yarden and came to Heilam. Aram deployed themselves against David and fought him.


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But Aram fled before Isra'el; David killed 700 chariot-drivers and 40,000 horsemen from Aram, and he struck Shovakh the commander of their army, so that he died there.


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When all Hadad'ezer's vassal kings saw that they had been defeated by Isra'el, they made peace with Isra'el and became their subjects. So Aram was afraid to help the people of 'Amon any more.


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In the spring, at the time when kings go out to war, David sent out Yo'av, his servants who were with him and all Isra'el. They ravaged the people of 'Amon and laid siege to Rabbah. But David stayed in Yerushalayim.


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Once, after his afternoon nap, David got up from his bed and went strolling on the roof of the king's palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful.


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David made inquiries about the woman and was told that she was Bat-Sheva the daughter of Eli'am, the wife of Uriyah the Hitti.


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David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he went to bed with her (for she had been purified from her uncleanness). Then she returned to her house.


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When Uriyah had come to him, David asked him how Yo'av was doing, how the people were feeling and how the war was going.


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Then David said to Uriyah, 'Go down to your house and wash your feet.' Uriyah left the king's palace and was followed by a present of food from the king.


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But Uriyah slept at the door of the king's palace with all the servants of his lord and didn't go down to his house.


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When they told David, 'Uriyah didn't go down to his house,' David said to Uriyah, 'Haven't you just arrived from a journey? Why didn't you go down to your house?'


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Uriyah answered David, 'The ark, Isra'el and Y'hudah stay in tents; and my lord Yo'av and the servants of my lord are camping in the countryside. So should I go into my house to eat and drink and go to bed with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!'


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David said to Uriyah, 'Stay here today also; tomorrow I will let you leave.' So Uriyah stayed in Yerushalayim that day and the following day.


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David summoned him, ate and drank with him, and got him drunk. But in the evening he went out and lay on his bed with his lord's servants and did not go down to his house.


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In the letter he wrote, 'Put Uriyah on the front lines of the fiercest fighting; then pull back from him, so that he will be wounded and killed.'


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So while Yo'av had the city under siege, he assigned Uriyah to the place where he knew the toughest defenders were.


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The men of the city went out and fought Yo'av; a number of people fell, including some of David's servants, with Uriyah the Hitti among the dead.


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and he instructed the messenger, 'When you have finished telling the king all the news about the war,


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he may become angry and ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot from the wall?


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Didn't you think about the person who struck Avimelekh the son of Yerubeshet, that a woman threw an upper millstone down on him from the wall, so that he died at Tevetz? Why did you go so near the wall?' If he says this, tell him, 'Your servant Uriyah is dead also.''


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The messenger said to David, 'The men were overpowering us and came out after us into the countryside. But we chased them back all the way to the entrance of the city gate.


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The archers shot at your servants from the wall; some of the king's servants are dead; also your servant Uriyah the Hitti is dead.'


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David said to the messenger, 'Tell Yo'av, 'Don't let this matter get you down - the sword devours in one way or another. Intensify your battle against the city, and overthrow it.'And encourage him.'


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When the mourning was over, David sent and took her home to his palace, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But ADONAI saw what David had done as evil.


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ADONAI sent Natan to David. He came and said to him, 'In a certain city there were two men, one rich, the other poor.


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but the poor man had nothing, except for one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared. It had grown up with him and his children; it ate from his plate, drank from his cup, lay on his chest - it was like a daughter to him.


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One day a traveler visited the rich man, and instead of picking an animal from his own flock or herd to cook for his visitor, he took the poor man's lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to him.'


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David exploded with anger against the man and said to Natan, 'As ADONAI lives, the man who did this deserves to die!


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For doing such a thing, he has to pay back four times the value of the lamb - and also because he had no pity.'


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Natan said to David, 'You are the man. 'Here is what ADONAI, the God of Isra'el says: 'I anointed you king over Isra'el. I rescued you from the power of Sha'ul.


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I gave you your master's house and your master's wives to embrace. I gave you the house of Isra'el and the house of Y'hudah. And if that had been too little, I would have added to you a lot more.


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''So why have you shown such contempt for the word of ADONAI and done what I see as evil? You murdered Uriyah the Hitti with the sword and taken his wife as your own wife; you put him to death with the sword of the people of 'Amon.


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Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house - because you have shown contempt for me and taken the wife of Uriyah the Hitti as your own wife.'


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Here is what ADONAI says: 'I will generate evil against you out of your own household. I will take your wives before your very eyes and give them to your neighbor; he will go to bed with your wives, and everyone will know about it.


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David said to Natan, 'I have sinned against ADONAI.' Natan said to David, 'ADONAI also has taken away your sin. You will not die.


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However, because by this act you have so greatly blasphemed ADONAI, the child born to you must die.'


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Then Natan returned to his house. ADONAI struck the child that Uriyah's wife had borne to David, and it became very ill.


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David prayed to God on behalf of the child; David fasted, then came and lay all night on the ground.


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The court officials got up and stood next to him trying to get him off the ground, but he refused, and he wouldn't eat food with them.


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On the seventh day, the child died. The servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, because they said, 'While the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he didn't listen to us; if we tell him now that the child is dead, he may do himself some harm.'


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But when David saw his servants whispering to each other, he suspected that the child was dead. David asked his servants, 'Is the child dead?' and they answered, 'He is dead.'


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Then David got up off the ground, washed, anointed himself and changed his clothes. He went into the house of ADONAI and worshipped; then he went to his own palace; and when he asked for food, they served it to him; and he ate.


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His servants asked him, 'What are you doing? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat food!'


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He answered, 'While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; because I thought, 'Maybe ADONAI will show his grace to me and let the child live.'


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But now that he's dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.'


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David comforted his wife Bat-Sheva, came to her and went to bed with her; she gave birth to a son and named him Shlomo. ADONAI loved him


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Yo'av sent people to David with this message: 'I have fought against Rabbah and captured its water supply.


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Therefore, assemble the rest of the people; lay siege to the city; and capture it. Otherwise, I will capture the city; and it will be named after me!'


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He took the crown off Malkam's head; it weighed sixty-six pounds, with its gold and precious stones; and it was placed on David's head. He carried off great quantities of spoil from the city.


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In addition, he expelled the people who were in it and set them to work with saws, iron harrows and iron axes, or had them cross over to work in the brick factory. This is what he did to all the cities of the people of 'Amon. Then David and all the people returned to Yerushalayim.


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Now Avshalom the son of David had a beautiful sister named Tamar. Some time after the previous events, Amnon the son of David fell in love with her.


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Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he became ill, for she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it would be impossible to approach her.


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But Amnon had a friend named Yonadav the son of Shim'ah David's brother; and Yonadav was a very shrewd fellow.


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He asked him, 'Why, son of the king, are you growing thinner every day? Won't you tell me?'Amnon answered him, 'I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Avshalom's sister.'


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Yonadav said to him, 'Lie down on your bed, and pretend you're sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food to eat, and have her prepare the food where I can watch. I'll eat what she serves me.'


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So Amnon lay down and pretended he was sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes here where I can watch, and I'll eat what she serves me.'


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David sent this instruction home to Tamar: 'Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare him some food.'


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So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes while he watched, and baked the cakes.


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Then she took the pan and turned them out in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, 'Have everyone leave me'; and everyone left him.


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Amnon said to Tamar, 'Bring the food into the room, so that I can have you serve me. Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.


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But when she brought them near, so that he could eat, he grabbed her and said to her, 'Come to bed with me, my sister.'


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'No, my brother,' she answered him, 'don't force me! Things like this aren't done in Isra'el; don't behave so disgracefully!


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Where could I go with such shame? And as for you, you will be regarded as one of Isra'el's vulgar brutes. Now therefore, please! Speak to the king, because he won't keep me from you.'


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However, he wouldn't listen to her; and since he was stronger than she, he overpowered her and raped her.


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But then he was filled with utter revulsion for her - his hatred of her was even greater than the love he had had for her before. Amnon said to her, 'Get up, and get out of here!'


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'No,' she objected, 'because throwing me out like this is an even worse thing than what you've already done to me!' But he wouldn't listen to her;


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he called his personal servant and said, 'Get rid of this woman for me! Throw her out, and lock the door after her!'


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She was wearing a long-sleeved robe (this was how they used to dress the king's daughters who were virgins). His servant took her out and locked the door after her.


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Tamar put ashes on her head, tore her long-sleeved robe that she was wearing, laid her hand on her head and went off, crying aloud as she went.


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Avshalom her brother said to her, 'Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now, my sister, keep quiet; because he's your brother. Don't take the matter to heart.' But Tamar remained desolate in her brother Avshalom's house.


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As for Avshalom, he refused to say a word to Amnon, either good or bad; for Avshalom hated Amnon for having raped his sister Tamar.


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Two years later, when Avshalom had sheep-shearers in Ba'al-Hatzor, near Efrayim, Avshalom invited all the king's sons.


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Avshalom went to the king and said, 'Your servant has sheep-shearers; please let the king and his servants come along with your servant.'


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The king replied to Avshalom, 'No, my son, let's not all go - we don't want to be a burden to you.'Avshalom pressed him, but he wouldn't go; however he gave him his blessing.


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Then Avshalom said, 'If you won't go, then please let my brother Amnon go with us.'The king said to him, 'Why should he go with you?'


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Avshalom ordered his servants, 'Pay close attention: when Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine, and I say to you, 'Kill Amnon,' then strike him down. Don't be afraid - I'm the one ordering you to do it - but take courage, and be bold.'


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Avshalom's servants did to Amnon as Avshalom had ordered. At this, all the king's sons jumped up, mounted their mules and fled.


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While they were on their way, the news came to David that Avshalom had killed all the king's sons, and not one of them was left alive.


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The king got up, tore his clothes and lay on the ground, while all his servants stood by with their clothes torn too.


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But then Yonadav, the son of Shim'ah, David's brother, spoke up; he said, 'My lord shouldn't think they have killed all the young men, the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead; for Avshalom has meant to do this ever since the day he raped his sister Tamar.


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So my lord the king shouldn't take it as seriously as if all the king's sons are dead; only Amnon is dead.'


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However, Avshalom took flight. The young man keeping watch looked up and saw many people coming along the road behind him on the hillside.


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The moment he finished speaking, the king's sons came, cried out and wept; and the king too, with all his servants, cried out in great pain.


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Avshalom fled and went to Talmai the son of 'Ammihud, king of G'shur. David mourned for his son every day.


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But as King David became reconciled to the death of his son Amnon, he was increasingly filled with longing to see Avshalom.


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so Yo'av sent to T'koa, brought from there a clever woman and said to her, 'Please, pretend you're a mourner. Put on mourning clothes, and don't anoint yourself with oil, but appear to be a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time.


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When the woman of T'koa spoke to the king, she fell down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself, and said, 'King, help!'


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my two sons were out in the field; and they got into a fight with each other. There was no one to separate them, and one hit the other and killed him.


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Now the whole family has come against me, your servant; they're saying, 'Hand over the one who hit his brother, so that we can put him to death for killing his brother.'They want to destroy the heir as well and thus quench my one remaining coal; then my husband will have neither name nor survivor anywhere on earth.'


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The woman of T'koa said to the king, 'My lord, king, let the guilt be on me and my father's family; the king and his throne be guiltless.'


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The king answered, 'If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me; and he won't bother you any more.'


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'Please,' she said, 'let the king swear by ADONAI your God that the blood avengers won't do any more destroying, so they won't destroy my son.' He said, 'As ADONAI lives, not one of your son's hairs will fall to the ground.'


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Then the woman said, 'Please allow your servant to say something else to my lord the king.''Go on,' he replied.


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The woman said, 'Why is it, then, that you have produced a situation exactly like this against God's people? By saying what you have said, the king has virtually incriminated himself - in that the king does not bring home again the son he banished.


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For we will all die someday; we'll be like water spilled on the ground that can't be gathered up again; and God makes no exception for anyone. The king should think of some way to keep the son he banished from being forever an outcast.


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Now the reason I came to speak about this matter to my lord the king is that the people were intimidating me; so your servant said, 'I will speak now to the king; maybe the king will do what his servant is asking.


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For the king will listen and rescue his servant from the hands of those who would destroy me and my son together from our share of God's inheritance.'


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Then your servant said, 'Please let my lord the king say something that will give me relief; for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good from bad - and may ADONAI your God be with you.''


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The king then answered the woman: 'I'm going to ask you a question, and please don't hide anything from me.'The woman said, 'Let my lord the king now speak.'


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The king asked, 'Did Yo'av put you up to this?'The woman answered, 'As you live, my lord the king, when my lord the king speaks, no one can avoid the issue by turning either right or left. Yes, it was your servant Yo'av who had me do this, and he put in my mouth every word you have heard your servant say.


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Your servant Yo'av did this in order to bring about some change in the situation. But my lord is wise, he has the wisdom of an angel of God when it comes to understanding anything going on in the land.'


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Yo'av fell to the ground on his face, prostrating himself, and blessed the king; Yo'av said, 'Today your servant knows that I have won your favor, my lord, king, because the king has done what your servant requested.'


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However, the king said, 'Let him return to his own house, but he is not to appear in my presence.'So Avshalom returned to his own house and did not appear before the king.


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Now in all Isra'el there was no one more praised for his beauty than Avshalom -there was no defect on him from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.


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He would cut his hair only once a year, at the end of the year; and the only reason he cut it then was because it weighed him down. He weighed the hair from his head at 200 shekels (using the royal weight) [about five pounds].


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Then Avshalom summoned Yo'av, planning to send him to the king; but he refused to come to him. He summoned him a second time, but he still wouldn't come.


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So he said to his servants, 'See, Yo'av's field is close to mine, and he has barley there; go, and set it on fire.' Avshalom's servants set the field on fire.


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Then Yo'av got up, went to Avshalom at his house and asked him, 'Why did your servants set my field on fire?'


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Avshalom answered Yo'av, 'Look, I sent a message to you to come here, so that I could send you to the king to ask, 'Why did I come from G'shur? It would have been better for me if I had stayed there. So now, let me appear before the king; and if I'm guilty of anything, he can kill me.''


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Yo'av went to the king and told him; and when he had called for Avshalom, he went to the king and prostrated himself with his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Avshalom.


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Some time later, Avshalom prepared himself a chariot and horses, with fifty men to run ahead of him.


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He would get up early and stand by the road leading to the city gate; and if someone had a case that was to come before the king for judgment, Avshalom would call to him and ask, 'What city are you from?' and he would answer, 'Your servant is from the such-and-such tribe in Isra'el.'


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Avshalom would say to him, 'Look, your cause is good and just; but the king hasn't deputized anyone to hear your case.'


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Then Avshalom would continue, 'Now if I were made judge in the land, anyone with a suit or other cause could come to me, and I would see that he gets justice!'


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Moreover, whenever any man came close to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him.


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This is how Avshalom behaved toward anyone in Isra'el who came to the king for judgment, and in this way Avshalom stole the hearts of the people of Isra'el.


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At the end of forty years, Avshalom said to the king, 'Please let me go to Hevron and fulfill the vow I made to ADONAI.


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Your servant made a vow while I was staying at G'shur in Aram to the effect that if ADONAI would bring me back to Yerushalayim, then I would serve ADONAI.'


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But Avshalom sent spies through all the tribes of Isra'el to say, 'The moment you hear the sound of the shofar, then start proclaiming, 'Avshalom is king in Hevron.''


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With Avshalom went 200 men from Yerushalayim who had been invited; they went innocently, knowing nothing about the scheme.


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Avshalom sent for Achitofel the Giloni, David's counselor, to come from his town Giloh and be with him while offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy grew strong, because the number of people favoring Avshalom kept increasing.


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David said to all his servants with him in Yerushalayim, 'Get up! We must flee! Otherwise none of us will escape from Avshalom. Hurry, and leave; or he will soon overtake us, attack us and put the city to the sword.'


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The king's servants said to the king, 'Here, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.'


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So the king set out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women who were concubines to care for the palace.


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for all his servants to pass by him in review; all the K'reti and P'leti and all the Gittim (600 men who had accompanied him from Gat) passed in review before the king.


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Then the king said to Ittai the Gitti, 'You too? Why are you going with us? Go back, and stay with your king, since you are both a foreigner and in exile from your own place.


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You arrived only yesterday; should I ask you to wander around with us? There's no telling where I may go. Return, and take your kinsmen back with you. Grace and truth be with you.'


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But Ittai answered the king, 'As ADONAI lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there too.'


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'Go, move along,' said David to Ittai; and Ittai the Gitti moved on, accompanied by all his men and the little ones with him.


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The whole country wept and wailed as all the people left. When the king crossed Vadi Kidron, all the people crossed, too, heading toward the desert road.


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Tzadok also came, accompanied by all the L'vi'im bearing the ark for the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, but Evyatar went up until all the people had finished leaving the city.


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The king said to Tzadok, 'Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in ADONAI's sight, he will bring me back and show me both it and the place where it is kept.


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But if he says, 'I am displeased with you,' then - here I am; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.'


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The king then said to Tzadok the cohen, 'Do you see? Return to the city in peace, your two sons with you - Achima'atz your own son and Y'honatan the son of Evyatar.


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David continued up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up, head covered and barefoot; and all the people with him had their heads covered and wept as they went up.


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One of them told David, 'Achitofel is among the conspirators with Avshalom.' David said, 'ADONAI, please! Turn Achitofel's advice into foolishness!'


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When David reached the top of the ascent, where it was customary to worship God, Hushai the Arki came to meet him with his tunic torn and earth on his head.


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But if you go back to the city and tell Avshalom, 'King, I will be your servant; just as I was your father's servant in the past, so I will now be your servant'- then you will be able to frustrate Achitofel's advice for me.


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You have Tzadok and Evyatar the cohanim there with you. So whatever you hear from the king's house, you tell to Tzadok and Evyatar the cohanim.


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Their two sons, Achima'atz the son of Tzadok and Y'honatan the son of Evyatar, are there with them; through them send me everything you hear.'


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When David had gone a little past the summit, there was Tziva, the servant of M'fivoshet, who met him with a pair of donkeys saddled and on them 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 pieces of summer fruit and a skin of wine.


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The king said to Tziva, 'What do you mean by these?' Tziva replied, 'The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat; and the wine is for those who collapse in the desert to drink.'


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The king asked, 'Where is your master's [grand]son?'Tziva answered the king, 'He's staying in Yerushalayim, because he said, 'Today the house of Isra'el will restore my father's kingship to me.''


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The king said to Tziva, 'Everything that belongs to M'fivoshet is now yours.' Tziva answered, 'I bow down before you; may I find favor in your sight, my lord, king.'


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When King David arrived at Bachurim, there came out from there a man from Sha'ul's family named Shim'i the son of Gera; and he came out pronouncing curses


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and throwing stones at David and all King David's servants; even though all the people, including his bodyguard, surrounded him right and left.


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ADONAI has brought back on you all the blood of the house of Sha'ul. You usurped his kingship, but ADONAI has handed over the kingdom to Avshalom your son. Now your own evil has overtaken you, because you are a man of blood!'


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Avishai the son of Tz'ruyah said to the king, 'Why allow this dead dog to curse my lord the king? Just let me go over and remove his head!'


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The king said, 'Do you sons of Tz'ruyah and I have anything in common? Let him curse. If ADONAI tells him, 'Curse David,' who has the right to ask, 'Why are you doing it?''


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David then said to Avishai and all his servants, 'Look, my own son, who came from my own body, seeks my life. So how much more now this Binyamini! Let him alone; and let him curse, if ADONAI told him to.


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Maybe ADONAI will notice how I'm treating him, and ADONAI will reward me with good instead of his curses.'


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So David and his men went on their way, while on the opposite hillside Shim'i kept pace with him, cursing, throwing stones and flinging dust as he went.


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Meanwhile Avshalom and all the people, the men of Isra'el, came to Yerushalayim; Achitofel was with him.


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Hushai the Arki, David's friend, came to Avshalom and said to him, 'Long live the king! Long live the king!'


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Avshalom asked Hushai, 'Is this how you show kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?'


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Hushai replied, 'No, but whomever ADONAI and this people and all the men of Isra'el choose, his I will be; and with him I will stay.


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Moreover, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence.'


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Achitofel answered Avshalom, 'Go in, and sleep with your father's concubines, the ones he left to take care of the palace. All Isra'el will hear that your father utterly despises you, and this will strengthen the position of all those who are on your side.'


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So they set up a tent for Avshalom on the roof of the palace; and Avshalom went in to sleep with his father's concubines in the sight of all Isra'el.


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In those days Achitofel's advice was regarded as highly as if someone had sought out the word of God; it was this way with Achitofel's advice both to David and to Avshalom.


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I'll fall on him unexpectedly when he's tired and powerless. I'll frighten him, all the people with him will flee, and I'll attack only the king.


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Then I will bring back to you all the people; and when they have all returned, except the one you are seeking, all the people will be at peace.'


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Then Avshalom said, 'Now call also Hushai the Arki, and let's give equal hearing to what he has to say.'


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When Hushai appeared before Avshalom, Avshalom said to him, 'Achitofel has said such-and-such. Should we do what he says? If not, you tell us.'


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You know,' continued Hushai, 'that your father and his men are powerful men, and that they are as bitter as a bear deprived of her cubs in the wild. Moreover, your father is a military man, and he won't camp with the rest of the people -


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right now he's hidden in a pit or somewhere. So what will happen is this: when they begin their attack, and whoever hears about it says, 'A slaughter is taking place among Avshalom's followers,'


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then even the strongest among them, someone whose courage is that of a lion, will completely collapse! For all Isra'el knows that your father is a powerful man, and those with him are powerful men.


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Rather, I advise that you summon all Isra'el to come to you, from Dan to Be'er-Sheva, numbering as many as sand grains on the seashore; and then you go to battle, yourself.


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In this way we'll come upon him wherever he is, and we'll fall on him as the dew falls on the ground; of him and all the men with him we won't leave even one alive.


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If he withdraws into a city, then all Isra'el will bring up ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the riverbed until not even a pebble is left.'


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Avshalom and all the men of Isra'el said, 'The advice of Hushai the Arki is better than the advice of Achitofel'- for ADONAI had determined to frustrate the good advice of Achitofel, so that ADONAI could bring disaster on Avshalom.


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Then Hushai said to Tzadok and Evyatar the cohanim, 'Achitofel gave such-and-such advice to Avshalom and the leaders of Isra'el, but I advised so and so.


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Now therefore send quickly and tell David, 'Don't stay tonight in the desert plains; but, whatever it takes, move on from there! Otherwise, the king and all the people with him will be engulfed.'


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Y'honatan and Achima'atz were staying at 'Ein-Rogel; a female servant was to go and tell them, and they in turn were to go and tell King David - for it would not do to have them seen entering the city.


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But a boy saw them and told Avshalom; so both of them took off quickly and came to the house of a man in Bachurim who had a cistern in his courtyard; and they went down into it.


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His wife spread a covering over the cistern's opening and scattered drying grain on it, so that nothing showed.


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Avshalom's servants came to the woman at the house and asked, 'Where are Achima'atz and Y'honatan?'The woman answered them, 'They've crossed the stream.'After searching and not finding them, they returned to Yerushalayim.


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After they had left, the two climbed out of the cistern and went and told King David, 'Get up and cross the river, because Achitofel has given such-and-such advice against you.'


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David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Yarden; by dawn every one of them had crossed the Yarden.


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When Achitofel saw that his advice was not being followed, he saddled his donkey, set out, and went home to his own city. After setting his house in order, he hanged himself; he died and was buried in his father's tomb.


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Avshalom had put 'Amasa in charge of the army in place of Yo'av. 'Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Yitra the Isra'eli, who had had sexual relations with Avigal the daughter of Nachash, Tz'ruyah's sister and Yo'av's mother.


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After David had arrived in Machanayim, Shovi the son of Nachash, from Rabbah of the people of 'Amon; Machir the son of 'Ammi'el from Lo-D'var and Barzillai the Gil'adi from Roglim


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brought beds, basins, clay pots, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, roasted millet,


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honey, curdled milk, sheep and cheese made of cow's milk for David and the people with him to eat; because they said, 'These people are hungry, tired and thirsty from the desert.'


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David took a census of the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds.


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Then David dispatched the people, a third of them under the command of Yo'av, a third under Avishai the son of Tz'ruyah, Yo'av's brother, and a third under Ittai the Gitti; and the king said to the people, 'I will also go out with you, myself.'


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But the people replied, 'Don't go out; because if we flee, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; so it is better now that you stay in the city and be ready if we need help.'


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The king answered them, 'I will do whatever you think best.' So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.


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The king gave orders to Yo'av, Avishai and Ittai, 'For my sake, deal gently with young Avshalom.'All the people were listening when the king gave all the commanders this order concerning Avshalom.


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So the people went out into the field against Isra'el; the battle took place in the forest of Efrayim.


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The people of Isra'el were defeated there by David's servants; there was a terrible slaughter that day of 20,000 men.


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For the battle there was spread all over the countryside; the forest devoured more people that day than did the sword.


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Avshalom happened to meet some of David's servants. Avshalom was riding his mule, and as the mule walked under the thick branches of a big terebinth tree, his head got caught in the terebinth, so that he was left hanging between earth and sky, as the mule went on from under him.


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Yo'av asked the man who told him, 'Here now, you saw it; so why didn't you strike him to the ground then and there? I would have had to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt besides.'


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The man replied to Yo'av, 'Even if I were to get a thousand pieces of silver, I still wouldn't raise my hand against the son of the king! After all, while we were listening, the king ordered you, Avishai and Ittai, 'Be careful that no one touches young Avshalom.'


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Or, if I had pretended that I didn't know, the king would have known otherwise anyway; and you wouldn't have interceded for me either.'


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Yo'av said, 'I can't waste time arguing with you!' He took three darts in his hand and rammed them through Avshalom's heart while he was still alive, hanging from the terebinth.


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Yo'av sounded the shofar, and the people returned from pursuing Isra'el, because Yo'av held back the troops.


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They took Avshalom and threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled a big heap of stones over him. All Isra'el fled, each one to his tent.


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In his own lifetime Avshalom had taken and raised for himself the pillar which stands in the King's Valley; because he said, 'I don't have a son to preserve the memory of my name.' So he named the pillar after himself, and it's called Avshalom's Monument to this day.


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Then Achima'atz the son of Tzadok said, 'Let me run now and bring news to the king that ADONAI has judged in his favor by releasing him from his enemies.'


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Yo'av said to him, 'You are not to be the one to bring the news today; you can convey news another day; but today you will not bring news, because the king's son is dead.'


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Then Yo'av said to the Ethiopian, 'Go, tell the king what you saw.'The Ethiopian bowed to Yo'av, then ran off.


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But Achima'atz the son of Tzadok said again to Yo'av, 'Come what may, please let me also run after the Ethiopian.' Yo'av answered, 'Why do you want to run, my son? You won't receive any reward for bringing the news.'


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'I don't care - whatever happens, I want to run.' So he said to him, 'Run.' Then Achima'atz ran by the road through the desert flats and outran the Ethiopian.


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David was sitting between the two gates. A watchman went up to the roof of the gate and out onto the wall, raised his eyes, looked, and saw there a man running by himself.


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The watchman cried out and told the king. The king said, 'If he's alone, he has good news to tell.'As he ran along and came close,


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the watchman saw another man running and called to the gatekeeper, 'There's another man running by himself.'The king said, 'He too must have good news.'


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The watchman said, 'The first one runs like Achima'atz the son of Tzadok.'The king said, 'He's a good man, he comes with good news.'


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Achima'atz called to the king, 'Shalom,' prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground and said, 'Blessed be ADONAI your God, who has handed over the men who rebelled against my lord the king.'


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The king asked, 'Is everything all right with young Avshalom?' Achima'atz answered, 'When Yo'av sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a big commotion; but I didn't know what it was.'


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Then up came the Ethiopian, and the Ethiopian said, 'There's good news for my lord the king, for ADONAI has judged in your favor and rid you of all those who rebelled against you.'


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The king asked the Ethiopian, 'Is everything all right with young Avshalom?'The Ethiopian answered, 'May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you in order to harm you be as that young man is.'


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Trembling, the king went up to the room over the gate, weeping and crying, 'Oh, my son Avshalom! My son! My son Avshalom! If only I had died instead of you! Oh, Avshalom, my son, my son!'


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Thus the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day that the king was grieving for his son;


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so that the people entered the city furtively that day, the way that people who are ashamed creep away when fleeing a battlefield.


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Meanwhile, the king covered his face and cried aloud, 'Oh, my son Avshalom! Oh, Avshalom, my son, my son!'


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Yo'av went inside to the king and said, 'Today you made all your servants feel ashamed. They saved your life today, and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives and concubines.


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But you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. Today you said that princes and servants mean nothing to you - for I can see today that it would have pleased you more if Avshalom had lived today, and we had all died!


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Now get up, go out and speak heart-to-heart with your servants. For I swear by ADONAI that if you don't go out, not one man will stay here with you tonight - and that will be worse for you than all the misfortunes you have suffered from your youth until now.'


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So the king got up and sat in the city gateway; and when all the people were told, 'Now the king is sitting in the gate,' they came before the king. Meanwhile, Isra'el had fled, each man to his tent;


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and throughout all the tribes of Isra'el there was dissension among all the people. They were saying, 'The king delivered us from the power of our enemies, and he saved us from the power of the P'lishtim; but now he has fled the land to escape Avshalom.


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However, Avshalom, whom we anointed to rule us, is dead in battle. So now, why doesn't anyone suggest bringing the king back?'


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King David sent this message to Tzadok and Evyatar the cohanim: 'Ask the leaders of Y'hudah, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his palace? The king has already heard that all Isra'el wants to return him to his palace.


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Also tell 'Amasa, 'You are my flesh and bone. May God bring terrible curses on me and worse ones yet if from now on you are not permanent commander of my army instead of Yo'av.'


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Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Y'hudah around as if they were one man, so that they sent a message to the king, 'Come back, you and all your servants!'


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The king started back and arrived at the Yarden, while Y'hudah came to Gilgal in order to meet the king and bring the king over the Yarden.


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Shim'i the son of Gera, the Binyamini from Bachurim, hurried and came down with the men of Y'hudah to meet King David.


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There were a thousand men of Binyamin with him, also Tziva the servant of the house of Sha'ul with his fifteen sons and twenty servants; and they rushed into the Yarden ahead of the king


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to ferry the king's household across and do whatever else the king wanted done. Shim'i the son of Gera fell down before the king when he was ready to cross the Yarden


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and said to the king, 'May my lord not hold me guilty of a crime. Don't remember the wrong your servant did on the day my lord the king left Yerushalayim. May the king not take it to heart!


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For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, look - I am the first one of all the house of Yosef to come today and go down to meet my lord the king.'


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Avishai the son of Tz'ruyah answered, 'Shouldn't Shim'i be put to death for this? After all, he cursed ADONAI's anointed ruler!'


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But David said, 'What do I have in common with you, you sons of Tz'ruyah? Why have you become my adversaries today? Should anyone in Isra'el be put to death today? Don't I know that today I am king over Isra'el?'


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M'fivoshet the son of Sha'ul came down to meet the king. He hadn't cared for his legs, trimmed his beard or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he came home in peace.


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When he came to Yerushalayim to meet the king, the king said to him, 'Why didn't you go with me, M'fivoshet?'


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He answered, 'My lord king, my servant deceived me. I your servant had said, 'I will saddle a donkey for myself to ride on and go with the king,' since your servant is lame.


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But he slandered me your servant to my lord the king. However, my lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever seems right to you.


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For all my father's household deserved death at the hand of my lord the king; nevertheless you placed your servant with those who eat at your own table. I deserve nothing more; so why should I come crying any more to the king?'


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The king said to him, 'Why speak any more about these matters of yours? I say: you and Tziva, divide the land.'


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M'fivoshet said to the king, 'Indeed, let him take it all; for me it's enough that my lord the king has come home in peace.'


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Barzillai the Gil'adi had come down from Roglim and passed on to the Yarden with the king to bring him across the Yarden.


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Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old; he had provided for the king's needs when he was staying at Machanayim; for he was a wealthy man.


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The king said to Barzillai, 'Come on across with me, and I will provide for your needs with me in Yerushalayim.'


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Barzillai said to the king, 'How much longer can I live, that I should go up with the king to Yerushalayim?


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I am now eighty years old. Can I tell good from bad? Can your servant even taste what he eats or drinks? Can I hear the voice of men and women singing any more? Why should your servant burden my lord the king?


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Your servant only wants to cross the Yarden with the king; why should the king reward this so generously?


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Please, just let your servant go back and die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Khimham; let him cross with my lord the king; and do for him whatever seems good to you.'


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The king answered, 'Khimham will cross with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you. Whatever you ask of me, I will do for you.'


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So all the people crossed the Yarden; and the king crossed too. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him; then he returned to his home.


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The king crossed over to Gilgal, and Khimham crossed with him. All the people of Y'hudah brought the king across, as did half the people of Isra'el.


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Now all the men of Isra'el came to the king and said to him, 'Why have our kinsmen, the men of Y'hudah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household across the Yarden, and all David's men with him?'


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All the men of Y'hudah answered the men of Isra'el, 'Because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry about this? Have we eaten anything at the king's expense? Has any gift been given to us?'


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The men of Isra'el answered the men of Y'hudah, 'We have ten shares in the king; also we have more right in David than you. So why did you despise us? Weren't we the first to suggest bringing our king back?' But the men of Y'hudah spoke more vehemently than the men of Isra'el.


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There happened to be there a scoundrel whose name was Sheva the son of Bikhri, a Binyamini. He sounded the shofar and said, 'We have no share in David, no inheritance in the son of Yishai; so, Isra'el, every man to his tent!'


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All the men of Isra'el left off following David and went after Sheva the son of Bikhri. But the men of Y'hudah stuck with their king, from the Yarden to Yerushalayim.


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When David arrived at his palace in Yerushalayim, the king took the ten women who were his concubines, whom he had left to care for the palace, and put them under guard. He provided for their needs but never slept with them again. They were kept in confinement until the day of their death, living like widows with their husband still alive.


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The king said to 'Amasa, 'Summon the men of Y'hudah to come to me within three days; and you, be here too.'


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David said to Avishai, 'Sheva the son of Bikhri is going to do us more harm than Avshalom. Take your lord's servants and pursue him, so that he won't take over fortified cities and escape us.'


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With him went Yo'av's men, the K'reti, the P'leti and all the experienced soldiers; they left Yerushalayim in pursuit of Sheva the son of Bikhri.


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On arrival at the big rock in Giv'on, 'Amasa came to meet them. Yo'av was wearing his battle clothes, over which he had girded a belt with a sheathed sword; but as he came forward it fell out.


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Yo'av said to 'Amasa, 'Is it going well with you, my brother? Then, with his right hand, Yo'av took 'Amasa by the beard to kiss him.


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'Amasa took no notice of the sword in Yo'av's hand, so Yo'av stabbed him in the groin. His insides poured out on the ground, and he died without being stabbed a second time. Yo'av and Avishai his brother continued in pursuit of Sheva the son of Bikhri.


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One of Yo'av's young men standing by Yo'av said, 'Whoever is on Yo'av's side, whoever is for David - let him follow Yo'av.'


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'Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road; so that as the troops came up, they all halted there. When the man saw that all the people were standing still, he dragged 'Amasa off the road into the field and threw a cloak over him.


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Once he had been removed from the road, all the troops went on after Yo'av, to pursue Sheva the son of Bikhri.


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Sheva went through all the tribes of Isra'el, to Avel and Beit-Ma'akhah, and to all the Berim; they assembled and followed him.


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Yo'av's troops came and put him under siege in Avel of Beit-Ma'akhah - they put up a ramp in the moat against the city wall; and all the people with Yo'av battered the wall in order to bring it down.


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Then a wise woman in the city shouted, 'Listen! Listen! Please tell Yo'av, 'Come over here, so that I can speak with you.''


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He approached her, and the woman asked, 'Are you Yo'av?' He answered, 'I am.' She said to him, 'Listen to what your servant has to say.' He answered, 'I'm listening.'


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Then she said, 'In the old days they used to say, 'They will ask advice at Avel'; and that would end the discussion.


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We are among those in Isra'el who are peaceful and faithful. Why are you destroying a city and a mother in Isra'el? Why swallow up the inheritance of ADONAI?'


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That's not how it is. Rather, a man from the hills of Efrayim, Sheva the son of Bikhri, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Just turn him over to me, and I will leave the city.' The woman said to Yo'av, 'All right, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.'


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Then the woman went to all the people with her wise plan. They cut off the head of Sheva the son of Bikhri and threw it out to Yo'av. So he sounded the shofar, and they left the city, sending each man to his tent; while Yo'av returned to the king in Yerushalayim.


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Once again Yo'av was commander over the whole army of Isra'el, while B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada was over the K'reti and P'leti,


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In David's time there was a famine that lasted three years, and David consulted ADONAI. ADONAI said, 'It is because of Sha'ul and his bloodstained house, because he put to death the people of Giv'on.'


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The king summoned the Giv'onim and said to them - these Giv'onim were not part of the people of Isra'el but from the remnant of the Emori; and the people of Isra'el had sworn to them; but Sha'ul, in his zeal for the people of Isra'el and Y'hudah, had sought to exterminate them -


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David said to the Giv'onim, 'What should I do for you? With what should I make atonement, so that you will be able to bless ADONAI's heritage?'


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The Giv'onim said to him, 'Our dispute with Sha'ul can't be resolved with silver or gold; and we don't have the right to put anyone in Isra'el to death.' He said, 'So, what do you say that I should do for you?'


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They answered the king, 'The man who ruined us, who schemed against us so that we would cease to exist anywhere in Isra'el's territory -


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have seven of his male descendants handed over to us, and we will put them to death by hanging before ADONAI in Giv'ah of Sha'ul, whom ADONAI chose.'The king said, 'I will hand them over.'


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But the king spared M'fivoshet, the son of Y'honatan the son of Sha'ul, because of the oath before ADONAI between David and Y'honatan the son of Sha'ul.


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The king took the two sons of Ritzpah the daughter of Ayah, whom she bore to Sha'ul, Armoni and M'fivoshet; and the five sons of Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul, whom she bore to Adri'el the son of Barzillai the Mecholati;


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and handed them over to the Giv'onim, who hanged them on the hill before ADONAI. All seven died; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest season, at the beginning of the barley harvest.


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Ritzpah the daughter of Ayah took sackcloth, spread it out toward a cliff for herself and stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until water was poured out on the bodies from the sky, not letting the birds land on them during the day or the wild animals at night.


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So David went and took the bones of Sha'ul and the bones of Y'honatan his son from the men of Yavesh-Gil'ad, who had stolen them from the open square of Beit-Sh'an, where the P'lishtim had hanged them at the time the P'lishtim had killed Sha'ul at Gilboa;


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and he brought up from there the bones of Sha'ul and the bones of Y'honatan his son. They also gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.


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Then they buried the bones of Sha'ul and Y'honatan his son in the territory of Binyamin in Tzela, in the tomb of Kish his father; they did everything the king ordered. Only after that was God prevailed on to show mercy to the land.


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Once again the P'lishtim made war on Isra'el. David went down with his servants and fought against the P'lishtim, but David began to get tired.


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Yishbi-B'nov, one of the sons of the giant, said that he would kill David; his spear weighed seven pounds, and he was wearing new armor.


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But Avishai the son of Tz'ruyah came to David's rescue by striking the P'lishti and killing him. Then David's men swore to him, 'You must no longer go out with us to battle, in order not to quench the lamp of Isra'el.'


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A while after this there was again war with the P'lishtim, at Gov. Sibkhai the Hushati killed Saf, one of the sons of the giant.


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There was more war with the P'lishtim at Gov; and Elchanan the son of Ya'arei-Orgim, the Beit-Lachmi, killed Golyat the Gitti, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's beam.


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There was again war at Gat, where there was a belligerent man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot - twenty-four in all - and he too was a son of the giant.


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David said the words of this song to ADONAI on the day ADONAI delivered him from the power of all his enemies and from the power of Sha'ul.


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the God who is my Rock, in whom I find shelter, my shield, the power that saves me, my stronghold and my refuge. My savior, you have saved me from violence.


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In my distress I called to ADONAI; yes, I called to my God. Out of his temple he heard my voice, and my cry entered his ears.


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'Then the earth quaked and shook, the foundations of heaven trembled. They were shaken because he was angry.


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The channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were exposed at ADONAI's rebuke, at the blast of breath from his nostrils.


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'As for God, his way is perfect, the word of ADONAI has been tested by fire; he shields all who take refuge in him.


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'You also freed me from the quarrels of my people. You kept me to be the head of the nations; a people I did not know now serve me.


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He brings me out from my enemies. You raise me over those who rebel against me, you rescue me from violent men.


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He is a tower of salvation for his king; he displays grace to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.'


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Here are David's last words: 'This is the speech of David the son of Yishai, the speech of the man who has been raised up, the one anointed by the God of Ya'akov, the sweet singer of Isra'el.


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The God of Isra'el spoke; the Rock of Isra'el said to me, 'A ruler over people must be upright, ruling in the fear of God;


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like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless day that makes the grass on the earth sparkle after a rain.'


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'For my house stands firm with God -he made an everlasting covenant with me. It is in order, fully assured, that he will bring to full growth all my salvation and every desire.


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'But the ungodly are like thorn bushes to be pushed aside, every one of them. They cannot be taken in one's hand;


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Following are the names of David's warrior-heroes: Yoshev-Bashevet the Tach'kmoni, chief of the three, also known as 'Adino the 'Etzni; he is the one who came against 800 men, whom he killed in a single encounter.


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After him was El'azar the son of Dodo the son of Achochi, one of the three warriors with David when they put their lives in jeopardy against the P'lishtim who were there assembled for battle, while the men of Isra'el had gone away.


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He stood firm and attacked the P'lishtim until his hand went into spasm, so that he couldn't let go of his sword. ADONAI accomplished a great victory that day; but the people didn't return until he had finished, and then only to plunder the bodies of the dead.


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After him was Shammah the son of Age the Harari. The P'lishtim had assembled at Lechi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the P'lishtim.


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But he stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, killing the P'lishtim; and ADONAI brought about a great victory.


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During harvest season three of the thirty leaders went down and came to David at the cave of 'Adulam when a company of P'lishtim had set up camp in the Refa'im Valley.


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David had a craving and said, 'I wish someone could give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem!'


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The three warrior-heroes broke through the army of the P'lishtim, drew water from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem, took it and brought it to David. But he wouldn't drink it. Instead, he poured it out to ADONAI


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and said, 'ADONAI! Heaven forbid that I should do such a thing! Am I to drink the blood of men who went and put their lives in jeopardy?'- and he would not consent to drink it. These are the things the three warrior-heroes did.


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Avishai the brother of Yo'av, the son of Tz'ruyah, was chief of these three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them; thus he had a reputation even among the three.


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He had the most honor of these three and was therefore made their leader; however, he did not achieve the status of the first three.


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B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada, the son of a valiant man of Kavtze'el, was a man of many exploits. He struck down two lion-hearted men of Mo'av. One day when it was snowing, he went down into a pit and killed a lion.


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Here is how he killed an Egyptian, a man of intimidating appearance: the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, and he went down to him with only a stick, seized the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.


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These are things that B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada did that earned him a name among the three warrior-heroes.


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He had more honor than the thirty, but he did not achieve the status of the first three. David put him in command of his personal guard.


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Helev the son of Ba'anah the N'tofati, Ittai the son of Rivai from Giv'ah, of the people of Binyamin,


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Elifelet the son of Achasbai the son of the Ma'akhati, Eli'am the son of Achitofel from Giloh, thirty-seven in all.


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The anger of ADONAI blazed up against Isra'el, so he moved David to act against them by saying, 'Go, take a census of Isra'el and Y'hudah.'


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The king said to Yo'av the commander of the army, who was with him, 'Go systematically through all the tribes of Isra'el, from Dan to Be'er-Sheva; and take a census of the population; so that I can know how many people there are.'


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Yo'av said to the king, 'May ADONAI your God add to the people a hundredfold, no matter how many there are; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king take pleasure in doing this?'


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However, the king's word prevailed against Yo'av and the army officers. So Yo'av and the army officers went out from the king's presence to take a census of the people of Isra'el.


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They crossed the Yarden and pitched camp in 'Aro'er, to the south of the city in the Vadi of Gad; went on to Ya'zer;


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came to Gil'ad and continued to the land of Tachtim-Hodshi. Then they arrived at Dan-Ya'an, went around to Tzidon


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and came to the stronghold of Tzor. They went on to the cities of the Hivi and of the Kena'ani, and finished in the south of Y'hudah, at Be'er-Sheva.


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When they were done going through all the land, they came back to Yerushalayim; it had taken nine months and twenty days.


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Yo'av reported the results of the census to the king: there were in Isra'el 800,000 valiant men who could handle a sword, while the men of Y'hudah numbered 500,000.


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But after he had taken the census, David was conscience-stricken. David said to ADONAI, 'I have greatly sinned in what I have done. But now, ADONAI, please! Put aside your servant's sin, for I have done a very foolish thing.'


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'Go and say to David that this is what ADONAI says: 'I am giving you a choice of three punishments. Choose one of them, and I will execute it against you.'


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Gad came to David and told him; he said: 'Do you want seven years of famine in your land? or do you want to flee before your enemies for three months while they pursue you? or do you want three days of plague in your land? Think about it, and tell me what to answer the one who sent me.'


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David said to Gad, 'This is very hard for me. Let us fall into the hand of ADONAI, because his mercies are great, rather than have me fall into the hand of man.'


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So ADONAI sent a plague on Isra'el from that morning until the end of the specified time; 70,000 of the people died between Dan and Be'er-Sheva.


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But when the angel stretched out his hand toward Yerushalayim to destroy it, ADONAI changed his mind about causing such distress and said to the angel destroying the people, 'Enough! Now withdraw your hand.'The angel of ADONAI was at the threshing-floor of Aravnah the Y'vusi.


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David spoke to ADONAI when he saw the angel striking the people; he said, 'Here, I have sinned, I have done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? Please! Let your hand be against me and against my father's family!'


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Gad came to David that day and said to him, 'Go, set up an altar to ADONAI on the threshing-floor of Aravnah the Y'vusi.'


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Aravnah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. Aravnah went out and prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground.


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Then Aravnah said, 'Why has my lord the king come to his servant?' David said, 'To buy your threshing-floor, in order to build an altar to ADONAI, so that the plague will be lifted from the people.'


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Aravnah said to David, 'Let my lord the king take and offer up anything that seems good to him. Here are the oxen for the burnt offering; you can use the threshing-sledges and the yokes for the oxen as firewood.


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All this, O king, Aravnah gives to the king.'Then Aravnah said to the king, 'May ADONAI your God accept you.'


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But the king said to Aravnah, 'No; I insist on buying it from you at a price. I refuse to offer to ADONAI my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.'So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for one-and-a-quarter pounds of silver shekels.


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Then David built an altar to ADONAI there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, ADONAI took pity on the land and lifted the plague from Isra'el.


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King David grew old, the years took their toll, and he couldn't get warm even when they covered him with bedclothes.


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His servants said to him, 'Let us try to find a young virgin for my lord the king. She can wait on the king and be a companion for him, and she can lie next to you, so that my lord the king will get some heat.'


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After looking through all of Isra'el's territory for a beautiful girl, they found Avishag the Shunamit and brought her to the king.


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The girl was very beautiful and became a companion for the king. She took care of him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.


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Adoniyah the son of Haggit was beginning to claim that he would be king; to this end he organized chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run ahead of him.


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(His father had never in his life confronted him by asking, 'Why are you behaving this way?' Moreover, he was a very handsome man; he was born next after Avshalom.)


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He conferred with Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah and Evyatar the cohen; and they both supported Adoniyah.


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But Tzadok the cohen, B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada, Natan the prophet, Shim'i, Re'i and David's elite guard were not on Adoniyah's side.


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One day Adoniyah killed sheep, oxen and fattened calves at the Stone of Zochelet, by 'Ein-Rogel. He summoned all his brothers the king's sons, and all the men of Y'hudah the king's servants;


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Natan went to Bat-Sheva the mother of Shlomo and said, 'Haven't you heard that Adoniyah the son of Haggit has become king without the knowledge of David our lord?


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Now, come, please let me give you advice, so that you can save both your own life and that of your son Shlomo.


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Go, get in to see King David, and say to him, 'My lord, king, didn't you swear to your servant, 'Your son Shlomo will be king after me; he will sit on my throne'? So why is Adoniyah king?'


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Right then, while you are still talking with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm what you are saying.'


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Bat-Sheva went in to the king in his room. (The king was very old; Avishag the Shunamit was in attendance on the king.)


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She answered him, 'My lord, you swore by ADONAI your God to your servant, 'Your son Shlomo will be king after me; he will sit on my throne.'


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He has killed oxen, fattened calves and sheep in great numbers; and he has summoned all the sons of the king, Evyatar the cohen and Yo'av the commander of the army; but he didn't summon Shlomo your servant.


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As for you, my lord the king, all Isra'el is watching you; they are waiting for you to tell them who is to sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.


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If you don't, then, when my lord the king sleeps with his ancestors, I and my son Shlomo will be considered criminals.'


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They told the king, 'Natan the prophet is here.' After coming into the king's presence, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground.


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Natan said, 'My lord king, did you say, 'Adoniyah is to be king after me; he will sit on my throne'?


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For he has gone down today and killed oxen, fattened calves and sheep in great numbers; and he has summoned all the king's sons, the commanders of the army and Evyatar the cohen; right now they are eating and drinking in his presence and proclaiming, 'Long live King Adoniyah!'


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But he didn't summon me your servant, or Tzadok the cohen, or B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada or your servant Shlomo.


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Is this authorized by my lord the king without your having told your servant who would sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?'


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King David answered by saying, 'Summon Bat-Sheva to me.' She entered the king's presence and stood before the king.


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as I swore to you by ADONAI the God of Isra'el, 'Your son Shlomo will be king after me; he will sit on my throne in my place,' so will I do today.'


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Bat-Sheva bowed with her face to the ground, prostrating herself to the king, and said, 'Let my lord King David live forever.'


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King David said, 'Summon Tzadok the cohen, Natan the prophet and B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada.' They came before the king.


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The king said to them, 'Take with you the servants of your lord, have Shlomo my son ride on my own mule and bring him down to Gichon.


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There Tzadok the cohen and Natan the prophet are to anoint him king over Isra'el. Sound the shofar and say, 'Long live King Shlomo!'


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Then escort him back; he is to come and sit on my throne; for he is to take my place as king. I have appointed him to rule over Isra'el and Y'hudah.'


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B'nayah responded to the king by saying, 'Amen! May ADONAI, the God of my lord the king, confirm it!


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Just as ADONAI has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Shlomo and make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!'


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So Tzadok the cohen, Natan the prophet, B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada and the K'reti and P'leti went down, had Shlomo ride on King David's mule and brought him to Gichon.


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Tzadok the cohen took the horn of olive oil out of the tent and anointed Shlomo. They sounded the shofar, and all the people shouted, 'Long live King Shlomo!'


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All the people escorted him back, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the earth shook with the sound.


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Adoniyah and all his guests heard it while they were finishing their meal; but it was Yo'av who, when he heard the blast on the shofar, asked, 'That noise - what's the meaning of this uproar in the city?'


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While he was still speaking, there came Yonatan the son of Evyatar the cohen. Adoniyah said, 'Come in! You're a worthy man, so you must be bringing good news!'


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Moreover, the king sent with him Tzadok the cohen, Natan the prophet, B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada and the K'reti and P'leti; they had him ride on the king's mule;


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and Tzadok the cohen and Natan the prophet anointed him king in Gichon. Then they escorted him back from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar; this is the noise you've been hearing.


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More than that, the king's servants came and blessed our lord King David with these words: 'May God make the name of Shlomo better than your name and his throne greater than your throne,' after which the king bowed down on the bed.


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Finally, the king said, 'Blessed be ADONAI the God of Isra'el, who has given someone to sit on my throne today, when my own eyes can see it.''


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Shlomo was told, 'Here, Adoniyah is terrified of King Shlomo; he has grabbed hold of the horns of the altar and is saying, 'First let King Shlomo swear to me that he will not have his servant executed.''


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Shlomo said, 'If he will demonstrate that he is a worthy man, not a hair of his will fall to the earth. But if he is found making trouble, he will die.'


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So King Shlomo sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and prostrated himself before King Shlomo; and Shlomo said to him, 'Go on home.''


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Observe the charge of ADONAI your God to go in his ways and keep his regulations, mitzvot, rulings and instructions in accordance with what is written in the Torah of Moshe; so that you will succeed in all you do and wherever you go.


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If you do, ADONAI will fulfill what he promised me when he said, 'If your children pay attention to how they live, conducting themselves before me honestly with all their heart and being, you will never lack a man on the throne of Isra'el.'


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'Moreover, you are aware of what Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah did to me, that is, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Isra'el, Avner the son of Ner and 'Amasa the son of Yeter - he killed them, shedding the blood of war in peacetime, putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and the shoes on his feet.


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'But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gil'adi. Include them with those who eat at your table, because they came and stood with me when I was fleeing from Avshalom your brother.


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'Finally, you have with you Shim'i the son of Gera the Binyamini, from Bachurim. He laid a terrible curse on me when I was on my way to Machanayim; but he came down to meet me at the Yarden; so I swore to him by ADONAI that I would not have him put to death with the sword.


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Now, however, you should not let him go unpunished. You are a wise man, and you will know what you should do to him - you will bring his gray head down to the grave with blood.'


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David had ruled Isra'el for forty years - seven years in Hevron and thirty-three years in Yerushalayim.


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when Adoniyah the son of Haggit came to Bat-Sheva the mother of Shlomo. She asked, 'Have you come as a friend?' He answered, 'Yes, as a friend.'


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He said, 'You know that the kingdom should have been mine, that all Isra'el was looking to me to be their ruler. No matter; the kingdom has turned around and become my brother's, because ADONAI gave it to him.


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He said, 'Please speak to Shlomo the king - for he won't say 'No' to you - and ask him to give me Avishag the Shunamit as my wife.'


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So Bat-Sheva went to King Shlomo to speak to him on behalf of Adoniyah. The king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat down on his throne and had a throne set up for the king's mother, so that she sat at his right.


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She said, 'I am asking one small favor of you; don't deny me.' The king said to her, 'Ask, mother; I won't deny you.'


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King Shlomo answered his mother, 'Why are you asking Avishag the Shunamit for Adoniyah? Ask the kingdom for him too! After all, he's my older brother! Yes, for him, and for Evyatar the cohen and for Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah!'


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Then King Shlomo swore by ADONAI, 'May God do terrible things to me and worse if Adoniyah hasn't condemned himself to death with this request!


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Now therefore, as ADONAI lives, who has established me, put me on the throne of David my father and set up a dynasty for me, as he promised, Adoniyah will certainly be put to death today.'


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To Evyatar the cohen the king said, 'You, get yourself to 'Anatot, to your own fields. You deserve to die; but I won't put you to death just now; since you did carry the ark of Adonai ELOHIM before David my father; and you suffered together with my father in everything he suffered.'


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So Shlomo forced Evyatar out of his task as cohen to ADONAI, so that what ADONAI had said in Shiloh about the family of 'Eli might be fulfilled.


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When the news came to Yo'av, he fled to the tent of ADONAI and took hold of the horns of the altar; for Yo'av had given his support to Adoniyah, even though he had not supported Avshalom.


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King Shlomo was told, 'Yo'av has fled to the tent of ADONAI; he's there by the altar.' Shlomo sent B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada with the order, 'Go, strike him down.'


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B'nayah came to the tent of ADONAI and said to him, 'The king says: leave!' He answered, 'No, I'd rather die here.' B'nayah brought the message back to the king, 'This is what Yo'av said to me.'


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The king answered him, 'Do what he said - strike him down, and bury him. In this way you will take away from me and my father's family the blood which Yo'av shed for no reason.


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ADONAI will bring his blood back on his own head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he - he killed them with the sword without my father David's awareness: Avner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Isra'el, and 'Amasa the son of Yeter, commander of the army of Y'hudah.


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In this way their blood will return on the head of Yo'av and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his family and his throne there will be peace forever from ADONAI.'


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So B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada went up, struck him down and killed him; he was buried in his own house in the desert.


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The king put B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada in charge of the army instead of him, and the king replaced Evyatar with Tzadok the cohen.


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The king summoned Shim'i and said to him, 'Build yourself a house in Yerushalayim, and live there; don't go outside the city walls.


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Know for a fact that on the day you go out and cross Vadi Kidron, you will certainly die; your blood will be on your own head.'


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Shim'i answered the king, 'What you have said is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.' So Shim'i lived in Yerushalayim for a long time.


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But after three years, two of Shim'i's slaves ran away and went to Akhish son of Ma'akhah, king of Gat. They told Shim'i, 'Your slaves are in Gat.'


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So Shim'i set out, saddled his donkey and went to Akhish in Gat to look for his slaves; then Shim'i returned, bringing his slaves from Gat.


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The king summoned Shim'i and said to him, 'Didn't I have you swear by ADONAI and forewarn you by telling you, 'Know for a fact that on the day you leave and go anywhere outside the city, you will certainly die'? and you answered me, 'What you're saying is good; I hear it.'


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Moreover, the king said to Shim'i, 'You know in your own heart all the terrible things you did to David my father; therefore ADONAI will bring back your wickedness on your own head.


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But King Shlomo will be blessed, and the throne of David will be established before ADONAI forever.'


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So the king gave the order to B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada, and he went out and struck him down, so that he died. Thus the kingdom was established in Shlomo's hands.


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Shlomo formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh's daughter. He brought her into the City of David, [where she lived] until he had finished building his own palace, the house of ADONAI and the wall around Yerushalayim.


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The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places, because no house had yet been built for the name of ADONAI.


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Shlomo loved ADONAI, living according to the regulations set forth by David his father; nevertheless, he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.


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One time the king went to Giv'on to sacrifice there, because that was the main high place. Shlomo offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there.


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At Giv'on ADONAI appeared to Shlomo in a dream at night; God said, 'Tell me what I should give you.'


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Shlomo said, 'You showed your servant David my father much grace, as he lived before you honestly and righteously, having an upright heart with you. You preserved this great grace for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as is the case today.


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So now, ADONAI my God, you have made your servant king in the place of David my father; but I am a mere child - I don't know how to lead!


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Moreover your servant is among your people, whom you chose, a great people so numerous that they cannot be counted.


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Therefore, give your servant an understanding heart able to administer justice to your people, so that I can discern between good and bad - for who is equal to judging this great people of yours?'


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God said to him, 'Because you have made this request instead of asking long life or riches for yourself, or your enemies' death, but rather asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;


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I am doing what you requested. I am giving you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you, nor will there ever again be anyone like you.


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I am also giving you what you didn't ask for, riches and honor greater than that of any other king throughout your life.


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More than that, if you will live according to my ways, obeying my laws and mitzvot like your father David, I will give you a long life.'


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Shlomo awoke and found it had been a dream. But he went to Yerushalayim, stood before the ark for the covenant of ADONAI and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings. He also made a feast for all his servants.


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After this, there came to the king two women who were prostitutes. After presenting themselves to him,


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one of the women said, 'My lord, I and this woman live in the same house; and when she was in the house, I gave birth to a baby.


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Three days after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were there together; there was no one else with us in the house except the two of us.


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So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from next to me, while your servant was sleeping, and put it in her arms; and she laid her dead child in my arms.


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When I awoke in the morning to feed my child from my breast, there it was, dead. But when I took a closer look later in the morning, why, it wasn't my son at all - not the one I gave birth to!'


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The other woman broke in, 'No! The living one is my son, and the dead one is your son!' The first one said, 'No! The dead one is your son and the living one is my son!' This is how they spoke in the presence of the king.


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Then the king said, 'This woman says, 'The living one is my son; your son is the dead one'; while the other says, 'No, the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.'


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At this, the woman to whom the living child belonged addressed the king, because she felt so strongly toward her son: 'Oh, my lord, give her the living child; you mustn't kill it!' But the other one said, 'It will be neither yours nor mine. Divide it up!'


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Then the king answered, 'Give the living child to the first woman, don't kill it, because she is its mother.'


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All Isra'el heard of the decision the king had made and held the king in awe, for they saw that God's wisdom was in him, enabling him to render justice properly.


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Elichoref and Achiyah the sons of Shisha, secretaries; Y'hoshafat the son of Achilud, secretary of state;


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'Azaryah the son of Natan, chief administrator; Zavud the son of Natan, the king's trusted counselor;


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Shlomo had twelve officers over all Isra'el who were in charge of providing food and supplies for the king and his household; each one was in charge of provisions for one month out of the year.


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Ba'ana the son of Achilud, in Ta'anakh, Megiddo, and all Beit-Sh'an by Tzartan below Yizre'el, from Beit-Sh'an to Avel-M'cholah, as far as beyond Yokme'am;


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the son of Gever, in Ramot-Gil'ad; he was in charge of the villages of Ya'ir the son of M'nasheh in Gil'ad and in charge of the region of Argov in Bashan, sixty large cities with walls and bronze bars;


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Gever the son of Uri, in the land of Gil'ad, the country of Sichon king of the Emori and 'Og king of Bashan. Over all these, there was one administrator in the land.


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Y'hudah and Isra'el were as numerous as sand grains on the seashore; they ate, drank and enjoyed themselves.


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Shlomo ruled over all the kingdoms from the [Euphrates] River through the land of the P'lishtim to the border of Egypt; they paid tribute and served Shlomo as long as he lived.


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ten fattened oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen and one hundred sheep, in addition to deer, gazelles, roebucks and fattened poultry.


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For he ruled all the area this side of the [Euphrates] River, from Tifsach to 'Azah. He was over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace all around him, on every side.


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From Dan to Be'er-Sheva, Y'hudah and Isra'el lived securely, every man under his vine and fig tree, throughout the lifetime of Shlomo.


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Those officers [named above] supplied food and other materials for King Shlomo and for everyone for whom Shlomo provided. Each was responsible for his month's supplies; they saw to it that nothing was lacking.


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They also made sure there was barley and straw where it was needed for the horses and draft animals; each filled his quota.


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God gave Shlomo exceptional wisdom and understanding, as well as a heart as vast as the sandy beach by the sea.


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For he was wiser than everyone - wiser than Eitan the Ezrachi and wiser than Heiman, Kalkol and Darda the sons of Machol; so that his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.


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He could discuss trees, from the cedar in the L'vanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall; he could discuss wild animals, poultry, reptiles and fish.


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People from all nations came to hear the wisdom of Shlomo, including kings from all over the earth who had heard of his wisdom.


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Hiram king of Tzor sent his servants to Shlomo, because he had heard that they had anointed him king in his father's place, and Hiram had always loved David.


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'You know that David my father wasn't able to build a house for the name of ADONAI his God, because of the wars that beset him from every side, until ADONAI put his enemies under the soles of my feet.


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So now I intend to build a house for the name of ADONAI my God, in keeping with what ADONAI said to David my father, 'Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, will be the one to build the house for my name.'


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Therefore, order your people to cut down cedar trees from the L'vanon for me. My servants will be with your servants. I will pay your servants according to everything you say; for you know that we have no one among us as skilled in felling trees as the Tzidonim.'


text:
When Hiram heard Shlomo's message, he was very happy and said, 'Blessed be ADONAI today, who has given David a wise son to rule this great people.'


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Then Hiram sent Shlomo this message: 'I have heard the message you sent me, and I will do everything you want concerning cedar logs and cypress logs.


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My servants will bring them down from the L'vanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to whatever place you tell me and will have them broken up there, and you will receive them. You will compensate me by providing food for my household.'


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and Shlomo gave Hiram 100,000 bushels of wheat as food for his household and a thousand gallons of oil from pressed olives - this is what Shlomo gave Hiram each year.


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ADONAI gave Shlomo wisdom, as he had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Shlomo - the two of them formed an alliance together.


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He sent them to the L'vanon in monthly relays of 10,000; they would stay a month in the L'vanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.


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The king gave orders; and they quarried large stones, expensive stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stone.


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Shlomo's and Hiram's builders, along with the men from G'val, worked the stones and prepared the timber and stones for building the house.


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It was in the 480th year after the people of Isra'el had left the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Shlomo's reign over Isra'el, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of ADONAI.


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The house which King Shlomo built for ADONAI was 105 feet long, thirty-five feet wide and fifty-two-and-a-half feet high.


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The hall fronting the temple of the house was thirty-five feet long, the same as the width of the house itself, so that its seventeen-and-a-half-foot width extended frontward from the house.


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Against the wall of the house he built an annex all the way around; it went all the way around the walls of the house, including both the temple and the sanctuary.


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The lowest floor of the annex was eight-and-three-quarters feet wide, the middle floor ten-and-a-half feet wide and the third floor twelve-and-a-quarter feet wide; for he had made the outer part of the wall of the house step-shaped, so that the beams of the annex would not have to be attached to the house walls.


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For the house, when under construction, was built of stone prepared at the quarry; so that no hammer, chisel or iron tool of any kind was heard in the house while it was being built.


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The entrance to the lowest floor was on the south side of the house; a spiral staircase went up to the middle floor and on to the third.


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Each floor of the annex surrounding the house was eight-and-three-quarters feet high and was attached to the house with beams of cedar.


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'Concerning this house which you are building: if you will live according to my regulations, follow my rulings and observe all my mitzvot and live by them, then I will establish with you my promise that I made to David your father-


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The insides of the walls of the house he built with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the joists of the ceiling he covered them on the inside with wood, and he covered the floor of the house with boards of cypress.


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The thirty-five-foot back portion of the house he built with boards of cedar from the floor to the joists and reserved this part of the house to be a sanctuary, the Especially Holy Place;


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The cedar covering the house was carved with gourds and open flowers; all was cedar; no stone was visible.


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In the inner part of the house he set up the sanctuary, so that the ark for the covenant of ADONAI could be placed there.


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This sanctuary was thirty-five feet long, wide and high; and it was overlaid with pure gold. In front of it he set an altar, which he covered with cedar.


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Shlomo overlaid the interior of the house with pure gold and had chains of gold placed before the sanctuary, which itself he overlaid with gold.


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The entire house he overlaid with gold until it was completely covered with it. He also overlaid with gold the entire altar that belonged to the sanctuary.


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Each of the two wings of one of the k'ruvim was eight-and-three quarters feet long, so that the distance from the end of one wing to the end of the other was seventeen-and-a-half feet.


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Likewise the [wingspread of the] other keruv was seventeen-and-a-half feet; both k'ruvim were identical in shape and size.


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He set the k'ruvim in the inner house; the wings of the k'ruvim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other keruv touched the other wall; their wings touched each other in the middle of the house.


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All around the walls of the house, both inside the sanctuary and outside it, he carved figures of k'ruvim, palm trees and open flowers.


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On the two olive-wood doors he carved figures of k'ruvim, palm trees and open flowers. He overlaid the doors with gold, forcing the gold into the shapes of the k'ruvim and palm trees as well.


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For the entrance to the temple he also made doorposts of olive-wood, set within a rectangular door-frame,


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and two doors of cypress-wood; the two leaves of the one door were folding, as were the two leaves of the other.


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On them he carved k'ruvim, palm trees and open flowers, overlaying them with gold fitted to the carved work.


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In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, all parts of the house were completed exactly as designed. Thus he was seven years building it.


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For he built the House of the L'vanon Forest 175 feet long, eighty-seven-and-a-half feet wide and fifty-two-and-a-half feet high, on four rows of cedar posts, with cedar beams on the posts.


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There were three rows of window openings, placed so that the windows on facing walls were opposite each other at all three levels.


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He made the columned hall eighty-seven-and-a-half feet long and fifty-two-and-a-half feet wide, with a columned, corniced porch in front of it.


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He made the Hall of the Throne his place for dispensing justice, that is, the Hall of Judgment; it was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling.


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His own living quarters, in the other courtyard, set back from the Hall, were similarly designed. He also made a house like this Hall for Pharaoh's daughter, whom Shlomo had taken as his wife.


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All these buildings were made of expensive stone blocks, cut to measure and finished by saws on the inner surfaces as well as the outer ones. These stones were used from the foundation to the eaves and outward from the buildings all the way to the Great Courtyard.


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The foundation was of expensive stone blocks, very large ones - stones fourteen to eighteen feet long.


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The surrounding Great Courtyard had three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams like the inner courtyard of the house of ADONAI and the courtyard by the hall of the house.


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He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naftali, but his father was from Tzor, a bronze-worker filled with wisdom, understanding and skill for all kinds of bronze craftsmanship. He came to King Shlomo and did all his bronzework.


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He made the two bronze columns, each one thirty-one-and-a-half feet high and twenty-one feet in circumference.


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He made two capitals of melted bronze to set on the tops of the columns; each capital was eight-and-three-quarters feet high;


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When he made the columns, he made two rows of pomegranates to put at the top of each column around the netting covering its capital.


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As for the capitals on the two columns, there were 200 pomegranates in rows around each capital near the molding by the netting.


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He erected the columns in the hall of the temple; on erecting the right column he gave it the name 'Yakhin,' and on erecting the left column he named it 'Bo'az.'


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He made the cast metal 'Sea' circular, seventeen-and-a-half feet from rim to rim, eight-and-three quarter feet high and fifty-two-and-a-half feet in circumference.


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It rested on twelve oxen, three looking north, three looking west, three looking south and three looking east, all with their hindquarters toward the center. The Sea was set on top of them.


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It was a handbreadth thick, its rim was made like the rim of a cup, like the flower of a lily; and its capacity was 11,000 gallons.


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He made ten bronze trolleys, each one seven feet long, seven feet wide, and five-and-a-quarter feet high.


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and on the panels between the corner-posts were lions, oxen and k'ruvim. The corner-posts above were similarly designed. Below the lions and oxen were wreaths of hammered work.


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Every trolley had four bronze wheels and bronze axles, and its four legs each had cast supports which were under the basin, with wreaths next to each.


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The opening of the stand into which the basin was inserted was eighteen inches high; the stand was round, resembling a pedestal, and it was two-and-a-half feet in diameter. On the stand were carvings, and the outside was square, not round.


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The four wheels were under the panels, and the axles for the wheels were attached to the trolleys; each wheel was two-and-a-half feet.


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There were four supports at the four corners of each trolley; the supports were attached to the trolley itself.


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In the top of the trolley was a circular support ten-and-a-half inches high, and the trolley's corner-posts and panels were attached to its top.


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On the sides of the panels and on its corners he carved k'ruvim, lions and palm trees, according to the amount of space each required, with wreaths surrounding.


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According to this design he made the ten trolleys; all of them were cast from a single mold, so that they had the same size and shape.


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He made ten bronze basins; each basin's capacity was 220 gallons and had a diameter of seven feet; there was a basin for each of the ten trolleys.


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He arranged five of the trolleys on the right side of the house and five on the left side. The Sea he placed on the right side of the house, toward the southeast.


text:
Hiram made the ash pots, shovels and sprinkling basins. With that, Hiram completed all the work he had done for King Shlomo in the house of ADONAI -


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the two columns, the two moldings of the capitals on top of the columns, the two nettings covering the two moldings of the capitals atop the columns,


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the 400 pomegranates for the two nettings, two rows of pomegranates for each netting, to cover the two moldings of the capitals atop the columns,


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the ash pots, the shovels and the sprinkling basins. All these articles that Hiram made for King Shlomo in the house of ADONAI were of burnished bronze.


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Shlomo did not weigh any of these objects, because there were so many of them; thus the total weight of the bronze could not be determined.


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Shlomo made all the objects that were inside the house of ADONAI: the gold altar; the table of gold on which the showbread was displayed;


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the menorahs - five on the right and five on the left in front of the sanctuary - of pure gold; the flowers, lamps and tongs of gold;


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the cups, snuffers, basins, incense pans and fire pans of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both those for the doors of the inner house, the Especially Holy Place, and those for the doors of the house, that is, of the temple.


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Thus all the work that King Shlomo did in the house of ADONAI was finished. After this, Shlomo brought in the gifts which David his father had dedicated - the silver, the gold and the utensils - and put them in the treasuries of the house of ADONAI.


text:
Then Shlomo assembled all the leaders of Isra'el, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the paternal clans of the people of Isra'el, to King Shlomo in Yerushalayim, to bring the ark for the covenant of ADONAI out of the City of David, also known as Tziyon.


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All the men of Isra'el assembled before King Shlomo at the festival in the month of Etanim, the seventh month.


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and brought up the ark of ADONAI, the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils that were in the tent; these are what the cohanim and L'vi'im brought up.


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King Shlomo and the whole community of Isra'el assembled in his presence were with him in front of the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen in numbers beyond counting or recording.


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The cohanim brought the ark for the covenant of ADONAI in to its place inside the sanctuary of the house, to the Especially Holy Place, under the wings of the k'ruvim.


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For the k'ruvim spread out their wings over the place for the ark, covering the ark and its poles from above.


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The poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside; they are there to this day.


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There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moshe put there at Horev, when ADONAI made the covenant with the people of Isra'el at the time of their leaving the land of Egypt.


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so that, because of the cloud, the cohanim could not stand up to perform their service; for the glory of ADONAI filled the house of ADONAI.


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Then the king turned around and blessed the whole community of Isra'el. The whole community of Isra'el stood


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as he said: 'Blessed be ADONAI, the God of Isra'el, who spoke to my father David with his mouth and fulfilled his promise with his hand. He said,


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'Since the day I brought my people Isra'el out of Egypt, I chose no city from any of the tribes of Isra'el in which to build a house, so that my name might be there; but I did choose David to be over my people Isra'el.'


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Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of ADONAI the God of Isra'el;


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but ADONAI said to David my father, 'Although it was in your heart to build a house for my name, and you did well that it was in your heart,


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nevertheless you will not build the house. Rather, you will father a son, and it will be he who will build the house for my name.'


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Now ADONAI has fulfilled this spoken word of his; for I have succeeded my father and sit on the throne of Isra'el, as ADONAI promised; and I have built the house for the name of ADONAI the God of Isra'el.


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And there I have made a place for the ark containing the covenant of ADONAI, which he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.'


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Then Shlomo stood before the altar of ADONAI in the presence of the whole community of Isra'el, spread out his hands toward heaven,


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and said, 'ADONAI, God of Isra'el, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep covenant with your servants and show them grace, provided they live in your presence with all their heart.


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You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father; you spoke with your mouth and fulfilled it with your hand; so it is today.


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Now therefore, ADONAI, God of Isra'el, keep what you promised to your servant David, my father, when you said, 'You will never lack a man in my presence to sit on the throne of Isra'el, if only your children are careful about what they do, so that they live in my presence, just as you have lived in my presence.'


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Now therefore, God of Isra'el, please let your word, which you spoke to your servant David, my father, be confirmed.


text:
'But can God actually live on the earth? Why, heaven itself, even the heaven of heavens, cannot contain you; so how much less this house I have built?


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Even so, ADONAI my God, pay attention to your servant's prayer and plea, listen to the cry and prayer that your servant is praying before you today,


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that your eyes will be open toward this house night and day - toward the place concerning which you said, 'My name will be there'- to listen to the prayer your servant will pray toward this place.


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Yes, listen to the plea of your servant, and also that of your people Isra'el when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven where you live; and when you hear, forgive!


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'If a person sins against a fellow member of the community, and he is made to swear under oath, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house;


text:
then hear in heaven, act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, so that his way of life devolves on his own head, and vindicating the one who is right, giving him what his righteousness deserves.


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'When your people Isra'el sin against you and in consequence are defeated by an enemy; then if they turn back to you, acknowledge your name, and pray and make their plea to you in this house;


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hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your people Isra'el, and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.


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'When they sin against you, and in consequence the sky is shut, so that there is no rain; then, if they pray toward this place, acknowledge your name and turn from their sin when you have brought them low;


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hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Isra'el - since you keep teaching them the good way by which they should live - and send down rain on your land, which you have given your people as their inheritance.


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'If there is famine in the land, or blight, windstorm, mildew, locusts or shearer-worms; or if their enemy comes to the land and besieges them in any of their cities- no matter what kind of plague or sickness it is;


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then, regardless of what prayer or plea anyone among all your people Isra'el makes - for each individual will know what is plagueing his own conscience - and the person spreads out his hands toward this house;


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hear in heaven where you live, and forgive, and act, and, since you know what is in each one's heart, give each person what his conduct deserves (because you, and only you, know all human hearts),


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'Also the foreigner who does not belong to your people Isra'el - when he comes from a distant country because of your reputation


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(for they will hear of your great reputation, your mighty hand and your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house;


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then hear in heaven where you live, and act in accordance with everything about which the foreigner is calling to you; so that all the peoples of the earth will know your name and fear you, as does your people Isra'el, and so that they will know that this house which I have built bears your name.


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'If your people go out to fight against their enemy, no matter by which way you send them, and they pray to ADONAI toward the city you chose, toward the house I built for your name;


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'If they sin against you - for there is no one who doesn't sin - and you are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, so that they carry them off captive to the land of their enemy, whether far away or nearby;


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then, if they come to their senses in the land where they have been carried away captive, turn back and make their plea to you in the land of those who carried them off captive, saying, 'We sinned, we acted wrongly, we behaved wickedly,'


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if, in the land of their enemies who carried them off captive, they return to you with all their heart and being and pray to you toward their own land, which you gave to their ancestors, toward the city you chose and toward the house I have built for your name;


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and forgive your people who have sinned against you - forgive their transgressions which they have committed against you, and give them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they will show compassion toward them;


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for they are your people, your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of the flames of the iron furnace.


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'May your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Isra'el, so that you will hear them whenever they cry out to you.


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For you made a distinction between them and all the peoples of the earth by making them your inheritance, as you said through Moshe your servant when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, Adonai ELOHIM.'


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When Shlomo had finished praying all this prayer and plea to ADONAI, he got up from in front of the altar of ADONAI, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven,


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'Blessed be ADONAI, who has given rest to his people Isra'el, in accordance with everything he promised. Not one word has failed of his good promise, which he made through Moshe his servant.


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In this way he will incline our hearts toward him, so that we will live according to his ways and observe his mitzvot, laws and rulings which he ordered our fathers to obey.


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May these words of mine, which I have used in my plea before ADONAI, be present with ADONAI our God day and night, so that he will uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Isra'el day by day.


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So be wholehearted with ADONAI our God, living by his laws and observing his mitzvot, as you are doing today.'


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For the sacrifice of peace offerings which Shlomo offered to ADONAI, he offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people of Isra'el dedicated the house of ADONAI.


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The same day, the king consecrated the center of the courtyard in front of the house of ADONAI, because he had to offer the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings there. For the bronze altar before ADONAI was too small to receive the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings.


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So Shlomo celebrated the festival at that time. All Isra'el, a huge gathering [that had come all the way] from the entrance of Hamat to the Vadi [of Egypt], celebrated with him before ADONAI our God for seven days and then for seven more days - fourteen days in all.


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On the eighth day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and returned to their tents full of joy and glad of heart for all the goodness ADONAI had shown to David his servant and to Isra'el his people.


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After Shlomo had finished building the house of ADONAI, the royal palace and everything else he wanted to build for himself,


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ADONAI said to him, 'I have heard your prayer and your plea that you made before me: I am consecrating this house which you built and placing my name there forever; my eyes and heart will always be there.


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As for you, if you will live in my presence, as did David your father, in pureness of heart and uprightness, doing everything I have ordered you to do, and observing my laws and rulings;


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then I will establish the throne of your rulership over Isra'el forever, just as I promised David your father when I said, 'You will never lack a man on the throne of Isra'el.'


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But if you turn away from following me, you or your children, and do not observe my mitzvot and regulations which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, worshipping them;


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then I will cut off Isra'el from the land I have given them. This house, which I consecrated for my name, I will eject from my sight; and Isra'el will become an example to avoid and an object of scorn among all peoples.


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This house, now so exalted - everyone passing by will gasp in shock at the sight of it and will ask, 'Why has ADONAI done this to this land and to this house?'


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But the answer will be, 'It's because they abandoned ADONAI their God, who brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and took hold of other gods, worshipping and serving them; this is why ADONAI brought all these calamities on them.''


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At the end of twenty years, during which time Shlomo had built the two buildings, the house of ADONAI and the royal palace,


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King Shlomo gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of the Galil (recall that Hiram the king of Tzor had supplied Shlomo with cedar and cypress logs and with all the gold Shlomo wanted).


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Hiram came over from Tzor to see the cities Shlomo had given him, but he was not satisfied with them.


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He said, 'What kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother?' So they have been called the land of Kabul [good for nothing] till this day.


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Following is the account of the forced labor levied by King Shlomo for building the house of ADONAI, his own palace, the Millo, the wall of Yerushalayim, and the cities of Hatzor, Megiddo and Gezer.


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Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, taken Gezer, burned it to the ground and killed the Kena'ani living in the city; then he had given it as a dowry for his daughter, Shlomo's wife.


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as well as all the cities that Shlomo had for storing supplies, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and the other buildings Shlomo wanted to build for himself in Yerushalayim, in the L'vanon and throughout the land he ruled.


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All the people still left from the Emori, Hitti, P'rizi, Hivi, and Y'vusi, who were not part of the people of Isra'el,


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that is, their descendants remaining after them in the land, whom the people of Isra'el were not able to destroy completely - from them Shlomo levied his forced laborers; as it is to this day.


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But Shlomo did not raise any of his forced labor from the people of Isra'el; rather, they were the soldiers, his servants, administrators and commanders, and the officials in charge of his chariots and horsemen.


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Pharaoh's daughter came up from the City of David to her house, which Shlomo had built for her. After that he built the Millo.


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Three times a year Shlomo offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for ADONAI, offering incense with them on the altar before ADONAI. So he finished the house.


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King Shlomo built a fleet of ships in 'Etzyon-Gever, by Elot on the shore of the Sea of Suf in the land of Edom.


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Hiram sent some of his own servants, experienced sailors who understood the sea, to serve with Shlomo's servants.


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They went to Ofir and took from there gold, fourteen tons of it, which they brought back to King Shlomo.


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When the queen of Sh'va heard what was being said about Shlomo because of the name of ADONAI, she came to test him with difficult questions.


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She arrived in Yerushalayim accompanied by a very great retinue, including camels bearing spices and gold in great abundance, and precious stones. When she appeared before Shlomo she spoke with him about everything on her heart,


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and Shlomo answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.


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the food at his table, the manner of seating his officials, the manner in which his staff served him, how they were dressed, his personal servants and his burnt offering which he offered in the house of ADONAI, it left her breathless.


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but I couldn't believe the report until I came and saw for myself. Actually, they didn't tell me even the half of it - your wisdom and prosperity surpass the reports I heard.


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How happy your people must be, how happy these servants of yours who are always here attending you and get to hear your wisdom!


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Blessed be ADONAI your God, who took pleasure in you to put you on the throne of Isra'el. Because of ADONAI's eternal love for Isra'el, he has made you king, to administer judgment and justice fairly.'


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Then she gave the king four tons of gold, a huge amount of spices, and precious stones; never again did there arrive such an abundance of spices as those the queen of Sh'va gave to King Shlomo.


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Hiram's fleet which had brought gold from Ofir now brought in from Ofir a large quantity of sandalwood and precious stones.


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The king used the sandalwood to make columns for the house of ADONAI and for the royal palace, and also lyres and lutes for the singers. No sandalwood like it has come or been seen to this day.


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King Shlomo gave the queen of Sh'va everything she wanted, whatever she asked, in addition to the presents he gave her on his own initiative. After this, she returned and went back to her own country, she and her servants.


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besides that which came from sales taxes, customs duties and assessments collected by all the kings of the mixed peoples and by the district governors.


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He made 300 more shields of hammered gold, with three-and-three-quarters pounds going into one shield; the king put these in the House of the L'vanon Forest.


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The throne had six steps, a back with a rounded top, arms on either side of the seat, two lions standing beside the arms,


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and twelve more lions standing on each side of the six steps. Nothing like it had ever been made in any kingdom.


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All King Shlomo's drinking vessels were of gold; and all the utensils in the House of the L'vanon Forest were of pure gold; none was of silver, for in Shlomo's time it was regarded as having little value.


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The king had a fleet of large 'Tarshish' ships along with Hiram's fleet; once every three years the 'Tarshish' fleet came in, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.


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All the earth sought to have an audience with Shlomo, in order to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.


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Each one brought his present - articles of silver, articles of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses and mules; and this continued year after year.


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Shlomo amassed chariots and horsemen; he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen; he assigned them to the chariot cities and to the king in Yerushalayim.


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The king made silver in Yerushalayim as common as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as sycamore-fig trees are in the Sh'felah.


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Shlomo's horses had been brought from Egypt and from Keveh, with the king's agents having bought them from the dealers in Keveh at the going price.


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A chariot from Egypt cost fifteen pounds of silver shekels and a horse three-and-three quarters pounds [of shekels]; all the kings of the Hittim and the kings of Aram purchased them at these prices through Shlomo's agents.


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King Shlomo loved many foreign women besides the daughter of Pharaoh. There were women from the Mo'avi, 'Amoni, Edomi, Tzidoni and Hitti -


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nations about which ADONAI had said to the people of Isra'el, 'You are not to go among them or they among you, because they will turn your hearts away toward their gods.' But Shlomo was deeply attached to them by his love.


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For when Shlomo became old, his wives turned his heart away toward other gods; so that he was not wholehearted with ADONAI his God, as David his father had been.


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Thus Shlomo did what was evil in ADONAI's view and did not fully follow ADONAI, as David his father had done.


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Shlomo built a high place for K'mosh the abomination of Mo'av on the hill on front of Yerushalayim, and another for Molekh the abomination of the people of 'Amon.


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So ADONAI grew angry with Shlomo, because his heart had turned away from ADONAI the God of Isra'el, who had appeared to him twice


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and given him orders concerning this matter that he should not follow other gods. But he didn't obey ADONAI's orders.


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So ADONAI said to Shlomo, 'Since this is what has been in your mind, and you haven't kept my covenant and my regulations which I ordered you to obey, I will tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant.


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However, for David your father's sake I won't do it while you are alive, but I will tear it away from your son.


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Even then, I won't tear away all the kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Yerushalayim, which I have chosen.'


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Back when David had been in Edom, and Yo'av the commander of the army had gone up to bury the dead, having killed every male in Edom


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(for Yo'av and all Isra'el had stayed there six months, until he had eliminated every male in Edom),


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Hadad had fled, he and a number of Edomi servants of his father's with him, and gone into Egypt; at the time Hadad had been but a small boy.


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On their way, they passed through Midyan and arrived in Pa'ran, took with them men from Pa'ran, and went on into Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt. He gave Hadad a house, saw to it that he had food and gave him land.


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Hadad became a great favorite of Pharaoh, so that he gave him his own wife's sister in marriage, that is, the sister of Tachp'neis the queen.


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The sister of Tachp'neis bore him G'nuvat his son, and Tachp'neis brought him up in Pharaoh's own house, so that G'nuvat was in Pharaoh's house along with Pharaoh's sons.


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When Hadad in Egypt heard that David slept with his ancestors and Yo'av the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, 'Let me leave, so that I can return to my own country.'


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Pharaoh asked him, 'But what have you lacked with me that makes you want just now to go to your own country?' 'Nothing in particular,' he replied, 'but let me leave, anyway.'


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God raised up another adversary against Shlomo, Rezon the son of Elyada, who had fled from his lord Hadad'ezer king of Tzovah


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when David killed the men from Tzovah. Rezon rallied men to himself and became the leader of a band of marauders; they went to Dammesek and settled there, while he became king of Dammesek.


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He remained an adversary as long as Shlomo lived, causing difficulties in addition to those of Hadad. He detested Isra'el and ruled Aram.


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Also Yarov'am the son of N'vat, an Efrati from Tz'redah, whose mother's name was Tz'ru'ah, one of Shlomo's servants, rebelled against the king.


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Here is the reason he rebelled against the king: Shlomo was building the Millo and closing the breach in [the wall of] the City of David his father.


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Now this Yarov'am was a strong, energetic man; and Shlomo, seeing how serious the young man was, made him supervisor over all the work being done by the tribe of Yosef.


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Once, during this period, when Yarov'am had gone out of Yerushalayim, the prophet Achiyah from Shiloh spotted him traveling. Achiyah was wearing a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in open country.


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Then he said to Yarov'am, 'Take ten pieces for yourself! For here is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el says: 'I am going to tear the kingdom out of Shlomo's hand, and I will give ten tribes to you.


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But he will keep one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Yerushalayim, the city I have chosen from all the tribes of Isra'el.


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I will do this because they have abandoned me and worshipped 'Ashtoret the goddess of the Tzidoni, K'mosh the god of Mo'av and Milkom the god of the people of 'Amon. They haven't lived according to my ways, so that they could do what was right in my view and obey my regulations and rulings, as did David his father.


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Nevertheless, I will not take the entire kingdom away from him; but I will make him prince as long as he lives, for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose, because he obeyed my mitzvot and regulations.


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To his son I will give one tribe, so that David my servant will always have a light burning before me in Yerushalayim, the city I chose for myself as the place to put my name.


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Now if you will listen to all that I order you, live according to my ways and do what is right in my view, so that you observe my regulations and mitzvot, as David my servant did; then I will be with you, and I will build you a lasting dynasty, as I built for David; and I will give Isra'el to you.


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Because of this Shlomo tried to kill Yarov'am; but Yarov'am roused himself, fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and stayed in Egypt until the death of Shlomo.


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Other activities of Shlomo, all he accomplished and his wisdom are recorded in the Annals of Shlomo.


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Then Shlomo slept with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David his father, and Rechav'am his son became king in his place.


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When Yarov'am the son of N'vat heard of it - for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from Shlomo; so Yarov'am was living in Egypt;


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but they sent and summoned him - Yarov'am and the whole community of Isra'el came and said to Rechav'am,


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'Your father laid a harsh yoke on us. But if you will lighten the harsh service we had to render your father and ease his heavy yoke that he put on us, we will serve you.'


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King Rechav'am consulted the older men who had been in attendance on Shlomo his father during his lifetime and asked, 'What advice would you give me as to how to answer these people?'


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They said to him, 'If you will start today being a servant to these people - if you will serve them, be responsive to them and give them favorable consideration, then they will be your servants forever.'


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But he didn't take the advice the older men gave him; instead he consulted the young men he had grown up with, who were now his attendants.


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He asked them, 'What advice would you give me, so that we can give an answer to these people who said to me, 'Lighten the yoke that your father laid on us'?'


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The young men he had grown up with said to him, 'These people who said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy; but you, make it lighter for us' - here's the answer you should give them: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!


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Yes, my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will make it heavier! My father controlled you with whips, but I will control you with scorpions!''


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So Yarov'am and all the people came to Rechav'am the third day, as the king had requested by saying, 'Come to me again the third day';


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he addressed them according to the advice of the young men and said, 'My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke! My father controlled you with whips, but I will control you with scorpions!'


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So the king didn't listen to the people; and that was something ADONAI brought about, so that he could fulfill his word, which ADONAI had spoken through Achiyah from Shiloh to Yarov'am the son of N'vat.


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When all Isra'el saw that the king wasn't listening to them, the people answered the king, 'Do we have any share in David? We have no heritage in the son of Yishai! Go to your tents, Isra'el! Care for your own house, David!' So Isra'el left for their tents.


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King Rechav'am then sent Adoram, who was in charge of forced labor; but all Isra'el stoned him to death. King Rechav'am managed to mount his chariot and flee to Yerushalayim.


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On hearing that Yarov'am had returned, all Isra'el summoned him to the assembly and proclaimed him king over all Isra'el. No one followed the dynasty of David except the tribe of Y'hudah.


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When Rechav'am arrived in Yerushalayim, he assembled all the house of Y'hudah and the tribe of Binyamin, 180,000 select soldiers, to fight the house of Isra'el and bring the rulership back to Rechav'am the son of Shlomo.


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'Speak to Rechav'am the son of Shlomo, king of Y'hudah, to all the house of Y'hudah and Binyamin and to the rest of the people; tell them


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that this is what ADONAI says: 'You are not to go up and fight your brothers the people of Isra'el! Every man is to go back home, because this is my doing.'' They paid attention to the word of ADONAI and turned back, as ADONAI had told them to do.


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Then Yarov'am built up Sh'khem in the hills of Efrayim and lived there. After that, he left and built up P'nu'el.


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For if these people continue going up to offer sacrifices in the house of ADONAI in Yerushalayim, their hearts will turn back to their lord, Rechav'am king of Y'hudah. Then they will kill me and return to Rechav'am king of Y'hudah.'


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After seeking advice, the king made two calves of gold and said to the people, 'You have been going up to Yerushalayim long enough! Here are your gods, Isra'el, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!'


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and the affair became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one [in Beit-El and] all the way to Dan [to worship the other].


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He also set up temples on the high places and made cohanim from among all the people, even though they were not descended from Levi.


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Yarov'am instituted a festival in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, similar to the festival held in Y'hudah; he went up to the altar in Beit-El to sacrifice to the calves he had made; and he placed in Beit-El the cohanim he had appointed for the high places.


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He went up to the altar which he had set up in Beit-El on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had chosen on his own, and instituted a festival for the people of Isra'el; he went up to the altar to burn incense.


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Just then, as Yarov'am was standing by the altar to burn incense, a man of God came out of Y'hudah, directed to Beit-El by a word from ADONAI.


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And by the word from ADONAI he cried out against the altar: 'Altar, altar, here is what ADONAI says: 'A son will be born to the house of David; his name will be Yoshiyahu; and on you he will sacrifice the cohanim of the high places who burn incense on you! They will burn human bones on you!''


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That same day he also gave a sign: 'Here is the sign which ADONAI has decreed: ''The altar will be split apart; the ashes on it will be scattered about.''


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When the king heard what the man of God said, how he denounced the altar in Beit-El, Yarov'am took his hand away from the altar and said, 'Seize him!' But his hand, the one he had stretched out against him, shriveled up; so that he could not draw it back to himself.


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Also the altar was split apart, and the ashes scattered from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of ADONAI.


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The king then responded to the man of God. 'Ask now the favor of ADONAI your God,' he said, 'and pray for me, that my hand will be restored to me.' The man of God prayed to ADONAI, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it had been before.


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The king then said to the man of God, 'Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.


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But the man of God replied to the king, 'Even if you give me half your household, I will not accept your hospitality; nor will I eat food or drink water in this place.


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For this is the order I received through the word of ADONAI: 'Don't eat food or drink water, and don't return by the road you took when you came.''


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Now there lived an old prophet in Beit-El; and one of his sons came and told him all the things the man of God had done that day in Beit-El; also they told their father what he had said to the king.


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Their father asked them, 'Which way did he go?' For his sons had seen what road the man of God from Y'hudah had taken.


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He then said to his sons, 'Saddle the donkey for me.' So they saddled the donkey for him; and, riding on it,


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he went after the man of God. He found him sitting under a pistachio tree and said to him, 'Are you the man of God who came from Y'hudah?' He answered, 'I am.'


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He replied, 'I cannot return with you or partake of your hospitality, nor will I eat food or drink water with you in this place;


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because it was said to me by the word of ADONAI, 'You are not to eat food or drink water there, and you are not to go back by the way you came.''


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The other said to him, 'I too am a prophet, just like you; and an angel spoke to me by the word of ADONAI and said, 'Bring him back with you to your house, so that he can eat food and drink water.'' But he was lying to him.


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and he cried to the man of God who had come from Y'hudah, 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'Since you rebelled against the word of ADONAI and didn't obey the mitzvah ADONAI your God gave you,


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but came back and ate food and drank water in the place where he warned you not to eat food or drink water, your corpse will not arrive at the tomb of your ancestors.'


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But after he had gone, a lion encountered the man of God on the road and killed him. His corpse lay there in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing next to it.


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In time, people passed by and saw the corpse lying in the road with the lion standing next to it; and they came and told about it in the city where the old prophet lived.


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When the prophet who had brought him back from the road heard about it, he said, 'It is the man of God who rebelled against the word of ADONAI; this is why ADONAI handed him over to the lion to tear him to pieces and kill him, in keeping with the word ADONAI spoke to him.'


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He went and found his corpse lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing next to the corpse; the lion had neither eaten the corpse nor attacked the donkey.


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The prophet picked up the corpse of the man of God, laid it on the donkey and brought it back to the city where he lived, to mourn and bury him.


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After burying him he said to his sons, 'When I die, put me in the burial cave where the man of God is buried; lay my bones next to his bones.


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For the thing he cried by the word of ADONAI against the altar in Beit-El and against all the temples on the high places near the cities of Shomron will surely happen.'


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After this, Yarov'am did not turn back from his evil way but continued appointing cohanim for the high places from among all the people; he consecrated anyone who wanted to be a cohen of the high places.


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This brought sin to the house of Yarov'am that would eventually cut it off and destroy it from the face of the earth.


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Yarov'am said to his wife, 'Please come, and disguise yourself, so that you won't be recognized as Yarov'am's wife, and go to Shiloh. Achiyah the prophet is there, the one who said that I would be king over these people.


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Take with you ten loaves of bread, some cakes and a jug of honey; and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.'


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Yarov'am's wife did this; she set out, went to Shiloh and arrived at the house of Achiyah. Now Achiyah could not see, because his eyes were dim with age.


text:
ADONAI had told Achiyah, 'Yarov'am's wife is on her way to you to ask about her son, who is ill. You are to tell her thus and thus; moreover, when she comes, she will be pretending she is another woman.'


text:
When Achiyah heard the sound of her feet as she came in the door, he said, 'Enter, wife of Yarov'am! Why pretend you are someone else? I've been given bad news for you.


text:
Go, tell Yarov'am that this is what ADONAI says: 'I raised you up from among the people, made you prince over my people Isra'el,


text:
tore the kingdom away from the dynasty of David and gave it to you. In spite of this, you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my mitzvot and followed me with all his heart, so that he could do only what I regarded as right.


text:
Rather, you have committed more evil than anyone before you! You went and made other gods for yourself and images of cast metal to make me angry, but me you shoved behind your back!


text:
Therefore, I will now bring disaster on the house of Yarov'am. I will cut off every male of Yarov'am's line, whether a slave or free in Isra'el; I will sweep away the house of Yarov'am as completely as when someone sweeps away dung until it's all gone.


text:
If someone from the line of Yarov'am dies in the city, the dogs will eat him; if he dies in the countryside, the vultures will eat him. For ADONAI has said it.'


text:
All Isra'el will mourn him, and they will bury him; he is the only one of Yarov'am's line who will lie in a grave, because he alone in the house of Yarov'am has in him an element of good toward ADONAI the God of Isra'el.


text:
Moreover, ADONAI will raise up for himself a king over Isra'el who at that time will cut off the house of Yarov'am. And what will God do now?


text:
ADONAI will strike Isra'el until it shakes like a reed in the water; he will uproot Isra'el from this good land, which he gave to their ancestors, and scatter them beyond the [Euphrates] River; because they made sacred poles for themselves, thus making ADONAI angry.


text:
He will give up on Isra'el because of the sins of Yarov'am, which he committed himself, and with which he made Isra'el sin as well.'


text:
Yarov'am's wife got up, left and went to Tirtzah. The moment she reached the threshold of the house, the boy died.


text:
All Isra'el buried him and mourned him, in keeping with the word of ADONAI spoken through his servant Achiyah the prophet.


text:
Other activities of Yarov'am, how he fought and how he ruled are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.


text:
Yarov'am's reign lasted twenty-two years; then he slept with his ancestors, and Nadav his son became king in his place.


text:
Rechav'am the son of Shlomo was reigning in Y'hudah. Rechav'am was forty-one years old when he began to rule; and he ruled seventeen years in Yerushalayim, the city ADONAI had chosen from all the tribes of Isra'el to bear his name; his mother's name was Na'amah the 'Amonit.


text:
Y'hudah did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective; they made him angry because of their sins, which were worse than any their ancestors had committed.


text:
For they erected high places, standing-stones and sacred poles on every high hill and under every green tree.


text:
Also there were male and female cult-prostitutes in the land attached to these shrines, doing all the disgusting things which the nations did that ADONAI had expelled ahead of the people of Isra'el.


text:
He took the treasures in the house of ADONAI and the treasures in the royal palace - he took everything, including all the gold shields Shlomo had made.


text:
To replace them, King Rechav'am made shields of bronze, which he entrusted to the commanders of the contingent guarding the gate to the royal palace.


text:
Whenever the king went to the house of ADONAI, the guard would get the shields; later they would return them to the guardroom.


text:
Other activities of Rechav'am and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah.


text:
Rechav'am slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David; his mother's name was Na'amah the 'Amonit. Then Aviyam his son became king in his place.


text:
It was in the eighteenth year of King Yarov'am the son of N'vat that Aviyam began his reign over Y'hudah.


text:
He committed all the sins his father had committed before him; he was not wholehearted with ADONAI his God, as David his forefather had been.


text:
Nevertheless, for David's sake ADONAI his God gave him a lamp burning in Yerushalayim by establishing his son after him and making Yerushalayim secure.


text:
For David had done what was right from ADONAI's perspective; he had not turned away from anything he had ordered him to do, as long as he lived, except in the matter of Uriyah the Hitti.


text:
Other activities of Aviyam and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah. But there was war between Aviyam and Yarov'am.


text:
Aviyam slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son became king in his place.


text:
He ruled forty-one years in Yerushalayim; his [grand]mother's name was Ma'akhah the daughter of Avishalom.


text:
He also deposed Ma'akhah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a disgusting image as an asherah. Asa cut down this image of hers and burned it in Vadi Kidron.


text:
But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless, Asa was wholehearted with ADONAI throughout his life.


text:
He brought into the house of ADONAI all the articles his father had consecrated, also the things he himself had consecrated - silver, gold and utensils.


text:
Ba'sha attacked Y'hudah, and he fortified Ramah to prevent anyone's leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Y'hudah.


text:
Then Asa took all the silver and gold left among the treasures of the house of ADONAI and among the treasures of the royal palace; and, entrusting them to his servants, King Asa sent them to Ben-Hadad the son of Tavrimmon, the son of Hezyon, king of Aram, who lived in Dammesek, with this message:


text:
'There is a covenant between me and you, which existed already between my father and your father. Here, I am sending you a present of silver and gold; go, and break your covenant with Ba'sha king of Isra'el, so that he will leave me alone.'


text:
Ben-Hadad did as King Asa asked - he sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Isra'el, attacking 'Iyon, Dan, Avel-Beit-Ma'akhah, all of Kinn'rot and all the land of Naftali.


text:
King Asa then issued a proclamation requiring every man in Y'hudah, with no exception, to come and carry off the stones and timber Ba'sha had used to fortify Ramah. With them King Asa fortified Geva of Binyamin and Mitzpah.


text:
The other activities of Asa, all his power, all his accomplishments and the cities he fortified are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah. But in his old age he suffered from a disease in his legs.


text:
Asa slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David his ancestor. Then Y'hoshafat his son became king in his place.


text:
It was in the second year of Asa king of Y'hudah that Nadav the son of Yarov'am began his reign over Isra'el, and he ruled Isra'el two years.


text:
He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, following the example of his father and the sin through which he had made Isra'el sin.


text:
Ba'sha the son of Achiyah, from the descendants of Yissakhar, conspired against him; and Ba'sha attacked him at Gib'ton, which belonged to the P'lishtim; for at the time Nadav and all Isra'el were besieging Gib'ton.


text:
It was in the third year of Asa king of Y'hudah that Ba'sha killed Nadav and became king in his place.


text:
As soon as he had become king he killed off the entire house of Yarov'am, destroying every living soul and leaving not one survivor. This was in keeping with what ADONAI had said through his servant Achiyah from Shiloh;


text:
it was the punishment for the sins Yarov'am had committed and through which he had made Isra'el sin, thereby angering ADONAI the God of Isra'el.


text:
Other activities of Nadav and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.


text:
It was in the third year of Asa king of Y'hudah that Ba'sha the son of Achiyah began his reign over all Isra'el in Tirtzah, and his rule lasted twenty-four years.


text:
He did what was wrong from ADONAI's perspective, following the example of Yarov'am and committing the sin through which he had made Isra'el sin.


text:
'I raised you up out of the dust and made you prince over my people Isra'el. But you have lived in the same way as Yarov'am and caused my people Isra'el to sin, so that their sinning has made me angry.


text:
Therefore I will sweep away Ba'sha and his house completely; I will make your house like the house of Yarov'am the son of N'vat.


text:
If someone from the line of Ba'sha dies in the city, the dogs will eat him; if he dies in the countryside, the vultures will eat him.'


text:
Other activities of Ba'sha, his accomplishments and his power are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.


text:
Through the prophet Yehu the son of Hanani the word of ADONAI was proclaimed against Ba'sha and his house both because he did so much evil from ADONAI's perspective, angering him with his actions and becoming like the house of Yarov'am, and because he killed [Nadav].


text:
It was in the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Y'hudah that Elah the son of Ba'sha began his reign over all Isra'el in Tirtzah, and he ruled for two years.


text:
His servant Zimri, commander of half of his chariots, plotted against him. Finally, one time when Elah was in Tirtzah, drinking himself senseless in the house of Artza, administrator of the palace in Tirtzah,


text:
Zimri entered, struck him down and killed him. This was in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Y'hudah; Zimri then took Elah's place as king.


text:
At the beginning of his reign, as soon as he took over the throne, he killed off the entire house of Ba'sha; he left not a single male, neither of his relatives nor of his friends.


text:
Thus Zimri eliminated all the house of Ba'sha, in keeping with the word of ADONAI spoken against Ba'sha through Yehu the prophet. This word had been spoken


text:
because of all of Ba'sha's sins and the sins of Elah his son, which they committed and with which they made Isra'el sin, thereby angering ADONAI the God of Isra'el with their worthless idols.


text:
Other activities of Elah and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.


text:
It was in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Y'hudah that Zimri ruled for seven days in Tirtzah. At that time, the army was besieging Gib'ton, which belonged to the P'lishtim.


text:
The troops in their camp heard it said that Zimri had plotted and killed the king, whereupon that same day, there in the camp, all Isra'el made 'Omri, the commander of the army, king over Isra'el.


text:
When Zimri saw that the city had been captured, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and burned down the royal palace over him, so that he died.


text:
This came about because of the sins he committed in doing what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, in living as Yarov'am had lived, and in sinning by making Isra'el sin.


text:
At this point the people of Isra'el divided into two factions. Half of the people went after Tivni the son of Ginat to make him king, while the other half followed 'Omri.


text:
But the faction supporting 'Omri won out over that of Tivni the son of Ginat; so Tivni died, and 'Omri became king.


text:
It was in the thirty-first year of Asa king of Y'hudah that 'Omri began his reign over Isra'el, and he ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirtzah.


text:
He bought Mount Shomron from Shemer for 132 pounds of silver. On the mountain he built a city, which he named Shomron after Shemer, who had owned the mountain.


text:
for he lived entirely in the manner of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, committing the sins with which he made Isra'el sin, thereby angering ADONAI the God of Isra'el with their worthless idols.


text:
Other activities of 'Omri and the power he demonstrated are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.


text:
Then 'Omri slept with his ancestors and was buried in Shomron, and Ach'av his son became king in his place.


text:
It was in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Y'hudah that Ach'av the son of 'Omri began his rule over Isra'el; Ach'av the son of 'Omri ruled twenty-two years over Isra'el in Shomron.


text:
Ach'av the son of 'Omri did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, outdoing all his predecessors [in wickedness].


text:
But then, as if it had been a trifling thing for him to commit the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, he took as his wife Izevel the daughter of Etba'al king of the Tzidonim, and went and served Ba'al and worshipped him.


text:
Ach'av also set up the asherah; indeed, Ach'av did more to anger ADONAI the God of Isra'el, than all the kings of Isra'el preceding him.


text:
It was during his time that Hi'el of Beit-El rebuilt Yericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of his firstborn son Aviram and erected its gates at the cost of his youngest son S'guv. This was in keeping with the word of ADONAI spoken through Y'hoshua the son of Nun.


text:
Eliyahu from Tishbe, an inhabitant of Gil'ad, said to Ach'av, 'As ADONAI the God of Isra'el lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither rain nor dew in the years ahead unless I say so.'


text:
So he went and acted according to the word of ADONAI- he went and lived in Vadi K'rit near the Yarden.


text:
The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the stream.


text:
'Get up; go to Tzarfat, a village in Tzidon; and live there. I have ordered a widow there to provide for you.'


text:
So he set out and went to Tzarfat. On reaching the gate of the city, he saw a widow there gathering sticks. He called out to her, 'Please bring a little water in a container for me to drink.'


text:
She answered, 'As ADONAI your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a pot and a little oil in the jug. Here I am, gathering a couple sticks of wood, so that I can go and cook it for myself and my son. After we have eaten that, we will die.'


text:
Eliyahu said to her, 'Don't be afraid. Go; and do what you said; but first, use a little of it to make me a small loaf of bread; and bring it out to me. After that, make food for yourself and your son.


text:
For this is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el, says: 'The pot of meal will not get used up, nor will there fail to be oil in the jug, until the day ADONAI sends rain down on the land.''


text:
She went and acted according to what Eliyahu had said; and she, he and her household had food to eat for a long time.


text:
The pot of meal did not get used up, nor did there fail to be oil in the jug, in fulfillment of the word of ADONAI spoken through Eliyahu.


text:
A while later, the son of the woman whose house it was fell ill; his illness grew increasingly serious until his breathing stopped.


text:
She said to Eliyahu, 'What do you have against me, you man of God? Did you come to me just to remind me how sinful I am by killing my son?'


text:
'Give me your son,' he said to her. Taking him from her lap, he carried him into the room upstairs where he was staying and laid him on his own bed.


text:
Then he cried out to ADONAI: 'ADONAI my God! Have you brought also this misery on the widow I'm staying with by killing her son?'


text:
He stretched himself out on the child three times and cried out to ADONAI: 'ADONAI my God, please! Let this child's soul come back into him!'


text:
Eliyahu took the child, brought him down from the upstairs room into the house and gave him to his mother; and Eliyahu said, 'See? Your son is alive.'


text:
The woman replied to Eliyahu, 'Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of ADONAI that you speak is the truth.'


text:
A long time passed. Then, in the third year, the word of ADONAI came to Eliyahu: 'Go, present yourself to Ach'av, and I will send rain down on the land.'


text:
for example, when Izevel was murdering ADONAI's prophets, 'Ovadyah took a hundred prophets, hid them in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water.


text:
Ach'av said to 'Ovadyah, 'Go throughout the land, and check all the springs and vadis; maybe we can find grass somewhere, so that we can keep the horses and mules alive and not lose all the animals.'


text:
So they divided between them the territory to be visited; Ach'av went one way by himself, and 'Ovadyah went another way by himself.


text:
'Ovadyah was on the road when suddenly Eliyahu encountered him. 'Ovadyah recognized him, fell on his face and said, 'Is it really you, my lord Eliyahu?'


text:
As ADONAI your God lives, there can't be a single nation or kingdom where my master hasn't sent to search you out; and in each kingdom or nation where they said, 'He isn't here,' he made them take an oath that they hadn't found you.


text:
But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of ADONAI will carry you off to I don't know where; so that when I come and tell Ach'av, and he can't find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have revered ADONAI from my youth -


text:
wasn't my lord told what I did when Izevel killed ADONAI's prophets, how I hid a hundred of ADONAI's prophets by fifties in caves and supplied their food and water?


text:
He answered, 'I haven't troubled Isra'el, you have, you and your father's house, by abandoning ADONAI's mitzvot and following the ba'alim.


text:
Now order all Isra'el to assemble before me on Mount Karmel, along with the 450 prophets of Ba'al and the 400 prophets of the asherah who eat at Izevel's table.'


text:
Eliyahu stepped forward before all the people and said, 'How long are you going to jump back and forth between two positions? If ADONAI is God, follow him; but if it's Ba'al, follow him!' The people answered him not a word.


text:
Then Eliyahu said to the people, 'I, I alone, am the only prophet of ADONAI who is left, while Ba'al's prophets number 450.


text:
Let them give us two young bulls, and they can choose the bull they want for themselves. Then let them cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other bull, lay it on the wood and put no fire under it.


text:
Then, you, call on the name of your god; and I will call on the name of ADONAI; and the God who answers with fire, let him be God!' All the people answered, 'Good idea! Agreed!'


text:
Then Eliyahu said to the prophets of Ba'al, 'Choose one bull for yourselves, and prepare it first; because there are many of you. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.'


text:
They took the bull that was given to them, prepared it and called on the name of Ba'al from morning till noon - 'Ba'al! Answer us!' But no voice was heard; and no one answered, as they jumped around on the altar they had made.


text:
Around noon Eliyahu began ridiculing them: 'Shout louder! After all, he's a god, isn't he? Maybe he's daydreaming, or he's on the potty, or he's away on a trip. Maybe he's asleep, and you have to wake him up.'


text:
So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and knives, as their custom was, until blood gushed out all over them.


text:
By now it was afternoon, and they went on ranting and raving until it was time for the evening offering. But no voice came, no one answered, no one paid any attention.


text:
Then Eliyahu said to all the people, 'Come here to me.' All the people came up to him, as he set about repairing the altar of ADONAI that had been broken down.


text:
Eliyahu took twelve stones, in keeping with the number of tribes of the sons of Ya'akov, to whom the word of ADONAI had come, saying, 'Your name is to be Isra'el.'


text:
With the stones he built an altar in the name of ADONAI. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough for half a bushel of grain.


text:
Then he said, 'Fill four pots with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.' They did it. 'Do it again,' he said, and they did it again. 'Do it a third time,' he said, and they did it a third time.


text:
Then, when it came time for offering the evening offering, Eliyahu the prophet approached and said, 'ADONAI, God of Avraham, Yitz'chak and Isra'el, let it be known today that you are God in Isra'el, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.


text:
Hear me, ADONAI, hear me, so that this people may know that you, ADONAI, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back to you.'


text:
Then the fire of ADONAI fell. It consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones and the dust; and it licked up the water in the trench.


text:
Eliyahu said to them, 'Seize the prophets of Ba'al! Don't let one of them escape!' They seized them; and Eliyahu brought them down to Vadi Kishon and killed them there.


text:
Ach'av went up to eat and drink, while Eliyahu went up to the top of the Karmel. He bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees.


text:
'Now,' he said to his servant, 'go up, and look out toward the sea.' He went up, looked, and said, 'There's nothing there.' Seven times he said, 'Go again.'


text:
The seventh time, the servant said, 'Now there's a cloud coming up out of the sea, no bigger than a man's hand.' Eliyahu said, 'Go up, and say to Ach'av, 'Prepare your chariot, and get down the mountain before the rain stops you!'


text:
A little later, the sky grew black with clouds and wind; and heavy rain began falling; as Ach'av, riding in his chariot, made for Yizre'el.


text:
The hand of ADONAI was on Eliyahu; he tucked up his clothing and ran ahead of Ach'av to the entrance of Yizre'el.


text:
Then Izevel sent a messenger to say to Eliyahu, 'May the gods do terrible things to me and worse ones besides if by this time tomorrow I haven't taken your life, just as you took theirs!'


text:
On seeing that, he got up and fled for his life. When he arrived in Be'er-Sheva, in Y'hudah, he left his servant there;


text:
but he himself went a day farther into the desert, until he came to a broom tree. He sat down under it and prayed for his own death. 'Enough!' he said. 'Now, ADONAI, take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors.'


text:
Then he lay down under the broom tree and went to sleep. Suddenly, an angel touched him and said to him, 'Get up and eat!'


text:
He looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on the hot stones and a jug of water. He ate and drank, then lay down again.


text:
The angel came again, a second time, touched him and said, 'Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.'


text:
He got up, ate and drank, and, on the strength of that meal, traveled forty days and nights until he reached Horev the mountain of God.


text:
There he went into a cave and spent the night. Then the word of ADONAI came to him; he said to him, 'What are you doing here, Eliyahu?'


text:
He answered, 'I have been very zealous for ADONAI the God of armies, because the people of Isra'el have abandoned your covenant, broken down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword. Now I'm the only one left, and they're coming after me to kill me too.'


text:
He said, 'Go outside, and stand on the mountain before ADONAI'; and right then and there, ADONAI went past. A mighty blast of wind tore the mountains apart and broke the rocks in pieces before ADONAI, but ADONAI was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but ADONAI was not in the earthquake.


text:
After the earthquake, fire broke out; but ADONAI was not in the fire. And after the fire came a quiet, subdued voice.


text:
When Eliyahu heard it, he covered his face with his cloak, stepped out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice came to him and said, 'What are you doing here, Eliyahu?'


text:
He answered, 'I have been very zealous for ADONAI the God of armies; because the people of Isra'el have abandoned your covenant, broken down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword. Now I'm the only one left, and they're after me to kill me too.'


text:
ADONAI said to him, 'Go back by way of the Dammesek Desert. When you get there, anoint Haza'el to be king over Aram.


text:
Also anoint Yehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Isra'el, and anoint Elisha the son of Shafat of Avel-M'cholah to be prophet after you.


text:
Yehu will kill whoever escapes the sword of Haza'el, and Elisha will kill whoever escapes the sword of Yehu.


text:
Still, I will spare seven thousand in Isra'el, every knee that hasn't bent down before Ba'al and every mouth that has not kissed him.'


text:
So he left and found Elisha the son of Shafat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he himself was behind the twelfth. Eliyahu went over to him and threw his cloak on him.


text:
He left the oxen, ran after Eliyahu and said, 'Please let me kiss my father and mother good-bye; then I will follow you.' He answered, 'Go; but return, because of what I did to you.'


text:
Elisha stopped following him. Then he took the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them, cooked their meat over the wooden yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people to eat. Then he got up, went after Eliyahu and became his servant.


text:
Now Ben-Hadad the king of Aram rallied his whole army; with him were thirty-two kings, besides horses and chariots. Then he marched on Shomron and laid siege to it.


text:
to say to him, 'Here is the message from Ben-Hadad: 'Your silver and gold are mine, also your wives and your best children are mine.''


text:
The king of Isra'el answered, 'Just as you say, my lord, king; I am yours, along with everything I own.'


text:
The messengers returned and said, 'Here is Ben-Hadad's response: 'I sent you a message to hand over your silver, gold, wives and children to me.


text:
But I am going to send my servants to you tomorrow around this time; they will ransack your house and the houses of your servants; and whatever they see that they like they will seize and remove.''


text:
Then the king of Isra'el summoned all the leaders of the land and said, 'Please take notice! Do you see how this man is trying to make trouble? First he demanded my wives, children, silver and gold; and I denied him nothing.'


text:
So he said to Ben-Hadad's messengers, 'Tell my lord the king, 'I will do all that you asked of me the first time, but this I cannot do.' The messengers left and brought word back to him.


text:
Ben-Hadad then sent this message to him: 'May the gods do terrible things to me and worse ones as well if there's enough dust in Shomron to give each of my followers a handful!'


text:
The king of Isra'el answered, 'Tell him: 'He who is putting on his armor shouldn't boast as if he were taking it off!''


text:
It happened that Ben-Hadad received this message when he was drinking, he and his kings, in the field-barracks. He ordered his servants: 'Take up your battle positions!' So they got ready to attack the city.


text:
At that moment a prophet approached Ach'av king of Isra'el and said, 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'Have you seen this vast army? I am going to give you victory over them today. Then you will know that I am ADONAI!''


text:
Ach'av asked, 'Who will defeat them?' He answered, 'This is what ADONAI says: 'The young men who serve the district governors.'' He asked, 'Who will start the fighting?' and he answered, 'You will.'


text:
He counted the district governors' young men; there were 232. After that, he counted all the people, all the people of Isra'el; there were 7,000.


text:
They set out at noon. Ben-Hadad was drinking himself senseless in the field-barracks, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who were his allies.


text:
The district governors' men went out first. Ben-Hadad sent for information, and they reported, 'Men have come out from Shomron.'


text:
and each one killed his man. Aram fled, and Isra'el pursued them. Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of the cavalry.


text:
The king of Isra'el went out and attacked the horses and chariots, inflicting a massive defeat on Aram.


text:
Afterwards, the prophet approached the king of Isra'el and said to him, 'Go, regroup your forces, and think carefully what to do, for next year at this time the king of Aram will renew his attack.'


text:
Meanwhile, the servants of the king of Aram said to him, 'Their God is a God of the hills; that's why they were stronger than we were. But if we fight them on level ground, we will certainly be stronger than they are.


text:
Also do this: remove all the kings from their commands, and put professional officers in their place.


text:
Then recruit an army as big as the army you lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. We will attack them on level ground, and we will certainly be stronger than they.' He heeded what they said and acted accordingly.


text:
At the same time the following year, Ben-Hadad mustered the army of Aram and went up to Afek to attack Isra'el.


text:
The army of Isra'el, already mobilized and supplied, went to meet them; but the army of Isra'el, encamped opposite them, looked like two herds of goats; while Aram filled the land.


text:
At this point, a man of God approached and said to the king of Isra'el, 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'Because Aram said that ADONAI is a God of the hills but not a God of the valleys, I will hand over to you this entire huge army. Then you will know that I am ADONAI.''


text:
They remained in camp opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day, the battle began; and the people of Isra'el killed 100,000 soldiers of Aram in a single day.


text:
The rest fled to Afek, into the city; and the wall fell on 27,000 of the men who were left. Ben-Hadad fled into the city and took refuge in an inside room.


text:
His servants said to him, 'Here now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Isra'el are merciful kings. If it's all right with you, let's put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Isra'el. Maybe he will spare your life.'


text:
So they put sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads, went to the king of Isra'el and said, 'Your servant Ben-Hadad says, 'Please spare my life.'' And he answered, 'He's still alive? He is my brother.'


text:
The men took this as a promising indication and seized on it to say, 'Yes, Ben-Hadad is your brother.' Then Ach'av said, 'Go, and bring him here.' Ben-Hadad went out to him, and Ach'av had him climb up into his chariot.


text:
Ben-Hadad said to him, 'I will return the cities my father took from your father. Also you can set up markets for trade in Dammesek, as my father did in Shomron.' 'If you put this covenant in writing,' said Ach'av, 'I will set you free.' So he made a covenant with him and set him free.


text:
One of the members of the prophets' guild said to another one, by the word of ADONAI, 'Hit me!' But the man refused to hit him.


text:
Then he said to him, 'Because you didn't listen to the voice of ADONAI, the moment you leave me, a lion will kill you.' No sooner had he left him than a lion found him and killed him.


text:
The prophet left and waited for the king by the road, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.


text:
As the king passed by, he called out to the king and said, 'Your servant was on his way into the thick of the fighting when someone turned, brought a man to me and said, 'Guard this man! If he is missing, you will pay for his life with yours; or else you will pay sixty-six pounds of silver.'


text:
But while your servant was busy with one thing and another, he disappeared.' The king of Isra'el said to him, 'So that is your sentence; you have pronounced it on yourself.'


text:
Quickly he removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Isra'el recognized him as one of the prophets.


text:
Then he said to the king, 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'Because you have let escape the man I had given over to be destroyed, you will pay with your life for his life and with your people for his people.''


text:
A while later, an incident occurred involving Navot the Yizre'eli. He owned a vineyard in Yizre'el, right next to the palace of Ach'av king of Shomron.


text:
Ach'av spoke to Navot and said, 'Give me your vineyard, so that I can have it as my vegetable garden, because it's close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard; or, if you prefer, I will give you its monetary value.'


text:
Ach'av went home resentful and depressed at what Navot the Yizre'eli had said to him, since he had said, 'I won't give you my ancestral heritage.' He lay down on his bed, turned his face away and refused to eat.


text:
He answered her, 'Because I spoke to Navot the Yizre'eli and said to him, 'Sell me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it'; but he answered, 'I won't give you my vineyard.'


text:
'Are you the king of Isra'el or not?' asked his wife Izevel. 'Get up, eat some food, and cheer up! I will give you the vineyard of Navot the Yizre'eli.'


text:
So she wrote letters in Ach'av's name, sealed them with his seal and sent the letters to the leaders and notables of the city where Navot lived.


text:
Have two good-for-nothing men sit opposite him, and have them accuse him publicly of cursing God and the king. Then take him outside and stone him to death.'


text:
The leaders and notables of the city he lived in did as Izevel had written in the letters she sent to them.


text:
The two good-for-nothing men came in and sat opposite him, and these scoundrels publicly accused Navot, saying, 'Navot cursed God and the king.' So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death,


text:
When Izevel heard that Navot had been stoned to death, she said to Ach'av, 'Get up, and take possession of the vineyard that Navot the Yizre'eli refused to sell you, because Navot is no longer alive; he is dead.'


text:
When Ach'av heard that Navot was dead, he set out to go down to the vineyard of Navot the Yizre'eli, to take possession of it.


text:
'Get up, go down to meet Ach'av king of Isra'el, who lives in Shomron. Right now he is in the vineyard of Navot; he has gone down there to take possession of it.


text:
This is what you are to say to him: 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'You have committed murder, and now you are stealing the victim's property!'' Also say to him, 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'In the very place where dogs licked up the blood of Navot, dogs will lick up your blood - yours!' ''


text:
Ach'av said to Eliyahu, 'My enemy! You've found me!' He answered, 'Yes, I have found you; because you have given yourself over to do what is evil from ADONAI's perspective.


text:
'Here,' [says ADONAI,] 'I am bringing disaster on you! I will sweep you away completely; I will cut off from Ach'av every male, whether a slave or free in Isra'el.


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I will make your house like the house of Yarov'am the son of N'vat and like the house of Ba'sha the son of Achiyah for provoking my anger and leading Isra'el into sin.'


text:
If someone from the line of Ach'av dies in the city, the dogs will eat him; if he dies in the countryside, the vultures will eat him.''


text:
Truly, there was never anyone like Ach'av. Stirred up by his wife Izevel, he gave himself over to do what is evil from ADONAI's perspective.


text:
His behavior in following idols was grossly abominable; he did everything the Emori had done, whom ADONAI expelled ahead of the people of Isra'el.


text:
Ach'av, on hearing these words, tore his clothes, put sackcloth on himself and fasted. He slept in the sackcloth and went about dejectedly.


text:
'Do you see how Ach'av has humbled himself before me? Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring this evil during his lifetime; but during his son's lifetime I will bring the evil on his house.'


text:
The king of Isra'el said to his servants, 'Are you aware that Ramot-Gil'ad belongs to us; yet, we're doing nothing to recover it from the king of Aram?'


text:
He said to Y'hoshafat, 'Will you go with me to attack Ramot-Gil'ad?' Y'hoshafat answered the king of Isra'el, 'I'm with you all the way; think of my troops and horses as yours.'


text:
So the king of Isra'el assembled the prophets, about 400 men. 'Should I attack Ramot-Gil'ad?' he asked them, 'Or should I hold off?' They said, 'Attack! Adonai will hand it over to the king.'


text:
The king of Isra'el said to Y'hoshafat, 'Yes, there is still one man through whom we can consult ADONAI, Mikhay'hu the son of Yimlah; but I hate him, because he doesn't prophesy good things for me, but bad!' Y'hoshafat replied, 'The king shouldn't say such a thing.'


text:
Now the king of Isra'el and Y'hoshafat the king of Y'hudah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their royal robes, on a threshing-floor at the entrance to the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were there, prophesying in their presence.


text:
Tzidkiyah the son of Kena'anah had made himself some horns out of iron and said, 'This is what ADONAI says: 'With these you will gore Aram until they are destroyed.''


text:
All the prophets prophesied the same thing: 'Go up and attack Ramot-Gil'ad. You will succeed, for ADONAI will hand it over to the king.'


text:
The messenger who had gone to call Mikhay'hu said to him, 'Here, now, the prophets are unanimously predicting success for the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them - say something good.'


text:
When he reached the king, the king asked him, 'Mikhay'hu, should we go up and attack Ramot-Gil'ad; or should we hold off?' He answered, 'Go up, you will succeed, ADONAI will hand it over to the king.'


text:
The king said to him, 'How many times do I have to warn you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of ADONAI?'


text:
Then he said, 'I saw all Isra'el scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and ADONAI said, 'These men have no leader; let everyone go home in peace.''


text:
The king of Isra'el said to Y'hoshafat, 'Didn't I tell you that he wouldn't prophesy good things about me, but bad?'


text:
Mikhay'hu continued: 'Therefore hear the word of ADONAI. I saw ADONAI sitting on his throne with the whole army of heaven standing by him on his right and on his left.


text:
ADONAI asked, 'Who will entice Ach'av to go up to his death at Ramot-Gil'ad?' One of them said, 'Do it this way,' and another, 'Do it that way.'


text:
ADONAI asked, 'How?' and he answered, 'I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' ADONAI said, 'You will succeed in enticing him. Go, and do it.'


text:
So now ADONAI has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; meanwhile, ADONAI has ordained disaster for you.'


text:
Then Tzidkiyah the son of Kena'anah came up, slapped Mikhay'hu in the face and said, 'And how did the Spirit of ADONAI leave me to speak to you?'


text:
The king of Isra'el said, 'Seize Mikhay'hu, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and Yo'ash the king's son.


text:
Say, 'The king says to put this man in prison; and feed him only bread and water, and not much of that, until I return in peace.''


text:
Mikhay'hu said, 'If you return in peace at all, ADONAI has not spoken through me!' Then he added, 'Did you hear me, you peoples, all of you?'


text:
The king of Isra'el said to Y'hoshafat, 'I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you, put on your robes.' So the king of Isra'el disguised himself and went into battle.


text:
Now the king of Aram had ordered the thirty-two chariot commanders, 'Don't attack anyone of either high or low rank, only the king of Isra'el.'


text:
So when the chariot commanders saw Y'hoshafat they said, 'This must be the king of Isra'el,' and turned to attack him. But Y'hoshafat gave a yell,


text:
However, one soldier shot an arrow at random and struck the king of Isra'el between his lower armor and his breastplate. So the king said to his chariot-driver, 'Turn the reins, and take me out of the fighting; I'm collapsing from my wounds.'


text:
But the fighting grew fiercer that day; and they propped the king upright in his chariot facing Aram until he died, in the evening, with the blood streaming from his wound onto the floor of the chariot.


text:
Around sundown, a cry spread through the ranks: 'Every man to his own town! Every man to his own land!'


text:
They washed the chariot at the Pool of Shomron where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up his blood, in keeping with the word ADONAI had spoken.


text:
Other activities of Ach'av's reign, all his accomplishments, the ivory palace he built and all the cities he built are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.


text:
Y'hoshafat the son of Asa began his reign over Y'hudah in the fourth year of Ach'av king of Isra'el.


text:
Y'hoshafat was thirty-five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled twenty-five years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was 'Azuvah the daughter of Shilchi.


text:
He lived in the manner of Asa his father and did not turn away from it, doing what was right from ADONAI's perspective;


text:
(43b) although the high places were not taken away - the people still sacrificed and presented offerings on the high places. 44 Y'hoshafat made peace with the king of Isra'el.


text:
Other activities of Y'hoshafat, all his power that he demonstrated and how he made war are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah.


text:
Y'hoshafat built some large 'Tarshish' ships to go to Ofir for gold, but they didn't make the voyage, because they were wrecked at 'Etzyon-Gever.


text:
Achazyah the son of Ach'av suggested to Y'hoshafat that his men should go to sea with Y'hoshafat's men, but Y'hoshafat would not agree.


text:
So Y'hoshafat slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David his ancestor, and Y'horam his son became king in his place.


text:
Achazyah the son of Ach'av began his reign over Isra'el in Shomron in the seventeenth year of Y'hoshafat king of Y'hudah, and he ruled two years over Isra'el.


text:
He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, living in the manner of his father, his mother and Yarov'am the son of N'vat, by which he led Isra'el into sin.


text:
He also served Ba'al and worshipped him; and he made ADONAI the God of Isra'el angry, in keeping with everything his father had done.


text:
When Achazyah fell through a latticed window of his upper room in Shomron and lay injured, he sent messengers and said to them, 'Go, consult Ba'al-Z'vuv the god of 'Ekron, and ask whether I will recover from this injury.'


text:
But an angel of ADONAI said to Eliyahu from Tishbe, 'Get up, and intercept the messengers of the king of Shomron, and ask them, 'Is it because there's no God in Isra'el that you're on your way to consult Ba'al-Z'vuv the god of 'Ekron?


text:
Therefore ADONAI says, 'You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will certainly die.''' Then Eliyahu left.


text:
They answered him, 'A man came to meet us. He told us to go and return to the king who sent us, and tell him, 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'Is it because there's no God in Isra'el that you're sending to consult Ba'al-Z'vuv the god of 'Ekron? Therefore you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will certainly die.'''


text:
'He was a hairy man,' they answered him, 'with a leather belt around his waist.' He said, 'It was Eliyahu from Tishbe.'


text:
Then the king sent a commander of fifty to Eliyahu, together with his fifty men. Eliyahu was sitting at the top of a hill. The commander climbed up to him and said, 'Man of God, the king says to come down.'


text:
Eliyahu answered the commander of fifty, 'If I am in fact a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and burn you up, along with your fifty men.' Fire came down from heaven, and it burned up him and his fifty men.


text:
The king sent him another commander of fifty, together with his fifty men. He said to him, 'Man of God, the king says, 'Come down immediately!''


text:
Eliyahu answered them, 'If I am in fact a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and burn you up, along with your fifty men.' Fire came down from heaven, and it burned up him and his fifty men.


text:
The king sent a third commander of fifty, with his fifty men. The third commander of fifty climbed up, approached Eliyahu and fell on his knees before him. He pleaded with him: 'Man of God, please! Have some regard for my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours!


text:
I know that fire came down from heaven and burned up the two other commanders with their fifty men; but now, have some regard for my life.'


text:
The angel of ADONAI said to Eliyahu, 'Go down with him; don't be afraid of him.' So he got up and went down with him to the king.


text:
Eliyahu said to the king, 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'You sent messengers to consult Ba'al-Z'vuv the god of 'Ekron. Is it because there's no God in Isra'el you can consult? Therefore, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will certainly die.''


text:
So he died, in keeping with the word of ADONAI spoken through Eliyahu. Y'horam began to rule in place of him during the second year of Y'horam the son of Y'hoshafat king of Y'hudah, because he had no son.


text:
The time came for ADONAI to take Eliyahu up into heaven in a whirlwind. Eliyahu and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal,


text:
when Eliyahu said to Elisha, 'Please wait here, because ADONAI has sent me all the way to Beit-El.' But Elisha said, 'As ADONAI lives, and as you live, I will not leave you.' So they went down to Beit-El.


text:
The guild prophets of Beit-El came out to Elisha and said to him, 'Do you know that ADONAI is taking your master away from you today?' 'Yes, I know,' he answered; 'say no more.'


text:
Eliyahu said to him, 'Elisha, please wait here, because ADONAI has sent me to Yericho.' He replied, 'As ADONAI lives, and as you live, I will not leave you.' So they came to Yericho.


text:
The guild prophets of Yericho approached Elisha and said to him, 'Do you know that ADONAI is taking your master away from you today?' 'Yes, I know,' he answered; 'say no more.'


text:
Eliyahu said to him, 'Please wait here, because ADONAI has sent me to the Yarden.' He replied, 'As ADONAI lives, and as you live, I will not leave you.' So the two of them went on.


text:
Fifty of the guild prophets went and stood watching them from a distance, while they stood by the Yarden.


text:
Then Eliyahu took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it; and the water divided itself to the left and to the right; so that they crossed on dry ground.


text:
After they had crossed, Eliyahu said to Elisha, 'Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away from you.' Elisha said, 'Please! Let a double share of your spirit be on me!'


text:
He replied, 'You have requested a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, you will get what you asked for; but if not, you won't.'


text:
Suddenly, as they were walking on and talking, there appeared a fiery chariot with horses of fire; and as it separated the two of them from each other, Eliyahu went up into heaven in a whirlwind.


text:
Elisha saw it and cried out, 'My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Isra'el!' Then he lost sight of him. Seizing his clothes, he tore them in half.


text:
he took the cloak that had fallen off Eliyahu, struck the water and said, 'Where is ADONAI, the God of Eliyahu?' But when he actually did strike the water, it divided itself to the left and to the right; then Elisha crossed over.


text:
When the guild prophets of Yericho saw him in the distance, they said, 'The spirit of Eliyahu does rest on Elisha.' Advancing to meet him, they prostrated themselves on the ground before him


text:
and said to him, 'Here now, your servants include fifty strong men. Please let them go and look for your master, in the event that the Spirit of ADONAI has taken him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.' He answered, 'Don't send them.'


text:
But they kept pressing him until finally, embarrassed, he said to send them. So they sent fifty men. For three days they searched, but they didn't find him.


text:
On returning to him where he was waiting in Yericho, he said to them, 'I told you not to go, didn't I?'


text:
The men of the city said to Elisha, 'My lord can see that this is a pleasant city to live in; but the water is bad, so that the ground is causing miscarriages.'


text:
He went out to the source of the water, threw salt into it and said, 'This is what ADONAI says: 'I have healed this water; it will no longer cause death or miscarrying.''


text:
Elisha left to go up to Beit-El. As he was on his way up the road, some boys came out of the town and began making fun of him. 'Go on up, baldy! Go on up, baldy!'


text:
He looked behind him, saw them and put a curse on them in the name of ADONAI; whereupon two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.


text:
Y'horam the son of Ach'av began his reign over Isra'el in Shomron during the eighteenth year of Y'hoshafat king of Y'hudah, and he ruled for twelve years.


text:
He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective; but he was not as bad as his father and mother, because he got rid of Ba'al's standing-stone which his father had made.


text:
Nevertheless, he clung to the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, with which he had led Isra'el into sin; he never turned away from them.


text:
Mesha king of Mo'av was a sheep-breeder, and he used to send the king of Isra'el the wool of 100,000 lambs and of 100,000 rams as tribute.


text:
He also went and sent this word to Y'hoshafat king of Y'hudah: 'The king of Mo'av has rebelled against me. Will you join me in attacking Mo'av?' He answered, 'I will join in the attack - I'm with you all the way; think of my people and horses as yours.


text:
So the king of Isra'el set out, along with the king of Y'hudah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout journey of seven days, there was no water for either the army or the animals following them.


text:
'This is terrible!' exclaimed the king of Isra'el. 'Has ADONAI called these three kings together only to hand them over to Mo'av?'


text:
But Y'hoshafat said, 'Isn't there a prophet of ADONAI here through whom we can consult ADONAI?' One of the servants of the king of Isra'el answered, 'Elisha the son of Shafat is here, the one who used to pour water on Eliyahu's hands.'


text:
Y'hoshafat said, 'The word of ADONAI is with him.' So the king of Isra'el, Y'hoshafat and the king of Edom went down to consult him.


text:
Elisha said to the king of Isra'el, 'What do you and I have in common? Go, consult your father's prophets and your mother's prophets!' But the king of Isra'el answered him, 'No, because ADONAI has called these three kings together to hand them over to Mo'av.'


text:
Elisha said, 'As ADONAI-Tzva'ot lives, before whom I stand, if I didn't respect the fact that Y'hoshafat the king of Y'hudah is here, I wouldn't even look in your direction or take notice of you.


text:
For here is what ADONAI says: 'You won't see wind, and you won't see rain. Nevertheless the valley will be filled with water; and you will drink - you, your cattle and your other animals.


text:
You will conquer every fortified city and every choice town, you will chop down every good tree, stop up every well and ruin every good field with stones.'


text:
The next morning, around the time for making the offering, water came from the direction of Edom, and the countryside was filled with water.


text:
When all Mo'av heard that the kings had come up to attack them, every man was summoned, from the youngest capable of bearing arms to older ones, and stationed on the border.


text:
They rose early in the morning, when the sun was shining on the water. Mo'av, when they saw the water in the distance looking as red as blood,


text:
said, 'That's blood! The kings must have quarreled, and their soldiers killed each other. Mo'av! To the plunder!'


text:
When they arrived at the camp of Isra'el, Isra'el launched an attack, so that Mo'av fled before them. But they advanced on Mo'av and struck it.


text:
They made ruins of the cities. Each man threw his stone on every good field, covering it. They stopped up all the wells. They chopped down all the good trees. Finally, all that remained was Kir-Hareset behind its stone wall, with the slingers surrounding and attacking it.


text:
When the king of Mo'av saw that the fighting was too much for him, he took with him 700 men armed with swords and tried to break through to the king of Edom; but they couldn't do it.


text:
Then he took his firstborn son, who was to have succeeded him as king, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. Following this, such great anger came upon Isra'el that they left him and went back to their own land.


text:
The wife of one of the guild prophets complained to Elisha. 'Your servant my husband died,' she said, 'and you know that he feared ADONAI. Now a creditor has come to take my two children as his slaves.'


text:
Elisha asked her, 'What should I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?' She answered, 'Your servant has nothing in the house but a flask of oil.'


text:
Then he said, 'Go, and borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers; and don't borrow just a few!


text:
Then go in; shut the door, with you and your sons inside; and pour oil into all those containers; and as they are filled, put them aside.'


text:
So she left him and shut the door on herself and her sons. They brought her the containers while she poured.


text:
When the containers were full, she said to her son, 'Bring me another container'; but he answered, 'There isn't another container.' Then the oil stopped flowing.


text:
She came and told the man of God; and he said, 'Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt; then you and your sons can live on what's left.'


text:
One day Elisha visited Shunem, and a well-to-do woman living there pressed him to stay and eat a meal. After this, whenever he came through, he stopped there for a meal.


text:
Please, let's build him a little room on the roof. We'll put a bed and a table in it for him, and a stool and a candlestick. Then, whenever he comes to visit us, he can stay there.'


text:
he said to him, 'Tell her this: 'You have shown us so much hospitality! What can I do to show my appreciation? Do you want me to say anything to the king for you? or to the commander of the army?' She answered, 'I'm happy living as I do, among my own people.'


text:
He said, 'What, then, is to be done for her?' Geichazi answered, 'There's one thing - she doesn't have a son; and her husband is old.


text:
He said, 'Next year, when the season comes around, you will be holding a son.' 'No, my lord,' she answered. 'Man of God, don't lie to your servant!'


text:
But the woman conceived and gave birth to a son the following year when the season came around, just as Elisha had said to her.


text:
Suddenly he cried out to his father, 'My head! My head hurts!' He said to his servant, 'Carry him back to his mother.'


text:
When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he lay on her lap until noon; and then he died.


text:
She called to her husband and said, 'Please send me one of the servants with a donkey. I must get to the man of God as fast as I can; I'll come straight back.'


text:
He asked, 'Why are you going to him today? It isn't Rosh-Hodesh and it isn't Shabbat.' She said, 'It's all right.'


text:
Then she saddled the donkey and ordered her servant, 'Drive as fast as you can; don't slow down for me unless I say so.'


text:
She set out and came to the man of God on Mount Karmel. When the man of God saw her in the distance, he said to Geichazi his servant, 'Look, here comes that Shunamit.


text:
Run now to meet her, and ask her, 'Is everything all right with you? with your husband? with the child?' She answered, 'Everything is all right.'


text:
But when she reached the man of God on the hill, she grabbed his feet. Geichazi came up to push her away, but the man of God said, 'Leave her alone. She is in great distress, but ADONAI has hidden from me what it is, he hasn't told me.'


text:
Then Elisha said to Geichazi, 'Get dressed for action, take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, don't greet him; if anyone greets you, don't answer; and lay my staff on the child's face.'


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The mother of the child said, 'As ADONAI lives, and as you live, I will not leave you. He got up and followed her.


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Geichazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the child's face, but there was no sound or sign of life. So he went back to Elisha and told him, 'The child didn't wake up.'


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Then he got up on the bed and lay on top of the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands. As he stretched himself out on the child, its flesh began to grow warm.


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Then he went down, walked around in the house awhile, went back up and stretched himself out on the child again. The child sneezed seven times, then opened his eyes.


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Elisha called Geichazi and said, 'Call this Shunamit.' So he called her; and when she came in to him, he said, 'Pick up your son.'


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She entered, fell at his feet and prostrated herself on the floor. Then she picked up her son and went out.


text:
Elisha went back to Gilgal. At the time, there was a famine in the land. The guild prophets were sitting before him, and he said to his servant, 'Put the big pot on the fire, and boil some soup for the prophets.'


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One of them went out to the field to gather vegetables and came upon a wild vine, from which he filled the front of his cloak with wild squash. On returning he cut them up and put them into the stew; they didn't know what they were.


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Then they poured it out for the men to eat; but on tasting it, they cried, 'Man of God! There's death in that pot!' And they couldn't eat it.


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But he said, 'Bring some flour.' He threw it in the pot, then said, 'Pour it out for the people to eat.' This time there was nothing harmful in the pot.


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A man came from Ba'al-Shalishah bringing the man of God twenty loaves of bread made from the barley firstfruits and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, 'Give this to the people to eat.'


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His servant said, 'How am I to serve this to a hundred men?' But he said, 'Give it to the people to eat; for ADONAI says that they will eat and have some left over.'


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Na'aman, commander of the king of Aram's army, was highly respected and esteemed by his master; because through him ADONAI had brought victory to Aram. But although he was a brave warrior, he also suffered from tzara'at.


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Now on one of their raids into Isra'el's territory, Aram carried away captive a little girl, who became a servant for Na'aman's wife.


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She said to her mistress, 'I wish my lord could go to the prophet in Shomron! He could heal his tzara'at.'


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The king of Aram said, 'Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Isra'el.' He set out, taking with him 660 pounds of silver,


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,000 pieces of gold and ten changes of clothes. 6 He brought the king of Isra'el the letter, which said, 'When this letter reaches you, you will see that I have sent my servant Na'aman to you, so that you can heal his tzara'at.'


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When the king of Isra'el finished reading the letter, he tore his clothes. 'Am I God, able to kill and make alive,' he asked, 'so that he sends me a man to heal of tzara'at? You can see that he is only seeking an excuse to quarrel with me.'


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But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Isra'el had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: 'Why did you tear your clothes? Just have him come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Isra'el.'


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Elisha sent a messenger to him, who said, 'Go, and bathe in the Yarden seven times. Your skin will become as it was, and you will be clean.'


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But Na'aman became angry and left, saying, 'Here now! I thought for certain that he would come out personally, that he would stand, call on the name of ADONAI his God and wave his hand over the diseased place and thus heal the person with tzara'at.


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Aren't Amanah and Parpar, the rivers of Dammesek, better than all the water in Isra'el? Why can't I bathe in them and be clean?' So he turned and went off in a rage.


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But his servants approached him and said, 'My father! If the prophet had asked you to do something really difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So, doesn't it make even more sense to do what he says, when it's only, 'Bathe, and be clean'?'


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So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Yarden, as the man of God had said to do; and his skin was restored and became like the skin of a child; and he became clean.


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Then, with his whole retinue, he returned to the man of God, went and stood before him, and said, 'Well, I've learned that there is no God in all the earth except in Isra'el; therefore, please accept a present from your servant.'


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But Elisha answered, 'As ADONAI lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.' And despite his urging him to take it, he refused.


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So Na'aman said, 'If you won't take it, then please let your servant be given as much earth as two mules can carry; because from now on, your servant will offer neither burnt offerings nor sacrifices to other gods, but only to ADONAI.


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Except this, and may ADONAI forgive your servant for it: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon - when I bow down, may ADONAI forgive your servant for this.'


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when Geichazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, 'Here, my master has made it easy on this Arami Na'aman by not accepting from him what he brought. As ADONAI lives, I'll run after him and get at least something from him.'


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So Geichazi hurried off after Na'aman. When Na'aman saw someone running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him and asked, 'Is everything all right?'


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'Yes,' he replied. 'My master sent me with this message: 'Two young men have just now come to me, guild prophets from the hills of Efrayim. Would you be kind enough to give them a talent of silver [sixty-six pounds] and two changes of clothes?'


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'By all means, take two talents!' said Na'aman, pressing him. He tied up the two talents of silver in two bags and gave them, with the two changes of clothes, to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Geichazi.


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On reaching the hill, he took the bags from them and put them away in the house. Then he let the men go, and they left.


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He went in and stood before his master. Elisha asked, 'Where have you been, Geichazi?' 'Your servant hasn't gone anywhere,' he said.


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Elisha said to him, 'Wasn't my heart there with you when the man left his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to receive silver and clothing - and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female slaves?


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Therefore Na'aman's tzara'at will cling to you and your descendants forever.' He left Elisha's presence with tzara'at as white as snow.


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The guild prophets said to Elisha, 'As you can see, the place where we are living in order to be with you is too small for us.


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Please allow us to go to the Yarden; each of us will collect a log there, and we'll build a place there for us to live.' He answered, 'Go ahead.'


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But one of them said, 'Please, won't you come with your servants?' He answered, 'All right, I will';


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but as one was felling a tree trunk, the head of his axe fell in the water. 'Oh, no!' he cried. 'My master, it was a borrowed one!'


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The man of God asked, 'Where did it fall?' He showed him the place. Then Elisha cut a stick, threw it in there, and the iron axe-head floated to the surface.


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Now the king of Aram went to war against Isra'el; and in consulting his servants he said, 'I'll set up my ambush camp in such-and-such a place.'


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The man of God sent this message to the king of Isra'el: 'Be careful not to go past such-and-such a place, because Aram will attack there.'


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So the king of Isra'el sent men to the place the man of God had told him and warned him about, and he took special precautions there. This happened more than once or twice,


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and it greatly upset the king of Aram. He called his servants and said to them, 'Tell me which of you is betraying us to the king of Isra'el?'


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One of his servants replied, 'It's not that, my lord, king. Rather, Elisha, the prophet who is in Isra'el, tells the king of Isra'el the words you speak privately in your own bedroom!'


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He said, 'Go and see where he is, so that I can send and bring him here.' They told him, 'He's in Dotan.'


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The servant of the man of God got up early in the morning; on going outside, he saw an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. His servant said to him, 'Oh, my master, this is terrible! What are we going to do?'


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Elisha prayed, 'ADONAI, I ask you to open his eyes, so that he can see.' Then ADONAI opened the young man's eyes, and he saw: there before him, all around Elisha, the mountain was covered with horses and fiery chariots.


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When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to ADONAI, 'Please strike these people blind'; and he struck them blind, as Elisha had asked.


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Next, Elisha told them, 'You've lost your way, and this isn't even the right city. Follow me, and I'll take you to the man you're looking for.' Then he led them to Shomron.


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On their arrival in Shomron, Elisha said, 'ADONAI, open the eyes of these men, so that they can see.' ADONAI opened their eyes, and they saw: there they were, in the middle of Shomron.


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When the king of Isra'el saw them, he asked Elisha, 'My father, should I attack them? Should I attack them?'


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He answered, 'Don't attack them! You wouldn't even attack prisoners you had captured with your own sword and bow, would you? So give them food to eat and water to drink, and let them return to their master.'


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So he provided well for them; and after they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away; and they returned to their master. After that, no more raiding parties entered the land of Isra'el from Aram.


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But some time afterwards, Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army, went up and laid siege to Shomron.


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At the time, there was a severe famine in Shomron; and they maintained their siege until a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver and half a pint of doves' dung for five pieces of silver.


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He said, 'If ADONAI isn't helping you, how do you expect me to help you? There isn't any grain, and there isn't any wine.'


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Then the king asked her, 'What's troubling you?' She answered, 'This woman said to me, 'Give me your son, so that we can eat him today; and we'll eat my son tomorrow.'


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So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Give your son, so that we can eat him,' but she has hidden her son.'


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When the king heard what the woman said, he tore his clothes. At the time, he was passing by on the wall; and when the people looked, they saw him there with sackcloth against his skin.


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Then he said, 'May God do terrible things to me, and worse ones too, if the head of Elisha the son of Shafat remains on his body by day's end.'


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Elisha was sitting in his house, and the leaders were sitting there with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the leaders, 'Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent someone to remove my head? Look, when the messenger comes, close the door and keep it shut against him. You can hear his master's footsteps following right behind him!'


text:
While he was still speaking, the messenger arrived with this message from the king: 'Here, this evil is from ADONAI. Why should I wait for ADONAI any longer?'


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Elisha answered, 'Listen to the word of ADONAI. Here is what ADONAI says: 'Tomorrow, by this time, six quarts of fine flour will sell for only a shekel, and half a bushel of barley for a shekel [in the market] at the gate to Shomron.'


text:
The servant on whose arm the king was leaning answered the man of God: 'Why, this couldn't happen even if ADONAI made windows in heaven!' Elisha answered, 'All right, you yourself will see it with your own eyes; but you won't eat any of it!'


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Now there were four men with tzara'at at the entrance to the city gate, and they said to each other, 'Why should we sit here till we die?


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If we say, 'We'll enter the city, then the city has been struck by the famine, so we'll die there. And if we sit still here, we'll also die. So let's go and surrender to the army of Aram; if they spare our lives, we will live; and if they kill us, we'll only die.'


text:
They got up during the twilight to go to the camp of Aram. But when they reached the outskirts of the camp of Aram, they saw no one!


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For ADONAI had caused the army of Aram to hear the sound of chariots and horses; it sounded like a huge army; and they said to each other, 'The king of Isra'el must have hired the kings of the Hitti and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.'


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So they jumped up and fled in the twilight, leaving their tents, horses, donkeys and the whole camp just as it was, and ran for their lives.


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When these men with tzara'at reached the outskirts of the camp, they entered one of the tents, ate and drank; then took some silver, gold and clothing; and went and hid it. Next they returned and entered another tent, took stuff from there, and went and hid it.


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But finally they said to each other, 'What we are doing is wrong. At a time of good news like this, we shouldn't keep it to ourselves. If we wait even till morning, we will earn only punishment; so come on, let's go and tell the king's household.'


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So they came and shouted to the gatekeepers of the city and told them the news: 'We went to the camp of Aram, and no one was there, no human voice - just the horses and donkeys tied up, and the tents left in place.'


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Then the king got up in the night; he said to his servants, 'I'll tell you what Aram has done to us. They know that we're hungry, so they've gone outside the camp and hidden in the countryside, saying, 'When they come out of the city, we'll take them alive and then get inside the city.''


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One of his servants answered, 'I suggest letting some men take five of the remaining horses that are left in the city - they're like everything else in Isra'el that remains, like everything else in Isra'el, practically finished - and we'll send and see.'


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So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent after the army of Aram, saying, 'Go, and see.'


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They went after them all the way to the Yarden, and found the entire distance strewn with clothing and other articles Aram had thrown away in their haste. The messengers returned and told the king.


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Then the people went out and ransacked the camp of Aram - with the result that six quarts of fine flour was sold for only a shekel and half a bushel of barley for a shekel, in keeping with what ADONAI had said.


text:
The king put the servant on whose arm he had leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him down in the gateway, so that he died, as the man of God had said he would, who spoke when the king came to him.


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For the man of God had said to the king, 'Tomorrow by this time six quarts of barley will sell for only a shekel and half a bushel of fine flour for a shekel [in the market] at the gate of Shomron';


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the servant had answered the man of God, 'Why, this couldn't happen even if ADONAI made windows in heaven!' and Elisha had said, 'All right, you yourself will see it with your own eyes; but you won't eat any of it!'


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That is exactly what happened to him, because the people trampled him down in the gateway, so that he died.


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Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, 'Move away, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; because ADONAI has called for a famine; and it will be on the land for seven years.'


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The woman acted at once and did as the man of God had said - she went with her household and stayed in the land of the P'lishtim for seven years.


text:
At the end of seven years the woman returned from the land of the P'lishtim and sought an audience with the king to claim her house and land.


text:
The king was talking with Geichazi the servant of the man of God. 'Tell me,' he said, 'all the great things Elisha has done.'


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Just as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead person to life, at that very moment the woman whose son he had restored to life came to the king with her claim for her house and land. Geichazi said, 'My lord, king, this is the woman; and this is her son, the one Elisha restored to life.'


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On being asked by the king, the woman verified it. At this, the king appointed a special officer and charged him, 'Restore everything that belongs to her, including the income her fields have produced from the day she left them until now.'


text:
Elisha went to Dammesek. Ben-Hadad the king of Aram was ill; and he was told, 'The man of God has come here.'


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The king said to Haza'el, 'Take with you a gift, go meet the man of God and consult ADONAI through him; ask if I will recover from this illness.'


text:
Haza'el went to meet him, taking with him a gift that included everything good Dammesek had, forty camel-loads. He came, stood before him and said, 'Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you; he asks, 'Will I recover from this illness?''


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Elisha answered, 'Go and say to him, 'You will surely recover'- even though ADONAI has shown me that he will surely die.'


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Then the man of God fixed his gaze on him for so long that Haza'el became embarrassed; finally Elisha began to cry.


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Haza'el asked, 'Why is my lord crying?' He answered, 'Because I know the disasters you will bring on the people of Isra'el - you will set their fortresses on fire, you will kill their young men with the sword, you will dash their little ones to pieces and rip their pregnant women apart.'


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Haza'el said, 'But what is your servant? Nothing but a dog! How could he do anything of such magnitude?' Elisha answered, 'ADONAI has shown me that you will be king over Aram.'


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Then he left Elisha and returned to his master, who asked him, 'What did Elisha say to you?' 'He told me you would surely recover.'


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The next day he took a blanket, dipped it in water and spread it on his face, so that he died; and Haza'el took his place as king.


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It was when Yoram the son of Ach'av king of Isra'el was in the fifth year of his reign that Y'horam the son of Y'hoshafat began his rule over Y'hudah.


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He lived after the example of the kings of Isra'el, as did the house of Ach'av; because he had married Ach'av's daughter; he did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective.


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However, ADONAI was unwilling to destroy Y'hudah, because of his servant David; inasmuch as he had promised to give him and his children a lamp that would burn forever.


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In response, Yoram crossed to Tza'ir with all his chariots. At night he and his chariot commanders set out and attacked Edom who had surrounded him; then the people fled to their tents.


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Nevertheless, since that day Edom has remained free of Y'hudah's domination. Livnah revolted at the same time.


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Other activities of Yoram and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah.


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Yoram slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David, and Achazyah his son took his place as king.


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It was in the twelfth year of Yoram the son of Ach'av king of Isra'el that Achazyah the son of Y'horam king of Y'hudah began his reign.


text:
Achazyah was twenty-two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for one year in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was 'Atalyahu the daughter of 'Omri king of Isra'el.


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He lived after the example of the house of Ach'av; he did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, as had the house of Ach'av; for he was a son-in-law in the house of Ach'av.


text:
With Yoram the son of Ach'av he went to war against Haza'el king of Aram at Ramot-Gil'ad, and the Aramim wounded Yoram.


text:
King Yoram returned to Yizre'el to be healed of the wounds which the Aramim had inflicted on him at Ramah while fighting Haza'el king of Aram. Achazyah the son of Y'horam, king of Y'hudah, went down to visit Yoram the son of Ach'av in Yizre'el, because he was not feeling well.


text:
Elisha the prophet summoned one of the guild prophets and said to him, 'Prepare for traveling, take this flask of oil in your hand and go to Ramot-Gil'ad.


text:
When you get there, look for Yehu the son of Y'hoshafat, the son of Nimshi. Enter, have him step away from his companions, and take him to an inside room.


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Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, 'This is what ADONAI says: 'I have anointed you king over Isra'el.'' After that, open the door; and get away from there as fast as you can.'


text:
When he arrived, he found the senior army officers sitting there. He said, 'I have a message for you, commander.' Yehu asked, 'For which one of us?' 'For you, commander,' he said.


text:
Yehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on his head and said to him, 'This is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el says: 'I have anointed you king over the people of ADONAI, over Isra'el.


text:
You will attack the house of Ach'av your master, so that I can avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and of all the servants of ADONAI, blood shed by Izevel.


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The entire house of Ach'av will perish; I will cut off from Ach'av every male, whether a slave or free in Isra'el.


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I will make the house of Ach'av like the house of Yarov'am the son of N'vat and like the house of Ba'sha the son of Achiyah.


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Moreover, the dogs will eat Izevel in the dumping-ground of Yizre'el, and there will be no one to bury her.'' Then he opened the door and fled.


text:
Yehu returned to the servants of his lord, and one of them said to him, 'Is everything all right? Why did this meshugga come to you?' He answered them, 'You know the kind and how they babble.'


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They said, 'You're being evasive. Come on, tell us the truth.' Then he said, 'This is exactly what he said to me and how he said it: 'Here is what ADONAI says: 'I have anointed you king over Isra'el.'''


text:
At this, they hurried each one to take his cloak and put it under Yehu at the top of the stairs. Then they blew the shofar and proclaimed, 'Yehu is king!'


text:
Yehu the son of Y'hoshafat, the son of Nimshi, formed a conspiracy against Yoram. (At the time, Yoram was guarding Ramot-Gil'ad, he and all Isra'el, because of Haza'el king of Aram;


text:
but Yoram himself had returned to Yizre'el to recover from the wounds Aram had inflicted on him when fighting Haza'el king of Aram.) 'If you agree,' said Yehu, 'then don't allow anyone to leave town and take the news to Yizre'el.'


text:
So Yehu, riding in a chariot, went to Yizre'el, for Yoram was laid up there. Achazyah king of Y'hudah had come down to visit Yoram.


text:
The lookout standing on the watchtower in Yizre'el saw Yehu's troops approaching and said, 'I see some troops coming.' Yoram said, 'Have a horseman go to meet him and ask, 'Are you coming in peace?'


text:
So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, 'The king asks if you are coming in peace.' Yehu answered, 'Peace? What business is that of yours? Turn around, and get behind me!' The watchman reported, 'The messenger reached them, but he isn't coming back.'


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So he sent out a second man on horseback, who, on coming to him, said, 'The king asks if you are coming in peace.' Yehu answered, 'Peace? What business is that of yours? Turn around, and get behind me!'


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The watchman reported, 'He reached them, but he isn't coming back. Also, it looks like the driving of Yehu Nimshi's [grand]son - he's driving like a maniac!'


text:
'Harness my chariot!' ordered Yoram. They got it ready. Then Yoram king of Isra'el and Achazyah king of Y'hudah, each in his chariot, went out to meet Yehu. They met him in the field of Navot the Yizre'eli.


text:
When Yoram saw Yehu he said, 'Are you coming in peace, Yehu?' He answered, 'Peace? With your mother Izevel continuing all her cult prostitution and witchcraft? What a question!'


text:
Yehu drew his bow with all his strength and struck Yoram between the shoulder-blades; the arrow went through his heart, and he collapsed in his chariot.


text:
'Pick him up,' said Yehu to Bidkar his servant, 'and throw him into the field of Navot the Yizre'eli; for remember how, when you and I were riding together after Ach'av his father, ADONAI pronounced this sentence against him:


text:
'ADONAI says: 'Yesterday I saw the blood of Navot and the blood of his sons.' ADONAI also says: 'I will pay you back in this field.'' Therefore, pick him up; and throw him into the field, in keeping with what ADONAI said.'


text:
But when Achazyah the king of Y'hudah saw this, he fled on the road past Beit-HaGan. Yehu pursued him and ordered, 'Strike him too in his chariot!' [So they struck him] at the Gur ascent, near Yivle'am. He fled to Megiddo, but there he died.


text:
His servants carried him in a chariot to Yerushalayim and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the City of David.


text:
It was in the eleventh year of Yoram the son of Ach'av that Achazyah had begun his rule over Y'hudah.


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When Yehu reached Yizre'el, and Izevel heard of it, she put on eye make-up, fixed her hair and looked out the window.


text:
As Yehu came through the city gate, she asked, 'Are you here in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?'


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Looking up at the window he said, 'Who is on my side? Who?' Two or three officers looked out toward him.


text:
He said, 'Throw her down!' So they threw her down. Some of her blood splashed onto the wall and the horses, and she was trampled underfoot.


text:
He went in, ate and drank, and then said, 'Deal with this accursed woman - bury her, because she's a king's daughter.'


text:
So they came back and told him. He said, 'This is what ADONAI said through his servant Eliyahu from Tishbe: 'In the field of Yizre'el the dogs will eat the flesh of Izevel;


