# verses

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When their fathers or brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, �Give them to us of your own free will. For we did not leave a wife for each of the men of Benjamin in battle. And you did not give them any. You would have been doing wrong.��


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The men of Benjamin did so. They took wives from those who danced, one for each man. They carried them away and returned to their land. Then they built the cities again and lived in them.


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In the days when there were judges to rule, there was a time of no food in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to visit the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.


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The name of the man was Elimelech. His wife's name was Naomi. And the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the land of Moab and stayed there.


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who married Moabite women. The name of one was Orpah. The name of the other was Ruth. After living there about ten years,


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Then Naomi got ready to return from the land of Moab with her daughters-in-law. She had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had brought food to His people.


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But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, each one of you return to your own mother's house. May the Lord show kindness to you, as you have done with the dead and with me.


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May the Lord help you to find a home, each in the family of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they cried in loud voices.


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But Naomi said, "Return to your people, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Do I have more sons within me, who could become your husbands?


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Return, my daughters. Go. For I am too old to have a husband. If I had hope, if I should have a husband tonight and give birth to sons,


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would you wait until they were grown? Would you not marry until then? No, my daughters. It is harder for me than for you. For the hand of the Lord is against me."


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Naomi said, "See, your sister-inlaw has returned to her people and her gods. Return after your sister-inlaw."


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But Ruth said, "Do not beg me to leave you or turn away from following you. I will go where you go. I will live where you live. Your people will be my people. And your God will be my God.


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I will die where you die, and there I will be buried. So may the Lord do the same to me, and worse, if anything but death takes me from you."


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So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. The whole town of Bethlehem was happy because of them. The women said, "Is this Naomi?"


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She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi. Call me Mara. For the All-powerful has brought much trouble to me.


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I went out full. But the Lord has made me return empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has spoken against me. The All-powerful has allowed me to suffer."


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So Naomi returned. And her daughter-in-law Ruth, the Moabite woman, returned with her from the land of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley gathering time.


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There was an in-law of the family of Naomi's husband there whose name was Boaz. He was a very rich man of the family of Elimelech.


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Ruth, the Moabite woman, said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field to gather grain behind someone who might show favor to me." Naomi said to her, "Go, my daughter."


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So Ruth went and gathered in the field behind those who picked the grain. And she happened to come to the part of the field that belonged to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.


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Now Boaz was seen coming from Bethlehem. He said to the people gathering the grain, "May the Lord be with you." And they said to him, "May the Lord bring good to you."


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Then Boaz said to his servant who was watching over those who gathered grain, "Whose young woman is this?"


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The servant who watched over those who gathered grain said, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.


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She said, 'Let me gather food behind the others who gather among the grain.' So she came and has stayed from morning until now. She has rested in the house a short time."


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Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Be careful to listen, my daughter. Do not go to gather grain in another field. Do not leave this one. But stay here with my women who gather grain.


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Keep your eyes upon the field where they gather grain. Go behind them. I have told the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars. Drink the water the servants have put there."


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Then she fell with her face to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes? Why do you care about me? I am a stranger from another land."


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Boaz said to her, "I have heard about all you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth to come to a people you did not know before.


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May the Lord pay you for your work. May full pay be given to you from the Lord, the God of Israel. It is under His wings that you have come to be safe."


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Then Ruth said, "Sir, I have found favor in your eyes. For you have brought comfort and have been kind in speaking to your woman servant. And I am not like any of your other women servants."


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When it was time to eat, Boaz said to Ruth, "Come here. Eat of the bread and put sour wine on it." So she sat beside the people who gathered the grain. And Boaz brought her grain made ready over a fire. She ate and was filled and had some left.


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When she got up to gather grain, Boaz told his servants, "Let her gather even among the standing grain. Do not speak against her.


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Pull some grain out of the grain that has been gathered together and leave it for her to gather. And do not speak sharp words to her."


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So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gathered. It was enough barley to fill a basket.


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She picked it up and went into the city to show her mother-in-law what she had gathered. Ruth gave Naomi what she had left after she was filled.


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Her mother-inlaw said to her, "Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? May good come to the man who showed you favor." So Ruth told her mother-in-law, "The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz."


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Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he receive good from the Lord, Who has not kept His kindness from the living and the dead." Then Naomi said to her, "The man is near to us. He is of our family."


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Ruth, the Moabite woman, said, "He told me, 'You should stay close to my servants until they have finished gathering all my grain.' "


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Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, "It is good that you go out with his women servants, my daughter. Then no danger will come upon you in another field."


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So she stayed close to those who worked for Boaz until the end of the time of gathering grain. And she lived with her mother-in-law.


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Then Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, "My daughter, should I not look for a home for you, so all will be well with you?


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Is not Boaz of our family, with whose women servants you were? See, he is dividing the grain from the waste at his grain-floor tonight.


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So wash yourself. Pour oil on yourself and wear your best clothes. Then go down to the grain-floor. But do not let the man know who you are until he has finished eating and drinking.


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When he lies down, watch where he lies. Go in and take the covers off his feet and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do."


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When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and his heart was happy, he went to lie down beside the grain. Then Ruth came in secret. She took the covers off his feet and lay down.


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He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth, your woman servant. Spread your covering over me. For you are of our family."


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And Boaz said, "May the Lord bring good to you, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than your first by not going after young men, with or without riches.


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Now my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you whatever you ask. For all my people in the city know that you are a good woman.


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Stay this night. In the morning, if he will have you for his own, let him take you. But if he does not want to have you, then I will take you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning."


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So Ruth lay at his feet until morning. She got up before the people could see each other. For Boaz said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the grain-floor."


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And he said, "Bring the coat you are wearing and hold it out." So she held it, and he loaded her with six jars full of grain. Then she went into the city.


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When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi said, "How did it go, my daughter?" And Ruth told her all that the man had done for her.


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She said, "He gave me these six jars full of grain. For he said, 'Do not go to your mother-in-law with empty hands.' "


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Naomi said, "Wait until you know what is going to happen, my daughter. For the man will not rest until the thing is decided upon today."


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Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. He saw the in-law of the family that he had spoken about pass by. So Boaz said, "Come here, friend, and sit down." So the man came and sat down.


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Then Boaz said to the close in-law, "Naomi has returned from the land of Moab. She is selling the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.


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I thought I should let you know about it. Buy it in front of those who are sitting here, and in front of the leaders of my people. If you will buy it, then buy it. But if not, tell me you do not want to buy it, so I may know. For you have the right to be the first one to buy it. And I am after you." The man said, "I will buy it."


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Then Boaz said, "The day you buy the field from Naomi, you must take Ruth, the Moabite woman, also. She is the wife of the dead man. You must keep alive the name of the dead man on his land."


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Then the close in-law said, "I cannot buy it for myself because it might be that my own children would not be able to own my land later. Take it for yourself. I give you my right to buy it, for I cannot buy it."


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This is what was done before in Israel to show that the buying or trading of land was decided upon. A man would take off his shoe and give it to another. This would make sure what was decided.


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Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You have seen today that I have bought from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, to Chilion and to Mahlon.


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And I have taken Ruth, the Moabite woman who was Mahlon's wife, to be my wife. I will keep alive the name of the dead man on his land. His name will not be forgotten among his brothers or from the gate of his birth-place. You have heard this today."


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All the people in the gate and the leaders said, "We have heard it. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you become rich in Ephrathah and be known by all in Bethlehem.


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May your house be like the house of Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar, because of the children the Lord will give you by this young woman."


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So Boaz took Ruth. She became his wife, and he went in to her. The Lord made it possible for her to have a child and she gave birth to a son.


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The women said to Naomi, "Thanks be to the Lord. He has not left you without a family this day. May his name become known in all of Israel.


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May he bring you new life and strength while you are old. For your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."


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The neighbor women gave him a name. They said, "A son has been born to Naomi!" And they called him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.


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There was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.


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He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah. The name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.


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This man would go from his city each year to worship and to give gifts on the altar in Shiloh to the Lord of All. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord's religious leaders there.


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On the day when Elkanah killed animals on the altar in worship, he would give part of the gift to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.


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But he would give twice as much to Hannah, for he loved Hannah. But the Lord had made it so she could not have children.


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So it happened, year after year, each time Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, Peninnah would make her angry. Hannah cried and would not eat.


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Then her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why are you not eating, and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"


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Then Hannah stood up after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Eli the religious leader was sitting on the seat by the door of the house of the Lord.


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Then she made a promise and said, "O Lord of All, be sure to look on the trouble of Your woman servant, and remember me. Do not forget Your woman servant, but give me a son. If You will, then I will give him to the Lord all his life. And no hair will ever be cut from his head."


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Hannah was speaking in her heart. Her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she had drunk too much.


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But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.


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Do not think of your woman servant as a woman of no worth. For I have been speaking out of much trouble and pain in my spirit."


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And Hannah said, "Let your woman servant find favor in your eyes." So she went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.


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The family got up early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord. Then they returned to their house in Ramah. Elkanah lay with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.


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The Lord made it possible for her to have a child, and when the time came she gave birth to a son. She gave him the name Samuel, saying, "I have asked the Lord for him."


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Then Elkanah went up with all those of his house to give the Lord the gift on the altar in worship as he did each year, and to pay what he had promised.


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But Hannah did not go. For she said to her husband, "I will not go up until the child no longer needs to be nursed. Then I will bring him before the Lord, to stay there forever."


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Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what you think is best. Stay here until he no longer needs to be nursed. Only may the Lord do as He has said." So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until he no longer needed to be nursed.


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When she had finished nursing him, she took him with her to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the child was young.


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She brought a three year old bull, one basket of flour and a jar of wine also. Then they killed the bull, and brought the boy to Eli.


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Hannah said, "O, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord.


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So I have given him to the Lord. He is given to the Lord as long as he lives." And they worshiped the Lord there.


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Then Hannah prayed and said, "My heart is happy in the Lord. My strength is honored in the Lord. My mouth speaks with strength against those who hate me, because I have joy in Your saving power.


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There is no one holy like the Lord. For sure, there is no one other than You. There is no rock like our God.


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Speak no more in your pride. Do not let proud talk come out of your mouth. For the Lord is a God Who knows. Actions are weighed by Him.


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Those who were full go out to work for bread. But those who were hungry are filled. She who could not give birth has given birth to seven. But she who has many children has become weak.


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He lifts the poor from the dust. He lifts those in need from the ashes. He makes them sit with rulers and receive a seat of honor. For what holds the earth belongs to the Lord. He has set the world in its place.


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He watches over the steps of His good people. But the sinful ones will be made quiet in darkness. For a man will not win by strength.


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Those who fight with the Lord will be broken to pieces. He will thunder in heaven against them. The Lord will decide about all people to the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king. He will give power to His chosen one."


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This is the way the religious leaders acted toward the people. When any man brought an animal to give to the Lord, the religious leader's servant would come with a meat-hook in his hand, while the meat was hot.


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Then he would put it in the pot. The religious leader would take for himself all that the meat-hook brought up. They did this to all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh.


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And before they burned the fat, the religious leader's servant would come and say to the man who brought the gift in worship, "Give meat for the religious leader to make ready. For he will not take boiled meat from you, but only meat that has just been killed."


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But if the man says to him, "Let them burn the fat first, then take as much as you want," then the religious leader's servant would say, "No, give it to me now; and if not, I will take it from you against your will."


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Each year his mother would make him a little coat. She would bring it to him when she came with her husband to bring the gift in worship each year.


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Then Eli would pray that good would come to Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the Lord give you children from this woman in place of the one she gave to the Lord." Then they would return to their home.


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And the Lord visited Hannah. She gave birth to three sons and two daughters. The boy Samuel grew up to serve the Lord.


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Now Eli was very old. He heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the door of the meeting tent.


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If one man sins against another, God will help make peace for him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who can make peace for him?" Yet they would not listen to what their father said, for it was the Lord's will to kill them.


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Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the Lord says. 'Did I not let Myself be known to those of your father's family when they were in Egypt being made to work for Pharaoh's house?


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Did I not choose them from all the families of Israel to be My religious leaders, to go up to My altar, to burn special perfume, and to wear a linen vest before Me? Did I not give all the gifts made by fire of the people of Israel to the family of your father?


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Why do you show no respect to My gifts which I have asked for, and honor your sons more than Me? You make yourselves fat with the best part of every gift given in worship by My people Israel.'


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So the Lord God of Israel says, 'I did promise that those of your family and the family of your father should walk before Me forever.' But now the Lord says, 'May this be far from Me. For I will honor those who honor Me. And those who hate Me will not be honored.


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See, the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father's family. So there will not be an old man in your family.


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You will see the trouble of My family, even in all the good I do for Israel. And an old man will not be in your family forever.


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But I will not destroy every man of yours from My altar. Some will be left to cry and be filled with sorrow. But all the children of your family will die in their best years.


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This will be the special thing that you will see. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will both die on the same day.


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I will raise up for Myself a faithful religious leader who will act by what is in My heart and mind. I will build him a family to last. And he will walk before My chosen one forever.


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Everyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread, and say, "I beg you, put me in one of the religious leader's places so that I may eat a piece of bread." ' "


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Now the boy Samuel was working for the Lord with Eli. There were few words from the Lord given in those days, and there were not many special dreams.


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At that time Eli was lying down in his own place. His eyes had become weak and he could not see well.


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The lamp of God had not gone out yet. And Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord where the special box of God was.


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He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call you. Lie down again." So Samuel went and lay down.


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The Lord called again, "Samuel!" So Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Lie down again."


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The Lord called Samuel again for the third time. He got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy.


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Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down. If He calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.


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Then the Lord came and stood and called as He did the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."


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The Lord said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do a thing in Israel which will make both ears of everyone who hears it feel strange.


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I have told him that I will punish his family forever for the sin he knew about. Because his sons brought the sin upon themselves, and Eli did not stop them.


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So I swear to the family of Eli that the sin of his family will not be paid for with gifts given on the altar forever."


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Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the special dream.


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Eli said, "What did the Lord tell you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more, if you hide anything from me of all He said to you."


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So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And Eli said, "It is the Lord. Let Him do what is good in His eyes."


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The Lord came again to Shiloh. For the Lord made Himself known to Samuel at Shiloh, by the Word of the Lord.


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So the news of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They set up their tents beside Ebenezer while the Philistines stayed at Aphek.


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The Philistines came dressed for battle to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel lost to the Philistines. The Philistines killed about 4,000 men on the battle-field.


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When the people returned to the tents, the leaders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord made us lose today to the Philistines? Let us bring the special box that holds the Law of the Lord here from Shiloh. Then He may come among us and save us from the power of those who fight against us."


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So the people sent men to Shiloh to take the special box with the Law of the Lord of All Who sits above the cherubim. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the special box with the Law of God.


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When the box with the Law of the Lord came among the tents, all Israel called out with a loud noise, so that the earth shook.


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When the Philistines heard the noise, they said, "What does this loud noise among the Hebrews mean?" Then they understood that the special box of the Lord had come among the Israelites.


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The Philistines were afraid. They said, "A god has come among the tents. Trouble has come to us! Nothing like this has happened before.


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Trouble has come to us! Who will save us from the hand of these powerful gods? These are the gods who destroyed the Egyptians with all kinds of troubles in the desert.


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Be strong and act like men, O Philistines. Or you will be made to work for the Hebrews, as they have been made to work for you. Be men and fight."


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So the Philistines fought, and Israel lost. Every man ran to his tent. And many were killed, for 30,000 foot soldiers of Israel fell.


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A man of Benjamin ran from the battle and came to Shiloh the same day. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head.


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When he came, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for he was very worried about the special box of God. The man told the news in the city, and all the city cried out.


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When Eli heard the noise in the city, he said, "What does this noise mean?" Then the man came in a hurry and told Eli.


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The man said to Eli, "I have come from the battle. I ran from the battle today." And Eli said, "How did it go, my son?"


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The one who brought the news answered, "Israel has run from the Philistines and there have been many people killed. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead. And the special box of God has been taken."


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When he told about the special box of God, Eli fell back off the seat by the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.


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Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was going to have a child and about to give birth. When she heard the news that the special box of God was taken and that her fatherin-law and husband had died, she started to give birth, for her pains came upon her.


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About the time of her death, the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not be afraid. For you have given birth to a son." But she did not answer or listen to them.


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She gave the boy the name Ichabod, saying, "The honor has left Israel," because the special box of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and husband.


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When the Ashdodites got up early the next morning, they saw that Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the special box of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again.


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But when they got up early the next morning, they saw that Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground in front of the special box of the Lord. And Dagon's head and both his hands were cut off and lying in the doorway. Only the body of Dagon was left.


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So the religious leaders of Dagon and all who go into Dagon's house do not step on the bottom part of the doorway in Ashdod to this day.


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The hand of the Lord was heavy on the Ashdodites. He filled them with fear and punished them with pain and sores, both Ashdod and its lands.


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When the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, "The special box of the God of Israel must not stay with us. For His hand is hard on us and on our god Dagon."


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So they called together all the leaders of the Philistines and said, "What should we do with the special box of the God of Israel?" And they said, "Let the special box of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath." So they brought the box of the God of Israel there.


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But after they had brought it there, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing much fear. He punished both the young and old men of the city, so that sores broke out upon them.


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So they sent the special box of God to Ekron. When the box of God came to Ekron, the people there cried out, "They have brought the special box of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people."


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So they called together all the leaders of the Philistines and said, "Send away the special box of the God of Israel. Let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people." For the people of the city were afraid. The hand of God was very heavy there.


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The Philistines called for the religious leaders and those who were wise in secret ways, saying, "What should we do with the special box of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it to its place."


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And they said, "If you send away the special box of the God of Israel, do not send it empty. But be sure to return to Him a sin gift. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand does not turn away from you."


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Then they said, "What should we return to Him for a sin gift?" And they said, "Five sores made of gold and five gold mice, as many as there are Philistine leaders. For the same trouble was upon all of you and on your leaders.


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So make objects to look like your sores and your mice that destroyed the land, and you will give honor to the God of Israel. It may be that He will be easier on you, your gods, and your land.


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Why do you make your hearts hard as the Egyptians and Pharaoh made their hearts hard? Do not forget how the God of Israel made it hard for them. And did they not let the people go?


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So now take and make ready a new wagon and two milk cows that have never pulled a load. Tie the cows to the wagon and take their calves away from them.


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Take the special box of the Lord and put it on the wagon. Put the objects of gold which you return to Him as a sin gift in a box by its side. Then send it away, and let it be gone.


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And watch. If it goes on the way to its own land, to Bethshemesh, then He has done this very bad thing to us. But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that destroyed us. It will have just happened for no reason."


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The men did so. They took two milk cows and tied them to the wagon, and shut up their calves at home.


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They put the special box of the Lord on the wagon, and the box with the gold mice and the objects made to look like their sores.


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And the cows went straight toward Bethshemesh. They went along the straight road, making a sound as they went. They did not turn aside to the right or to the left. And the leaders of the Philistines followed them to the outside of Bethshemesh.


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Now the people of Bethshemesh were gathering their grain in the valley. They looked up and saw the special box of the Lord, and were glad to see it.


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The wagon came into the field of Joshua the Bethshemite and stopped there by a big stone. They cut the wood of the wagon into pieces and gave the cows as a burnt gift to the Lord.


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The Levites took down the special box of the Lord and the box that was with it that had the objects of gold, and put them on the big stone. The men of Bethshemesh gave burnt gifts in worship that day to the Lord.


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These are the sores made of gold which the Philistines returned for a sin gift to the Lord. There was one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.


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And the gold mice were as many as the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five leaders, both cities with walls and country towns. The big stone where they set the special box of the Lord is there in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite to this day.


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The Lord killed some of the men of Bethshemesh because they had looked into the special box of the Lord. He killed 70 <n>(50,070)</n> men. And the people were filled with sorrow because the Lord had killed so many of them.


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The men of Bethshemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? To whom can we send Him?"


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So they sent men to the people living in Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the special box of the Lord. Come down and get it."


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The men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the special box of the Lord and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. They set apart his son Eleazar to keep the special box of the Lord.


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The special box stayed in Kiriathjearim a long time, for it was twenty years. And all the family of Israel cried with sorrow for the Lord.


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Then Samuel said to all the family of Israel, "Return to the Lord with all your heart. Put away the strange gods and the false goddess Ashtaroth from among you. Turn your hearts to the Lord and worship Him alone. Then He will save you from the Philistines."


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So the people of Israel put away from among them the false gods of Baal and Ashtaroth and worshiped the Lord alone.


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So they gathered at Mizpah. They got water and poured it out before the Lord as a gift, and did not eat that day. They said there, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.


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The Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, so the leaders of the Philistines went to battle against them. When the people of Israel heard about it, they were afraid of the Philistines.


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The Israelites said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the Philistines."


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Samuel took a young lamb and gave it as a whole burnt gift to the Lord. Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.


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As Samuel was burning the gift to the Lord, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel. But the Lord made a loud thunder that day against the Philistines, making them afraid. So they lost the battle with Israel.


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The men of Israel left Mizpah and went after the Philistines, killing them almost as far as Bethcar.


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Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He gave it the name Ebenezer, saying, "The Lord has helped us this far."


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So the Philistines were beaten. They did not come into the land of Israel again. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel's life.


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The cities the Philistines had taken from Israel were returned, from Ekron to Gath. Israel saved their land from the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.


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Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there. He judged Israel there also, and built an altar to the Lord.


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The name of his first-born son was Joel. And the name of his second son was Abijah. They were men who judged in Beersheba.


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But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside to get money. They took pay to do things that were not right and fair.


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They said to him, "See, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Choose a king to rule over us like all the nations."


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But Samuel was not pleased when they said, "Give us a king to rule over us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord.


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The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all they say to you. For they have not turned away from you. They have turned away from Me, that I should not be king over them.


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They are doing to you what they have done since the day I brought them out of Egypt until now. They have turned away from Me and worshiped other gods.


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So listen to their voice. But tell them of the danger and show them the ways of the king who will rule over them."


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He said, "This will be the way the king will rule over you. He will take your sons and make them drive his war-wagons, be his horsemen, and run in front of his war-wagons.


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He will choose leaders of thousands and of fifties. He will choose men to plow his ground, gather his grain, and make objects for war and for his war-wagons.


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He will take your men servants and your women servants and the best of your cattle and your donkeys, and use them for his work.


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You will cry out in that day because of your king you have chosen for yourselves. But the Lord will not answer you in that day."


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so we may be like other nations. Our king may rule over us and go out before us and fight our battles."


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The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and choose a king for them." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every one of you go home to his city."


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There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite. He was a powerful man of action.


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He had a son whose name was Saul, a good-looking young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel who was better looking than he. He was a head taller than any of the people.


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Now the donkeys of Saul's father Kish were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys."


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They passed through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. They passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.


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When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us return. My father might stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us."


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The servant said, "See, there is a man of God in this city, and people honor him. All that he says comes true. Let us go there. It may be that he can tell us where we should go."


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Then Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we bring the man? The bread in our bags is gone. There is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"


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The servant answered Saul and said, "See, I have a fourth of a piece of silver in my hand. I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us the way to go."


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<n>(Before in Israel, when a man went to ask God a question, he would say, "Come, let us go to the man of God." For he who is called a man who speaks for God now, was called a seer before.)</n>


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Saul said to his servant, "What you said is good. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.


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As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women going out to get water. They said to them, "Is the man of God here?"


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The women answered, "He is. Look, he is up in front of you. Hurry now, for he has come to the city today because the people are giving a gift in worship on the high place today.


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You will find him as you go into the city, before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes to give thanks for the gift. Then those who are asked to come will eat. Now go up, for you will find him at once."


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So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them to go up to the high place.


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"I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin about this time tomorrow. Choose him to be the leader of My people Israel. And he will save My people from the Philistines. For I have seen the trouble of My people. I have heard their cry.


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When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, "Here is the man I told you about. He is the one who will rule over My people."


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Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the man of God. Go up before me to the high place. For you will eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let you go. And I will tell you all that is on your mind.


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Do not worry about your donkeys which were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And for whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?"


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Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of the family groups of Israel? Is not my family the least important of all the families of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me this way?"


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Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the meeting room. He gave them a place at the head of those who were asked to come, about thirty men.


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Samuel said to the one who was making the food ready, "Bring the part I gave you and told you to set aside."


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So the man picked up the leg with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. And Samuel said, "Here is what has been saved for you. Eat. It has been kept for you until the right time, ever since I asked the people to come." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.


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They got up early the next day. Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, "Get up, that I may send you on your way." So Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.


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As they were going out of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on before us, but you stand here. Then I will make the Word of God known to you."


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Then Samuel took a bottle of oil and poured it on Saul's head. He kissed him and said, "Has not the Lord chosen you to be a ruler over His land?


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When you leave me today, you will meet two men by Rachel's grave in the land of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you went to look for have been found. Now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and is worried about you, saying, "What should I do about my son?" '


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Then you will go farther and come to the oak tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you. One will be carrying three young goats. Another will be carrying three loaves of bread. And another will be carrying a bottle of wine.


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Then you will come to the hill of God where there are Philistine soldiers. When you come there to the city, you will meet a group of men who speak for God coming down from the high place. They will have music boxes of strings, an object to beat sounds of joy, and a horn. And they will be speaking God's Word.


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Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you with power. You will speak God's Word with them and be changed into another man.


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You will go down before me to Gilgal. Then see, I will come down to you to give burnt gifts and peace gifts. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you should do."


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When Saul turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart. And all these special things happened on that day.


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When they came to the hill, a group of men who speak for God met him. The Spirit of God came upon him with power, so that he spoke God's Word with them.


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People who had known him before saw him doing this and asked one another, "What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul one of the men who speak God's Word?"


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One of the men there answered, "Now, who is their father?" So it became a saying: "Is Saul one of the men who speak God's Word?"


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The brother of Saul's father said to him and his servant, "Where have you been?" And Saul said, "To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they could not be found, we went to Samuel."


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Saul said to his father's brother, "He told us that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell him what Samuel had told him about being king.


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He said to the people of Israel, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel out of Egypt. I saved you from the power of the Egyptians, and from the power of all the nations that made it hard for you.'


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But today you have turned away from your God, Who saves you from all your troubles. You have said, 'No! Have a king rule over us!' So now come before the Lord, by your family groups and by your thousands."


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When Samuel brought all the families of Israel near, the name of the family group of Benjamin was drawn.


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Then he brought the family group of Benjamin near by its families, and the name of the Matrite family was drawn. Then the name of Saul the son of Kish was drawn. But when they looked for him, he could not be found.


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So they asked the Lord, "Has the man come here yet?" The Lord said, "See, he is hiding among the bags."


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They ran and brought him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of them.


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Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? For sure there is no one like him among all the people." So all the people called out and said, "Long live the king!"


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Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the king and his nation. He wrote them in a book and laid it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home.


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But some men of no worth said, "How can this man save us?" They hated him and did not bring him any gift. But he kept quiet.


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Then Nahash the Ammonite came and his soldiers set up their tents around Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make an agreement with us, and we will work for you."


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But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "I will make an agreement with you only if I may cut out the right eye of every one of you. This way I will put all Israel to shame."


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The leaders of Jabesh said to him, "Let us alone for seven days, so we may send men with news through the land of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you."


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The men came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news to the people. And all the people cried with a loud voice.


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Now Saul was coming from the field behind the cattle, and he said, "What troubles the people? Why are they crying?" So they told him the news the men had brought from Jabesh.


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He took two bulls and cut them in pieces and sent them through the land of Israel with the men who had brought the news, saying, "This will be done to the bulls of those who will not come out after Saul and Samuel." The fear of the Lord came upon the people, and they all came out together.


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They said to the men who had brought the news, "Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead that tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have help." So the men went and told the news to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.


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Then the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you. And you may do to us whatever you think is good."


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The next morning, Saul put the people in three groups. They came among the tents early in the morning and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who were left alive were divided, so that no two of them stayed together.


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Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is it that said, 'Should Saul rule over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death."


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So all the people went to Gilgal. There they made Saul king before the Lord, in Gilgal. There they gave peace gifts to the Lord. And there Saul and all the men of Israel were filled with much joy.


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Then Samuel said to all Israel, "See, I have listened to all you have said to me. I have chosen a king to rule over you.


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Now see, the king walks in front of you. But I am old. My hair is growing white. See, my sons are with you. I have walked in front of you since I was young, until this day.


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Here I am. Speak against me to the Lord and Saul His chosen one. Whose bull have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? To whom have I not been honest? For whom have I made it hard? From whose hand have I taken pay for closing my eyes to the truth? I will return it to you."


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They said, "You have always been honest with us. You have not made it hard for us, or taken anything from any man's hand."


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Samuel said to them, "The Lord has heard you. And His chosen one has heard this day that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "The Lord has heard."


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Samuel said to the people, "The Lord is the One Who chose Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt.


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Now stand where you are, that I may argue with you before the Lord about all His saving acts which He did for you and your fathers.


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When Jacob went into Egypt and the Egyptians made it hard for them, your fathers cried to the Lord. And the Lord sent Moses and Aaron. They brought your fathers out of Egypt, and had them live in this place.


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But they forgot the Lord their God. So He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them.


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Then they cried out to the Lord and said, 'We have sinned because we have turned away from the Lord. We have worshiped the false gods, the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now save us from the power of those who hate us, and we will worship You.'


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The Lord sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah and Samuel, and saved you from the power of those all around who hated you. So you were safe.


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But then you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you. So you said to me, 'No! A king must rule over us,' when the Lord your God was your King.


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Fear the Lord and worship Him. Listen to His voice and do not go against the Word of the Lord. If both you and the king who rules over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well.


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But if you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, and go against the Lord's Word, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.


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Is it not the time to gather grain today? I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that you have done a bad sin in the eyes of the Lord by asking for a king."


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So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were very much afraid of the Lord and Samuel.


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Then all the people said to Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so we will not die. For we have added to all our sins this bad thing, to ask for a king."


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Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid. You have done all these sins. But do not turn aside from following the Lord. Worship the Lord with all your heart.


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The Lord will not leave His people alone, because of His great name. The Lord has been pleased to make you His people.


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And as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by not praying for you. But I will teach you the good and the right way.


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Only fear the Lord and be faithful to worship Him with all your heart. Think of the great things He has done for you.


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Saul chose 3,000 men of Israel. There were 2,000 of them with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel. And 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.


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Jonathan destroyed the place where the Philistine soldiers were in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul sounded the horn through all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear."


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All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the place where the Philistine soldiers were. And they heard that Israel had become a hated thing to the Philistines. Then the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.


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The Philistines gathered to fight against Israel, with 30,000 war-wagons, 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand on the sea shore. They came and set up their tents at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.


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The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble. The people were in a place of danger. So the people hid themselves in caves, bushes, hill-sides, graves and wells.


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Some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him in fear.


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Saul waited seven days, the time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal. And the people were leaving him.


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So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt gift and the peace gifts." And he gave the burnt gift to the Lord.


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But Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul said, "I saw that the people were leaving me. You did not come when you said you would. And the Philistines were gathering at Michmash.


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So I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not asked for the Lord's favor.' So I made myself give the burnt gift."


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Samuel said to Saul, "You have done a foolish act. You have not kept the Law that the Lord your God gave you. For now the Lord would have made your rule over Israel last forever.


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But now your rule will not last. The Lord has found a man who is pleasing to him in every way. He has chosen him to rule over his people, because you have not obeyed the Lord."


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Then Samuel got up and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people that were left with him, about 600 men.


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Saul and his son Jonathan, and the people with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines stayed at Michmash.


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Soldiers came from the tents of the Philistines in three groups. One group turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual.


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Another group turned toward Bethhoron. And another group turned toward the side of the country that looks over the valley of Zeboim toward the desert.


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Now there was no one to be found in all the land of Israel who made things of iron. For the Philistines said, "The Hebrews might make swords or spears."


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So each one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get his plow, his pick, his ax, or his grain cutter sharpened.


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He had to pay two-thirds part of a piece of silver to have the plows and picks sharpened, and one-third part of a piece of silver to have the axes and grain cutters sharpened.


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So on the day of battle there was no sword or spear in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But Saul and his son Jonathan had them.


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One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come, let us go over to the place where the Philistine soldiers are on the other side." But he did not tell his father.


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Saul was staying beside Gibeah under the pomegranate tree in Migron. There were about 600 men with him,


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and Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the religious leader of the Lord at Shiloh, wearing the linen vest. And the people did not know Jonathan had gone.


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Between the passes where Jonathan went to cross over to the Philistine soldiers, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side. The name of one was Bozez. The name of the other was Seneh.


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Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come, let us go over to the place where the soldiers are who have not gone through the religious act of the Jews. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is nothing to keep the Lord from saving by many or by few."


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The young man who was carrying his battle-clothes said to him, "Do all that is in your mind. I am with you in whatever you think to do."


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If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them.


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But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up. For the Lord has given them into our hands. This will be the special thing for us to see."


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So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine soldiers. The Philistines said, "See, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves."


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The soldiers of that place said to Jonathan and the one who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come up to us and we will tell you something." Jonathan said to the one who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come up after me. For the Lord has given them into the hands of Israel."


text:
Then Jonathan went up the hill on his hands and feet, with the one who was carrying his battle-clothes behind him. The soldiers fell in front of Jonathan. The young man, who was carrying his battle-clothes after him, killed them.


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In that first killing done by Jonathan and the man who carried his battle-clothes, about twenty men fell dead within a small piece of land.


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There was fear among the Philistines, in the field, and among all the people. Even the soldiers shook with fear. And the earth shook, so there was much fear.


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Saul's men who were watching in Gibeah of Benjamin looked and saw the people running away. They went here and there.


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Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number them, and see who has left us." When they numbered, they found that Jonathan and the young man who carried his battle-clothes were not there.


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Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the special box of God here." For the special box of God was with the people of Israel at that time.


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While Saul talked to the religious leader, the noise of the Philistines became louder. So Saul said to the religious leader, "Take your hand away."


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Then Saul and all the people with him gathered together and went into the battle. Every man's sword was against the man next to him. It was as if no one knew what to do.


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The Hebrews, who had been with the Philistines and had gone up with them among the tents returned. They returned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.


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When all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had run away, they ran after them in the battle.


text:
Now the men of Israel were troubled that day. For Saul made a promise and said to the people, "Cursed will be the man who eats food before evening and before I have punished those who fight against me." So none of the people tasted any food.


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The people went among the trees and saw honey flowing, but no man tasted it. For the people were afraid of Saul's promise.


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But Jonathan had not heard his father make the promise to the people. So he put the stick that was in his hand into the honeycomb. Then he put it to his mouth, and his eyes became bright.


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One of the men told him, "Your father put the people under a promise, saying, 'Cursed will be the man who eats food today.' " The people were tired and weak.


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Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey.


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How much better it would be if the men had been free to eat today of the food that had belonged to those who fought against them! For not many Philistines have been killed."


text:
They killed the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very tired and weak.


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The people rushed upon the things that had belonged to the Philistines. They took sheep and cattle and calves, and killed them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood.


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Then Saul was told, "See, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it." And Saul said, "You have not been faithful. Roll a big stone to me here."


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And he said, "Divide yourselves among the people and say to them, 'Each one of you bring me his bull or his sheep, and kill it here and eat. Do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.' " So every one of the people brought his bull with him that night, and killed it there.


text:
Then Saul said, "Let us go down to the Philistines during the night and take until morning what belongs to them. Let us not leave a man of them alive." They said, "Do whatever you think is best." So the religious leader said, "Let us ask of God here."


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So Saul asked God, "Should I go down to the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.


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For as the Lord lives Who saves Israel, even if it is in Jonathan my son, he will die for sure." But not one of all the people answered him.


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Then Saul said to all Israel, "You will be on one side and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what you think is best."


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So Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, "May the right name be drawn." And the names of Saul and Jonathan were drawn, and the people went free.


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Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the end of the stick that was in my hand. Here I am. I must die."


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But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has saved all these people of Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground. For he has worked with God this day." So the people saved Jonathan and he did not die.


text:
When Saul had become king over Israel, he fought against all those around him who hated him. He fought against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. He punished them in every way he turned.


text:
He acted with strength of heart and destroyed the Amalekites. He saved Israel from those who came to rob them.


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Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malchishua. And he had two daughters. The name of the first-born was Merab, and the name of the younger one was Michal.


text:
The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, the brother of Saul's father.


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There was fighting against the Philistines all of Saul's life. When Saul saw any strong man, or any man with strength of heart, he would have the man join him.


text:
Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to choose you to be king over His people Israel. Now listen to the Words of the Lord.


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This is what the Lord of All says. 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel in standing against them on the way, when they came up from Egypt.


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Now go and destroy Amalek. Destroy all they have, and do not let them live. Kill both man and woman, child and baby, cattle and sheep, camel and donkey.' "


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So Saul called the people together and numbered them in Telaim. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.


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Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, leave the Amalekites, or I might destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenites left the Amalekites.


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But Saul and the people did not kill Agag and the best of the sheep, the cattle, the fat animals ready to be killed, the lambs, and all that was good. They would not destroy them. But they destroyed everything that was hated and was of no worth.


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"I am sorry that I have made Saul king. For he has turned away from following Me. He has not done what I told him to do." Samuel was much troubled in his heart. He cried out to the Lord all night.


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When Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul, he was told, "Saul came to Carmel and set up a stone in his honor. Then he turned and went down to Gilgal."


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Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "May the Lord bring good to you. I have done what the Lord told me to do."


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Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites. For the people saved the best of the sheep and cattle to give to the Lord your God. But we have destroyed all the rest."


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Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night." And Saul said to him, "Speak."


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Samuel said, "Is it not true that even when you were not important in your own eyes, you were made the head of the families of Israel? The Lord chose you to be king over Israel.


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And the Lord sent you to go and destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are no more.


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Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? You rushed upon what was left after the battle and did what was sinful in the Lord's eyes."


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Saul said to Samuel, "I did obey the voice of the Lord. I went where the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek. And I have destroyed the Amalekites.


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But the people took some of their things that were left. They took sheep and cattle and the best of the things to be destroyed, to give to the Lord your God at Gilgal."


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Samuel said, "Is the Lord pleased as much with burnt gifts as He is when He is obeyed? See, it is better to obey than to give gifts. It is better to listen than to give the fat of rams.


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To go against what you are told is like the sin of witchcraft. Not to obey is like the sin of worshiping false gods. You have turned away from the Word of the Lord. So He has turned away from you being king."


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Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I have sinned against the Word of the Lord and your words, because I was afraid of the people and listened to them.


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But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you. For you have turned away from the Word of the Lord. And the Lord has turned away from you being king over Israel."


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So Samuel said to him, "Today the Lord has torn the rule of Israel away from you. He has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.


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And the shining greatness of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind."


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Saul said, "I have sinned. But I beg you, honor me now in front of the leaders of my people and in front of Israel. Return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God."


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Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites." Agag was happy when he came to him. Agag said, "For sure the bad feelings of death are past."


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But Samuel said, "As your sword has killed the children of women, so will your mother have no children." And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.


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Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death. But Samuel was filled with sorrow because of Saul. And the Lord was sorry that He had made Saul king over Israel.


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The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you be filled with sorrow because of Saul, since I have turned away from him being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse of Bethlehem. For I have chosen a king for Myself among his sons."


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But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will kill me when he hears about it." The Lord said, "Take a young cow with you, and say, 'I have come to give a gift to the Lord.'


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Ask Jesse to come when you give the gift, and I will show you what you should do. You will choose for Me the one I name to you."


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So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. The leaders of the city came shaking with fear to meet him. They said, "Do you come in peace?"


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Samuel said, "I have come in peace to give a gift to the Lord. Make yourselves holy and come with me as I give the gift." He set apart Jesse and his sons also, and asked them to come to the gift-giving.


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When they had come, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, "For sure he is the Lord's chosen one who is standing before Him."


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But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at the way he looks on the outside or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. For the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. A man looks at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart."


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Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord has not chosen this one."


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Jesse made seven of his sons pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these."


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Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And Jesse said, "There is yet the youngest one. See, he is taking care of the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him. We will not sit down until he comes here."


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So he sent for him and brought him in. His youngest son had good color in his skin, beautiful eyes and was good-looking. The Lord said, "Rise up and choose him. For this is the one."


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Then Samuel took the horn of oil and poured the oil on him in front of his brothers. The Spirit of the Lord came upon David with strength from that day on. And Samuel got up and went to Ramah.


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Let our lord now tell your servants who are in front of you to look for a man who is a good player of the harp. When the bad spirit sent from God is upon you, he will play the harp, and you will be well."


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One of the young men said, "I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who plays music well. He is a man with strength of heart, a man of war, wise in his speaking, and good-looking. And the Lord is with him."


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Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a bottle of wine, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with David his son.


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David came to Saul and served him. Saul loved him very much, and he became the man who carried Saul's battle-clothes.


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When the bad spirit sent from God came upon Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand. And Saul would receive new strength and be well. The bad spirit would leave him.


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Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. They were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah. They set up their tents between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.


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Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and set up their tents in the valley of Elah. They came up dressed for battle to fight against the Philistines.


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The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.


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Then a strong fighter came out from the armies of the Philistines. His name was Goliath, from Gath. He was almost twice as tall as most men.


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He had a head covering of brass, and wore brass battle-clothes that weighed as much as 5,000 silver pieces.


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The long part of his spear was like a cross-piece used on a cloth-maker. The iron head of his spear weighed as much as 600 pieces of silver. A man walked before him to carry his shield.


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Goliath stood and called out to the army of Israel, saying, "Why have you come out dressed for battle? Am I not the Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.


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If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I fight him and kill him, then you must become our servants and work for us."


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Again the Philistine said, "I stand against the army of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together."


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Now David was the son of Jesse, an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and was old in the days of Saul. He had lived many years.


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Jesse's three older sons had followed Saul to the battle. Their names were Eliab the first-born, next Abinadab, and third Shammah.


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Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take for your brothers a basket of this baked grain and these ten loaves. Hurry and carry them to your brothers among the army.


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And take these ten pieces of cheese to the leader of the thousand man group who is with them. See how your brothers are doing, and bring me news of them.


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Saul and your brothers and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines."


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So David got up early in the morning and left the flock in the care of a shepherd. He took the food and went, as Jesse had told him. And he came to the tents as the army was going out dressed for battle, calling out the war cry.


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David left the things with the man to take care of them. He ran to the army, and went to meet with his brothers.


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As he talked with them, Goliath the Philistine from Gath came out of the army of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.


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The men of Israel said, "Have you seen the man who has come out? He has come out to stand against Israel. The king will make the man who kills him rich. And he will give him his daughter, and make his father's family free from paying taxes in Israel."


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Then David said to the men standing by him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away Israel's shame? For who is this Philistine who has not gone through the religious act of the Jews? Who is he, that he should make fun of the armies of the living God?"


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His oldest brother Eliab heard what he said to the men. He became very angry with David and said, "Why have you come here? With whom have you left those few sheep in the desert? I know of your pride and the sin of your heart. You have come to see the battle."


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Then David turned away from him to another and asked the same question. And the people gave him the same answer.


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David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart become weak because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."


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Saul said to David, "You are not able to go and fight against this Philistine. You are only a young man, while he has been a man of war since he was young."


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But David said to Saul, "Your servant was taking care of his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock,


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I went after him and fought him and saved it from his mouth. When he came against me, I took hold of him by the hair of his head and hit him and killed him.


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Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear. And this Philistine who has not gone through our religious act will be like one of them. For he has made fun of the armies of the living God."


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And David said, "The Lord Who saved me from the foot of the lion and from the foot of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and may the Lord be with you."


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Then Saul dressed David with his clothes. He put a brass head covering on his head, and dressed him with heavy battle-clothes.


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David put on his sword over his heavy battle-clothes and tried to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I am not used to them." And David took them off.


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He took his stick in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the river. He put them in his shepherd's bag. His sling was in his hand, and he went to the Philistine.


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When the Philistine looked and saw David, he thought nothing of him. For he was only a young man, with good color in his skin, and good-looking.


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The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine spoke against David by his gods.


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The Philistine said to David, "Come to me. I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the animals of the field."


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Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and spears. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of All, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom you have stood against.


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This day the Lord will give you into my hands. I will knock you down and cut off your head. This day I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth. Then all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.


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All these people gathered here may know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands."


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Then the Philistine rose up and came to meet David. And David rushed to the center of the valley to meet the Philistine.


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David put his hand into his bag, took out a stone and threw it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone went into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.


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So David won the fight against the Philistine with a sling and a stone. He hit the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in David's hand.


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Then David ran and stood over the Philistine. He took his sword out of its holder and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their strong soldier was dead, they ran away.


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The men of Israel and Judah rose up and called out and went after the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The dead Philistines lay on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.


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Then the Israelites returned from following the Philistines and took what had belonged to them among their tents.


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David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem. But he put his battleclothes in his tent.


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When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner the head of his army, "Abner, whose son is this young man?" And Abner said, "By your life, O king, I do not know."


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So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine's head in his hand.


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Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem."


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When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan became one with the soul of David. Jonathan loved him as himself.


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Jonathan took off his long coat and gave it to David. He gave him his battle-clothes, his sword, his bow and his belt also.


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David went everywhere that Saul sent him, and did well. Saul had him lead the men of war. And it was pleasing to all the people and to Saul's servants.


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When David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, playing songs of joy on timbrels.


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The women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands."


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Then Saul became very angry. This saying did not please him. He said, "They have given David honor for ten thousands, but for me only thousands. Now what more can he have but to be king?"


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The next day a bad spirit sent from God came upon Saul with power. He acted like a crazy man in his house, while David was playing the harp. Saul had a spear in his hand,


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and he threw the spear, thinking, "I will nail David to the wall." But David jumped out of his way twice.


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So Saul made David go away from him, and had him lead a thousand men. And David went out to the people.


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Then Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife, if you only work for me with strength of heart and fight the Lord's battles." For Saul thought, "I will not go against him. Let the Philistines go against him."


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David said to Saul, "Who am I? What is my life or my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?"


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But at the time when Saul's daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.


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Saul thought, "I will give her to David. I will use her to trap him, and the Philistines will go against him." So Saul said to David a second time, "Now you may be my son-in-law."


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Then Saul told his servants, "Speak to David in secret. Tell him, 'See, the king is happy with you, and all his servants love you. So now become the king's son-in-law.' "


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So Saul's servants said this to David. But David said, "Is it not important to you to become the king's son-in-law? I am only a poor man and am not very respected."


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Then Saul said, "Say to David, 'The king wants no marriage gift except the pieces of skin from the sex parts of a hundred Philistines, to punish those who hate the king.' " Saul planned to have the Philistines kill David.


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When his servants told this to David, it pleased him to become the king's son-in-law. Before the time was finished,


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David and his men went and killed 200 Philistine men. Then David brought their pieces of flesh and gave all of them to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife.


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Then the Philistine leaders went out to battle. And when they did, David acted with more wisdom than all the servants of Saul. So his name became very important.


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Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan found much joy in David.


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So Jonathan told David, "My father Saul wants to kill you. I beg you, be careful in the morning. Stay hidden in a secret place.


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I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak to my father about you. If I find out anything, I will tell you."


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Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, saying, "Do not let the king sin against his servant David. He has not sinned against you. What he has done has been good for you.


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He put his life in danger and killed the Philistine. And the Lord helped all Israel with His saving power. You saw it and were glad. Why then will you sin against him who has done no wrong, by killing David for no reason?"


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Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. He brought David to Saul, and David stayed with Saul as before.


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When there was war again, David went out and fought with the Philistines. He killed many of them, and the others ran away from him.


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Then a bad spirit sent from the Lord came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp.


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Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but David got out of the way. Saul hit the wall with the spear, and David ran away that night.


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Then Saul sent men to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But David's wife Michal told him, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."


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Michal took a house god and laid it on the bed. She put a goat hair pillow at its head, and covered it with clothes.


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So Saul said to Michal, "Why have you fooled me like this and let the man I hate go? Now he has run away to be safe." Michal said to Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go! Why should I kill you?' "


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Now David ran away from Saul and came to Samuel at Ramah. He told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth.


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So Saul sent men to take David. But when they saw the men of God saying what was going to happen, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon the men sent by Saul. And they began saying what was going to happen also.


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When Saul heard this, he sent other men, and they began saying what was going to happen. So Saul sent men for the third time, and they began saying what was going to happen.


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Then he himself went to Ramah, and came as far as the large well in Secu. He asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" And someone said, "See, they are at Naioth in Ramah."


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So he went to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also. As he traveled he said what would happen, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.


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He took off his clothes and said what was going to happen in front of Samuel. He lay down without clothing all that day and all that night. So they say, "Is Saul among those who say what will happen?"


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Then David ran from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my sin? What have I done wrong to your father, that he wants to kill me?"


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Jonathan said to him, "Far from it, you will not die. See, my father does nothing big or small without telling me about it. So why should my father hide this from me? It is not so!"


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But David answered, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes. He has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, because it would fill him with sorrow.' But it is true. As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is only a step between me and death."


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David said to Jonathan, "See, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should sit down to eat with the king. But let me go. I will hide myself in the field until the third evening.


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If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David asked me to let him leave to run to his city Bethlehem. It is the time for the whole family to gather there for the gift given on the altar in worship each year.'


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If he says, 'Good!' your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, then you will know that he has decided to do what is bad.


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So be kind to your servant. For you have brought me into an agreement of the Lord with you. But if I am guilty, kill me yourself. For why should you bring me to your father?"


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Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I knew that my father has decided to do something bad to you, would I not tell you about it?"


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Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So both of them went out into the field.


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Jonathan said to David, "May the Lord, the God of Israel, see it. I will speak with my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day. If he feels good about David, will I not send news to you and let you know it?


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But if my father wants to hurt you, may the Lord do the same to Jonathan and even more, if I do not let you know and send you away, so you may be safe. May the Lord be with you as He has been with my father.


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Do not stop being faithful to my house forever, not even when the Lord destroys from the earth all who hate David.


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Do not let the name of Jonathan be lost from the family of David. And may the Lord punish those who hate you."


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Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the new moon. You will be missed because your seat will be empty.


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On the third day hurry and come to the place where you hid yourself the other time. Stay by the stone called Ezel.


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Then I will send the boy, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to the boy these words, 'See, the arrows are on this side of you, get them!' then you may come. For it is safe for you and there is no danger, as the Lord lives.


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But if I say to the boy, 'See, the arrows are farther away,' then go, for the Lord has sent you away.


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The king sat on his seat by the wall as he did other times. Jonathan sat on the other side from him, and Abner sat beside Saul. But David's place was empty.


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But Saul did not say anything that day. For he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean. For sure he is not clean."


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But David's place was empty the next day, the second day of the new moon. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to the supper yesterday and today?"


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He said, 'I beg you, let me go. Our family is giving a gift on the altar in the city. And my brother has told me to be there. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me leave and see my brothers.' That is why he has not come to the king's table."


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Then Saul was very angry with Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a sinful woman! Do I not know that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother who gave birth to you?


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As long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you and the power you would have as king will not last. So send for him and bring him to me. For he must die."


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But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, so he knew that his father had decided to kill David.


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Jonathan rose from the table very angry. He did not eat any food on the second day of the new moon. For he was filled with sorrow for David, because his father had brought shame upon him.


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In the morning Jonathan went out to the field at the time he and David agreed to meet. A little boy was with him.


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Jonathan said to his boy, "Run, find the arrows I shoot." As the boy was running, he shot an arrow past him.


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The boy came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow. Jonathan called to the boy and said, "Is not the arrow farther away?"


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Jonathan called to the boy, "Hurry, be quick, do not stay!" Then Jonathan's boy picked up the arrow and came to his owner.


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When the boy was gone, David rose from the south side and fell on his face to the ground. He bowed three times. Then they kissed each other and cried together, but David more.


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Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. For we have promised each other in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord will be between me and you, and between my children and your children forever.' " Then David got up and left, and Jonathan went into the city.


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David came to Ahimelech the religious leader at Nob. Ahimelech came shaking in fear to meet David, and said to him, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?"


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David said to Ahimelech the religious leader, "The king has given me something to do. And he has said to me, 'Let no one know anything about what I have sent you to do.' I have told the young men to meet at a certain place.


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The religious leader answered David, "I only have bread which has been set apart as holy, if only the young men have kept themselves from women."


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And David told the religious leader, "For sure women have been kept from us while we have traveled. The bodies of the young men are holy even on everyday trips. How much more they are today!"


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So the religious leader gave him holy bread. For there was no bread there but the bread before the Lord. It was taken from before the Lord, so hot bread could be put in its place.


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Now one of Saul's servants happened to be there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the head of Saul's shepherds.


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David said to Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or a sword? I did not bring my sword or any spears with me, because I had to hurry to do the king's work."


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The religious leader said, "The sword is here that belonged to Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah. See, it is behind the linen vest, with a cloth around it. Take it, if you will. For it is the only one here." And David said, "There is none like it. Give it to me."


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The servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing to each other about him as they danced, saying, 'Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"


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So he changed the way he acted in front of them. He pretended to be crazy while he was with them. He made marks on the doors of the gate. He let his spit run down into the hair of his face.


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Do I need any crazy men, that you bring this one to act crazy in front of me? Will this one come into my house?"


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So David left there and ran to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all those of his father's house heard about it, they went down there to him.


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Then everyone who was in trouble, everyone who owed money, and everyone who was not happy with the way he was living, came together to him. He became their captain. There were about 400 men with him.


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David went from there to Mizpah of Moab. He said to the king of Moab, "I beg of you, let my father and mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me."


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Then he left them with the king of Moab. They stayed with him all the time that David was in his safe place.


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The man who told what will happen in the future, Gad, said to David, "Do not stay in this strong place. Leave, and go into the land of Judah." So David left and went among the trees of Hereth.


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Now Saul heard that David and the men with him had been found. Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the high place with his spear in his hand. All his servants were standing around him.


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Saul said to his servants who stood around him, "Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and grape fields? Will he make you all leaders of thousands and hundreds?


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For all of you have made plans against me. No one lets me know when my son makes an agreement with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or lets me know that my son has caused my servant to be against me and hide and wait, as it is this day."


text:
Doeg the Edomite, who was standing by Saul's servants, said, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.


text:
Ahimelech asked the Lord what David should do. He gave David food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."


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Then the king sent someone to call Ahimelech the religious leader, son of Ahitub, and all those of his father's family, the religious leaders who were in Nob. And all of them came to the king.


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Saul said to him, "Why have you and the son of Jesse planned against me? Why have you given him bread and a sword, and have asked the Lord what he should do, so he could rise against me and wait in hiding, as it is this day?"


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Ahimelech answered the king, "Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the king's son-in-law. He is captain of the soldiers who keep you safe, and is honored in your house.


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Is today the first time that I have asked things of God for him? No! Do not let the king do anything wrong to his servant or any of those of my father's family. For your servant knows nothing at all about this."


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The king said to the soldiers who stood around him, "Turn and put the religious leaders of the Lord to death. Because they are on David's side. They knew he was running away, and did not tell me." But the servants of the king were not willing to go against the religious leaders of the Lord.


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Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and kill the religious leaders." And Doeg the Edomite turned and killed the religious leaders. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen vest.


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Then he destroyed Nob, the city of the religious leaders, with the sword. He killed men and women, children and babies, cattle, donkeys and sheep, with the sword.


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David said to Abiathar, "I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would be sure to tell Saul. I am to blame for the death of every person in your father's family.


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Stay with me. Do not be afraid. For he who wants to kill me wants to kill you. But you are safe with me."


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Then they told David, "See, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah. They are taking the grain from the grain-floors."


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So David asked the Lord, "Should I go and fight these Philistines?" And the Lord said to David, "Go, fight the Philistines, and save Keilah."


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But David's men said to him, "See, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?"


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Then David asked the Lord again. The Lord answered him, "Get ready and go down to Keilah. For I will give the Philistines into your hand."


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So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines. He killed many of them and took away their cattle. And David saved the people of Keilah.


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When Saul was told that David had come to Keilah, he said, "God has given him to me. For he has shut himself in by going into a city with iron gates."


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David knew that Saul was planning against him, so he said to Abiathar the religious leader, "Bring the linen vest here."


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Then David said, "O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for sure that Saul is planning to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me.


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Will the men of Keilah give me to him? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant." And the Lord said, "He will come down."


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Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah give me and my men to Saul?" And the Lord said, "They will give you up."


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Then David and his men, about 600, got up and left Keilah. They went where they could go. When Saul was told that David had run away from Keilah, he gave up going there.


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David stayed in the safe places in the desert. He stayed in the hill country in the desert of Ziph. Saul looked for him every day, but God did not give David to him.


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He said to him, "Do not be afraid, because my father Saul will not find you. You will be king of Israel, and I will be next to you. My father Saul knows this also."


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So the two of them made an agreement before the Lord. And David stayed at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.


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Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding with us in the strong places at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon?


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Go and make sure. See where he is, and who has seen him there. For I am told that he is very good at fooling people.


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Look and learn about all his hiding places, and return to me with news that is sure. Then I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will find him among all the thousands of Judah."


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Then they got up and went to Ziph before Saul. Now David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the Arabah, south of Jeshimon.


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Saul and his men went to look for him, and David was told about it. So he went down to the rock in the desert of Maon.


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Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. David was in a hurry to get away from Saul. For Saul and his men were closing in upon David and his men to take them.


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But a man came with news to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have come into the land by surprise to fight us."


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So Saul returned from going after David, and went against the Philistines. So they called that place the Rock of Getting Away.


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When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "See, David is in the desert of Engedi."


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Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel, and went to find David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.


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He came to the places where the sheep were kept on the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to get rid of his body waste. Now David and his men were sitting farther back in the cave.


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David's men said to David, "See, this is the day the Lord told you, 'See, I am about to give the one who hates you into your hand. You will do to him what you think is best.' " Then David got up and cut off a piece of Saul's clothing in secret.


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So he said to his men, "May the Lord not let me put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord's chosen one."


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David stopped his men with these words. He did not let them go against Saul. So Saul stood up and left the cave, and went on his way.


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After this David got up and went out of the cave and called to Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David put his face to the ground, showing much respect.


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See, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you to me today in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord's chosen one.'


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Now, my father, see the piece of your clothing in my hand. I cut off the piece of your clothing but did not kill you. So know and understand that I have no desire to do wrong to you. I have not sinned against you, yet you come wanting to kill me.


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May the Lord judge between you and me. May He punish you for your action against me. But my hand will not be against you.


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As the men of long ago said in their wisdom, 'Out of the sinful comes sin,' but my hand will not be against you.


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When David had finished speaking to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul gave a loud cry.


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He said to David, "You are more right and good than I. For you have brought good to me, while I have done wrong to you.


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If a man finds the one who hates him, will he let him go away safe? May the Lord bring good to you for what you have done for me this day.


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Now I know that you will be king for sure. The nation of Israel will be made strong under your power.


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So promise to me by the Lord that you will not destroy my children after me. Promise that you will not destroy my name from my father's family."


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There was a man in Maon who worked in Carmel. The man was very rich. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. He was cutting the wool from his sheep in Carmel.


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The man's name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. The woman was of good understanding and beautiful. But the man was bad and sinful in his ways. He was a Calebite.


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So David sent ten young men, saying to them, "Go up to Carmel. Visit Nabal and say hello to him for me.


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Say to him, 'Have a long life. Peace be to you. Peace be to your family. And peace be to all that you have.


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I have heard that you have men who cut the wool from your sheep. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we have not done them any wrong. And they have not missed anything all the time they were in Carmel.


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Ask your young men and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a special day. I ask you to give whatever you have ready to your servants and to your son David.' "


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But Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are leaving their owners.


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Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my wool cutters, and give it to men when I do not know where they came from?"


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David said to his men, "Every man put on his sword!" So every man put on his sword, and David put on his sword also. About 400 men went up behind David, while 200 stayed with their things.


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But one of the young men told Nabal's wife Abigail, "See, David sent men from the desert to say hello to our owner, and he spoke against them.


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But David's men were very good to us. They did not do anything wrong to us. And we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them.


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So know this and think about what you should do. For bad plans have been made against our owner and all his family. He is such a sinful man that no one can speak to him."


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In a hurry Abigail took 200 loaves of bread, two bottles of wine, five sheep ready to eat, five baskets of dry grain, 100 vines of dried grapes and 200 loaves of figs, and loaded them on donkeys.


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She said to her young men, "Go on before me. See, I am coming after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.


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As she went on her donkey and came down hidden by the mountain, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.


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Now David had said, "It was for nothing that I have watched over all this man has in the desert, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him. He has paid me bad for good.


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May God do the same to David and more, if I leave until morning as much as one male alive of all who belong to him."


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When Abigail saw David, she got off her donkey in a hurry. Then she put her face to the ground in front of David.


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She fell at his feet and said, "Let the sin be on me alone, my lord. I beg you, let your woman servant speak to you. Listen to the words of your woman servant.


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I beg you, do not let my lord think about this sinful man, Nabal. For he is like his name. Nabal is his name and he is foolish. But I your woman servant did not see my lord's young men whom you sent.


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So now, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, let the Lord keep you from being guilty of blood. Let Him keep you from punishing with your own hand. And let those who hate you and those who want to hurt my lord be like Nabal.


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Now let this gift which your woman servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord.


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I beg you, forgive the sin of your woman servant. For the Lord will be sure to make my lord a family that will last. Because my lord is fighting the Lord's battles. Sin will not be found in you as long as you live.


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If men rise up to come after you and try to kill you, then the life of my lord will be taken care of by the Lord your God. But He will throw away the lives of those who hate you, as a rock is thrown from a sling.


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The Lord will do to my lord all the good that He has promised you. He will make you ruler over Israel.


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Then my lord will have no reason to feel sorry or guilty because of killing without cause or punishing by my lord's own hand. When the Lord does good things for my lord, remember your woman servant."


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May thanks be given for your wisdom, and thanks be to you. You have kept me this day from being guilty of blood, and from punishing with my own hand.


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The Lord God of Israel has kept me from hurting you. And as the Lord lives, if you had not been quick to come to meet me, for sure not one male would have been left to Nabal until the morning."


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So David received what she had brought him. He said to her, "Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to you and have done what you asked."


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Abigail came to Nabal and saw that he was having a special supper in his house, like the special supper of a king. Nabal's heart was full of joy, because he was very drunk. So she did not tell him anything until the morning.


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But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things. And his heart died within him so that he became like a stone.


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When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Thanks be to the Lord, Who has punished Nabal for putting me to shame. He has kept His servant from sin. And the Lord has turned the sin of Nabal upon himself." Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to be his wife.


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When David's servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, "David has sent us to you, to take you as his wife."


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She stood up and then put her face to the ground, and said, "See, your woman servant will serve you by washing the feet of my lord's servants."


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Then she got ready in a hurry and traveled on a donkey, with her five young women who followed her. She followed the men David had sent, and became his wife.


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Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, east of Jeshimon?"


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So Saul got ready and went down to the desert of Ziph. He had 3,000 chosen men of Israel with him, to look for David in the desert of Ziph.


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Saul stayed on the hill of Hachilah, beside the road east of Jeshimon. And David was staying in the desert. When he saw that Saul came after him in the desert,


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Then David got ready and came to the place where Saul was staying. He saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army. Saul was lying in the center of the tents, and the people were sleeping around him.


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Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, "Who will go down with me to the tents of Saul?" Abishai said, "I will go down with you."


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So David and Abishai came to the people during the night. Saul lay sleeping in the center of the tents, with his spear in the ground at his head. Abner and the people were lying around him.


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Abishai said to David, "Today God has given the one who hates you into your hand. Now let me nail him to the earth with the spear, hitting him just once. I will not hit him a second time."


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But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him. For who can put his hand out against the Lord's chosen one and not be guilty?"


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David said, "As the Lord lives, He will destroy him. Or his day will come to die. Or he will be killed in battle.


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May the Lord keep me from putting out my hand against the Lord's chosen one. But take the spear that is at his head and the bottle of water, and let us go."


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So David took the spear and the bottle of water from beside Saul's head, and they went away. But no one saw it, or knew it, and no one woke, for they were all sleeping. A deep sleep from the Lord had come upon them.


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Then David crossed over to the other side and stood far away on top of the mountain, with much land between them.


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David called to the army and to Ner's son Abner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Abner answered, "Who are you who calls to the king?"


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David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why have you not watched over your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord.


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This thing you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you must die for sure. Because you did not watch over your lord, the Lord's chosen one. Now see where the king's spear is, and the bottle of water that was beside his head."


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Saul knew David's voice, and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord the king.


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Now I beg you, let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has made you come against me, let Him receive a gift. But if men have done this, may bad come to them before the Lord. For they have driven me out this day, that I should have no share of what the Lord has given. They say, 'Go, worship other gods.'


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So do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to look for one little bug, just as one looks for a partridge in the mountains."


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Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not hurt you again. Because my life was of great worth in your eyes this day. See, I have played the fool, and have made a big mistake."


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The Lord will pay each man for being right and good and faithful. For the Lord gave you into my hand today. But I would not put out my hand against the Lord's chosen one.


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Now see, as your life was of great worth in my eyes today, so may my life be of great worth in the eyes of the Lord. May He save me from all trouble."


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Then Saul said to David, "May good come to you, my son David. You will do many things and do them well." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.


text:
David said to himself, "Some day Saul will kill me. There is nothing better for me than to run to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will become tired of looking for me any more in the land of Israel. And I will get away from him."


text:
David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men. Each man had those of his family with him. David had with him his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, who had been Nabal's wife.


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Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let me be given a place in one of the country towns, that I may live there. For why should your servant live with you in the city of the king?"


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So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag that day. Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.


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Now David and his men went up to fight the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. For they had been living in the land a long time, as you come to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt.


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David destroyed the land and did not leave a man or a woman alive. He took away the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing. Then he returned and came to Achish.


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Achish said, "Where have you gone to battle today?" And David said, "Against the Negev of Judah, the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and the Negev of the Kenites."


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David did not leave a man or woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, "They might tell about us. They might say, 'This is what David has done all the time he has lived in the country of the Philistines.' "


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And Achish believed David, saying, "He has made the people of Israel hate him. So he will become my servant forever."


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In those days the Philistines gathered their armies for war against Israel. Achish said to David, "Understand that you and your men are to go out with me to battle."


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David said to Achish, "Very well, you will know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you the soldier who stands by me and keeps me safe for life."


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Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had been filled with sorrow for him. They buried him in his own city of Ramah. And Saul had put out of the land those who spoke with spirits by using their secret ways.


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The Philistines gathered together and came and stayed at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel together and they stayed at Gilboa.


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Saul asked the Lord what he should do. But the Lord did not answer him, by dreams or by Urim or by those who speak for God.


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Then Saul said to his servants, "Find a woman for me who can speak with spirits, that I may go to her and ask her what I should do." His servants said to him, "See, there is a woman at Endor who can speak with spirits."


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So Saul dressed up to look like somebody else and went with two other men to the woman during the night. He said, "Use your secret ways for me, I beg you, and bring up for me whom I will name to you."


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But the woman said to him, "See, you know what Saul has done. He has put out of the land those who speak with spirits by using their secret ways. Why do you lay a trap for my life to cause my death?"


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When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. She said to Saul, "Why have you fooled me? For you are Saul!"


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The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth."


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He said to her, "What does he look like?" And she said, "An old man is coming up. He is dressed in a long piece of clothing." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he put his face to the ground to show honor.


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Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled my rest by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am very troubled. The Philistines are making war against me. And God has left me and answers me no more, by those who speak for Him or by dreams. So I have called you to tell me what I should do."


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The Lord has done what He said He would do through me. The Lord has torn the rule of Israel out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.


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You did not obey the Lord and bring His burning anger upon Amalek. So the Lord has done this to you now.


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What is more, the Lord will give Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines. So tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel to the Philistines."


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At once Saul fell to the ground with his whole body. He was very afraid because of Samuel's words. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day and all night.


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The woman came to Saul and saw that he was filled with fear. She said to him, "See, your woman servant has obeyed you. I have put my life in danger and have listened to what you said to me.


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So now I beg you, let me give you a piece of bread. Eat, so you may have strength when you go on your way."


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But he said, "I will not eat." But his servants together with the woman begged him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.


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The woman had a fat calf in the house and was quick to kill it. She took flour, made it into dough, and made bread without yeast.


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Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek. The Israelites were staying by the well in Jezreel.


text:
The leaders of the Philistines were moving toward them with their hundreds and their thousands. And David and his men were moving behind them with Achish.


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Then the captains of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" Achish said to the captains of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years? I have found nothing wrong in him since the day he left to come to me."


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But the Philistine captains were angry with him. They said to him, "Make the man return. Have him go again to his place which you have given him. Do not let him go down to battle with us. He might fight against us in the battle. For how could this man make his lord receive him again? Would it not be with the heads of these men?


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Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, 'Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"


text:
Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the Lord lives, you have been honest. You go out and come in with me in the army and it is good in my eyes. I have found nothing wrong in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not pleasing in the eyes of the leaders.


text:
David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I came to you until now, that I may not go and fight against those who hate my lord the king?"


text:
Achish answered David, "I know that you are pleasing in my eyes, like an angel of God. But the captains of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go with us to the battle.'


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Now get up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you. Leave as soon as you are up and have light."


text:
So David and his men left early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.


text:
When David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had come to fight in the Negev and Ziklag. They had destroyed Ziklag, and burned it with fire.


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They took the women and all who were in it, without killing anyone. They carried them out and went on their way.


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David and his men came to the city and saw that it was burned. Their wives and sons and daughters had been taken away.


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Then David and the people with him cried out in a loud voice until they had no more strength to cry.


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David's two wives had been taken away, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel.


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And David was very troubled because the people talked about killing him with stones. For all the people were very angry in their sorrow for their sons and daughters. But David got his strength from the Lord his God.


text:
David said to Abiathar the religious leader, son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the linen vest." So Abiathar brought the linen vest to David.


text:
Then David asked the Lord, "Should I go after this army? Should I meet them in battle?" The Lord said to him, "Go after them, for you will catch them for sure. And you will be sure to save all the people."


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So David and the 600 men who were with him went out and came to the river of Besor. There those stayed who were left behind.


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But David kept going after them, with 400 men. For 200 were too tired to cross the river of Besor and stayed behind.


text:
They found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. They gave him bread and he ate, and he was given water to drink.


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They gave him a piece of a fig loaf and two vines of dried grapes. When he had eaten, his spirit returned to him. For he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.


text:
David said to him, "To whom do you belong? Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am a young man of Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite. My owner left me behind when I became sick three days ago.


text:
We had gone to fight in the Negev of the Cherethites, and in the land of Judah, and in the Negev of Caleb. We burned Ziklag with fire."


text:
Then David said to him, "Will you take me down to his army?" And he said, "Promise me by God that you will not kill me or give me to my owner, and I will bring you down to this army."


text:
When he had taken David down, he saw the soldiers spread over all the land. They were eating and drinking and dancing because of all the good things they had taken from the land of the Philistines and the land of Judah.


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And David killed them from the evening until the evening of the next day. None of them got away, except 400 young men who ran away on camels.


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Nothing was missing, small or large, sons or daughters, food or anything that had been taken. David returned with all of it.


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And he took all the sheep and cattle. The people drove those animals in front of him, and said, "This is what belongs to David."


text:
David came to the 200 men who had been too tired to follow him and had been left at the river of Besor. They went out to meet David and the people who were with him. David came near the people and said hello to them.


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Then all the sinful men of no worth who had gone with David said, "They did not go with us. So we will not give them anything of what we have taken, except for each man's wife and children. Each man may take them and go."


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David said, "You must not do so with what the Lord has given us, my brothers. He has kept us safe and has given us the army that came against us.


text:
Who would listen to you about this? The share of those who stay by our things will be the same as the share of those who go to the battle. They will share alike."


text:
When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the things he had taken in battle to the leaders of Judah, his friends. He said, "See, here is a gift for you from what was taken from those who hate the Lord.


text:
Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel. And the men of Israel ran from the Philistines and were killed and fell on Mount Gilboa.


text:
The Philistines came after Saul and his sons. They killed Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua.


text:
Then Saul said to the one who carried his battle-clothes, "Take your sword and cut through me with it. Or these men who have not gone through our religious act will come and kill me with the sword and make fun of me." But the one who carried his battle-clothes would not do it, for he was filled with fear. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.


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When the one who carried his battle-clothes saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword also, and died with him.


text:
So Saul, his three sons, the one who carried his battle-clothes, and all his men, died that day together.


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The men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had run away and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they left the cities and ran away. Then the Philistines came and lived in them.


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When the Philistines came to rob the dead the next day, they found Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa.


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They cut off Saul's head and took his sword and battleclothes, and sent them through the land of the Philistines. They sent them to carry the good news to the house of their gods and to the people.


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They put his sword and battleclothes in the house of their god Ashtaroth. And they tied his body to the wall of Beth-shan.


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all the men with strength of heart went and walked all night. They took the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh. There they burned them.


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They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh. And they did not eat for seven days.


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Now after the death of Saul, David returned from killing the Amalekites and stayed two days in Ziklag.


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On the third day, a man came from the tents of Saul. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell with his face to the ground.


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David said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he answered, "I have run away from the tents of Israel."


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David said to him, "How did it go? Tell me." And the man said, "The people have run from the battle. Many have fallen and are dead. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead also."


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The young man said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. There I saw Saul holding himself up with his spear. The war-wagons and the horsemen were coming close after him.


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Then he said to me, 'I beg you, stand beside me and kill me. I am in pain, and yet I am still alive.'


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So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew he could not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the beautiful gold band which he wore on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."


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They cried in sorrow and did not eat until evening, because of Saul and his son Jonathan, and of the people of the Lord and of the family of Israel. For they had fallen by the sword.


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David said to the young man, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of one from another land, an Amalekite."


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Then David said to him, "Why were you not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's chosen one?"


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David said to him, "Your blood is on your head. Because your mouth has spoken against you, saying, 'I have killed the Lord's chosen one.' ''


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He told them to teach the song of the bow to the people of Judah. See, it is written in the book of Jashar.


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Do not tell about it in Gath. Do not tell about it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines might be filled with joy. The daughters of those who have not gone through our religious act might be filled with joy.


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O mountains of Gilboa, do not let the water that is on the grass in the early morning or rain be on you. Let not grass be grown on your fields. For there the covering of the powerful was made dirty, the covering of Saul, as if he had not been set apart with oil.


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The bow of Jonathan did not turn away. The sword of Saul did not return empty. They did not turn from the blood of the dead and the fat of the powerful.


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Saul and Jonathan were loved and pleasing in their life. And they were not divided in their death. They were faster than eagles. They were stronger than lions.


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O daughters of Israel, cry for Saul. He dressed you in fine red clothing. He put on your clothing objects of gold.


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How have the powerful fallen in the center of the battle! Jonathan has been killed on your high places.


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I am troubled because of you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasing to me. Your love to me was greater than the love of women.


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After this, David asked the Lord, "Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up." So David said, "Where should I go?" And He said, "To Hebron."


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So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel.


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David brought up his men who were with him, each one with those of his family. They lived in the cities of Hebron.


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Then the men of Judah came and there they chose David to be king over the family of Judah. They told David, "It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul."


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So David sent men with news to the men of Jabesh-gilead, saying, "May the Lord bring good to you. Because you have shown kindness to your king Saul, and have buried him.


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Now may the Lord show loving-kindness and truth to you. And I will do good to you, because you have done this.


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So now let your hands be strong. Have strength of heart. For your king Saul is dead. And those of the family of Judah have chosen me to be their king."


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Saul's son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he became king of Israel. He was king for two years. But the family of Judah followed David.


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Now Abner the son of Ner went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Saul's son Ish-bosheth.


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And Zeruiah's son Joab and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side.


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Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men get up and have a test of strength in front of us." And Joab said, "Let them get up."


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So they stood up and went over by number. There were twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.


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Each one of them took hold of the head of the one fighting against him, and put his sword into the other's side. So they fell down together. That is why that place was called field of swords, which is in Gibeon.


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Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel. Asahel was as fast as a wild deer.


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So Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right or left. Take hold of one of the young men, and take for yourself what belongs to him." But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him.


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Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I make you fall? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?"


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But he would not turn aside. So Abner hit him in the stomach with the end of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. He fell there and died where he fell. And all who came to the place where Asahel fell and died, stood still.


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But Joab and Abishai went after Abner. When the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the way of the desert of Gibeon.


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The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one army. They stood on the top of a hill.


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Abner called to Joab and said, "Should the sword destroy forever? Do you not know that it will be bad in the end? How long will you keep from telling the people to stop following their brothers?"


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Joab said, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, for sure the people would have stopped going after their brothers in the morning."


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So Joab sounded the horn, and all the people stopped and went after Israel no longer. And they did not fight any more.


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Abner and his men went all night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.


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Joab returned from following Abner, and gathered all the people together. Added to Asahel, nineteen of David's servants were missing.


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They picked up Asahel and buried him in his father's grave in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men walked all night and came to Hebron early the next morning.


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There was a long war between the family of Saul and the family of David. David became stronger and stronger. But the family of Saul became weaker and weaker.


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His second son was Chileab, by Abigail who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel. The third was Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.


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While there was war between the family of Saul and the family of David, Abner was making himself strong in the family of Saul.


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Now Saul had a woman acting as his wife whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to the woman who acted as my father's wife?"


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Abner was very angry because of Ish-bosheth's words, and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the family of your father Saul, to his brothers and to his friends. I have not given you into David's hands. Yet today you say I am guilty because of this woman.


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Then Abner sent men with news to David at Hebron, saying, "Whose land is this? Make your agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you."


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David said, "Good! I will make an agreement with you. But you must do one thing that I say. You will not see my face unless you first bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to see me."


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Then David sent men to Saul's son Ish-bosheth, saying, "Give me my wife Michal. I was married to her by giving a hundred pieces of skin from the sex parts of the Philistines."


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But her husband went with her, crying as he went. He followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." So he returned.


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Now Abner spoke with the leaders of Israel, saying, "In times past you wanted David to be your king.


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Now make it happen! For the Lord has said of David, 'By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the Philistines and from all those who hate them.' "


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Abner spoke to Benjamin also. Then Abner went to Hebron to tell David all that Israel and the whole family of Benjamin thought was good to do.


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Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron. And David made a special supper for Abner and the men who were with him.


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Abner said to David, "Let me go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so they may make an agreement with you. Then you may be king over all your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.


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Then David's servants and Joab came from a battle and brought with them many good things they had taken. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away. Abner had gone in peace.


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When Joab and the army with him came, it was told to Joab, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king. And the king has sent him away in peace."


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Then Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? See, Abner came to you. Why then have you sent him away, so that he is gone?


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You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to fool you, and to learn about your going out and coming in. He came to learn all that you are doing."


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When Joab left David, he sent men after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.


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When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the center of the gate to speak with him alone. There Joab hit him in the stomach and killed him because of the blood of his brother Asahel.


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When David heard about it, he said, "I and my nation are forever without guilt before the Lord, from the blood of Abner the son of Ner.


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May the guilt be on the head of Joab and all his father's family. May the family of Joab never be without one who has a flow from his body, or a bad skin disease, or the need to use a walking stick. Or may his family never be without one who falls by the sword, or who needs more bread."


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So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother in the battle at Gibeon.


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Then David said to Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes and dress in clothes made from hair. Cry in sorrow in front of Abner." And King David walked behind the box in which the dead man was carried.


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They buried Abner in Hebron. And the king cried in a loud voice at Abner's grave. All the people cried.


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Your hands were not tied. Your feet were not put in chains. You have fallen as one falls in front of the sinful." And all the people cried again over him.


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Then all the people came to try to talk David into eating bread while it was still day. But David promised, saying, "May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down."


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So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to kill Abner the son of Ner.


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Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a leader, and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?


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And I am weak today, even if I was chosen to be king. The sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May the Lord pay the sinner for his sin."


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When Saul's son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost his strength of heart. All Israel was troubled.


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Saul's son had two men who were captains of small armies. The name of one was Baanah, and the name of the other was Rechab. They were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of Benjamin. <n>(For Beeroth is thought of as part of Benjamin.


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Now Saul's son Jonathan had a son who could not walk because of his feet. He was five years old when the news of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse had picked him up and ran. In her hurry to get away, he fell and hurt his feet so he could not walk. His name was Mephibosheth.


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The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, left and came to the family of Ish-bosheth. It was during the heat of the day, while Ish-bosheth was taking his noon rest.


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They came to the center of the house as if to get wheat, and they hit Ish-bosheth in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah ran away.


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They had come into the house while he was lying on his bed in his room. And they had hit him and killed him and cut off his head. They took his head and traveled by the way of Arabah all night.


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Then they brought Ish-bosheth's head to David at Hebron, and said to the king, "See, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, who hated you and tried to kill you. So this day the Lord has punished Saul and his children for the king."


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David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite. He said to them, "As the Lord lives, Who has saved my life from all trouble,


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when one told me, 'See, Saul is dead,' he thought he was bringing good news. But I took hold of him and killed him in Ziklag. This was the pay I gave him for his news.


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How much worse it is when sinful men have killed a man who is right and good, on his bed in his own house! Should I not now punish you for his blood and destroy you from the earth?"


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Then David had the young men kill them and cut off their hands and feet. They hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner's grave in Hebron.


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Then all the families of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "See, we are your bone and your flesh.


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When Saul was our king, you were the one who led Israel out and in. The Lord said to you, 'You will be the shepherd of My people Israel. You will be a ruler over Israel.' "


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So all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. And there King David made an agreement with them before the Lord. Then they chose David to be the king of Israel.


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He ruled over Judah seven years and six months at Hebron. Then he ruled in Jerusalem thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.


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Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the people living in the land. They said to David, "You will not come here. Even those who cannot see or walk could stop you." They thought that David could not come here.


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David said on that day, "Whoever would kill the Jebusites, let him go up through the hole where the water flows, to those who cannot walk or see and who are hated by David's soul." So it is said, "Those who cannot see or walk will not come to the house."


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David lived in the strong place and called it the city of David. He built all around it from Millo toward the center.


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Hiram king of Tyre sent men to David with cedar trees and men who build with wood and stone. And they built a house for David.


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David understood that the Lord had made him the king of Israel, and that the Lord had given honor to David's rule because of His people Israel.


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David took more wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron. And more sons and daughters were born to him.


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When the Philistines heard that David had been chosen to be king of Israel, all the Philistines went up to find him. When David heard of it, he went down to the strong place.


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Then David asked the Lord, "Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for it is sure that I will give the Philistines into your hand."


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So David came to Baal-perazim and beat them there in battle. He said, "The Lord has broken through those who hate me like the breaking through of a flood." So he gave that place the name Baal-perazim.


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David asked the Lord what he should do. And the Lord said, "Do not go up, but go around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.


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When you hear the sound of their steps in the tops of the balsam trees, then hurry to fight, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to destroy the Philistine army."


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He got up and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah to bring from there the special box of God. It is called by the name of the Lord of All Who sits on His throne above the cherubim.


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They carried the special box of God on a new wagon, and brought it out of the family of Abinadab which was on the hill. Abinadab's sons Uzzah and Ahio were leading the new wagon.


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They brought it with the special box of God from the family of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Ahio was walking in front of the special box.


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And David and all those of the family of Israel sang and danced before the Lord with all their strength. They played songs with harps and timbrels.


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But the cattle pulling the wagon almost made the special box of God fall when they came to the grain-floor of Nacon. So Uzzah put out his hand and took hold of the special box so it would not fall.


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The anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah. God killed him there for his mistake. And he died there by the special box of God.


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David became angry because the Lord had gone against Uzzah. So that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.


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David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, "How can the special box of the Lord come to me?"


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So David was not willing to move the special box of the Lord into the city of David. But he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.


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The special box of the Lord stayed in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months. And the Lord brought good to Obed-edom and all of his family.


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Now it was told to King David, "The Lord has brought good to the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the special box of God." So David went and brought the special box of God from Obed-edom's family into the city of David with joy.


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When the men who carried the special box of the Lord had gone six steps, David killed and gave to the Lord a bull and a fat calf.


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So David and all those of the family of Israel were bringing the special box of the Lord with a loud voice and the sound of the horn.


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As the special box of the Lord came into the city of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked out of the window. She saw King David jumping and dancing before the Lord, and she hated him in her heart.


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They brought in the special box of the Lord and put it in its place inside the tent David had set up for it. And David gave burnt gifts and peace gifts to the Lord.


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When he had finished giving the burnt gifts and peace gifts, David prayed that good would come to the people in the name of the Lord of All.


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Then he gave a loaf of bread, a loaf of dates and a loaf of dried grapes to each man and woman of all the people of Israel. And all the people went home.


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David returned to pray that good would come to his family. But Saul's daughter Michal came out to meet him, and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today! He took his clothes off today so that his servants' young women would see him. He acted like one of the foolish ones taking his clothes off without shame!"


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So David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord. He chose me over your father and all his family, and made me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. So I will act with joy before the Lord.


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I will be honored less than this. I will be without pride in my own eyes. But the young women you have spoken about will honor me."


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King David lived in his house. The Lord had given him rest from all those around him who hated him. At this time,


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the king said to Nathan, the man who spoke for God, "See now, I live in a house of cedar wood. But the special box of God stays within tent curtains."


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"Go and tell My servant David, 'This is what the Lord says, "Are you the one who should build a house for Me to live in?


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I have not lived in a house since the day I brought the people of Israel from Egypt to this day. But I have been moving about with a tent to live in.


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In all the places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I say anything about this to any of the families of Israel which I told to shepherd My people? Did I say to any of them, 'Why have you not built a house of cedar wood for Me?' " '


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So now tell My servant David, 'This is what the Lord of All says, "I took you from following the sheep in the field to be the ruler of My people Israel.


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I have been with you in all the places you have gone. I have destroyed from in front of you all those who fought against you. I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.


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I will choose a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be troubled again. The sinful will not bring trouble to them any more, as they did before


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since the day I told special people to rule My people Israel. I will give you rest from all those who hate you. And the Lord makes known to you that He will make a house for you.


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When your days are done and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your son after you, who will be born from you. And I will build his nation.


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I will be a Father to him and he will be a son to Me. When he sins, I will punish him with the stick of men. And I will let the sons of men hit him.


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Your house and your nation will be made sure before Me forever. Your throne will be built to last forever." ' "


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Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far?


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Yet this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken of Your servant's family in the future. And this is the way of man, O Lord God.


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Because of Your Word and Your own heart, You have done all these great things to let Your servant know.


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For this reason You are great, O Lord God. There is none like You. And there is no God but You, by all that we have heard with our ears.


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What other nation on earth is like Your people Israel. God went to make them free to be His people and to make a name for Himself. You did a great thing for Yourself and great things for Your land. You did them before Your people whom You have made free from Egypt, from nations and their gods.


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For You have made for Yourself Your people Israel to be Your people forever. O Lord, You have become their God.


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Now, O Lord God, make sure forever the word which You have spoken about Your servant and his family. Do as You have said.


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And Your name will be honored forever. It will be said, 'The Lord of All is God over Israel.' May the family of Your servant David be made strong before You.


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For You, O Lord of All, the God of Israel, have shown this to Your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So Your servant has found strength of heart to pray this prayer to You.


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And now, O Lord God, You are God. Your Words are truth. And You have promised this good thing to Your servant.


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So now may it please You to bring good to the house of Your servant, that it may last forever before You. For You have spoken, O Lord God. May Your good come to the family of Your servant forever."


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After this David won the battle against the Philistines. And he took the most important city from the Philistines.


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He won the battle against Moab, and had them lie down on the ground in straight groups. Two groups were put to death, and one group was kept alive. The Moabites became servants to David and paid taxes to him.


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Then David won the battle against Hadadezer the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to get his power again at the Euphrates River.


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David took 1700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. He cut the legs of some of the war-wagon horses, but saved enough of them for 100 warwagons.


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Then he put groups of soldiers in Damascus of Syria. The Syrians became servants to David and were made to pay taxes to him. The Lord helped David every place he went.


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David took the coverings of gold which were carried by Hadadezer's army, and brought them to Jerusalem.


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So Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to say hello to him and pray that good would come to him, because David had fought against Hadadezer and had won. Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him objects of silver, gold and brass.


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David set these apart to the Lord, together with the silver and gold he had set apart from all the nations he had taken in battle.


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He had taken silver and gold from Syria, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the things taken from Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.


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So David's name was very respected when he returned from killing 18,000 Syrians in the Valley of Salt.


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And he put groups of soldiers in Edom. In all Edom he put soldiers, and all the Edomites became servants to David. The Lord helped David every place he went.


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Joab the son of Zeruiah was the head of the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud wrote down the important things of the nation.


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Benaiah the son of Jehoiada ruled the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David's sons were the king's helpers.


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Then David said, "Is there anyone left of the family of Saul, to whom I may show kindness because of Jonathan?"


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Now there was a servant in Saul's house whose name was Ziba. They called him to David, and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "I am your servant."


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The king said, "Is there not still someone of the family of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who cannot walk because of his feet."


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So the king said to him, "Where is he?" Ziba answered the king, "See, he is in the family of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar."


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Mephibosheth the son of Saul's son Jonathan came to David and fell on his face to the ground in respect. David said, "Mephibosheth." And he answered, "Here is your servant!"


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David said to him, "Do not be afraid. For I will be sure to show kindness to you because of your father Jonathan. I will return to you all the land of your grandfather Saul. And you will eat at my table always."


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Again Mephibosheth put his face to the ground and said, "Who am I? Why should you care for a dead dog like me?"


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Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba and said to him, "I have given to your owner's grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family.


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You and your sons and your servants will grow food on the land for him. You will bring in the food so your owner's grandson may eat. But Mephibosheth your owner's grandson will always eat at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.


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Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do all that my lord the king tells your servant to do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons.


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Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house were Mephibosheth's servants.


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So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king's table. Both his feet had been hurt and he could not walk.


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Then David said, "I will show kindness to Nahash's son Hanun, just as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent some of his servants to comfort him in the loss of his father. But when David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites,


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the Ammonite leaders said to their lord Hanun, "Do you think that David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Has he not sent his servants to you so they can spy out the city and destroy it?"


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So Hanun took David's servants and cut off half the hair from their faces. Then he cut off half their clothing, almost up to the belt, and sent them away.


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When David heard about it, he sent men to meet them, for they were very ashamed. The king said, "Stay at Jericho until the hair grows again on your faces. Then return."


text:
Now when the sons of Ammon saw that they had become hated by David, they paid for the help of the Syrians of Beth-rehob and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers. And they paid for the help of the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and 12,000 men of Tob.


text:
The sons of Ammon came to the city gate and got ready for battle. And the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.


text:
Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and behind him. So he chose all the best men of Israel and dressed them for battle against the Syrians.


text:
He put the rest of the people under the rule of his brother Abishai. He dressed them for battle against the sons of Ammon.


text:
Joab said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then help me. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.


text:
Be strong. Let us show ourselves to have strength of heart because of our people and the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His eyes."


text:
So Joab and the people who were with him came near to battle against the Syrians, and they ran away from him.


text:
When the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had run away, they ran away from Abishai and went into the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the sons of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.


text:
Hadadezer sent men and brought out the Syrians who were on the other side of the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam. They were led by Shobach, the captain of Hadadezer's army.


text:
When it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians dressed themselves for battle against David, and fought against him.


text:
But the Syrians ran away from Israel. David killed 700 drivers of the Syrian war-wagons, and 40,000 horsemen. He killed Shobach, the captain of their army, who died there.


text:
When all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had lost the battle against Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. The Syrians were afraid to help the sons of Ammon any more.


text:
The spring of the year was the time when kings went out to battle. At that time David sent Joab and his servants and all Israel. They destroyed the sons of Ammon and gathered the army around Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.


text:
When evening came David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house. From the roof he saw a woman washing herself. The woman was very beautiful.


text:
So David sent someone to ask about the woman. And one said, "Is this not Eliam's daughter Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"


text:
David sent men and took her. When she came to him, he lay with her. After she had made herself clean again, she returned to her house.


text:
Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house, and wash your feet." And Uriah left the king's house, and a gift from the king was sent to him.


text:
But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord. He did not go down to his house.


text:
When they told David that Uriah did not go down to his house, David said to Uriah, "Have you not returned from traveling a long way? Why did you not go down to your house?"


text:
Uriah said to David, "The special box of the Lord, and Israel and Judah, are staying in tents. My lord Joab and the servants of my lord are staying in the open field. Should I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing."


text:
Then David said to Uriah, "Stay here today also. Tomorrow I will let you go." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.


text:
David called him, and he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out to lie on his bed with his lord's servants. He did not go down to his house.


text:
He had written in the letter, "Put Uriah in the front of the hardest battle and come away from him, so that he may be killed."


text:
So while Joab was watching the city, he sent Uriah to the place where he knew there were soldiers with strength of heart.


text:
The men of the city went out and fought against Joab. Some of David's servants were killed. And Uriah the Hittite died also.


text:
the king might become angry. He might say to you, 'Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?


text:
Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw a grinding stone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' Then you should say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.' "


text:
The man said to David, "The men were winning the fight against us. They came out against us in the field. But we drove them back as far as the city gate.


text:
Then they shot arrows at your servants from the wall. So some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also."


text:
Then David said to the man, "Tell Joab, 'Do not let this thing trouble you. For the sword kills one as well as another. Make your battle against the city stronger and destroy it.' Comfort him with these words."


text:
When the time of sorrow was finished, David sent men and brought her to his house. She became his wife, and gave birth to his son. But what David had done was sinful in the eyes of the Lord.


text:
Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said, "There were two men in one city. One was rich and the other was poor.


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But the poor man had nothing except one little female lamb which he bought and fed. It grew up together with him and his children. It would eat his bread and drink from his cup and lie in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.


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Now a traveler came to the rich man. But the rich man was not willing to take from his own flock or his own cattle, to make food for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man's female lamb and made it ready for the man who had come to him."


text:
David was very angry at the man, and said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, for sure the man who has done this should die.


text:
Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: 'I chose you to be the king of Israel. I saved you from the hand of Saul.


text:
I gave you Saul's family and Saul's wives into your care. I gave you the nations of Israel and Judah. And if this were too little, I would give you as much more.


text:
Why have you hated the Word of the Lord by doing what is bad in His eyes? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword. You have taken his wife to be your wife. You have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.


text:
So now some from your family, even in the future, will die by the sword, because you have turned against Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'


text:
This is what the Lord says: 'See, I will bring trouble against you from your own family. I will take your wives in front of your eyes and give them to your neighbor. He will lie with your wives in the light of day.


text:
Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to him, "The Lord has taken away your sin. You will not die.


text:
But by this act you have given those who hate the Lord a reason to speak against the Lord. The child that is born to you will die for sure."


text:
Then Nathan went home. The Lord sent trouble upon the child of Uriah's wife and David, so that he was very sick.


text:
The leaders of his family stood beside him to lift him up from the ground. But David was not willing. He would not eat food with them.


text:
The child died on the seventh day. And David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "See, we spoke to him while the child was still alive, and he did not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He might hurt himself."


text:
But when David saw his servants speaking together in secret, he understood that the child was dead. He asked his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead."


text:
So David got up from the ground, washed, poured oil on himself, and changed his clothes. Then he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He returned to his own house and asked for food. So they set food in front of him, and he ate.


text:
Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? While the child was alive, you went without food and cried. But when the child died, you got up and ate food."


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David said, "I went without food and cried while the child was still alive, for I said, 'Who knows? The Lord might be kind to me and let the child live.'


text:
But now he has died. Why should I go without food? Can I bring him to life again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."


text:
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went in and lay with her, and she gave birth to a son. He gave him the name Solomon. The Lord loved him,


text:
and sent word through Nathan who spoke for God. And Nathan gave him the name Jedidiah because of the Lord.


text:
So gather the rest of the people together. Go against the city and take it, or I will take the city myself and it will be called by my name."


text:
Then he took the very heavy crown from their king's head. In it were beautiful stones of much worth. The crown was put on David's head. And he brought a large amount of things out of the city.


text:
He brought out the people who were in it also. He made them work with saws, sharp iron tools, and iron axes. And he made them work in the heat making building stones. He did this to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.


text:
Now David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. And David's son Amnon loved her.


text:
Amnon was so troubled because of his sister Tamar that he became sick. She was a woman who had never had a man, and Amnon thought how hard it would be to have her.


text:
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab. He was the son of David's brother Shimeah. And Jonadab was very good at making plans.


text:
He said to Amnon, "O son of the king, why are you so sad from day to day? Will you not tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom."


text:
Then Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, 'I beg you, let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat. Let her make food ready here so I can see it and eat it from her hand.' "


text:
So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, "I beg you, let my sister Tamar come and make two loaves beside me, that I may eat from her hand."


text:
Then David sent home for Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and make food for him."


text:
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house. He was lying down. And she took dough and made loaves so he could watch. Then she baked them ready to eat.


text:
And she took the dish and held it out in front of him. But he would not eat. Amnon said, "Have everyone leave me." So everyone left him.


text:
Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food to my room, so I may eat from your hand." So Tamar took the loaves she had made and brought them to her brother Amnon in his room.


text:
But she said, "No, my brother. Do not make me. For such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this bad and foolish thing!


text:
As for me, where could I get rid of my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. So now I beg you, speak to the king, for he will not keep me from you."


text:
Then Amnon hated her very much. He hated her more than he had loved her. He said to her, "Get up! Go away!"


text:
But she said to him, "No! Sending me away is worse than what you have done to me!" But he would not listen to her.


text:
He called the young man who helped him and said, "Throw this woman out of my house, and lock the door behind her."


text:
Now she was wearing a dress which covered her arms. For this is how the king's daughters dressed when they had never had a man. The man who helped Amnon took her out and locked the door behind her.


text:
Then Tamar put ashes on her head. She tore the dress she was wearing which covered her arms. And she put her hand on her head and went away with a loud cry.


text:
Absalom her brother said to her, "Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this to heart." So Tamar stayed in her brother Absalom's house, sad and alone.


text:
But Absalom did not speak good or bad to Amnon. Absalom hated Amnon because he had put his sister to shame.


text:
After two full years, Absalom had men cut the wool from the sheep in Baal-hazor, near Ephraim. And Absalom asked all the king's sons to come.


text:
He came to the king and said, "See, your servant has men to cut the wool from the sheep. Let the king and his men go with your servant."


text:
But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son. We should not all go, or we will be trouble for you." Absalom tried to talk him into going. The king prayed that good would come to him, but he would not go with him.


text:
Then Absalom said, "If you will not go, let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"


text:
Then Absalom told his servants, "Watch when Amnon's heart is happy with wine. When I say to you, 'Kill Amnon,' then put him to death. Do not be afraid. Have not I myself told you to do it? Have strength of heart."


text:
So Absalom's servants did to Amnon just as Absalom had told them. Then all the king's sons got up on their horses and left in a hurry.


text:
While they were on their way, the news came to David, saying, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons. Not one of them is left."


text:
The king got up and tore his clothes, and lay on the ground. And all his servants standing beside him tore their clothes.


text:
But Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, said, "Do not let my lord think they have killed all the young men, the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom has wanted to kill him since the day he put his sister Tamar to shame.


text:
So do not let my lord the king take this to heart and think that all the king's sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead."


text:
Now Absalom had run away. And the young man who kept watch looked up and saw many people coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain.


text:
As soon as he had finished speaking, the king's sons came and cried in a loud voice. The king and all his servants cried also.


text:
Absalom ran away and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David was filled with sorrow for his son every day.


text:
The spirit of King David wanted very much to go out to Absalom. For he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.


text:
So Joab sent for a wise woman from Tekoa, and said to her, "Pretend to be filled with sorrow. Dress as if you were filled with sorrow, and do not pour oil on yourself. Dress like a woman who has been filled with sorrow for the dead many days.


text:
When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showing honor, and said, "Help, O king."


text:
The king said to her, "What is your trouble?" And she answered, "I am a woman whose husband has died.


text:
Your woman servant had two sons. But they fought together in the field and there was no one to pull them apart. So one hit the other and killed him.


text:
Now the whole family has come against your woman servant. They say, 'Give us the one who killed his brother. We must put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So I would be without a son to receive what belonged to his parents when I die. They would put out the last of the fire which is left to me. My husband would be left without a name and with no children on the earth."


text:
Then the king said to the woman, "Go to your house. I will say what should be done about your trouble."


text:
The woman of Tekoa said to the king, "O my lord the king, the sin is on me and my father's family. But the king and his throne are without guilt."


text:
Then she said, "I beg the king to remember the Lord your God, that the one who punishes for blood will stop destroying. Or my son might be destroyed." And the king said, "As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground."


text:
The woman said, "Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in deciding in this way, the king is as one who is guilty. For the king does not bring home his son who has been driven away.


text:
It is sure that we will die. We are like water poured on the ground, which cannot be picked up again. But God does not take away life. He plans ways so that the one who is driven away may not be kept away from Him.


text:
I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your woman servant thought, 'I will speak to the king. It might be that the king will do what his woman servant asks.


text:
For the king will hear and save his woman servant from the man who would destroy both me and my son from the gift of God.'


text:
Then your woman servant thought, 'The word of my lord the king will comfort me. For my lord the king is like the angel of God in understanding what is good and bad. May the Lord your God be with you.' "


text:
Then the king said to the woman, "Do not hide anything from me that I ask you." And the woman said, "Let my lord the king speak."


text:
So the king said, "Is Joab with you in all this?" The woman answered, "As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or left from anything my lord the king has said. Yes, it was your servant Joab who told me to do this. It was he who put all these words in the mouth of your woman servant.


text:
Your servant Joab has done this to change the way things are now. But my lord is wise like the angel of God, to know all that is on the earth."


text:
And Joab fell on his face to the ground in honor and thanks to the king. Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, O my lord the king. Because the king has done what his servant has asked of him."


text:
But the king said, "Let him go to his own house. Do not let him see my face." So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the king's face.


text:
Now there was no one in Israel as good looking and as much praised as Absalom. There was nothing wrong with him from the bottom of his foot to the top of his head.


text:
At the end of every year he would cut the hair from his head, for it was heavy on him. When he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head. It weighed as much as 200 pieces of silver, by the king's weight.


text:
Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king. But Joab would not come to him. So he sent for him a second time. But he would not come.


text:
He said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants burned the field.


text:
Then Joab got up and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, "Why have your servants burned my field?"


text:
Absalom answered Joab, "I sent for you, saying, 'Come here, that I may send you to say to the king, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would have been better for me to stay there." ' Now let me see the king's face. If there is guilt in me, let him put me to death."


text:
Then Joab went to the king and told him. And he called for Absalom. So he came to the king and put his face to the ground in front of him. And the king kissed Absalom.


text:
He used to get up early and stand beside the way to the gate. When any man had a problem to be decided upon by the king, Absalom would call to him and say, "What city are you from?" And he would answer, "Your servant is from one of the families of Israel."


text:
Then Absalom would say to him, "Your side of the problem is good and right. But there is no man to listen to you for the king."


text:
And Absalom would say, "If only I were chosen to be the one to be judge in the land! Then every man who has a problem could come to me. And I would do for him what is right and fair."


text:
When a man came near to put his face to the ground in front of him, Absalom would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.


text:
He acted this way toward all those of Israel who came with a problem for the king to judge. So Absalom became friends with the men of Israel.


text:
At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, "I ask you, let me go to Hebron and keep my promise that I have promised to the Lord.


text:
For your servant made a promise while I was living at Geshur in Syria, saying, 'If the Lord will bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.' "


text:
But Absalom sent men to go in secret through all the families of Israel. He said to them, "As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, then say, 'Absalom is king at Hebron.' "


text:
With Absalom went 200 men from Jerusalem. They had been asked to come, and did not know what Absalom had planned.


text:
While Absalom was giving gifts on the altar in worship, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city Giloh. He was the man who talked with David about what to do. The plans against David became strong. For more and more people joined Absalom.


text:
David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Get up and let us run. Or else none of us will be safe from Absalom. Hurry and go, or he will be quick to catch us and bring trouble upon us. He would destroy the city with the sword."


text:
The king's servants said to him, "See, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses."


text:
So the king left with all those of his house. But he left ten of his women to take care of the house.


text:
All his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, Pelethites, Gittites, and 600 men who had come with him from Gath. They all passed by the king.


text:
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you go with us also? Return and stay with the king. For you are from another land and have been driven from your home.


text:
You came only yesterday. Should I make you go with us today, when I do not know where I am going? Return with your brothers. May loving-kindness and faith be with you."


text:
But Ittai said to the king, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, your servant will be where my lord the king may be, in death or in life."


text:
So David said to him, "Go then, pass on." And Ittai the Gittite passed on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.


text:
All the country was crying with a loud voice as all the people passed by. The king crossed the river Kidron, and all the people went on toward the desert.


text:
Zadok came also, with all the Levites who carried the special box with the Law of God. Abiathar had the special box of God put down until all the people had passed out of the city.


text:
The king said to Zadok, "Return the special box of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will have me return. And He will have me see both it and His family.


text:
And the king said to Zadok the religious leader, "Are you not a man who speaks for God? Return to the city in peace with Abiathar and your two sons, your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan.


text:
David went up the Mount of Olives and cried as he went. His head was covered and he wore no shoes. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up crying as they went.


text:
Now David was told, "Ahithophel is among those who are making plans with Absalom." And David said, "O Lord, I pray, make the words of Ahithophel foolish."


text:
As David was coming to the top of the mountain, where God was worshiped, Hushai the Archite met him. His coat was torn and there was dust on his head.


text:
But if you return to the city, you can bring trouble to the words of Ahithophel for me. Say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king. I will work for you as I have worked for your father in the past.' Then you can make the words of Ahithophel foolish for me.


text:
Will not Zadok and Abiathar the religious leaders be there with you? Tell Zadok and Abiathar whatever you hear from the king's house.


text:
Their two sons are with them there, Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. By them you can send me news of all that you hear."


text:
When David had gone a short way past the mountain top, Mephibosheth's servant Ziba met him with two donkeys ready for traveling. On them were 200 loaves of bread, 100 vines of dried grapes, 100 summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.


text:
The king said to Ziba, "Why do you have these?" And Ziba said, "The donkeys are for those of the king's house to travel on. The bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. And the wine drink is for whoever is weak in the desert."


text:
Then the king said, "Where is your owner's son?" And Ziba answered, "He is staying in Jerusalem. For he said, 'Today the family of Israel will return to me the nation of my father.' "


text:
So the king said to Ziba, "See, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours." And Ziba said, "I bow down in honor to you. O my lord the king, let me find favor in your eyes!"


text:
When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of Saul. His name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He did not stop speaking bad things as he came.


text:
He threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the strong men were at his right and at his left.


text:
The Lord has punished you for all the blood of the family of Saul, in whose place you have ruled! The Lord has given the nation to your son Absalom! Your trouble is upon you, because you are a man of blood!"


text:
Zeruiah's son Abishai said to the king, "Why should this dead dog speak against my lord the king? Let me go now and cut off his head."


text:
But the king said, "What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he speaks against me, and if the Lord has told him, 'Speak against David,' then who should say, 'Why have you done so?' "


text:
Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, "See, my own son wants to kill me. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him speak against me, for the Lord has told him.


text:
It may be that the Lord will look upon my trouble and return good to me instead of his bad words today."


text:
So David and his men went on the way. And Shimei went beside him on the hill. He spoke against David as he went, and threw stones and dust at him.


text:
The king and all the people with him were tired when they came to the Jordan. There he rested and received new strength.


text:
When David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"


text:
And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"


text:
Hushai said to Absalom, "No! I will belong to whoever is chosen by the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel.


text:
And whom should I serve? Should I not serve his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you."


text:
Ahithophel answered, "Go in to your father's women, whom he has left to take care of the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself hated by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be made stronger."


text:
So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father's women so that the eyes of all Israel could see.


text:
The words that Ahithophel spoke in those days were as if one had asked for the Word of God. Both David and Absalom thought of Ahithophel's words in this way.


text:
Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose 12,000 men, and I will leave and go after David tonight.


text:
I will come upon him while he is tired and weak. I will fill him with fear so that all the people who are with him will run away. Then I will kill the king alone


text:
and return all the people to you. All will return if the man you want to kill is dead. Then all the people will be at peace."


text:
When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, "Ahithophel has said this. Should we do as he says? If not, tell us."


text:
Hushai said, "You know your father and his men. They are powerful and angry, like a bear robbed of her young ones in the field. And your father is a very able man of war. He will not stay with the people during the night.


text:
He has now hidden himself in one of the caves, or in another place. When some of the people are killed in the first battle, whoever hears it will say, 'There have been many people killed who follow Absalom.'


text:
Even the one who has strength of heart like the heart of a lion will be afraid. For all Israel knows that your father is a powerful man, and that those who are with him are men with strength of heart.


text:
But I say that all Israel should be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as much as the sand by the sea. And you yourself should go into battle.


text:
So we will find David wherever he is. We will fall on him like water falls on the ground in the early morning. And not he or any of the men with him will be left.


text:
If he runs into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city. We will pull it into the valley until not even a small stone is left there."


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Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The words of Hushai the Archite are better than the words of Ahithophel." In this way the Lord had planned to destroy the good leading of Ahithophel, so He might bring trouble to Absalom.


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Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the religious leaders, "This is what Ahithophel said that Absalom and the leaders of Israel should do. And this is what I have said they should do.


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So be quick to send someone to tell David, 'Do not stay the night in the desert beside the place where the Jordan is crossed. But cross over, or the king and all the people with him will be destroyed.' "


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Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at Enrogel. And a woman servant would go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. For they could not be seen coming into the city.


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But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. So the two of them left in a hurry and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in the open space in the center of his house. And they went down into it.


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Then the woman took the covering and spread it over the well's mouth, and spread grain on it, so nothing was known of it.


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Then Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman answered, "They have crossed the river." And after looking and not finding them, they returned to Jerusalem.


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When they had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan came up out of the well and went and told King David. They said to David, "Be quick to get ready and cross over the water. For Ahithophel has told them to come against you."


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So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By the light of morning, not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.


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When Ahithophel saw that his words were not followed, he got onto his donkey and went home to his city. He told those of his family what they must do, and he hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's grave.


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Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra the Israelite, who went in to Nahash's daughter Abigal, the sister of Joab's mother Zeruiah.


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When David had come to Mahanaim, he met Nahash's son Shobi from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, Ammiel's son Machir from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.


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honey, sour milk, sheep, and cheese from the cattle, for David and his men to eat. For they said, "The people are hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."


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Then David numbered the people who were with him. He set over them leaders of thousands and of hundreds.


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And he sent the people out. One third of them was under the rule of Joab. One third was under the rule of Zeruiah's son Abishai, Joab's brother. And one third was under the rule of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, "I myself will go out with you also."


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But the people said, "You should not go out. For if we run, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. So it is better that you send us help from the city."


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The king said to them, "I will do whatever you think is best." So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.


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The king told Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Be gentle toward the young man Absalom because of me." And all the people heard him say this to all the leaders about Absalom.


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Then the people went out into the field to fight against Israel. The battle was fought among the trees of Ephraim.


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The people of Israel lost the fight there to the servants of David. Twenty thousand men were killed there that day.


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The battle was spread over the whole country. Dangers from the trees destroyed more people that day than the sword.


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Absalom met the servants of David. He was going on his horse, and the horse went under the many branches of a large oak tree. Absalom's hair caught in the branches of the oak. He was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the horse under him kept going.


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Joab said to the man, "You saw him! Why did you not kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt."


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The man said to Joab, "Even for a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not go against the king's son. For we heard the king tell you and Abishai and Ittai, 'Keep the young man Absalom safe for me.'


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If I had gone against his life, there is nothing hidden from the king. And you would not have helped me."


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Then Joab said, "I will not waste time here with you." He took three spears in his hand and threw them through Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the oak.


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Then Joab sounded the horn, and all the people returned from going after Israel, for Joab stopped them.


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They took Absalom and threw him into a deep hole among the trees, and set many stones over him. And all Israel ran away, every one to his own home.


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While Absalom was alive, he had set up stones in his honor in the King's Valley. For he said, "I have no son to let my name be remembered." So he called the stones after his own name. And they are there to have Absalom be remembered to this day.


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Then Zadok's son Ahimaaz said, "Let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has saved him from those who hate him."


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But Joab said to him, "You must not carry news today, but another time. Today you should carry no news, because the king's son is dead."


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Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go and tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.


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Zadok's son Ahimaaz said to Joab, "Whatever happens, let me run after the Cushite." Joab said, "Why would you run, my son? You would receive no pay for going."


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But Ahimaaz said, "Whatever happens, I will run." So Joab said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed the Cushite.


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David was sitting between the two gates. The man who kept watch went up to the roof of the gate by the wall. He looked up and saw a man running by himself.


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The man who kept watch called and told the king. The king said, "If he is by himself, he has good news." And he came nearer and nearer.


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Then the man who kept watch saw another man running. He called to the gate-keeper and said, "See, another man is running by himself." The king said, "This one is bringing good news also."


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And the man who kept watch said, "I think the man in front runs like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." The king said, "He is a good man, and comes with good news."


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Ahimaaz called and said to the king, "All is well." He put his face to the ground in front of the king, and said, "Thanks be to the Lord your God. He has given up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king."


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The king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, your servant, I heard noise and saw much fighting. But I did not know what it was."


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Then the Cushite came and said, "Let my lord the king receive good news. For the Lord has saved you today from all those who came against you."


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The king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "May those who hate my lord the king, all those who come to do bad things against you, be as that young man!"


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The king filled with much sorrow. He went up to the room above the gate and cried. As he walked he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"


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So the happiness of winning the battle that day was changed to sorrow for all the people. For they heard that day, "The king is filled with sorrow for his son."


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So the people were quiet as they went in secret into the city that day. They acted like people who are ashamed when they run away from a battle.


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The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"


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Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "Today you have covered the faces of all your servants with shame. Today they have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives and the women who act as your wives.


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But you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. You have shown today that rulers and servants are nothing to you. For today I see that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, you would be pleased.


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So now get up and go out and speak in kindness to your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you do not, for sure not a man will stay with you this night. And this will be worse for you than all the bad things that have happened to you since you were young."


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So the king got up and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, "See, the king is sitting in the gate," then all the people came to the king. Now every man of Israel had run to his tent.


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And all the people in all the family groups of Israel were arguing. They said, "The king saved us from those who hate us. He saved us from the Philistines. But now he has run from Absalom and away from the land.


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We chose Absalom to rule over us and he has died in battle. So now why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"


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Then King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar the religious leaders, saying, "Speak to the leaders of Judah. Say to them, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? I have heard from all Israel for me to return to my house.


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You are my brothers. You are my bone and my flesh. Why should you be the last to bring back the king?'


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And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be the captain of my army at all times instead of Joab.' "


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He changed the hearts of all the men of Judah as if they were one man. So they sent word to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants."


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So the king returned and came as far as the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him over the Jordan.


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Then Gera's son Shimei, the Benjamite from Bahurim, came down in a hurry with the men of Judah to meet King David.


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There were 1,000 men of Benjamin with him. And Ziba the servant of the family of Saul came with his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the king at the Jordan.


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They crossed the river to bring over those of the king's house, and to do what pleased him. Gera's son Shimei fell down in front of the king as he was about to cross the Jordan.


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He said to the king, "Let not my lord think I am guilty. Do not remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king left Jerusalem. Let not the king take it to heart.


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For your servant knows that I have sinned. So I have come today. I am the first of all the family of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king."


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But Zeruiah's son Abishai answered, "Should not Shimei be put to death for this? He spoke against the Lord's chosen one."


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But David said, "What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? Why should you be against me this day? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that this day I am king of Israel?"


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Then Saul's grandson Mephibosheth came down to meet the king. He had not dressed his feet, trimmed the hair of his face, or washed his clothes, from the day the king left until the day he returned in peace.


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When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, David said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?"


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He answered, "O my lord the king, my servant lied to me. Your servant had said to him, 'Get a donkey ready for me to travel on, so I may go with the king.' Because your servant cannot walk.


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And he has spoken against me to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God. So do what you think is best.


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For all those of my father's house were nothing but dead men in front of my lord the king. But you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have to complain any more to the king?"


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The king said to him, "Why speak any more of how things are with you? I have decided that you and Ziba should divide the land."


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Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take it all, since my lord the king has come home and is safe."


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Now Barzillai of Gilead had come down from Rogelim. He went on to the Jordan with the king, to lead him over the river.


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Barzillai was eighty years old. He had given food to the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.


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The king said to Barzillai, "You cross over with me, and I will take care of you with me in Jerusalem."


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But Barzillai said to the king, "How much longer have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?


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I am now eighty years old. Can I know the difference between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of singing men and women any more? Why should your servant be an added problem to my lord the king?


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Your servant will only cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king pay me in this good way?


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Let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. And do for him what is good in your eyes."


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The king answered, "Chimham will cross over with me. And I will do for him what is pleasing to you. I will do for you whatever you ask."


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All the people crossed over the Jordan, and the king also. Then the king kissed Barzillai and prayed that good would come to him. And Barzillai returned to his own home.


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The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. And all the people of Judah and half the people of Israel went with the king.


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Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, "Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away? Why have they brought the king and those of his family over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?"


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All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is a close brother to us. Why are you angry about this? Has the king paid for our food? Has he given us any gift?"


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But the men of Israel said to the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king. So we have more right to David than you. Why then did you hate us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?" But the words of the men of Judah had more anger than the words of the men of Israel.


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A man of no worth happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He sounded the horn and said, "We have no share in David! We have no share in the son of Jesse! Every man to his tents, O Israel!"


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So all the men of Israel stopped following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah were not moved from following their king, from the Jordan to Jerusalem.


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Then David came to his house at Jerusalem. The king took his ten women whom he had left to take care of the house, and had a prison soldier watch them. David gave them food, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as women whose husbands had died.


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Then the king said to Amasa, "Call the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and you be here yourself."


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So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah. But he took longer than the time which had been given him.


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David said to Abishai, "Now Bichri's son Sheba will bring us more trouble than Absalom. Take your lord's servants and go after him. Or he might find strong cities for himself, and get away from us."


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So Joab's men went out after him. With them went the Cherethites, the Pelethites and all the strong men. They left Jerusalem to go after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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Amasa came to meet them at the large stone in Gibeon. Now Joab was dressed in soldier's clothing. Over his clothing was a belt with a sword in its holder tied at his side. As he walked, the sword fell out.


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Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And he took Amasa by the hair of his face with his right hand to kiss him.


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But Amasa did not see the sword which was in Joab's hand. So Joab hit him in the stomach with it, and poured his inside parts out on the ground. He did not hit him again, and Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai went after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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Now one of Joab's young men stood by him and said, "Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab."


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But Amasa lay in his blood in the center of the road. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he took Amasa out of the road and into the field. And he threw a covering over him.


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After he was taken out of the road, all the men went on and followed Joab to go after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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Sheba passed through all the families of Israel to Abel Bethmaacah. Then all the Berites gathered together and followed him into the city.


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And all the men who were with Joab came and gathered their armies around him in Abel Bethmaacah. They built up a hill of dirt against the wall of the city. And they were trying their best to make the wall fall down.


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Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! I beg you, tell Joab to come here that I may speak with him."


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So he came to her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your woman servant." And he answered, "I am listening."


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Then she said, "In the past they used to say, 'Let them ask for words of wisdom at Abel.' And so they would stop fighting.


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I am one of peace and faith in Israel. You want to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the gift of the Lord?"


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That is not true. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim has turned against King David. His name is Sheba the son of Bichri. Give up only him, and I will leave the city." And the woman said to Joab, "See, his head will be thrown to you over the wall."


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Then the woman went to all the people with her plan. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the horn and they left the city, every man going to his home. Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.


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Now Joab was the captain of the whole army of Israel. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was captain of the Cherethites and the Pelethites.


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Adoram was captain of those who were made to work. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud wrote down the things that happened.


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While David was king there was a time without food for three years. David went to the Lord. The Lord said, "It is because of Saul and his house of blood, for he put the Gibeonites to death."


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So the king called the Gibeonites. <n>(Now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel, but of the people who were left of the Amorites. The sons of Israel had made an agreement with them. But Saul had wanted to kill them because he thought so much of the sons of Israel and Judah.)</n>


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David said to the Gibeonites, "What should I do for you? How can I pay for the sin, so you may bring good to the land of the Lord?"


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The Gibeonites said to him, "We will take no silver or gold from Saul or his family. And it is not for us to put any man to death in Israel." David said, "I will do for you whatever you say."


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So they said to the king, "Saul destroyed us and planned to keep us from staying in any land of Israel.


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Let seven men from his sons be given to us. We will hang them before the Lord at Gibeon on the Lord's mountain." And the king said, "I will give them."


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But the king kept alive Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because David had made a promise to Saul's son Jonathan before the Lord.


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The king took the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah, Armoni and Mephibosheth, whom she had born to Saul. And he took the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had born to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.


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He gave them to the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the mountain before the Lord. The seven of them died together. They were put to death in the first days of gathering time, when the barley was ready to gather.


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Aiah's daughter Rizpah spread cloth made from hair on the rock for herself to lie upon, from the beginning of gathering time until the rain fell from the sky upon the bodies. She would not let the birds of the sky rest on them during the day, or the animals of the field during the night.


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Then he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead. They had stolen them from the open space in the center of Bethshan. That was where the Philistines had hanged them on the day they killed Saul in Gilboa.


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David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. They gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.


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And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the grave of Kish his father. They did all that the king told them to do. After that, God heard and answered when they prayed for the land.


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The Philistines were at war again with Israel. David went down with his servants and they fought the Philistines. And David became tired.


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Then Ishbi-benob wanted to kill David. He was one of the sons of the very tall and strong people. His spear weighed as much as 300 pieces of brass, and he had a new sword.


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But Zeruiah's son Abishai helped David and killed the Philistine. Then David's men promised him, "You will not go out again with us to battle. You might put out the lamp of Israel."


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After this there was war again with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the very tall and strong people.


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There was war with the Philistines again at Gob. And Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite. Goliath's spear was like the heavy piece of wood used by a clothmaker.


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There was war at Gath again. There was a very tall man there who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number. He was one of the sons of the very tall and strong people also.


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These four were sons of the very tall and strong people in Gath. They were killed by David and his servants.


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David spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord saved him from all who hated him, and from Saul.


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He is my God, my rock, where I go to be safe. He is my covering and the horn that saves me, my strong place where I go to be safe. You save me from being hurt.


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In my trouble I called upon the Lord. Yes, I cried to my God. From His house He heard my voice. My cry for help came into His ears.


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Smoke went up from His nose. Fire that destroyed came from His mouth. Burnt pieces of wood were set on fire by it.


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Then the bottom of the sea was seen. The bottom of the world lost its covering, at the strong words of the Lord, at the rush of breath from His nose.


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"With the faithful You show Yourself faithful. With the one without blame You show Yourself without blame.


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As for God, His way is perfect. The Word of the Lord is proven true. He is a covering to all who go to Him to be safe.


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Then I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth. I crushed and stepped on them like the mud of the streets.


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"You have saved me from trouble with my people. You have kept me as head of the nations. People whom I have not known serve me.


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He makes me free from those who hate me. You lift me above those who come against me. You save me from the man who wants to hurt me.


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With great power He saves His king. He shows loving-kindness to His chosen one, to David and his children forever."


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Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse, the man who was raised on high, the chosen one of the God of Jacob, the sweet song writer of Israel, says,


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The God of Israel has spoken. The Rock of Israel said to me, 'When one is right and good in ruling over men, ruling in the fear of God,


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he shines on them like the morning light. He is like the sunshine on a morning without clouds. He is like rain that makes the new grass grow out of the earth through sunshine after rain.'


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In truth, does not my house stand right with God? For He has made an agreement with me that lasts forever. It is planned right in all things, and sure. For will He not make all my help and my desire grow?


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But those of no worth are all like thorns that are thrown away, because they cannot be taken with the hand.


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The man who touches them must be covered with iron and have a spear. All of them will be burned up with fire as they sit."


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These are the names of David's men of war. There was Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, head of the three. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed 800 men at one time.


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Next to him among the three strong men was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was with David when they spoke against the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had left.


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Eleazar got up and killed the Philistines until his hand was tired from holding the sword. The Lord saved many of His people that day. The men returned after him only to take what had belonged to the dead.


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Next to him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together at Lehi, where there was a piece of ground full of lentil plants. The people ran from the Philistines.


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But Shammah stood in the center of the piece of ground and fought for it. He killed the Philistines. The Lord saved many of His people that day.


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Then three of the thirty leaders went down to David during the gathering time to the cave of Adullam. The Philistine army was staying in the valley of Rephaim.


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David had a desire and said, "If only someone would give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!"


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So the three strong men broke through the Philistine army and took water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord,


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and said, "O Lord, far be it from me to do this. Should I drink the blood of the men who went and put their lives in danger?" So he would not drink it. The three strong men did these things.


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Now Abishai the brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was head of the thirty. He fought with his spear against 300 men and killed them. His name was respected as well as the three.


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He was the most honored of the thirty. So he became their captain. But he was not as strong as the three.


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Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a man of Kabzeel with strength of heart. He had done powerful things. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. And he went down and killed a lion in a hole while the snow was falling.


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He killed an Egyptian, an important man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. But Benaiah went down to him with a heavy stick and took the spear from the Egyptian's hand. Then he killed him with his own spear.


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Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things. His name was respected as well as the three strong men.


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He was honored among the thirty. But he was not as strong as the three. David made him captain of the soldiers who kept him from danger.


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Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, and Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin.


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Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the one who carried the battle clothes of Joab the son of Zeruiah.


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Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel. He moved David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah."


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So the king said to Joab the captain of the army who was with him, "Go through all the families of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba. Number the people, so I may know how many there are."


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But Joab said to the king, "May the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are. And may it be while the eyes of my lord the king still see. But why does my lord the king find this thing pleasing?"


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But the king's word was stronger than Joab and the captains of the army. So Joab and the army leaders went out from the king to number the people of Israel.


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They crossed the Jordan and stopped at Aroer, on the south side of the city in the center of the valley of Gad. And they went on to Jazer.


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Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi. They came to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon.


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They came to the strong place of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah, to Beersheba.


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When they had gone through the whole land, they came to Jerusalem. They had traveled nine months and twenty days.


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And Joab gave the number of the people to the king. There were 800,000 strong men in Israel who used the sword, and 500,000 men of Judah.


text:
David's heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So he said to the Lord, "I have sinned. But now I beg you, O Lord. Take away the sin of Your servant, for I have acted like a fool."


text:
When David got up in the morning, the word of the Lord came to Gad, the one who spoke for God to David. The Lord said,


text:
"Go and tell David, 'This is what the Lord says: "I give you three things to choose from. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you." ' "


text:
So Gad came to David and told him, and said, "Will you have seven years without food in your land? Or will you run from those who hate you for three months, while they come after you? Or will there be disease in your land for three days? Now think about it. Decide what answer I should return to Him Who sent me."


text:
David said to Gad, "I am in much trouble. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His loving-kindness is great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."


text:
So the Lord sent a disease upon Israel from the morning until the time given. And 70,000 men died, from Dan to Beersheba.


text:
The angel put out his hand to destroy Jerusalem. But the Lord had pity on them because of their trouble. He said to the angel who destroyed the people, "It is enough! Do no more!" The angel of the Lord was by the grain-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


text:
When David saw the angel who was killing the people, he said to the Lord, "See, it is I who have sinned. It is I who have done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? I beg You, let Your hand be against me and my father's family."


text:
Then Gad came to David and said, "Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the grain-floor of Araunah the Jebusite."


text:
Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants crossing over toward him. And he went out and put his face to the ground in front of the king.


text:
Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David answered, "To buy the grain-floor from you, to build an altar to the Lord. Then the disease may be kept away from the people."


text:
Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever is good in his eyes, and make a gift of it. Look, there are the bulls for the burnt gift. The tools for cleaning the grain, and the cross-pieces the bulls wear to pull loads, can be used for the wood.


text:
Araunah gives all this to the king." And Araunah said, "May the Lord your God be pleased with your gift."


text:
But the king said to Araunah, "No, I will buy it from you for a price. I will not give burnt gifts to the Lord my God which I do not pay for." So David bought the grain-floor and the bulls for fifty pieces of silver.


text:
And David built an altar there to the Lord. He gave burnt gifts and peace gifts. So the Lord listened to the prayers for the land, and stopped the disease in Israel.


text:
Now King David was old. He had lived many years. They covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm.


text:
So his servants said to him, "Let a young woman who has never had a man be found for my lord the king. Let her help the king and become his nurse. And let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm."


text:
So they looked through all the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and found Abishag the Shunammite. And they brought her to the king.


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The girl was very beautiful. She became the king's nurse and helped him. But the king did not have sex with her.


text:
Now Haggith's son Adonijah honored himself, saying, "I will be king." So he made war-wagons and horsemen ready for himself, with fifty men to run in front of him.


text:
His father had never troubled him at any time by asking, "Why have you done this?" He was a very good-looking man also, and was born next after Absalom.


text:
He spoke with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the religious leader. And they followed Adonijah and helped him.


text:
But Zadok the religious leader, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the man of God, Shimei, Rei, and David's strong men, were not with Adonijah.


text:
Adonijah killed sheep and cattle and fat animals by the stone of Zoheleth, beside En-rogel. He asked all his brothers, the king's sons and all the king's men of Judah to come.


text:
Then Nathan said to Solomon's mother Bathsheba, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?


text:
Go to King David and say to him, 'My lord, O king, have you not promised your woman servant, saying, "For sure your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne''? Why then has Adonijah become king?'


text:
While you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and tell him your words are true."


text:
So Bathsheba went to the king in his room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was helping him.


text:
She said to him, "My lord, you promised your woman servant by the Lord your God, saying, 'For sure your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne.'


text:
He has killed many cattle and sheep and fat animals. He has asked all the king's sons and Abiathar the religious leader and Joab the captain of the army to come. But he has not asked your servant Solomon to come.


text:
Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you. They are waiting for you to tell them who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.


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Or else as soon as my lord the king is dead, I and my son Solomon will be thought of as wrong-doers."


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They told the king, "Here is Nathan who speaks for God." When Nathan came in front of the king, he put his face to the ground.


text:
Then Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne'?


text:
For he has gone down today and has killed many cattle and sheep and fat animals. He has asked all the king's sons and the captains of the army and Abiathar the religious leader to come. They are eating and drinking with him, and are saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!'


text:
But he has not asked me your servant, Zadok the religious leader, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon, to come.


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Has this been done by my lord the king? Have you not shown your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"


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I promised you by the Lord the God of Israel, saying, 'Your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne in my place.' And I will even do so this day."


text:
Bathsheba put her face to the ground in front of the king and said, "May my lord King David live forever."


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Then King David said, "Call to me Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." And they came to the king.


text:
The king said to them, "Take the servants of your lord with you. Have my son Solomon go on my own horse. And bring him down to Gihon.


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Let Zadok the religious leader and Nathan the man of God set him apart there as king over Israel. Sound the horn and say, 'Long live King Solomon!'


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Then come up after him. He will come and sit on my throne and be king in my place. For I have chosen him to be ruler over Israel and Judah."


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Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Let it be so! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so!


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May the Lord be with Solomon as He has been with my lord the king. May He make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!"


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So Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down to Gihon. And they brought Solomon with them, on King David's horse.


text:
There Zadok the religious leader took the horn of oil from the tent and poured it on Solomon. Then they sounded the horn and all the people said, "Long live King Solomon!"


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And all the people went up after him. They were playing music and were filled with joy. The earth shook with all the noise.


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Adonijah and all who had been asked to be with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the horn, he said, "Why is there such a noise in the city?"


text:
While he was still speaking, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the religious leader came. Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a man to be trusted, and bring good news."


text:
The king has sent with him Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they have made him travel on the king's horse.


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Zadok the religious leader and Nathan the man of God have set him apart as king in Gihon. They have come up from there filled with joy, so there is much noise in the city. This is the noise you have heard.


text:
What is more, the king's servants came to give honor to our lord King David, saying, 'May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name and his throne greater than your throne!' And the king put his face down upon the bed.


text:
The king said, 'Thanks be to the Lord, the God of Israel. He has given one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it.' "


text:
Solomon was told, "See, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. See, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon promise me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.' "


text:
Solomon said, "If he will be a man of worth, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground. But if he is found to be bad, he will die."


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So King Solomon sent men to bring him down from the altar. Adonijah came and put his face to the ground in front of King Solomon. And Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."


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Do what the Lord your God tells you. Walk in His ways. Keep all His Laws and His Word, by what is written in the Law of Moses. Then you will do well in all that you do and in every place you go.


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Then the Lord will keep His promise to me. He has said to me, 'Your sons must be careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and soul. If they do, you will never be without a man on the throne of Israel.'


text:
Now you know what Zeruiah's son Joab did to me. You know what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel. He killed Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether in the time of peace as if it were in the time of war. He put the blood of war on his belt and on the shoes of his feet.


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But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite. Let them be among those who eat at your table. For they helped me when I ran from your brother Absalom.


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See, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera the Benjamite, of Bahurim. It was he who spoke bad words against me on the day I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to me at the Jordan, I promised him by the Lord, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'


text:
So do not let him go without being punished. For you are a wise man. You will know what you should do to him. Bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood."


text:
He had ruled over Israel forty years. Seven years he ruled in Hebron. And thirty-three years he ruled in Jerusalem.


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Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Solomon's mother Bathsheba. She said, "Do you come in peace?" And he said, "Yes, in peace."


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So he said, "You know that the nation was mine. All Israel thought I would be king. But the nation has become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord.


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He said, "I beg you, speak to Solomon the king. For he will not say no to you. Ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife."


text:
So Bathsheba went to speak to King Solomon for Adonijah. The king stood up to meet her, bowed in front of her, then sat on his throne. He had a seat brought in for the king's mother, and she sat on his right.


text:
She said, "I am asking you for one small thing. Do not say no to me." And the king said to her, "Ask, my mother. I will not say no to you."


text:
King Solomon answered his mother, "Why are you asking me to give Abishag the Shunammite to Adonijah? Ask me to give him the nation also! For he is my older brother. And Abiathar the religious leader and Joab the son of Zeruiah are on his side!"


text:
Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, "May God do so to me and more, if Adonijah has not asked for this against his own life.


text:
The Lord has given me my place on the throne of my father David. He has made me a house as He promised. And as the Lord lives, for sure Adonijah will be put to death today."


text:
Then the king said to Abiathar the religious leader, "Go to your own fields at Anathoth, for you should be put to death. But I will not have you killed at this time. Because you carried the special box of the Lord God in front of my father David. And you shared in all of my father's suffering."


text:
So Solomon stopped Abiathar from being religious leader for the Lord any longer. This was done to keep the word of the Lord, which God had spoken about the family of Eli in Shiloh.


text:
Now the news came to Joab. For Joab had followed Adonijah, but he had not followed Absalom. And Joab ran to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar.


text:
King Solomon was told that Joab had run to the tent of the Lord, and was beside the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go and kill him."


text:
Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord. He said to Joab, "The king says to come out." But Joab said, "No! I will die here." So Benaiah returned to the king and said, "This is what Joab said. This is how he answered me."


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The king said to him, "Do as he has said. Kill him and bury him. In this way you will take away from me and my father's house the blood of those killed by Joab without a reason.


text:
The Lord will return Joab's acts of killing upon his own head. Because Joab killed two men who were right and good and better than he. He killed them with the sword while my father David did not know it. He killed Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.


text:
So their blood will be on the head of Joab and on the head of his children forever. But may there be peace from the Lord forever to David and his children, his house and his throne."


text:
Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and killed Joab. He was buried at his own house in the desert.


text:
The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab's place. And the king put Zadok the religious leader in the place of Abiathar.


text:
Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there. Do not leave there.


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For on the day you go out and cross the river Kidron, you will know for sure that you will die. Your blood will be on your own head."


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Shimei said to the king, "What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.


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But at the end of three years, two of Shimei's servants ran away to Achish the son of Maacah, king of Gath. Shimei was told, "See, your servants are in Gath."


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Then Shimei got up and made his donkey ready to travel. And he went to Achish in Gath to look for his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath.


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So the king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you promise by the Lord and tell you of danger, saying, 'You will know for sure that on the day you leave and go anywhere, you will die'? And you said to me, 'What you have said is good.'


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And the king said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the bad things you did to my father David. So the Lord will return your sin upon your own head.


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But good will come to King Solomon. The throne of David will keep its place before the Lord forever."


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So the king told Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and killed Shimei. The nation was put under the rule of Solomon.


text:
Then Solomon made a marriage agreement with Pharaoh the king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the city of David. She stayed there until he had finished building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem.


text:
The people were still giving their different gifts on altars, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.


text:
Now Solomon loved the Lord. He walked in the Laws of his father David. But he gave gifts and burned special perfume on different altars.


text:
The king went to give a gift on the altar in worship at Gibeon, for that was where the most important altar was. Solomon gave a thousand burnt gifts on that altar.


text:
The Lord came to Solomon in a special dream in Gibeon during the night. God said, "Ask what you wish Me to give you."


text:
Then Solomon said, "You have shown great loving-kindness to Your servant David my father because he was faithful and right and good and pure in heart before You. And You have kept for him this great and lasting love. You have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.


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Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child. I do not know how to start or finish.


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Your servant is among Your people which You have chosen. They are many people. There are too many people to number.


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So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and know the difference between good and bad. For who is able to judge Your many people?"


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God said to him, "You have asked this, and have not asked for a long life for yourself. You have not asked for riches, or for the life of those who hate you. But you have asked for understanding to know what is right. Because you have asked this,


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I have done what you said. See, I have given you a wise and understanding heart. No one has been like you before, and there will be no one like you in the future.


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I give you what you have not asked, also. I give you both riches and honor. So there will be no king like you all your days.


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And if you walk in My ways and keep My Laws and Word as your father David did, I will allow you to live a long time."


text:
Solomon awoke, and saw it was a dream. He came to Jerusalem and stood before the Lord's special box of the agreement. There he gave burnt gifts and peace gifts, and made a special supper for all his servants.


text:
One of the women said, "O my lord, this woman and I live in the same house. And I gave birth to a child while she was in the house.


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On the third day after I gave birth, this woman gave birth to a child also. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house. There were only the two of us.


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So she got up in the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She laid him in her arms, and her dead son in my arms.


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When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead. But when I came nearer and looked, I saw that he was not my son who was born to me."


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Then the other woman said, "No! The living one is my son, and the dead one is your son." But the first woman said, "No! The dead one is your son and the living one is my son." They spoke this way in front of the king.


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Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one.' The other says, 'No! Your son is the dead one. My son is the living one.' "


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And the king said, "Divide the living child in two. Give half to the one woman and half to the other."


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Then the mother of the living child had much pity for her son and said to the king, "O, my lord, give her the living child. Do not kill him." But the other woman said, "He will not be mine or yours. Divide him."


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Then the king answered and said, "Give the first woman the living child. Do not kill him. She is his mother."


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When all Israel heard how the king had decided, they were afraid of him. For they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do what is right and fair.


text:
Shisha's sons Elihoreph and Ahijah were the heads of meetings. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the one who wrote down the things of the nation.


text:
Azariah the son of Nathan was over the leaders. Zabud the son of Nathan was a religious leader and the king's friend.


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Ahishar was head of the king's house. And Adoniram the son of Abda was head of the men who were made to work.


text:
Solomon had twelve men over all Israel, who brought food for the king and those of his house. Each man had to bring food for one month in the year.


text:
There was Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah as far as the other side of Jokmeam.


text:
There was Bengeber in Ramoth-gilead. <n>(The towns of Manasseh's son Jair which are in Gilead were his. And he had the land of Argob in Bashan, where there were sixty big cities with walls and locks of brass.)</n>


text:
and Geber the son of Uri in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. He was the only leader in the land.


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There were many people in Judah and Israel, as much as the sand beside the sea. They were eating and drinking and full of joy.


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Solomon ruled over all the nations from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and to the land of Egypt. They brought taxes and worked for Solomon all the days of his life.


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Solomon ruled over everything west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza. He ruled over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace around him on all sides.


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So Judah and Israel were safe. Every man was safe under his vine and fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.


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Those leaders brought food for King Solomon and all who came to his table, each during his month. They made sure nothing was missing.


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They brought barley and straw for the fast horses and the war-wagon horses, where it was needed. Each man did the work he had been given to do.


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Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.


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He was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol, Darda, and the sons of Mahol. His name was known in all the nations around him.


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He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on the wall. He spoke of animals, birds, things that moved upon the ground, and fish.


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Men came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon. They came from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.


text:
Now Hiram the king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had set him apart to be king in place of his father. Hiram had always loved David.


text:
"You know that my father David was not able to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars all around him. The Lord had not yet put those who hated him under his feet.


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But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is no trouble or anything bad happening.


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So I plan to build a house for the name of the Lord my God. Because the Lord said to my father David, 'I will set your son on your throne in your place. He will build the house for My name.'


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So tell them to cut cedar trees of Lebanon for me. My servants will join yours. And I will give you whatever you say to pay your servants. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut trees like the Sidonians."


text:
When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he was filled with joy and said, "Thanks be to the Lord today. He has given to David a wise son to rule this great people."


text:
Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the news you have sent me. I will do what you want with the cedar and cypress trees.


text:
My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them ready to go on the sea to the place you choose. I will have them broken up there, and you can carry them away. Then you will do what I wish by giving food to those of my house."


text:
Then Solomon gave Hiram 200,000 baskets of grain as food for those of his house, and 200 jars of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram each year.


text:
And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they made an agreement.


text:
He sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 men each month. They were in Lebanon one month and at home two months. Adoniram ruled those who were made to work.


text:
Then as the king told them, they cut out large stones of much worth for the house of God to be built on.


text:
Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites cut them. They made the wood and the stones ready to build the house.


text:
In the 480th year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's rule over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord.


text:
The house which King Solomon built for the Lord was as long as thirty long steps, as wide as ten long steps, and eight times taller than a man.


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All along the front of the House of God was a porch ten long steps long and five long steps wide. It was as long as the house was wide.


text:
He made a building of rooms against the outer walls of three sides of the house. These rooms were three floors high.


text:
The bottom floor was as wide as three steps. The second floor was as wide as three long steps. And the third floor was as wide as four steps. For around the outside of the house he made places for the large wood cross-pieces to rest on. That way they would not need to be put into holes in the walls of the house.


text:
The house was built of stone that was cut at the place where it was taken from the ground. There was no noise of a hammer or an ax or any iron object heard in the house while it was being built.


text:
The door for the first floor room was on the right side of the house. They would go up steps to the second floor, and from the second to the third.


text:
So he built the house and finished it. And he made the roof of the house of large pieces of cedar wood.


text:
He built the three floors against the outside wall of the house. Each one was as high as a man could raise his hand. They were joined to the house with big pieces of cedar wood.


text:
"If you obey My Laws and keep My Word, then I will keep My promise with you, which I spoke to your father David about this house you are building.


text:
He built the walls of the house on the inside with pieces of cedar wood. He put wood over the inside walls from the floor of the house to the roof. And he put pieces of cypress wood over the floor of the house.


text:
An inside room called the most holy place was built in the back part of the house with pieces of cedar wood, from the floor to the roof and as wide as ten long steps.


text:
The rest of the house, the center room in front of the most holy place, was as long as twenty long steps.


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There was cedar on the house within, cut to look like gourds and open flowers. It was all cedar. No stone was seen.


text:
Then he built the most holy place inside the house, in which to put the special box of the agreement.


text:
The most holy place was as long as ten long steps, as wide as ten long steps, and more than five times taller than a man. He covered it with pure gold. And he covered the altar with cedar.


text:
Solomon covered the inside of the house with pure gold. He crossed the front of the most holy place with chains of gold, and he covered it with gold.


text:
He covered the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. And he covered the whole altar by the most holy place with gold.


text:
In the most holy place he made two cherubim of olive wood. Each one was almost three times taller than a man.


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One wing of the cherub was as long as three steps. And the other wing of the cherub was as long as three steps. It was as far as five long steps from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing.


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It was as much as five long steps between the ends of the wings of the other cherub also. Both the cherubim were the same height, length and width, and they looked alike.


text:
He put the cherubim in the most holy place of the house. The wings of the cherubim were spread out. The wing of the one cherub was touching the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall. So their wings were touching each other in the center of the house.


text:
Then he cut pictures in all the walls around the house to look like cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, in the center room and the most holy place.


text:
He cut pictures in the two doors of olive wood, to look like cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, and covered them with gold. He spread the gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.


text:
On them he cut pictures of cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. And he covered the pictures with an even covering of gold.


text:
In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month, all the parts of the house were finished just as all the plans had been made. Solomon took seven years to build it.


text:
He built the house of the trees of Lebanon. It was as long as fifty long steps, as wide as twenty-five long steps, and eight times taller than a man. It was built on four rows of cedar pillars, and large pieces of cedar wood lying on top of the pillars.


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And it was covered with cedar above the rooms that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row.


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All the doors and windows were as high as they were wide. And there were three rows of windows on each side.


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Then he made a room for walking through of large pillars. It was as long as twenty-five long steps, and as wide as fifteen long steps. There was a porch in front with pillars, and an overhead covering in front of them.


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He made a room for the throne, the room for judging. It was where he would decide between right and wrong. It was covered with cedar from the floor to the roof.


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His own house where he was to live, in the place behind the throne room, was built the same way. Solomon made a house like this room for Pharaoh's daughter also, whom he had married.


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All these were made with stones of much worth, each one cut to be put into place. They were cut with saws, inside and outside, from the very base to the top of the roof, and from the outside to the largest room.


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The base of the building was made with large stones of much worth. The stones were as long as five long steps, and four long steps.


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The largest room had three rows of cut stone around it, and a row of cedar pieces. The same was around the open space in the house of the Lord, and the porch of the house.


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Hiram was the son of a woman whose husband had died, from the family of Naphtali. His father was a man of Tyre, who worked with brass. He was filled with wisdom and understanding and much learning for doing any work with brass. So he came to King Solomon, and did all his work.


text:
He made the two pillars of brass. One of them was five times taller than a man. And the length around each of them was as far as six long steps.


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He made two top pieces of melted brass to set on the tops of the pillars. One piece to go on top was as tall as a man can raise his hand. And the other piece to go on top was as tall as a man can raise his hand.


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He made nets of network and turned strings of chain-work for the pieces on top of the pillars. There were seven for one top piece, and seven for the other.


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So Hiram made the pillars. There were two rows of pomegranates around each network, to cover the top pieces.


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Now the top pieces on the pillars of the porch were made to look like lily flowers, as tall as a man.


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The top pieces were upon the two pillars, and above the round part beside the network. There were 200 pomegranates in rows around both top pieces.


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He set up the pillars at the porch of the house. He set up the right pillar and called it Jachin. And he set up the left pillar and called it Boaz.


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The top pieces on the pillars were made to look like lily flowers. So the work of the pillars was finished.


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Now he made a large brass water pool. It was round, and as wide as five long steps. It was as tall as a man can raise his hand. And the length around it was as far as fifteen long steps.


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Gourds went around the top of the pool. There were ten of them for every arm-length. The gourds were in two rows, and made right in with the pool.


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The pool stood on the backs of twelve bulls made of brass. Three looked to the north. Three looked to the west. Three looked to the south. And three looked to the east. The water was set on top of them, and their back parts turned toward the center.


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The side of the pool was as far through as the width of a man's open hand. Its round top was made like the top of a cup, like a lily flower. It could hold 2,000 bottles of water.


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Then he made the ten stands of brass. Each stand was as long as two long steps, as wide as two long steps, and as high as a man's neck.


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On the side pieces between the cross-pieces were lions, bulls and cherubim. On the side pieces, both above and below the lions and bulls, there were round pieces of hanging work.


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Each stand had four brass wheels on straight pieces of brass. At the four corners were pieces to hold up the basin. These pieces were made of melted brass with round pieces at each side.


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Its opening inside the crown at the top was an arm-length. It was round like a pillar, one and a half armlengths deep. There were pictures cut on its opening. And their sides were not round, but had four sides of the same length.


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Under the sides were the four wheels. The pieces that held the wheels were on the stand. The height of a wheel was one and a half arm-lengths.


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The wheels were made like the wheel of a war-wagon. The straight pieces which held the wheels, the outside of the wheels, their crosspieces and their center pieces were all made of one piece of brass.


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There were four pieces at the four corners of each stand to hold it up. These were of one piece with the stands.


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He cut pictures of cherubim, lions and palm trees in the plates of the parts that held it up and on its sides, where there was room. And there were pictures all around.


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He made the ten stands like this. All of them were made alike. They had the same length, width and height, and looked the same.


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He made ten basins of brass. One basin held 40 bottles of water. Each one was as wide as two long steps. And one basin was on each of the ten stands.


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Then he put the stands in place. Five were on the south side of the house, and five were on the north side of the house. And he set the large basin of brass on the southeast corner of the house.


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Hiram made the basins, and the objects for digging, and the pots. So Hiram finished doing all the work for King Solomon in the house of the Lord.


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He made the two pillars, and the two pots of the top pieces on the top of the two pillars. And he made the two networks to cover the two pots of the pieces on top of the pillars.


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He made the 400 pomegranates for the two networks. There were two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two pots of the pieces on top of the pillars.


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He made the pails, the objects for digging, and the pots. All these things which Hiram made for King Solomon in the house of the Lord were made of shining brass.


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Solomon did not weigh any of the objects, because there were too many. The weight of the brass was not known.


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Solomon made all the holy things which were in the house of the Lord. He made the gold altar and the gold table for the bread before the Lord.


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He made the lamp-stands of pure gold. There were five on the right side and five on the left side, in front of the most holy place. He made the flowers and the lamps and their objects out of gold.


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He made the cups, the objects to put out the lamps, the pots, the dishes for special perfume, and the fire-holders, of pure gold. He made the hinges of gold, for the doors of the most holy place and for the doors of the house.


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So all the work that King Solomon did in the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things which had been set apart by his father David, the silver and the gold and the holy things. He put them in the store-houses of the house of the Lord.


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Then King Solomon gathered together the leaders of Israel in front of him in Jerusalem. He gathered together all the heads of the families and the leaders of the fathers' houses of the sons of Israel. They gathered to bring up the Lord's special box of the agreement from Zion the city of David.


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All the leaders of Israel came, and the religious leaders took up the Lord's special box of the agreement.


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They brought up the Lord's special box of the agreement, the meeting tent, and all the holy objects which were in the tent. The religious leaders and the Levites brought them up.


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King Solomon and all the people of Israel, who were gathered to him, were with him in front of the special box. They killed so many sheep and cattle on the altar that their number could not be known.


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Then the religious leaders brought the Lord's special box of the agreement to its place. They brought it into the most holy place of the house, under the wings of the cherubim.


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The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the special box. The cherubim made a covering above the special box and its special pieces of wood used for carrying.


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The carrying pieces were so long that the ends of them could be seen from the holy place in front of the most holy place. But they could not be seen from outside. They are there to this day.


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There was nothing in the special box except the two stone writings which Moses put there at Horeb. There the Lord had made an agreement with the people of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt.


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So the religious leaders were not able to stand there to do their work because of the cloud. For the shining-greatness of the Lord filled the Lord's house.


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Then the king turned around and prayed that good would come to all the people of Israel, while all the people of Israel stood.


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He said, "Thanks be to the Lord, the God of Israel. He spoke with His mouth to my father David. And He has kept His promise with His hand, saying,


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'Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I did not choose a city of all the families of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there. But I chose David to be king over My people Israel.'


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Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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But the Lord said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.


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But you will not build the house. Your son who will be born to you will build the house for My name.'


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Now the Lord has kept His promise which He made. For I have taken my father David's place and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. And I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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There I have made a place for the special box in which is the agreement of the Lord. He made it when He brought them from the land of Egypt."


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Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord. And in front of all the people of Israel he lifted his hands toward heaven.


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He said, "O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below. You are keeping Your agreement and are showing loving-kindness to Your servants who walk in Your ways with all their heart.


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You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. Yes, You have spoken with Your mouth, and have done it with Your hand, as it is this day.


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So now, O Lord, God of Israel, keep Your promise to my father David when You said to him, 'You will not be without a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful to walk in My ways as you have walked.'


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O God of Israel, let Your Word be made sure, which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.


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"But is it true that God will live on the earth? See, heaven and the highest heaven are not big enough to hold You. How much less this house which I have built!


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But keep in mind the prayer of Your servant, O Lord my God. Listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays to You today.


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Open Your eyes night and day toward this house, toward the place of which You have said, 'My name will be there.' Listen to the prayer Your servant will pray toward this place.


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Listen to the prayer of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven where You live. Hear and forgive.


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"If a man sins against his neighbor and has to make a promise, and he comes and makes a promise at Your altar in this house,


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then hear in heaven and act. Judge Your servants. Punish the guilty forever by bringing his actions upon his own head, and free from guilt the one who is right and good, by returning his good to him.


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"When Your people Israel do not win in battle over those who hate them, because they have sinned against You, but if they turn to You again and call on Your name and pray to You in this house,


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then hear in heaven. Forgive the sin of Your people Israel. And return them to the land You gave to their fathers.


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"When the heavens are shut up and give no rain because they have sinned against You, if they pray toward this place and call on Your name and turn from their sin when You bring trouble to them,


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then hear in heaven. Forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel. Teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people.


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"If there is no food in the land, if there is a bad sickness, if there are diseases or locusts or grasshoppers that kill the plants, if the armies of those who hate Your people gather around their cities, or whatever trouble or sickness there is,


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whatever prayer is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the trouble of his own heart and spreading his hands toward this house,


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then hear in heaven where You are. Forgive, and act. Give to each the pay he has earned by all his ways. You know his heart. You alone know the hearts of all the children of men.


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<n>(for they will hear of Your great name and Your powerful hand and Your long arm,)</n> when he comes and prays toward this house,


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hear in heaven where You are. Do all the stranger asks of You. So all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel. Then they may know that this house I have built is called by Your name.


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"When your people go out to battle against those who hate them, by whatever way You send them, when they pray to the Lord toward the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your name,


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"When they sin against You <n>(for there is no man who does not sin)</n>, and You will be angry with them, give them to those who hate them, so they will be taken away to another land, far away or near.


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When they do some thinking in the land where they have been taken, and pray to You in the land of those who hate them, saying, 'We have sinned and have done wrong and have done bad things,'


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if they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of those who hate them and have taken them there, and if they pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your name,


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Forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the wrong they have done against You. Give them loving-pity in front of those who have taken them away, that they may have loving-pity on them.


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For they are Your people and Your children whom You have brought out of Egypt, from the iron fire-place.


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Let Your eyes be open to the prayer of Your servant and of Your people Israel. Listen to them when they call to You.


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For You have divided them from all the peoples of the earth as Your children. You have done what You said You would do through Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God."


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When Solomon had finished praying all this prayer to the Lord, he stood up in front of the altar of the Lord. He had been on his knees with his hands lifted toward heaven.


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He stood and prayed with a loud voice that good would come to all the people of Israel who were gathered together. He said,


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"Thanks be to the Lord. He has given rest to His people Israel. He has done all that He promised. Every word has come true of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.


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May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep all His Word and all His Laws, which He told our fathers.


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May these words of mine, which I have prayed to the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night. May He see that the right thing is done to His servant and His people Israel, day by day as we have need.


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So let your whole heart be true to the Lord our God. Walk in His Laws and keep His Word, just as you are doing today."


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Solomon gave 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep as a peace gift to the Lord. So the king and all the people of Israel set apart the house of the Lord.


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The same day the king set apart the center of the open space that was in front of the house of the Lord. For there he gave the burnt gift and the grain gift and the fat of the peace gifts. Because the brass altar before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt gift and the grain gift and the fat of the peace gifts.


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So Solomon had the special supper at that time, and all Israel with him. There were many people gathered, from the way into Hamath to the river of Egypt. They were before the Lord our God for seven days and seven more days, fourteen days in all.


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Solomon sent the people away on the eighth day, and they gave thanks to the king. Then they went to their tents full of joy and glad in their hearts for all the good things the Lord had shown to His servant David and to His people Israel.


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Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all that he wanted to build.


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The Lord said to him, "I have heard your prayer which you have prayed to Me. I have set apart this house you have built by putting My name there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there always.


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As for you, walk before Me as your father David walked, with a true heart doing what is right. Do all that I have told you. Obey My Laws. If you do,


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then I will make the throne of your rule over Israel last forever. It will be just as I promised your father David, saying, 'You will never be without a man on the throne of Israel.'


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But if you or your sons turn away from following Me, and do not keep My Laws which I have given you, and go after other gods and worship them, if you do,


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then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them. And I will put away from My eyes the house which I have set apart for My name. Israel will become a word of shame among all peoples.


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This house will be broken to pieces. Everyone who passes by will be surprised and make a sound of wonder, and say, 'Why has the Lord done this to this land and to this house?'


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And they will say, 'Because they turned away from the Lord their God, Who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt. They took in other gods and worshiped them and served them. So the Lord has brought all this trouble upon them.' "


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At the end of twenty years, Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king's house.


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Hiram king of Tyre had given Solomon all the cedar and cypress trees and gold that he wanted. Then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.


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He said, "What are these cities you have given me, my brother?" So they are called the land of Cabul to this day.


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Now King Solomon made men work to build the house of the Lord, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Meggido and Gezer.


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For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer and burned it with fire. He killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and then gave it as a wedding-gift to his daughter, Solomon's wife.


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Solomon built all the storecities that he had, the cities for his war-wagons, the cities for his horsemen, and all he wanted to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.


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Now there were people left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel.


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And their children were left after them in the land. The people of Israel were not able to destroy all of them. So Solomon made these people work for him, even to this day.


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But Solomon did not make the people of Israel work for him. For they were men of war, his servants, his rulers, his captains, his war-wagon drivers, and his horsemen.


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These were the heads of the captains over Solomon's work. There were 550 of them who ruled over the people doing the work.


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But Pharaoh's daughter went up from the city of David to her own house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.


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Three times a year Solomon gave burnt gifts and peace gifts on the altar he built to the Lord. He burned special perfume on the altar before the Lord. So he finished the house.


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King Solomon built a group of ships in Ezion-geber, near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.


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Hiram sent his servants with the ships, sailors who knew the sea. He sent them with the servants of Solomon.


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They went to Ophir and brought out gold weighing as much as 420 small men. And they brought it to King Solomon.


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When the queen of Sheba heard about the wisdom Solomon had from the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.


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She came to Jerusalem and many people came with her. She brought camels carrying spices and much gold and stones of much worth. When she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind.


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And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from the king which he could not make plain to her.


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the food on his table, and his many servants seated to eat. She saw those who brought the food and how they were dressed, and those who carried his cups. She saw the steps by which he went up to the house of the Lord. And there was no more spirit in her.


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She said to the king, "The news was true that I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.


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But I did not believe the news until I came. Now my eyes have seen it. And half of it was not told to me. You have more wisdom and riches than I heard you had.


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How happy are your men! How happy are these your servants who stand in front of you always and hear your wisdom!


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Thanks be to the Lord your God Who was pleased with you and set you on the throne of Israel. Because the Lord loved Israel forever, He has made you king, to do what is fair and right and good."


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Then she gave the king gold weighing as much as 120 small men. She gave him a very large amount of spices and stones of much worth. Never again did so much spices come in as that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.


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The king used the almug trees to make pillars for the house of the Lord and for the king's house. And he used them to make different kinds of harps for the singers. No such almug trees have come in again or have been seen to this day.


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King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all she wanted, whatever she asked, as well as his gifts to her from the king's riches. Then she and her servants returned to her own land.


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besides all the gold that came from the traders and all the kings of the Arabs and the leaders of the country.


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King Solomon made 200 large body coverings for battle of beaten gold. For each covering he used 600 pieces of gold.


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And he made 300 coverings of beaten gold, using 150 pieces of gold on each covering. The king put them in the house among the trees of Lebanon.


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The throne had six steps, and a round top at its back. There were arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.


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All of King Solomon's cups were made of gold. And all the cups of the house among the trees of Lebanon were made of pure gold. None of them were made of silver. Silver was not thought of as being of much worth in the days of Solomon.


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For the king had a group of ships of Tarshish at sea with the ships of Hiram. Every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.


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They came from all over the earth to see Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.


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Every one of them brought his gift. They brought objects of silver and gold, clothing, objects for fighting in battle, spices, horses and donkeys, so much year by year.


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Solomon gathered war-wagons and horsemen. He had 1,400 warwagons and 12,000 horsemen. He kept them in the war-wagon cities and with the king in Jerusalem.


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The king made silver as easy to find as stones in Jerusalem. He made cedar trees as easy to find as the sycamore trees of the valley.


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Solomon had horses brought from Egypt and Kue. The king's traders bought them from Kue, each for a price.


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A war-wagon could be brought from Egypt for 600 pieces of silver, and a horse for 150 pieces of silver. They got them in the same way for all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.


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Now King Solomon loved many women from other nations. He loved the daughter of Pharaoh, and Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian and Hittite women.


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They were from the nations about which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, "Do not take wives from them. And do not have them take wives from you. For they will be sure to turn your heart away to follow their gods." But Solomon held on to these women in love.


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He had 700 wives, kings' daughters, and 300 women who acted as his wives. And his wives turned his heart away.


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When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. His whole heart was not faithful to the Lord his God, as the heart of his father David had been.


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For Solomon followed Ashtoreth the false goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the hated god of the Ammonites.


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Solomon did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He did not follow the Lord with all his heart, as his father David had done.


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Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the hated god of Moab, and for Molech the hated god of the sons of Ammon, on the mountain east of Jerusalem.


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He did the same for all his wives from other nations, who burned special perfume and gave gifts to their gods.


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Now the Lord was angry with Solomon, because Solomon's heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel. The Lord had come to him twice


text:
and had told him about this, that he should not follow other gods. But Solomon did not obey what the Lord had told him.


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So the Lord said to Solomon, "Because you have done this and have not kept My agreement and My Laws which I told you, for sure I will tear the nation from you and will give it to your servant.


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But I will not do it while you are alive, because of your father David. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.


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But I will not tear away all the nation. I will give one family group to your son because of My servant David, and because of Jerusalem which I have chosen."


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Then the Lord sent Hadad the Edomite to make trouble for Solomon. He was of the king's family in Edom.


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For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the army had gone up to bury the dead, he killed every male in Edom.


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But Hadad ran away to Egypt, together with certain Edomites of his father's servants, while Hadad was still a young boy.


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They came from Midian to Paran. Then they took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Hadad a house and food and land.


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Now Hadad found much favor in the eyes of Pharaoh. So Pharaoh gave him in marriage the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.


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Tahpenes' sister gave birth to his son Genubath, whom Tahpenes took care of in Pharaoh's house. Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh.


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But Hadad heard in Egypt that David and Joab the captain of David's army were dead. So Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Send me away, so I may return to my own country."


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Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you been without while you stayed with me? Why do you want to go to your own country?" Hadad answered, "Nothing. But even so, let me go."


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God sent Rezon the son of Eliada against Solomon also. Rezon had run away from his owner Hadadezer king of Zobah.


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He gathered men around him and became the leader of a group of fighters, after David killed the men of Zobah. They went to Damascus and stayed there. Rezon was made king in Damascus.


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So he brought trouble to Israel all the days of Solomon, together with the trouble brought by Hadad. He hated Israel and ruled over Syria.


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Then Jeroboam the son of Nebat turned against the king. Jeroboam was Solomon's servant, an Ephraimite of Zeredah. His mother's name was Zeruah, a woman whose husband had died.


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Now this is the reason he turned against the king. Solomon built the Millo, and built a stronger wall around the city of his father David.


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Now Jeroboam was a powerful soldier. When Solomon saw that the young man was a good worker, he chose him to rule over all men of the family of Joseph who were made to work.


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When Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the man who spoke for God Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Ahijah had dressed himself with a new coat, and both of them were alone in the field.


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And he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself. For the Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'See, I will tear the nation out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten family groups.


text:
<n>(But he will have one family group, because of My servant David and because of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen from all the families of Israel.)</n>


text:
Because they have turned away from Me. They have worshiped Ashtoreth the false goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon. They have not walked in My ways, doing what is right in My eyes and keeping My Laws, as his father David did.


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But I will not take the whole nation from him. I will make him ruler all the days of his life, because of My servant David whom I chose, who kept My Word and My Laws.


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I will give one family group to his son, that My servant David will have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen for Myself to put My name.


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Listen to all I tell you to do. Walk in My ways. Do what is right in My eyes by keeping My Word and My Laws, as My servant David did. If you do, then I will be with you and build you a house that will last, as I built for David. And I will give Israel to you.


text:
So Solomon tried to put Jeroboam to death. But Jeroboam got up and ran to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt. And he stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon and whatever he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon?


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And Solomon died and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam ruled in his place.


text:
Now Jeroboam the son of Nebat was still in Egypt where he had run away from King Solomon. When Jeroboam heard the news, he returned from Egypt.


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"Your father made our load heavy. Take away some of the hard work and heavy load your father put on us, and we will serve you."


text:
King Rehoboam spoke with the leaders who had worked for his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked them, "What answer do you think I should give to these people?"


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They said to him, "Help these people today. Serve them. Answer them with good words. If you do, then they will be your servants forever."


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But Rehoboam turned away from the wise words the leaders gave him. Instead he spoke with the young men who grew up with him and stood by him.


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He said to them, "What answer do you say we should give to these people who have said to me, 'Take away some of the heavy load your father put on us'?"


text:
The young men who grew up with him said, "This is what you should say to these people who said to you, 'Your father made our load heavy. Now you take some of the load from us.' You should say to them, 'My little finger is bigger around than my father's body!


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My father gave you a heavy load. I will add to your load. My father punished you with whips. But I will punish you with scorpions.' "


text:
Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had told them, saying, "Return to me on the third day."


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And the king was hard in his answer to them. For he turned away from the wise words the leaders had given him.


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He spoke to them as he had been told by the young men. He said, "My father made your load heavy. I will add to your load. My father punished you with whips. But I will punish you with scorpions."


text:
So the king did not listen to the people. The Lord had let this happen, that He might keep His Word, which the Lord spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


text:
All Israel saw that the king did not listen to them. So they said to the king, "What share do we have in David? We have no share in the son of Jesse! To your tents, O Israel! Now look after your own house, David!" So Israel went to their tents.


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Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who ruled over those who were made to work, and all Israel killed him with stones. So King Rehoboam got on his war-wagon in a hurry to go to Jerusalem.


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When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent for him to meet with the people and made him king of all Israel. Only the family of Judah followed the family of David.


text:
When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he gathered all the family of Judah and the family of Benjamin. He gathered together 180,000 chosen men of war to fight against the family of Israel and return the nation to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.


text:
"Speak to Solomon's son Rehoboam king of Judah, and to all the family of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people. Tell them,


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'This is what the Lord says. "You must not go up and fight against your brothers the sons of Israel. Every man return to his house. For I have let this thing happen." ' " So they listened to the word of the Lord, and returned, as the Lord told them.


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Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel.


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If these people go up to give gifts in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then their hearts will turn to their lord Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and follow Rehoboam king of Judah."


text:
So the king asked the leaders what he should do. And he made two calves of gold. Then he said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt."


text:
Jeroboam made houses on high places. He made religious leaders from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.


text:
He made a special supper on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the special supper which is in Judah. And he gave gifts on the altar. He did the same in Bethel, giving gifts to the calves he had made. And he placed in Bethel the religious leaders of the high places he had made.


text:
Then he went up to the altar he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day he chose in his own heart. He made a special supper for the people of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn special perfume.


text:
A man of God came from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn special perfume.


text:
The man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, "O altar, altar, this is what the Lord says. 'See, a son will be born to the family of David. His name will be Josiah. On you he will burn the religious leaders of the high places who burn special perfume on you. Human bones will be burned on you.' "


text:
He gave a special thing to be seen the same day. He said, "This is what the Lord says will be seen. 'See, the altar will be broken in two. And the ashes on it will be poured out.' "


text:
When King Jeroboam heard the words the man of God cried against the altar in Bethel, he put out his hand from the altar, saying, "Take hold of him!" But his hand which he put out against him dried up. So he could not pull it back to himself.


text:
The altar was broken in two and the ashes were poured out. It was the special thing to see that happened just as the man of God said it would by the word of the Lord.


text:
The king said to the man of God, "I beg you, ask for the favor of the Lord your God. Pray for me, that my hand may be made well again." So the man of God asked for the Lord's favor. And the king's hand was made well again. It became as it was before.


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Then the king said to the man of God, "Come home with me and have something to eat to make yourself strong again. And I will pay you."


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But the man of God said to the king, "I would not go with you if you were to give me half your house. I would not eat bread or drink water in this place.


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For the word of the Lord said to me, 'You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.' "


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Now an old man who spoke for God was living in Bethel. His sons came and told him all the things which the man of God had done that day in Bethel. And they told their father the words which the man had spoken to the king.


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Their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" Now his sons had seen the way which the man of God who came from Judah had gone.


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Then he said to his sons, "Get the donkey ready for me." So they got the donkey ready for him, and he went away on it.


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


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And he said, "I cannot return with you or go with you. I will not eat bread or drink water with you in this place.


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For I was told by the word of the Lord, 'Do not eat bread or drink water there. Do not return by the way you came.' "


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And he said to him, "I am a man who speaks for God like you. An angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.' " But he lied to him.


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As they were sitting down at the table, the word of the Lord came to the man who spoke for God who had brought him back.


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And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "This is what the Lord says, 'You have not obeyed the word of the Lord. You have not done what the Lord your God told you to do.


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You have returned and eaten bread and drunk water in the place the Lord said to you, "Eat no bread and drink no water." So now your body will not come to the grave of your fathers.' "


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And after he had eaten bread and drunk, he got the donkey ready for the man of God whom he had brought back.


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When he had gone, a lion met him on the way and killed him. His body was thrown on the road, with the donkey standing beside it. The lion stood beside the body also.


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Then men passed by and saw the body thrown on the road, and the lion standing beside the body. So they came and told about it in the city where the old man who spoke for God lived.


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When the man who spoke for God who had brought him back from the way heard about it, he said, "It is the man of God. He did not obey the word of the Lord. So the Lord has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him. It was done as had been spoken to him by the word of the Lord."


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Then he went and found his body thrown on the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had not eaten the body or torn the donkey.


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So the man who spoke for God picked up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey, and returned with it to the city. He had sorrow for him and buried him.


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After he had buried him, he said to his sons, "When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.


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For what he cried by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses of the high places in the cities of Samaria will happen for sure."


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After this, Jeroboam did not return from his sinful way. Again he made religious leaders of the high places from among all the people. He set apart any of them who were willing to be religious leaders of the high places.


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This became the sin of the family of Jeroboam, that caused it to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.


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And Jeroboam said to his wife, "Get ready and dress yourself so no one will know that you are the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the man who speaks for God is there. He is the one who said that I would be king over these people.


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Take ten loaves, some sweet bread and a jar of honey with you, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy."


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Jeroboam's wife did so. She got ready and went to Shiloh, and came to Ahijah's house. Now Ahijah could not see. His eyes were weak because he was old.


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The Lord had said to Ahijah, "The wife of Jeroboam is coming to ask you about her son, for he is sick. This is what you should say to her. When she comes she will pretend to be another woman."


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When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet coming to the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another woman? For I have been given news that will be hard for you.


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Go and say to Jeroboam, 'This is what the Lord God of Israel says. "I gave you honor from among the people. I made you the leader of My people Israel.


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I tore the nation away from the family of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like My servant David. He kept My Laws and followed Me with all his heart. He did only what was right in My eyes.


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But you have done more sinful things than all who were before you. You have gone and made for yourself other gods and objects to look like gods to make Me angry. You have put Me behind your back.


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So I am bringing trouble upon the family of Jeroboam. I will kill every male from Jeroboam, both owned and free in Israel. I will clean away the family of Jeroboam, as one cleans away animal waste until it is all gone.


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The dogs will eat anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city. And the birds of the air will eat anyone who dies in the field. For the Lord has said it." '


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All Israel will have sorrow for him and bury him. For he alone of Jeroboam's family will come to the grave. Because in him there is found something good to the Lord God of Israel, in the family of Jeroboam.


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But the Lord will send a king over Israel who will destroy the family of Jeroboam this day and from now on.


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For the Lord will punish Israel, as a piece of grass is shaken in the water. He will send Israel out from this good land He gave to their fathers. He will spread them out on the other side of the Euphrates River, because they have their false gods, and have made the Lord angry.


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Then Jeroboam's wife got up and left and came to Tirzah. As she came to the door of the house, the child died.


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And all Israel buried him and had sorrow for him, as the Word of God was spoken through His servant Ahijah the man who spoke for God.


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Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he made war and how he ruled, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.


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Now Solomon's son Rehoboam ruled in Judah. Rehoboam was fortyone years old when he became king. And he ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from all the families of Israel to put His name there. The name of Rehoboam's mother was Naamah of Ammon.


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Judah did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. They made Him jealous with their sins, more than all their fathers had done.


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For they built for themselves high places, holy objects and false gods on every high hill and under every green tree.


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In their religion there were men in the land who sold the use of their bodies. They did all the hated things of the nations which the Lord drove away before the people of Israel.


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He took away the riches of the Lord's house and the riches of the king's house. He took everything. He even took all the body coverings of gold which Solomon had made.


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So King Rehoboam made body coverings of brass in their place. He put them in the care of the captain of the soldiers who watched the door of the king's house.


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Every time the king went into the house of the Lord, the soldiers would carry them and return them again to their room.


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Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?


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Rehoboam died and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah of Ammon. And his son Abijam became king in his place.


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And he walked in all the sins which his father had done before him. He was not faithful to the Lord with all his heart, like the heart of his father David.


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But the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem because of David. He gave him a son to rule after him and to keep Jerusalem strong.


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Because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from anything the Lord told him to do all the days of his life, except in what happened with Uriah the Hittite.


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Now the rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.


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He sent away the men from the land who sold the use of their bodies in their religion. He took away all the false gods his father had made.


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He stopped his mother Maacah from being queen mother, because she had made a hated object of the false goddess Asherah. And Asa cut down her hated object and burned it at the river Kidron.


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The high places were not taken away. But Asa was faithful to the Lord with all his heart for all his days.


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He brought into the house of the Lord the holy things of his father and his own holy things, silver, gold, and holy objects.


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Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah. He built walls around Ramah to stop anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.


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Then Asa took all the silver and the gold which were left in the storerooms of the Lord's house and the king's house, and gave them to his servants. King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus. Asa said,


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"Let there be an agreement of peace between me and you, as between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go and break your agreement of peace with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will leave me."


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Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. He destroyed Ijon, Dan, Abel-bethmaacah, all Chinneroth, and all the land of Naphtali.


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Then King Asa made the news known to all Judah. There was no one who did not hear it. They carried away the stones of Ramah and its pieces of wood with which Baasha had built. And King Asa used them to build Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.


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Now the rest of all the acts of Asa and all his strength and all he did and the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But when he was old he had a disease in his feet.


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Asa died and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David. His son Jehoshaphat ruled in his place.


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Jeroboam's son Nadab became king of Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah. And he ruled over Israel for two years.


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He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel sin.


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Then Baasha the son of Ahijah of the family of Issachar made plans against him. Baasha killed him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. Nadab and all Israel had been gathering their army in battle around Gibbethon.


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As soon as he was king, Baasha killed all those of the family of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam any person alive, destroying them all. It happened just as the word of the Lord was spoken through God's servant Ahijah the Shilonite.


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It happened because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and which he made Israel sin. He made the Lord God of Israel angry.


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Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?


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In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king of all Israel at Tirzah. He ruled for twenty-four years.


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He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin.


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"I took you from the dust and gave you honor. I made you leader over My people Israel. But you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made My people Israel sin. You have made Me angry with their sins.


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So I will destroy Baasha and his house. I will make your house like the family of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.


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The dogs will eat anyone of Baasha's family who dies in the city. And the birds of the air will eat anyone of his who dies in the field."


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The rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did and his strength, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?


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The word of the Lord came against Baasha and his house through the man who spoke for God, Jehu the son of Hanani because Baasha had done what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He made the Lord angry with the work of his hands, in being like the family of Jeroboam, and because he destroyed it.


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In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king of Israel at Tirzah. He ruled for two years.


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His servant Zimri, captain of half his war-wagons, made plans against him. Elah was at Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the family of Arza. Arza was the head of the house at Tirzah.


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Zimri went in and hit him and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah. And Zimri became king in his place.


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When he became king, as soon as he sat on his throne, he killed all those of Baasha's house. He did not leave alive one male, of his brothers or of his friends.


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So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha, as was spoken against Baasha by the word of the Lord through Jehu the man who spoke for God.


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It happened because of all the sins of Baasha and his son Elah. They sinned and they made Israel sin. They made the Lord God of Israel angry with their false gods.


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Now the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?


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In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri ruled seven days at Tirzah. Now the people were gathered against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.


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The people who were gathered heard it said, "Zimri has made plans and has killed the king." So all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, the king of Israel that day among the tents.


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When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into an inside room of the king's house. And he burned the king's house over him with fire, and died.


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He died because of his sins. He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord, walking in the way of Jeroboam. And in his sin, he made Israel sin.


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The rest of the acts of Zimri and the plan he made, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?


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Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king. The other half followed Omri.


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But the people who followed Omri won over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. Tibni died and Omri became king.


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In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became the king of Israel. He ruled for twelve years. He ruled six years at Tirzah.


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And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for silver weighing as much as two men. He built on the hill, and gave the city he built the name of Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.


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For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. And in his sin he made Israel sin. They made the Lord God of Israel angry with their false gods.


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Now the rest of the acts of Omri and the strength that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?


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Omri's son Ahab became king of Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah. He ruled over Israel in Samaria for twenty-two years.


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He thought it was a small thing to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. He married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians. Then he went to serve the false god Baal and worshiped him.


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Ahab made an object of wood to look like the false goddess Asherah. So Ahab did more to make the Lord God of Israel angry than all the kings of Israel before him.


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In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. His first-born son Abiram died as he began to build the city. His youngest son Segub died as he put up its gates. It happened as it was told by the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua the son of Nun.


text:
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of the people who were staying in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before Whom I stand, for sure there will be no rain or water on the grass in the early morning these years, except by my word."


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So he went and did what he was told by the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the river Cherith, east of the Jordan.


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The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening. And he drank from the river.


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"Get up and go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. I have told a woman there, whose husband has died, to feed you."


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So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he came to the city gate, he saw a woman there gathering sticks. He called to her and said, "I ask of you, get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink."


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As she was going to get it, he called to her, "I ask of you, bring me a piece of bread in your hand."


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But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread. I only have enough flour in the jar to fill a hand, and a little oil in the jar. See, I am gathering a few sticks so I may go in and make it ready for me and my son. Then we will eat it and die."


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Elijah said to her, "Have no fear. Go and do as you have said. But make me a little loaf of bread from it first, and bring it out to me. Then you may make one for yourself and for your son.


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For the Lord God of Israel says, 'The jar of flour will not be used up. And the jar of oil will not be empty, until the day the Lord sends rain upon the earth.' "


text:
The jar of flour was not used up, and the jar of oil did not become empty. It happened as was spoken by the word of the Lord through Elijah.


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After this the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. His sickness was so bad that there was no breath left in him.


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So the woman said to Elijah, "What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to have my sin be remembered, and to kill my son!"


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He said to her, "Give me your son." Then he took him from her arms and carried him up to the room on the second floor where he stayed. And he laid him on his own bed.


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He called to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, have You brought trouble to the woman I am staying with, by making her son die?"


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Then he lay upon the child three times and called to the Lord, saying, "O Lord my God, I pray to You. Let this child's life return to him."


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The Lord heard the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child returned to him and he became strong again.


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Elijah took the child and brought him down from the second floor into the house and gave him to his mother. He said, "See, your son is alive."


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Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God. Now I know that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth."


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After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go show yourself to Ahab. And I will send rain upon the earth."


text:
For when Jezebel destroyed the men who spoke for the Lord, Obadiah took 100 of these men and hid them by fifties in a cave. And he fed them with bread and water.)</n>


text:
Then Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the wells of water and to all the valleys. It may be that we will find grass and keep the horses and donkeys alive, and not lose some of the animals.


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So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went one way by himself. And Obadiah went another way by himself.


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As Obadiah was on the way, Elijah met him. Obadiah knew who he was, and fell on his face and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"


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Obadiah said, "What sin have I done? Why are you giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to be killed?


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As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation where the king has not sent men to look for you. And when they said, 'He is not here,' he made the nation prove that they could not find you.


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And after I have left you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you where I do not know. So I will go and tell Ahab, and he will not be able to find you. Then he will kill me. But I your servant have honored the Lord since I was young.


text:
Have you not been told what I did when Jezebel killed the men who spoke for the Lord? I hid 100 men of the Lord by fifties in a cave. And I gave them bread and water.


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Elijah said, "I have not brought trouble to Israel. But you and your father's house have. Because you have turned away from the laws of the Lord, and have followed the false gods of Baal.


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So now call together all Israel to me at Mount Carmel. And gather together 450 men who speak for Baal and 400 men who speak for the false goddess Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."


text:
So Ahab sent news among all the people of Israel. And he brought the men who speak for the false gods together at Mount Carmel.


text:
Elijah came near all the people and said, "How long will you be divided between two ways of thinking? If the Lord is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, then follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.


text:
Then Elijah said to the people, "I am the only man left who speaks for God. But here are 450 men who speak for Baal.


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Bring two bulls to us. Let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it up and put it on the wood. But put no fire under it. I will make the other bull ready and lay it on the wood. And I will put no fire under it.


text:
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The God Who answers by fire, He is God." All the people answered and said, "That is a good idea."


text:
So Elijah said to the men who spoke for Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and make it ready first. For there are many of you. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it."


text:
So they took the bull which was given to them and made it ready. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us." But there was no voice. No one answered. They jumped and danced around the altar they had made.


text:
At noon Elijah made fun of them. He said, "Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god. It might be that he is in deep thought or has turned away. He could be away traveling. Or it may be that he is asleep and needs to have someone wake him."


text:
So they cried with a loud voice. They cut themselves as they had done in the past, with swords and spears until blood poured out on them.


text:
When noon passed, they cried out until the time for giving the evening gift. But there was no voice. No one answered. No one listened.


text:
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he built again the altar of the Lord which had been torn down.


text:
Then Elijah took twelve stones, by the number of the families of Jacob's sons. The word of the Lord had come to Jacob's sons, saying, "Israel will be your name."


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With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a ditch around the altar, big enough to hold twenty-two jars of seed.


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Then he set the wood in place. He cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt gift and on the wood."


text:
Then he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. He said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time.


text:
Then the time came for giving the evening gift. Elijah the man who spoke for God came near and said, "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel. Let it be known that I am Your servant, and have done all these things at Your word.


text:
Answer me, O Lord. Answer me so these people may know that You, O Lord, are God. Turn their hearts to You again."


text:
Then the fire of the Lord fell. It burned up the burnt gift, the wood, the stones and the dust. And it picked up the water that was in the ditch.


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All the people fell on their faces when they saw it. They said, "The Lord, He is God. The Lord, He is God."


text:
Then Elijah said to them, "Take hold of the men who speak for Baal. Do not let one of them get away." So they took hold of them. And Elijah brought them down to the river Kishon, and killed them there.


text:
So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel. He got down on the ground and put his face between his knees.


text:
And he said to his servant, "Go up now and look toward the sea." So he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." Seven times Elijah said, "Go again."


text:
The seventh time, he said, "I see a cloud as small as a man's hand coming up from the sea." Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Make your war-wagon ready and go down, so that the rain does not stop you.' "


text:
Then the hand of the Lord was on Elijah. He pulled his clothing up under his belt and ran before Ahab to Jezreel.


text:
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done. He told her how Elijah had killed with the sword all the men who spoke for Baal.


text:
Then Jezebel sent news to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow."


text:
Elijah was afraid. He got up and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba of Judah, he left his servant there.


text:
But he himself traveled for a day into the desert. He came and sat down under a juniper tree. There he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough now, O Lord. Take my life. For I am not better than my fathers."


text:
When he lay down and slept under the juniper tree, an angel touched him. The angel said to him, "Get up and eat."


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Then Elijah looked and saw by his head a loaf of bread made ready on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.


text:
The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him, and said, "Get up and eat. Because this traveling is too hard for you."


text:
So he got up and ate and drank. And he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.


text:
He came to a cave, and stayed there. The word of the Lord came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"


text:
Elijah said, "I have been very careful to serve the Lord, the God of All. For the people of Israel have turned away from Your agreement. They have torn down Your altars and have killed with the sword the men who speak for You. Only I am left, and they want to kill me."


text:
So the angel said, "Go and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And the Lord passed by. A strong wind tore through the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind the earth shook. But the Lord was not in the shaking of the earth.


text:
After the earth shook, a fire came. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a sound of gentle blowing.


text:
When Elijah heard it, he put his coat over his face, and went out and stood at the opening of the hole. Then a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"


text:
He said, "I have been very careful to serve the Lord, the God of All. For the people of Israel have turned away from Your agreement. They have torn down Your altars. And they have killed with the sword the men who speak for You. Only I am left, and they want to kill me."


text:
The Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the desert of Damascus. When you get there, set apart Hazael to be the king of Syria.


text:
Set apart Nimshi's son Jehu to be the king of Israel. And set apart Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah to speak for God in your place.


text:
Jehu will kill the one who gets away from the sword of Hazael. Elisha will kill the one who gets away from the sword of Jehu.


text:
But I will leave 7,000 in Israel whose knees have not bowed down in front of Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him."


text:
So Elijah left there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing with twenty-four bulls, and was with the last two. Elijah passed by him and threw his coat on him.


text:
And he left the bulls and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me kiss my father and mother. Then I will follow you." And Elijah said to him, "Return. For what have I done to you?"


text:
So Elisha returned from following him. He took his two bulls and killed them. Then he boiled their flesh over a fire, burning the wood cross-pieces the bulls used to pull the load. And he gave the meat to the people, and they ate. Then Elisha got up and followed Elijah and served him.


text:
Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and war-wagons. And he went up against Samaria in battle.


text:
Then he sent men with news to the city of Ahab king of Israel, saying, "This is what Ben-hadad says.


text:
Then the men returned and said, "This is what Ben-hadad says. 'I sent word to you saying, "You must give me your silver and gold and your wives and children."


text:
But I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time. They will look through your house and the houses of your servants. And they will take away all that is of worth to you.' "


text:
Then the king of Israel called all the leaders of the land. He said to them, "Look and see how this man is looking for trouble. He sent to me for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold. And I did not say no to him."


text:
So Ahab said to Benhadad's men, "Tell my lord the king, 'I will do all that you first asked of your servant, but this I cannot do.' " The men left and returned again with news for him.


text:
Ben-hadad sent word to him saying, "May the gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough to fill the hands of all the people who follow me."


text:
The king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, 'Let not him who dresses in battle-clothes talk with pride like him who takes them off.' "


text:
When Ben-hadad heard these words, he was drinking with the kings in the tents. He said to his servants, "Go to your places." So they went to their place of battle against the city.


text:
Then a man who spoke for God came to Ahab king of Israel and said, "This is what the Lord says. 'Have you seen all these many people? See, I will give them to you today. Then you will know that I am the Lord.' "


text:
Ahab said, "By whom?" So he told him, "The Lord says, 'By the young servants of the leaders of the lands you rule.' " Then Ahab said, "Who will start the battle?" And he answered, "You."


text:
Then Ahab called together the young servants of the leaders of the nations, 232 men. And he called together all the people of Israel, 7,000 men.


text:
They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the tents with the thirty-two kings who helped him.


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The young servants of the leaders of the lands went out first. Ben-hadad sent men out to get news, and they told him, "Men have come out from Samaria."


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So the young servants of the leaders of the lands went out from the city, and the army which followed them.


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Each one killed his man. The Syrians ran away, and Israel went after them. And Ben-hadad king of Syria got away on a horse with horsemen.


text:
Then the man who spoke for God came to the king of Israel, and said to him, "Go and make yourself strong. Look and see what you have to do. For the first of next year the king of Syria will come to fight against you."


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Now the servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Israel's gods are gods of the mountains. So they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and for sure we will be stronger than they.


text:
Gather together an army like the army you lost, horse for horse, and war-wagon for war-wagon. Then we will fight against Israel in the plain. For sure we will be stronger than they." And Ben-hadad listened to them and did so.


text:
When the new year came, Benhadad called together the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.


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The people of Israel were called together and given what they needed, and went to meet them. The people of Israel gathered in front of them like two little flocks of goats. But the Syrians filled the country.


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Then a man who spoke for God came to the king of Israel and said, "This is what the Lord says. 'The Syrians have said, "The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys." So I will give all these many people to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.' "


text:
So they stayed beside each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle was fought. And the people of Israel killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in one day.


text:
But the rest ran away into the city of Aphek. And the wall fell on 27,000 men who were left. Ben-hadad ran away and came to a room in the city.


text:
His servants said to him, "Now see, we have heard that the kings of the family of Israel are kings who show kindness. Let us dress in cloth made from hair and put ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. It might be that he will save your life."


text:
So they dressed in cloth made from hair and put ropes on their heads, and went to the king of Israel. They said to him, "Your servant Ben-hadad says, 'I beg you, let me live.' " Ahab said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother."


text:
Now the men were watching for something special to happen. They were quick to catch his word, and said, "Yes, your brother Ben-hadad." Then Ahab said, "Go and bring him." So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab took him up into the war-wagon.


text:
Ben-hadad said to him, "I will return to you the cities which my father took from your father. And you will make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria." Ahab said, "I will let you go with this agreement." So he made an agreement with him and let him go.


text:
Now a certain son of the men who spoke for God said to another by the word of the Lord, "Hit me." But the man would not hit him.


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Then he said to him, "Because you have not listened to the voice of the Lord, as soon as you have left me, a lion will kill you." And as soon as he had left him, a lion found him and killed him.


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So the man of God left, and waited for the king by the way. He tied a cloth over his eyes so no one would know him.


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As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, "Your servant went out to the battle. A soldier turned and brought a man to me, and said, 'Keep this man. If he is missing for any reason, you will pay for his life with your own. Or else you must pay a man's weight in silver.'


text:
But while your servant was doing things here and there, the man got away." The king of Israel said to him, "So you must be punished. You yourself have decided it."


text:
In a hurry the man took the cloth away from his eyes. And the king of Israel saw that he was one of the men who speak for God.


text:
The man said to him, "This is what the Lord says. 'You have let the man go whom I had given to be destroyed. So you will pay for his life with your own. And your people will pay for his people.' "


text:
Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a field of grape-vines in Jezreel beside the family of Ahab king of Samaria.


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Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your grape-field. I want it for a vegetable garden because it is near my house. I will give you a better field for it. Or I will pay for it with money, if you like."


text:
But Naboth said to Ahab, "May the Lord keep me from giving you what I have received from my fathers."


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Ahab went into his house sad and angry because of Naboth the Jezreelite saying to him, "I will not give you what I have received from my fathers." And Ahab lay down on his bed and turned his face away and would not eat.


text:
His wife Jezebel came to him and said, "Why is your spirit so troubled that you are not eating food?"


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He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite. I said to him, 'Give me your grape-field for money. Or I will give you another field for it, if you like.' But he said, 'I will not give you my grape-field.' "


text:
Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now rule over Israel? Get up, eat food, and let your heart be filled with joy. I will give you the grape-field of Naboth the Jezreelite."


text:
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and put the mark of his name on them. She sent letters to the leaders and the king's sons who were living with Naboth in his city.


text:
She wrote in the letters, saying, "Tell the people that it is a time when they should not eat. And put Naboth in front of the people.


text:
Seat two men of no worth beside him. And have them speak against him, saying, 'You spoke against God and the king.' Then take him out and kill him with stones."


text:
So the leaders and king's sons who lived in Naboth's city did just as Jezebel had written to them in the letters she had sent.


text:
They told the people that it was a time when they should not eat. And they put Naboth in front of the people.


text:
Then the two men of no worth came in and sat beside him. These men spoke against Naboth in front of the people, saying, "Naboth spoke against God and the king." So they took him outside the city and killed him with stones.


text:
When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been killed with stones, she said to Ahab, "Get up and take the grape-field of Naboth the Jezreelite for your own, the field he would not sell to you. For Naboth is not alive, but dead."


text:
When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down and take for his own the grape-field of Naboth the Jezreelite.


text:
"Get ready and go down to Samaria to meet Ahab king of Israel. He is in Naboth's grape-field. He has gone down to take it for his own.


text:
And you will speak to him, saying, 'This is what the Lord says, "Have you killed and also taken away?" And you will speak to him, saying, "This is what the Lord says, 'The dogs will drink up your blood in the place where the dogs drank up the blood of Naboth.' " ' "


text:
Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O you who hate me?" Elijah answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is sinful in the eyes of the Lord.


text:
See, I will bring trouble upon you. I will destroy you. I will kill every male of Ahab in Israel, both those who are servants and those who are free.


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I will make your house like the family of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the family of Baasha the son of Ahijah. Because you have made Me angry, and have made Israel sin.


text:
The dogs will eat anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city. The birds of the air will eat anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the field."


text:
There was no one who sold himself to do what is sinful in the eyes of the Lord like Ahab did. His wife Jezebel moved him to do it.


text:
He did what was hated by following false gods. He did all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord drove out in front of the people of Israel.


text:
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and dressed in cloth made from hair, and would not eat. He lay dressed in cloth made from hair, and went about very sad.


text:
"Do you see how Ahab has got rid of his pride before Me? Because he has gotten rid of his pride, I will not bring trouble to him while he is alive. But I will bring trouble upon his house in his son's days."


text:
The king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramothgilead belongs to us? We are still doing nothing to take it from the king of Syria."


text:
And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?" Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are. My people are as your people. My horses are as your horses."


text:
Then the king of Israel gathered together the men who spoke for God, 400 men. He said to them, "Should I go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or should I not?" And they said, "Go. For the Lord will give it to the king."


text:
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is only one other man whom we may ask of the Lord, but I hate him. He does not speak anything good about me, only bad. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah." But Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say that."


text:
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, dressed in their king's clothing. They sat at the grain-floor at the gate of Samaria. All the men who speak for God were speaking in front of them.


text:
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, "The Lord says, 'With these you will fight the Syrians until they are destroyed.' "


text:
And all the men who spoke for God said so. They said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and do well. For the Lord will give it to the king."


text:
The man who went to call Micaiah said to him, "See, the words of those who speak for God are all in the king's favor. Let your words be like theirs and speak in favor of the king."


text:
Micaiah came to the king. And the king said to him, "Micaiah, should we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or should we not?" He answered, "Go up and do well. The Lord will give it to the king."


text:
Then the king said to him, "How many times must I tell you to speak nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?"


text:
So Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel spread upon the mountains like sheep which have no shepherd. And the Lord said, 'These have no owner. Let each of them return to his house in peace.' "


text:
Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not speak good of me, but bad?"


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Micaiah said, "So hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne. All those in heaven were standing by Him on His right and on His left.


text:
The Lord said, 'Who will lead Ahab to go up and die at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another thing.


text:
The Lord said to him, 'How?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all those who will tell what will happen in the future.' Then the Lord said, 'You are to lead him, and do well. Go and do so.'


text:
Now see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these who tell what will happen in the future. The Lord has said bad things against you."


text:
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came and hit Micaiah on the face and said, "How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?"


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Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the leader of the city and to Joash the king's son.


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Tell them, 'The king says, "Put this man in prison and feed him with little bread and water, until I return in peace." ' "


text:
Micaiah said, "If you do return in peace, then the Lord has not spoken by me." And he said, "Listen, all you people."


text:
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will dress so no one will know who I am, and will go to battle. But you put on your king's clothing." So the king of Israel dressed so no one would know who he was, and went into battle.


text:
Now the king of Syria had told the thirtytwo captains of his war-wagons, "Do not fight with the small or strong. But only fight with the king of Israel."


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When the captains of the warwagons saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "For sure this is the king of Israel." And they turned to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out.


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Then the captains of the war-wagons saw that it was not the king of Israel. So they returned from going after him.


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But a certain man happened to shoot an arrow and hit the king of Israel between the parts of his battleclothes. So Ahab said to the driver of his war-wagon, "Turn around and take me out of the battle. For I am hurt."


text:
The battle was hard that day, and the king was set up in his war-wagon in front of the Syrians. At evening he died. The blood from the cut flowed to the bottom of the warwagon.


text:
And they washed the war-wagon by the pool of Samaria. The dogs drank up his blood. <n>(The women who sold the use of their bodies washed themselves there.)</n> It happened as the word of the Lord said it would.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all he did, the ivory house and cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?


text:
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king. And he ruled twenty five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.


text:
He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But the high places were not taken away. The people still gave gifts and burned special perfume on the high places.


text:
The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the strength he showed and how he fought, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?


text:
He destroyed from the land those who were left of the men who sold the use of their bodies in their religion during the days of his father Asa.


text:
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold. But they did not go. For the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.


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Then Ahab's son Ahaziah said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat was not willing.


text:
And Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David. Jehoram his son became king in his place.


text:
Ahab's son Ahaziah became the king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. And he ruled Israel for two years.


text:
He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He walked in the way of his father and mother, and Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.


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He served the false god Baal and worshiped him. He made the Lord God of Israel angry in every way his father had done.


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Ahaziah fell through the window of his second-floor room in Samaria, and lay sick. So he sent men with news, saying to them, "Go and ask Baalzebub the god of Ekron if I will get well again from this sickness."


text:
But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Get up and go meet the men sent from the king of Samaria. Say to them, 'Are you going to ask Baal-zebub the god of Ekron because there is no God in Israel?'


text:
This is what the Lord says. 'You will not leave the bed on which you lie. You will die for sure.' " Then Elijah left.


text:
They said, "A man came up to meet us. He said to us, 'Go and return to the king who sent you. Tell him, "This is what the Lord says. 'Are you asking Baal-zebub the god of Ekron because there is no God in Israel? So you will not leave the bed on which you lie. You will die for sure.' " ' "


text:
They answered, "He was a man with much hair. He wore a piece of leather around his body." Ahaziah said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."


text:
Then the king sent a captain with fifty of his men to take Elijah. The captain went up to him and saw Elijah sitting on the top of the hill. He said to him, "O man of God, the king says, 'Come down.' "


text:
Elijah said to the captain of fifty men, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men." Then fire came down from heaven and destroyed him and his fifty men.


text:
So Ahaziah sent to him another captain with fifty men. The captain said to Elijah, "O man of God, the king says, 'Be quick to come down.' "


text:
Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and destroyed him and his fifty men.


text:
So Ahaziah sent to him a third captain with fifty men. When the third captain of fifty men went up, he came and put his face to the ground in front of Elijah. He begged him and said, "O man of God, I beg you. Let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be of great worth in your eyes.


text:
Fire came down from heaven and destroyed the first two captains with their armies of fifty. But now let my life be of great worth in your eyes."


text:
The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, "Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him." So Elijah got up and went with him to the king.


text:
Then Elijah said to Ahaziah, "This is what the Lord says. 'You have sent men to ask of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron. Is it because there is no God in Israel to ask of His Word? So now you will not leave the bed on which you lie. You will die for sure.' "


text:
So Ahaziah died, just as the word of the Lord had said through Elijah. Because Ahaziah had no son, Jehoram his brother became king in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?


text:
When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a wind-storm, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.


text:
Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, I ask you. For the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.


text:
Then the sons of the men who spoke for God at Bethel came out to Elisha. They said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take Elijah from you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know. Say no more."


text:
Elijah said to him, "Elisha, I ask you to stay here. For the Lord has sent me to Jericho." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.


text:
The sons of the men who spoke for God at Jericho came to Elisha. They said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take Elijah from you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know. Say no more."


text:
Then Elijah said to him, "I ask you to stay here. For the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." And Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on.


text:
Now fifty sons of the men who tell what will happen in the future went and stood on the other side of the Jordan River a long way off from the two of them who were standing by the Jordan.


text:
Then Elijah took his coat and rolled it up and hit the water. And the water divided to one side and to the other, so the two of them crossed the Jordan on dry ground.


text:
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I should do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "I ask you, let twice the share of your spirit be upon me."


text:
Elijah said, "You have asked a hard thing. But if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be given to you. But if not, it will not be so."


text:
As they went on and talked, a war-wagon of fire and horses of fire came between them. And Elijah went up by a wind-storm to heaven.


text:
Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the war-wagon of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.


text:
He picked up Elijah's coat that had fallen from him. And he returned and stood by the side of the Jordan.


text:
He took Elijah's coat that fell from him, and hit the water and said, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? "When he hit the water, it was divided to one side and to the other, and Elisha crossed the Jordan.


text:
The sons of the men who tell what will happen in the future at Jericho saw him. And they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They came to meet him and bowed to the ground in front of him.


text:
They said to him, "Now see, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Let them go and look for your teacher. It might be that the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and put him down on some mountain or into some valley." And Elisha said, "Do not send them."


text:
But they talked to him until he was ashamed, and he said, "Send them." So they sent fifty men to look for Elijah. But after three days they did not find him.


text:
They returned to Elisha while he was staying at Jericho. And he said to them, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not go'?"


text:
Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "See, it is pleasing to live in this city, as my lord sees. But the water is bad. And the land does not bring fruit."


text:
Then he went out to the well of water and threw salt into it, and said, "This is what the Lord says, 'I have made this water pure. It will not cause death or loss of fruit any more.' "


text:
Then he left there and went to Bethel. On the way, some young boys came out from the city and made fun of him. They said to him, "Go up, you man with no hair! Go up, you man with no hair!"


text:
He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came from among the trees and tore up forty-two of the boys.


text:
Ahab's son Jehoram became the king of Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. He ruled for twelve years.


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Jehoram did what was bad in the eyes of the Lord, but not like his father and mother. For he put away the object of Baal which his father had made.


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But he held on to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel sin. He did not leave them.


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Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep. He had to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams each year.


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Then he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab has turned against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?" And Jehoshaphat said, "I will go. I am as you are. My people are as your people. My horses are as your horses."


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So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. They traveled around for seven days, but there was no water for the army or the cattle that followed them.


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The king of Israel said, "It is bad! For the Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab."


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But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not a man who speaks for God here? Is there no one we can ask to learn what the Lord would have us do?" One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here. He poured water on the hands of Elijah."


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


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Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? Go to the men who tell what will happen in the future that your father and mother have gone to." And the king of Israel said to him, "No. It is the Lord Who has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab."


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Elisha said, "As the Lord of all lives, before Whom I stand, if I did not care for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you or see you.


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But now bring me a man who plays music." And when the man played music, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha.


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For the Lord says, 'You will not see wind or rain. But that valley will be filled with water so that you and your cattle and your animals will drink.'


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Then you will destroy every strong city and cut down every good tree. You will close all the wells of water, and destroy every good piece of land with stones."


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The next morning, about the time when the gift is given on the altar, water came by the way of Edom. The country was filled with water.


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Now all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. All who were able to wear battle-clothes, young and old, were called together. And they stood at the side of the land of Moab.


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They got up early in the morning. The sun was shining on the water. And the Moabites saw that the water beside them was as red as blood.


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They said, "This is blood. For sure the kings have fought and killed one another. So now, Moab, let us take what is left!"


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But when they came to the tents of Israel, the Israelites came and fought against the Moabites. The Moabites ran from them. And Israel went on into the land, killing the Moabites.


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So they destroyed the cities. Each man threw a stone on every piece of good land until it was covered. They closed all the wells of water and cut down all the good trees. Only the stones of Kir-hareseth were left standing. But the stone-throwers went around it and fought against it.


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The king of Moab saw that the battle was too hard for him. So he took with him 700 men who used the sword, to break through to the king of Edom. But they could not.


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Then he took his oldest son who was to rule in his place, and gave him as a burnt gift on the wall. And many became very angry toward Israel. They left him and returned to their own land.


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Now the wife of the son of one of the men who tell what will happen in the future cried out to Elisha, "Your servant, my husband, is dead. You know that your servant honored the Lord with fear. But the man to whom he owed money has come to take my two children to make them serve him."


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Elisha said to her, "What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your woman servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil."


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Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour the oil into all these jars, and set aside each one that is full."


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So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They took the jars to her, and she poured.


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When the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another jar." And he said to her, "There is not one jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.


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She came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go and sell the oil and pay what you owe. You and your sons can live on the rest."


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One day Elisha went to Shunem. An important woman was there, who talked him into eating some food. So every time he passed by, he would turn in there to eat food.


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Let us make a little room on the second floor. And let us put a bed there for him, and a table and a chair and a lamp. Then when he comes to us, he can go in there."


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He said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." When he had called her, she came and stood in front of him.


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Elisha said to Gehazi, "Now tell her, 'See, you have done much for us. What can I do for you? Should I speak to the king or to the captain of the army for you?' '' And she answered, "I live among my own people."


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So Elisha said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "She has no son, and her husband is old."


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Then he said, "At this time next year you will hold a son in your arms." And she said, "No, my lord, O man of God. Do not lie to your woman servant."


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Later she was going to have a child and she gave birth to a son at that time the next year, as Elisha had told her.


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He said to his father, "O, my head, my head!" The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother."


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Then she called to her husband and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and return."


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Her husband said, "Why will you go to him today? It is not the time of the new moon or the Day of Rest." She said, "It will be all right."


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Then she put a seat on a donkey and said to her servant, "Drive on. Do not slow down for me unless I tell you."


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So she went and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her far away, he said to Gehazi his servant, "See, there is the Shunammite.


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Run now to meet her. Say to her, 'Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?' '' And she answered, "It is well."


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When she came to the mountain to the man of God, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to push her away, but the man of God said, "Let her alone. For her soul is troubled within her. The Lord has hidden it from me. He has not told me."


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Elisha said to Gehazi, "Get ready to travel. Take my walking stick and go. If you meet any man, do not say hello to him. If anyone says hello to you, do not answer him. Then lay my stick on the boy's face."


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The mother of the boy said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So Elisha got up and followed her.


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Gehazi went on before them and laid the stick on the boy's face. But there was no sound or anything to show that the boy was alive. So Gehazi returned to meet Elisha, and told him, "The boy is not awake."


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He went up and lay on the child. He put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He spread himself out on him, and the child's flesh became warm.


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Then Elisha got up again. He walked from one end of the house to the other. Then he went up and spread himself on the child again. The boy sneezed seven times, and opened his eyes.


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Elisha called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her. When she came to him, he said, "Take up your son."


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She came and fell at his feet and put her face to the ground. Then she took up her son and went out.


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When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was no food in the land. The sons of the men who tell what will happen in the future were sitting in front of him. Elisha said to his servant, "Put the large pot over the fire and make food ready for the sons of the men who tell what will happen in the future."


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One of them went out into the field to gather plants. He found a wild vine, and gathered wild gourds from it. He came and cut them up in the pot of food, not knowing what they were.


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Then they poured it out for the men to eat. As they were eating the food, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it.


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But he said, "Get some grain." And he threw it into the pot, and said, "Pour it out for the people to eat." Then there was no danger in the pot.


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A man came from Baal-shalishah. He brought the man of God a gift of the first-fruits. There were twenty loaves of barley bread and new-grown grain in his bag. Elisha said, "Give them to the people, that they may eat."


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But his servant said, "What? Should I put this in front of 100 men?" But Elisha said, "Give them to the people to eat. For the Lord says, 'They will eat and have some left.' "


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Naaman the captain of the army of the king of Syria was an important man to his king. He was much respected, because by him the Lord had made Syria win in battle. Naaman was a strong man of war, but he had a bad skin disease.


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Now the Syrians had gone out in groups of soldiers, and had taken a little girl from the land of Israel. She served Naaman's wife.


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And she said to her owner, "I wish that my owner's husband were with the man of God who is in Samaria! Then he would heal his bad skin disease."


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The king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman went and took with him silver weighing as much as ten men, 6,000 pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothes.


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He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, "I have sent my servant Naaman to you with this letter, that you may heal his bad skin disease."


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When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive? Is this why this man sends word to me to heal a man's bad skin disease? Think about it. He wants to start a fight with me."


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Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes. So he sent word to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me. Then he will know that there is a man of God in Israel."


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Elisha sent a man to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times. And your flesh will be made well and you will be clean."


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But Naaman was very angry and went away. He said, "I thought he would come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God. I thought he would wave his hand over the place, and heal the bad skin disease.


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Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away very angry.


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Then his servants came and said to him, "My father, if the man of God had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash and be clean'?"


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So Naaman went down into the Jordan River seven times, as the man of God had told him. And his flesh was made as well as the flesh of a little child. He was clean.


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Then Naaman returned to the man of God with all those who were with him. He came and stood in front of Elisha and said, "See, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. So I ask you now to take a gift from your servant."


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But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, before Whom I stand, I will take nothing." Naaman tried to talk him into taking it, but he would not.


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Naaman said, "If not, I ask you, let your servant be given as much dirt as two horses can carry. For your servant will not give burnt gifts or kill animals on the altar in worship to other gods any more. I will only give gifts to the Lord.


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But may the Lord forgive your servant for this. My king goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there. He rests on my arm and I put my face to the ground in the house of Rimmon. When I put my face to the ground in the house of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant."


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But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, "See, my owner has let Naaman the Syrian go without receiving the gift he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him."


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So Gehazi went after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he stepped off the war-wagon to meet him, and said, "Is all well?"


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Gehazi said, "All is well. My owner has sent me, saying, 'See, just now two young sons of the men who tell what will happen in the future have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. I ask of you, give them a man's weight in silver and two changes of clothes.' "


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Naaman said, "Be pleased to take silver weighing as much as two men." And he had him take two bags of silver weighing as much as two men, with two changes of clothes. He gave them to two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.


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When he came to the hill, Gehazi took them from the servants and put them in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they left.


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And Gehazi went in and stood in front of his owner. Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant did not leave."


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Elisha said to him, "Did I not go with you in spirit when the man turned from his war-wagon to meet you? Was it a time to receive money and clothes and olive fields and grape-fields and sheep and cattle and men servants and women servants?


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So now the bad skin disease will be upon you and your children forever." And Gehazi went away from Elisha with a bad skin disease. He was as white as snow.


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Now the sons of the men who tell what will happen in the future said to Elisha, "See, the place where we are living under your care is too small for us.


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Let us go to the Jordan and each of us cut down a tree there. And let us make a place for us to live there." So Elisha said, "Go."


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But as one of them was cutting a tree, the ax head fell into the water. The man cried out, "It is bad, sir! The ax belongs to another man, and I was to return it."


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The man of God said, "Where did it fall?" And when he showed him the place, Elisha cut off a stick and threw it in, and the iron came to the top of the water.


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Now the king of Syria was fighting a war against Israel. He had a meeting with his servants, and said, "This is the place where I will be staying."


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The man of God sent news to the king of Israel, saying, "Be careful that you do not pass this place. For the Syrians are coming down there."


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The king of Israel sent men to the place where the man of God said there would be danger. So he saved himself there more than once or twice.


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The heart of the king of Syria was angry because of this. He called his servants and said to them, "Will you show me which one of us is helping the king of Israel?"


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And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king. Elisha, the man of God who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you say in your bedroom."


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So he said, "Go and see where Elisha is, that I may send men to take him." And he was told, "See, he is in Dothan."


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So the king of Syria sent horses and war-wagons and an army of many soldiers there. They came during the night and gathered around the city.


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The servant of the man of God got up early and went out. And he saw an army with horses and warwagons around the city. The servant said to Elisha, "It is bad, sir! What should we do?"


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Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, I pray, open his eyes, that he may see." And the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he saw. He saw that the mountain was full of horses and war-wagons of fire all around Elisha.


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When the Syrians came against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, saying, "Make these people blind, I pray." So the Lord made them blind, as Elisha had said.


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Then Elisha said to them, "This is not the way. This is not the city. Follow me and I will bring you to the man you are looking for." And he brought them to Samaria.


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When they had come to Samaria, Elisha said, "O Lord, open the eyes of these men. Let them see." So the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw. They saw they were in the center of Samaria.


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When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?"


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He answered, "Do not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken against their will with your sword and bow? Give them bread and water. Let them eat and drink and return to their owner."


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So he made a big supper for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away. And they went to their owner. The Syrians sent no more small groups of soldiers into the land of Israel.


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There was a time of no food in Samaria. The Syrian army gathered around it, until a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver. A half cup of dove's waste sold for five pieces of silver.


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As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, "Help, my lord, O king!"


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And he said, "If the Lord does not help you, from where can I help you? From the grain-floor, or from the grape-crusher?"


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Then the king said to her, "What is your trouble?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, so we may eat him today. And we will eat my son tomorrow.'


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So we made my son ready to eat over the fire, and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Give your son, so we may eat him.' But she has hidden her son."


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When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. He was passing by on the wall, and the people looked. They saw that he wore cloth made from hair under his clothes.


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Then he said, "May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stays on him today."


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Now Elisha was sitting in his house. And the leaders were sitting with him. The king sent a man, but before the man came to him, Elisha said to the leaders, "Do you see how this son of a killer has sent to take off my head? See, when the king's man comes, shut the door. Hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his owner's feet behind him?"


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While he was still talking with them, the king came down to him and said, "See, this trouble is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?"


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Then Elisha said, "Listen to the word of the Lord. The Lord says, 'Tomorrow about this time, a basket of fine flour will be sold for one piece of silver in the gate of Samaria. And two baskets of barley will be sold for a piece of silver.' "


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The captain on whose arm the king rested said to the man of God, "See, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" Elisha said, "You will see it with your own eyes. But you will not eat of it."


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Now there were four men at the city gate with a bad skin disease. They said to one another, "Why do we sit here until we die?


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If we go into the city, there is no food there and we will die. And if we sit here, we will die also. So now come, let us go over to the tents of the Syrians. If they do not kill us, we will live. And if they kill us, we will die there."


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So they got up in the evening to go to the Syrians. When they came to the tents of the Syrians, there was no one there.


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For the Lord had made the Syrian army hear a sound of warwagons and horses and an army of many soldiers. So they said to one another, "The king of Israel has paid the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to fight against us."


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And they ran away in the evening. They left their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left everything just as it was, and ran for their lives.


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Then the men with a bad skin disease came to the tents. They went into one tent and ate and drank. They carried away silver and gold and clothing, and hid them. Then they returned and went into another tent and carried things away from it, and hid them.


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They said to one another, "We are not doing right. This is a day of good news, but we are keeping quiet. We will be punished if we wait until morning. So now let us go and tell those of the king's house."


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And they came and called the men who watched the city gate. They said to them, "We went to the tents of the Syrians. But there was no one to be seen or heard there. Only the horses and donkeys were tied there. The tents were left just as they were."


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The king got up in the night and said to his servants, "I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. So they have left the tents to hide themselves in the field. They are saying, 'When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and get into the city.' "


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One of his servants said, "Let some men take five of the horses that are left. Those who are left in the city are not doing better than all those who have died. So let us send men out to see."


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So they took two war-wagons with horses. And the king sent them after the Syrian army, saying, "Go and see."


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They went after them to the Jordan. All the way was covered with clothes and objects which the Syrians had thrown away in their hurry. Then the men returned and told the king.


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So the people went out and took what the Syrians had left. Then a basket of fine flour was sold for a piece of silver. And two baskets of barley sold for a piece of silver, just as the word of the Lord had said.


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Now the king chose the captain on whose arm he rested to watch the gate. But the people stepped on him at the gate. He died just as the man of God had said when the king came down to him.


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It happened just as the man of God had told the king, saying, "About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, two baskets of barley will sell for a piece of silver. And a basket of fine flour will sell for a piece of silver."


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Then the captain had said to the man of God, "See, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?" And Elisha had said, "You will see it with your own eyes. But you will not eat of it."


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Now Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had brought back to life. He said, "Get ready and go with those of your house. Stay in whatever country you can. For the Lord has called for a time of no food. It will come upon the land for seven years."


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So the woman got ready as the man of God had told her. She went with those of her house and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years.


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At the end of seven years she returned from the land of the Philistines. And she went out to ask the king for her house and field.


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Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, "Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done."


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Gehazi started telling the king how Elisha had brought the one who was dead to life again. Then the woman whose son he had brought back to life asked the king for her house and field. And Gehazi said, "My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha brought back to life."


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When the king asked the woman, she told him what had happened. So the king chose a certain captain to help her, saying, "Give her all that was hers. And give her all the food taken from the field from the day she left the land until now."


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Then Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick, and he was told, "The man of God has come here."


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The king said to Hazael, "Take a gift and go meet the man of God. Ask the Lord through him, saying, 'Will I get better from this sickness?' ''


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So Hazael went to meet Elisha and took with him a gift of every kind of good thing of Damascus. It took forty camels to carry it all. He came and stood in front of Elisha and said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, 'Will I get better from this sickness?' ''


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Elisha said to him, "Go and tell him, 'You will get better for sure.' But the Lord has shown me that he will die for sure."


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Hazael said, "Why are you crying, my lord?" Then Elisha answered, "Because I know the bad things that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their strong places on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will crush their little ones against the stones. And you will cut up their women who are with child."


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Hazael said, "What is your servant, only a dog, that he should do this bad thing?" Elisha answered, "The Lord has shown me that you will be the king of Syria."


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Then he left Elisha and returned to his owner. Ben-hadad said to him, "What did Elisha tell you?" And Hazael answered, "He told me that you will get better for sure."


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But the next day Hazael took the bed covering and put it in water. Then he spread it on Ben-hadad's face so that he died. And Hazael became king in his place.


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In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to rule.


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He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as those of Ahab's house had done. Ahab's daughter became his wife. He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord.


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But the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, because of His servant David. The Lord had promised to give David one to rule through his sons always.


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Then Joram crossed over to Zair, with all his war-wagons. He and his war-wagon captains got up during the night and fought against the Edomites who had gathered around them. But his army ran away to their tents.


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So Edom turned against the rule of Judah to this day. Libnah turned against Judah's rule at the same time.


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The rest of the acts of Joram and all he did, are they not written in the Book of Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?


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In the twelfth year of Ahab's son Joram the king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to rule.


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Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.


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He walked in the way of the family of Ahab. He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord, like those of the family of Ahab had done, because he was a son-in-law of the family of Ahab.


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He went with Ahab's son Joram to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians hurt Joram.


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So King Joram returned to Jezreel to be healed of the cuts the Syrians had given him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. Then Jehoram's son Ahaziah king of Judah went down to Jezreel to see Joram the son of Ahab because he was sick.


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Now Elisha the man of God called one of the sons of those who spoke for God. He said to him, "Get ready to travel. Take this jar of oil and go to Ramoth-gilead.


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When you get there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi. Go in and have him come away from his brothers. Bring him into a room in the house.


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Then take the jar of oil and pour it on his head and say, 'The Lord says, "I have chosen you to be the king of Israel." ' Then open the door and run. Do not wait."


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When he came, he found the captains of the army sitting there. He said, "I have something to tell you, O captain." And Jehu said, "Which one of us?" And he said, "You, O captain."


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So he got up and went into the house. He poured the oil on Jehu's head and said to him, "The Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'I have chosen you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel.


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You are to destroy the house of your owner Ahab, so that I will punish Jezebel for the blood of My servants who speak for God, and the blood of all the Lord's servants.


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The whole family of Ahab must be destroyed. And I will destroy every male person in Israel who belongs to Ahab, both the servants and those who are free.


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I will make the family of Ahab like the family of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the family of Baasha the son of Ahijah.


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The dogs will eat Jezebel in the land of Jezreel. No one will bury her.' " Then he opened the door and ran away.


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When Jehu came out to his owner's servants, one said to him, "Is all well? Why did this crazy person come to you?" Jehu said, "You know the man and his talk."


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And they said, "That is not true. Tell us now." Jehu said, "This is how he spoke to me. He said, 'The Lord says, "I have chosen you to be the king of Israel." ' ''


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Then each man took his clothes in a hurry and put them under him on the steps. And they sounded the horn and said, "Jehu is king!"


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So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi made plans against Joram. Now Joram and all Israel were fighting against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead.


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But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to be healed of the cuts the Syrians had given him, when he fought with King Hazael of Syria. So Jehu said, "If this is what you have in mind, then let no one get out of the city to tell the news in Jezreel."


text:
Then Jehu went to Jezreel in a war-wagon, for Joram was lying there. And Ahaziah the king of Judah had come down to see Joram.


text:
Now the man who watched for danger was standing in the tower in Jezreel. He saw the group of Jehu's men coming, and said, "I see a group of men coming." Joram said, "Send a horseman to meet them and ask, 'Do you come in peace?' ''


text:
So a horseman went to meet him and said, "The king asks, 'Do you come in peace?' '' And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Get behind me." Then the watchman told Joram, "The horseman came to them, but he did not return."


text:
So he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, "The king asks, 'Do you come in peace?' '' And Jehu answered, "What have you to do with peace? Get behind me."


text:
The watchman told Joram, "He came to them, and he did not return. The leader goes in his war-wagon like a mad man, just like Jehu."


text:
Then Joram said, "Get ready." And they made his war-wagon ready. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in their war-wagon, to meet Jehu. They found him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite.


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When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Do you come in peace, Jehu?" And he answered, "What peace can there be, so long as the sinful ways and witchcrafts of your mother Jezebel are so many?"


text:
So Joram turned the horses around and ran away, saying to Ahaziah, "He is turning against the king, O Ahaziah!"


text:
Jehu pulled his bow with all his strength and shot Joram between his arms. The arrow went through his heart, and he fell in his war-wagon.


text:
Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Pick him up and throw him into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. For I remember when you and I were going together after his father Ahab. The Lord said then that this would happen to him.


text:
The Lord said, 'Yesterday I have seen the blood of Naboth and his sons. I will punish you in this field.' So now take and throw him into the field, as the word of the Lord has said."


text:
When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he ran away toward the garden house. Jehu went after him and said, "Shoot him in the warwagon also." So they shot him at the hill of Gur, by Ibleam. But he got away to Megiddo and died there.


text:
His servants carried him in a warwagon to Jerusalem. They buried him in his grave with his fathers in the city of David.


text:
When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it. She colored her eyes and combed her hair, and then looked out the window.


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Then he looked up to the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" And two or three men looked down at him.


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Then he said, "Throw her down." So they threw Jezebel down. Some of her blood went on the wall and on the horses. And Jehu made his war-wagons go over her.


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Then Jehu went in and ate and drank. And he said, "Now go out to this sinful woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter."


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When they returned and told Jehu, he said, "This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite. He said, 'In the land of Jezreel the dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel.


text:
Jezebel's body will be as waste on the field in the land of Jezreel. So no one will be able to say, "This is Jezebel." ' ''


text:
Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters. He sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the leaders, and to those who took care of Ahab's children. He said,


text:
"Now your owner's sons are with you. And you have war-wagons, and horses, and a strong city, and things to fight with. When this letter comes to you,


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choose the best of your owner's sons. Put him on his father's throne. And fight for your owner's house."


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But they were filled with fear, and said, "See, the two kings could not stand in front of him. How can we stand?"


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So the head man of the house, the head man of the city, the leaders, and those who took care of the children, sent word to Jehu. They said, "We are your servants. We will do all that you say. We will not make any man king. Do what is good in your eyes."


text:
Then Jehu wrote a letter to them a second time. He said, "If you are on my side and will obey me, bring the heads of your owner's sons to me. Meet me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow." Now the king's seventy sons were with the important men of the city who were taking care of them.


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When the letter came to them, they took the king's seventy sons and killed them. They put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.


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The men who had been sent returned and told Jehu, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." And he said, "Put them one upon the other in two places at the gate until morning."


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In the morning Jehu went out and stood, and said to all the people, "You are without guilt. See, I made plans against my owner and killed him. But who killed all these?


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Know now that everything the Lord spoke about the family of Ahab will come true. For the Lord has done what He said through his servant Elijah."


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So Jehu killed all who were left of the family of Ahab in Jezreel. He killed all of Ahab's important men, his friends, and his religious leaders. Not one person of Ahab was left alive.


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Jehu met the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah. He asked them, "Who are you?" And they answered, "We are the brothers of Ahaziah. We have come down to visit the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother."


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Jehu said, "Take them alive." So his men took them alive, and killed them at the hole of Beth-eked, fortytwo men. He left none of them alive.


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When Jehu left there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. Jehu said to him, "Is your heart right with my heart as mine is with yours?" And Jehonadab answered, "It is." Jehu said, "If it is, give me your hand." So Jehonadab gave him his hand, and Jehu took him up into the war-wagon with him.


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Then Jehu said, "Come with me and see how glad I am to work for the Lord." And he had him go in his war-wagon.


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When he came to Samaria, he killed all of Ahab's people who were left in Samaria. He destroyed them, as the word of the Lord was spoken to Elijah.


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Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, "Ahab worshiped Baal a little. Jehu will worship him much.


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Now call all the men who speak for Baal, all his worshipers and all his religious leaders. Let no one be missing. For I have a big gift for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live." But Jehu did this to fool them, so that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal.


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Then Jehu sent for all the worshipers of Baal in Israel. Every one of them came. When they went into the house of Baal, the house was filled from one end to the other.


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Jehu said to the one who took care of the clothes, "Bring out clothing for all the worshipers of Baal." So he brought out clothing for them.


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Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab. And he said to the worshipers of Baal, "Look and see that there are no servants of the Lord here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal."


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Then they went in to kill animals on the altar and give burnt gifts. Now Jehu had left eighty of his men outside. He had told them, "The one who lets anyone get away, will pay for it with his life."


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As soon as he had finished giving the burnt gift, Jehu said to the soldiers and the leaders, "Go in and kill them. Let no one come out." And they killed them with the sword. Then the soldiers and leaders threw the bodies out, and went into the inside room of the house of Baal.


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They destroyed the objects of Baal and destroyed the house of Baal. They made it a place for body waste to this day.


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But Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin. He kept the gold calves at Bethel and Dan.


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The Lord said to Jehu, "You have done well what is right in My eyes. You have done to the family of Ahab all that was in My heart. So your sons, even your great greatgrandson, will sit on the throne of Israel."


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But Jehu was not careful to walk in the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel sin.


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In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael won over them in battle through the land of Israel.


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He took the land east of the Jordan, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites and the Manassites, from Aroer, by the valley of the Arnon. He took Gilead and Bashan.


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Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, all he did and all his strength, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?


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When Ahaziah's mother Athaliah saw that her son was dead, she got up and killed all the king's children.


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But King Joram's daughter Jehosheba, Ahaziah's sister, took Joash the son of Ahaziah. She stole him away from the king's sons who were being killed, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. They hid him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.


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Joash was hid with his nurse in the house of the Lord six years, while Athaliah was ruling over the land.


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In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the captains of hundreds, men who watch over the king and the soldiers. He brought them into the house of the Lord, and made an agreement with them. He had them make a promise in the house of the Lord. Then he showed them the king's son.


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He told them, "This is what you must do. One third of you who come in on the Day of Rest must keep watch over the king's house.


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One third are to be at the gate Sur and one third at the gate behind the soldiers. So you will keep watch over the king's house.


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And two parts of all of you who go out on the Day of Rest must keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king.


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You will stand around the king, with spears in your hands. Whoever comes near must be killed. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in."


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The captains of hundreds did all that Jehoiada the religious leader told them to do. Each one of them brought his men to Jehoiada the religious leader. Each one brought those who were to come in on the Day of Rest, and those who were to go out on the Day of Rest.


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The religious leader gave the captains the spears and coverings that had been King David's, which were in the house of the Lord.


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And the soldiers stood from the right side of the house to the left side of the house. Each one held his spear. They stood by the altar and by the house, around the king.


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Then Jehoiada brought out the king's son and put the crown on him, and gave him the Law. They made him king and poured oil on him. Then they clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!"


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When Athaliah heard the noise of the soldiers and the people, she came to the people in the house of the Lord.


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She looked and saw the king standing by the pillar, as was done in those days. The captains and those who blew horns were standing beside the king. And all the people of the land were filled with joy and blew horns. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, "They are turning against the queen!"


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Then Jehoiada the religious leader told the captains of the army, "Bring her out among the soldiers, and kill with the sword whoever follows her." For the religious leader said, "Do not let her be put to death in the house of the Lord."


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Then Jehoiada made an agreement between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's people. And he made an agreement between the king and the people.


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Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They broke to pieces all his altars and objects. And they killed Mattan the religious leader of Baal in front of the altars. Then the religious leaders chose men to watch over the house of the Lord.


text:
Jehoiada took the captains and the men who watch over the king, and the soldiers and all the people of the land. They brought the king down from the house of the Lord, by the way of the soldiers' gate, to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.


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So all the people of the land were filled with joy, and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king's house.


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In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king. He ruled for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.


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Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the religious leader taught him.


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But the high places were not taken away. The people still gave gifts and burned special perfume on the high places.


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Then Joash said to the religious leaders, "All the money of the holy things brought into the house of the Lord, money for which each man is taxed, and money that is brought in because a man wants in his heart to bring it into the house of the Lord,


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the religious leaders may take this money. Each leader should take it from those whom he knows. And they should use it to build the house again in the places where it has been broken and destroyed.


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But by the twenty-third year of King Joash, the religious leaders had not put together the broken places of the house.


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So King Joash called for Jehoiada the religious leader and the other religious leaders. He said to them, "Why do you not put together the broken places of the house? Do not take any more money from those you know, but give it for the work that is needed on the house."


text:
So the religious leaders agreed that they should take no more money from the people. And they agreed that they should not do the work that was needed on the house.


text:
Then Jehoiada the religious leader took a box and cut a hole in its cover. He put it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the Lord. And the religious leaders who watched the door put all the money into it that was brought into the house of the Lord.


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When they saw that there was much money in the box, the king's writer and the head religious leader came up to the house of the Lord. They found out how much money was there, and tied it up in bags.


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After weighing it, they gave the money to those who watched over the work that was being done on the house of the Lord. Then these men paid the wood-workers and the builders who worked on the house of the Lord.


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They paid the stonecutters and those who laid the stones in place. And they bought the cut wood and stone and all that was needed for the work on the house of the Lord.


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But there were no silver cups, objects to put out the lights, pots, horns, or dishes of gold or silver made for the house of the Lord. None of these were made from the money brought into the house of the Lord.


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For they gave that to those who did the work. It was used to put together the broken places of the house of the Lord.


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And they did not ask the men who paid those who did the work how the money was spent. For they were men of honor.


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The money from the guilt gifts and sin gifts was not brought into the house of the Lord. It was for the religious leaders.


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At that time King Hazael of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it. Then he turned to go up to Jerusalem.


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But Joash king of Judah took all the holy things that had been set apart by his fathers, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of Judah. He took his own holy things, and all the gold that was found in the storehouses of the house of the Lord and the king's house. And he sent it to Hazael king of Syria. Then Hazael went away from Jerusalem.


text:
The rest of the acts of Joash and all he did are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.


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His servants made plans against Joash, and killed him at the house of Millo on the way down to Silla.


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He was killed by Jozacar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants. They buried him in the city of David. His son Amaziah became king in his place.


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In the twenty-third year of Ahaziah's son Joash the king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became the king of Israel at Samaria. He ruled for seventeen years.


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Jehoahaz did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel sin. He did not turn from them.


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So the anger of the Lord burned against Israel. He put them always under the power of King Hazael of Syria, and Ben-hadad the son of Hazael.


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Then Jehoahaz begged for the Lord's favor, and the Lord listened to him. For He saw the bad power held over Israel. He saw how the king of Syria made it hard for them.


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So the Lord gave Israel someone to save them. And they were saved from the power of the Syrians. The people of Israel lived in their tents as before.


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But they did not turn away from the sins of the family of Jeroboam, which made Israel sin. They walked in those sins. And the object of the false goddess Asherah was left standing in Samaria.


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The king of Syria did not leave to Jehoahaz an army of more than fifty horsemen, ten war-wagons and 10,000 foot-soldiers. For the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust of beaten grain.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, all he did and his strength, are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.


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In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria. He ruled for sixteen years.


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And he did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, in which he made Israel sin. But he walked in those sins.


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Jehoash did many things. With his strength he fought against Amaziah king of Judah. The rest of his acts are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.


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Jehoash died, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.


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Elisha became sick with the sickness of which he was to die. And Joash the king of Israel came down to him and cried over him, saying, "My father, my father, the war-wagons of Israel and its horsemen!"


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Then he said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." So he put his hand on it. Then Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.


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And he said, "Open the window toward the east," and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot!" And he shot. Elisha said, "The Lord's arrow of winning the battle! The arrow of winning the battle against Syria! For you will fight the Syrians at Aphek until you have destroyed them.


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Then Elisha said, "Take the arrows," and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, "Hit the ground," and he hit it three times, and stopped.


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So the man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have hit it five or six times. Then you would have fought Syria until you had destroyed it. But now you will win the fight against Syria only three times."


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Elisha died, and they buried him. Now groups of Moabite soldiers would come and fight in the land in the spring of the year.


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As a man was being buried, some Moabite soldiers were seen, so the man was thrown into Elisha's grave. When the man touched the bones of Elisha, he came alive and stood up on his feet.


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But the Lord showed them kindness and loving-pity and turned to them because of His agreement with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He would not destroy them or put them away from Him until now.


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Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took back from Hazael's son Ben-hadad the cities he had taken in war from his father Jehoahaz. Three times Joash won in battle against him and took back the cities of Israel.


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In the second year of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Joash's son Amaziah began to rule as king of Judah.


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He was twenty-five years old when he became king. And he ruled twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.


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Amaziah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not like David his father. He did all that his father Joash had done.


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As soon as the nation was under Amaziah's power, he killed the servants who had killed his father when he was king.


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But he did not kill the sons of the killers. Because it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, as the Lord said, "The fathers must not be put to death for the sons. And the sons must not be put to death for the fathers. Each must be put to death for his own sin."


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Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war. He gave it the name Joktheel, which is its name to this day.


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Then Amaziah sent men with news to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look at each other in the face."


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Jehoash king of Israel answered Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thorn bush in Lebanon sent word to the cedar tree in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.' But a wild animal passed by in Lebanon, and crushed the thorn bush under its feet.


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Yes, you have won the battle against Edom. Your heart has become proud. Be happy with your greatness and stay at home. For why should you make trouble so that you fall, and Judah with you?"


text:
But Amaziah would not listen. So King Jehoash of Israel went up. He and Amaziah king of Judah fought each other at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.


text:
King Jehoash of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he came to Jerusalem and tore down the city wall, from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate. He tore down the wall as far as 200 long steps.


text:
He took all the gold and silver and all the objects found in the house of the Lord and in the store-rooms of the king's house. He took people against their will also, and he returned to Samaria.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash, his strength and how he fought with King Amaziah of Judah are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.


text:
Jehoash died and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam became king in his place.


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


text:
They made plans against Amaziah in Jerusalem, and he ran away to Lachish. But they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.


text:
The people of Judah took Azariah and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. He was sixteen years old.


text:
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to rule in Samaria and ruled forty-one years.


text:
Jeroboam did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel sin.


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He took back the land of Israel from Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, as was told by the word of the Lord, the God of Israel. The Lord spoke about this through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai. Jonah was the man from Gath-hepher who spoke for the Lord.


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For the Lord saw that the trouble of Israel was very bitter. There was no one left of the servants or of those who were free. There was no one to help Israel.


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The Lord did not say that He would destroy the name of Israel from under heaven. So He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.


text:
Jeroboam fought Judah and took back Damascus and Hamath for Israel. The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, all he did and his strength are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.


text:
Jeroboam was buried with his fathers, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.


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In the twenty-seventh year of King Jeroboam of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to rule.


text:
Azariah was sixteen years old when he became king. And he ruled for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.


text:
So the Lord sent trouble upon the king. Azariah had a bad skin disease to the day of his death, and he lived in a house alone. Jotham the king's son ruled over the house, and judged the people of the land.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Azariah are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.


text:
Azariah died and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.


text:
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam became the king of Israel in Samaria for six months.


text:
Zechariah did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel sin.


text:
Then Shallum the son of Jabesh made plans against him and killed him in front of the people. And Shallum ruled in his place.


text:
This is the word of the Lord which He spoke to Jehu. He said, "Your sons, even your great great-grandson, will sit on the throne of Israel." And so it was.


text:
Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah. He ruled for one month in Samaria.


text:
Then Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria, and killed Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and became king in his place.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Shallum and the plans he made are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.


text:
Then Menahem destroyed Tiphsah and all who were in it, and its land from Tirzah, because they did not open their gates to him. So he destroyed it, and tore open all its women who were going to have babies.


text:
In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became the king of Israel. He ruled for ten years in Samaria.


text:
Menahem did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. All his life he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel sin.


text:
King Pul of Assyria came to fight against the land. And Menahem gave Pul silver weighing as much as 1,000 men, that he might help him to be a powerful king.


text:
Menahem took the money from all the rich men of Israel. He took fifty pieces of silver from each man to pay the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria returned and did not stay there in the land.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Menahem are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.


text:
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became the king of Israel in Samaria. He ruled for two years.


text:
Pekahiah did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel sin.


text:
Then his captain Pekah the son of Remaliah made plans against him. He killed Pekahiah in Samaria, in the house of the king with Argob and Arieh. Fifty men of the Gileadites were with Pekah. He became king in his place.


text:
Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.


text:
In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah became the king of Israel in Samaria. He ruled for twenty years.


text:
Pekah did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel sin.


text:
In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came to fight. The king of Assyria took Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali. And he made the people go with him to Assyria.


text:
Hoshea the son of Elah made plans against Pekah the son of Remaliah. He killed Pekah and became king in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.


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


text:
Jotham was twentyfive years old when he became king. He ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.


text:
But the high places were not taken away. The people still gave gifts and burned special perfume on the high places. Jotham built the upper gate of the house of the Lord.


text:
In those days the Lord began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.


text:
Jotham died, and he was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. His son Ahaz became king in his place.


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


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Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king. And he ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, as his father David had done.


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But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even gave his sons as a burnt gift. This was very sinful and was done by the nations which the Lord had driven out from the people of Israel.


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And Ahaz gave gifts in worship and burned special perfume on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.


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Then King Rezin of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to fight a war. Their armies closed in around Ahaz, but they could not win the battle against him.


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At that time King Rezin of Syria took back Elath for Syria. And he drove all the men of Judah out of Elath. The Syrians came to Elath, and have lived there to this day.


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So Ahaz sent men with news to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the king of Syria and the king of Israel. They are fighting against me."


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And Ahaz took the silver and gold from the house of the Lord and the storerooms of the king's house, and sent a gift to the king of Assyria.


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So the king of Assyria listened to him and went up against Damascus. He took it in battle, and took its people away against their will to Kir. And he put Rezin to death.


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King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. He saw the altar at Damascus. And King Ahaz sent to Urijah the religious leader the plans of the altar and a small object made to look just like it.


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So Urijah the religious leader built an altar, following all the plans King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. Urijah made it before King Ahaz came from Damascus.


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There he burned his burnt gift and his grain gift. He poured his drink gift and put the blood of his peace gift on the altar.


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He took the brass altar which was before the Lord in front of the house, between his altar and the Lord's house, and he put it on the north side of his altar.


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Then King Ahaz told Urijah the religious leader, "Upon the large altar, give the morning burnt gift, the evening grain gift, and the king's burnt gift and his grain gift. Give them with the burnt gifts of all the people of the land and their grain gifts and drink gifts. Put on it all the blood of the burnt gifts given in worship. But the brass altar will be for me to go to when I ask the Lord what should be done."


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Then King Ahaz cut off the pillars and took the water pots away from them. He took the big brass pool off of the brass bulls, and put it down on stone.


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He took from the house of the Lord the covered way they had built in the house, and the king's gate because of the king of Assyria.


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Ahaz died, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his son Hezekiah ruled in his place.


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In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became the king of Israel in Samaria. He ruled for nine years.


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Hoshea did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord, but not as bad as the kings of Israel before him.


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King Shalmaneser of Assyria came up against him. And Hoshea became his servant and paid taxes to him.


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But the king of Assyria found that Hoshea had been making plans against him. Hoshea had sent men to King So of Egypt, instead of giving taxes to the king of Assyria. He had done this year after year. So the king of Assyria shut him up and put him in chains in prison.


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Then the king of Assyria came against all the land. He went up to Samaria and kept soldiers around it for three years.


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In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria in battle, and took the people of Israel away to Assyria. He had them live in Halah and Habor, by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


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This happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God. He had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. But they worshiped other gods.


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They walked in the ways of the nations the Lord had driven out from the people of Israel. And they walked in the ways the kings of Israel had started.


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The people of Israel did things in secret which were not right, against the Lord their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the smallest town to the strongest city.


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They set up holy objects of the false goddess Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree.


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There they burned special perfume on all the high places, as the nations did which the Lord carried away from them. They did what was bad and made the Lord angry.


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The Lord told Israel and Judah of the danger, through all His men who told what would happen in the future. He said, "Turn from your sinful ways and obey My Laws. Keep all the Laws which I gave your fathers, and which I gave to you through My servants and men of God."


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But they did not listen. They were strong-willed like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.


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They turned away from His Laws and His agreement which He made with their fathers. They turned away when He told them of danger. They followed false gods, and became empty. They followed the nations around them. But the Lord had told them not to act like them.


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They turned away from all the Laws of the Lord their God and made objects to look like false gods. They made two calves and an object to look like the false goddess Asherah. And they worshiped all the stars of heaven and worked for Baal.


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Then they gave their sons and daughters as burnt gifts. They told the future and used witchcraft. They sold themselves to do what is sinful in the eyes of the Lord. And they made Him angry.


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The Lord was very angry with Israel, and put them away from his eyes. None was left except the family of Judah.


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Even Judah did not keep the Laws of the Lord their God. They walked in the ways which Israel had started.


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And the Lord turned away from all the children of Israel, and sent trouble upon them. He gave them over to those who destroyed the land, until He had put them away from His eyes.


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When He had torn Israel from the family of David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the Lord. He led them into sin.


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until the Lord put Israel away from His eyes. He spoke through all His servants who tell what will happen in the future that He would do this. So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria until this day.


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The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sephar-vaim. He had them live in the cities of Samaria in place of the people of Israel. So they took Samaria for their own, and lived in its cities.


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At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the Lord. So the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.


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They said to the king of Assyria, "The nations you have carried away to the cities of Samaria do not know the way of the god of the land. So He has sent lions among them to kill them because they do not know the way of the god of the land."


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Then the king of Assyria told them, "Take to Samaria one of the religious leaders you brought from there. Let him go and live in Samaria. And let him teach them the way of the god of the land."


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So one of the religious leaders they had taken away from Samaria came and lived at Bethel. And he taught them how they should worship the Lord.


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But every nation still made gods of its own. They put them in the houses of the high places which the people of Samaria had made. The people of every nation did this in the cities where they lived.


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The men of Babylon made the false god Succoth-benoth. The men of Cuth made the false god Nergal. The men of Hamath made the false god Ashima.


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The Avvites made the false gods Nibhaz and Tartak. And the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adram-melech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.


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They feared the Lord also, and yet they chose from among themselves religious leaders of the high places. These leaders gave the gifts for them in the houses of the high places.


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So the people feared the Lord, but they worshiped their own gods also. They followed the way of the nations from which they had been taken away.


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To this day, they follow the ways of times past. They do not honor the Lord. They do not follow the Laws or the Word which the Lord told the sons of Jacob, whom He gave the name Israel.


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The Lord had made an agreement and told them, "You must not fear other gods. You must not put your faces to the ground in front of them, or worship them, or give gifts to them.


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But fear the Lord, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with a strong arm. Put your faces to the ground before Him. And give Him your gifts.


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These nations feared the Lord, but they worshiped their false gods also. Their children and grandchildren did the same, and they do as their fathers did to this day.


