KINGS HARMONY
SAMUEL KINGS CHRONICLES
Enoch LXXXIX. 89:41-50. From the Time of the Judges till the Building of the Temple.
And sometimes their eyes were opened, and sometimes blinded, till another sheep arose and led them and brought them all back, and their eyes were opened. And the dogs and the foxes and the wild boars began to devour those sheep till Yahweh of the sheep raised up [another sheep] a ram (Saul) from their midst, which led them. And that ram began to butt on either side those dogs, foxes, and wild boars till he had destroyed them all. And that sheep (Samuel) whose eyes were opened saw that ram (Saul), which was amongst the sheep, till it forsook its glory and began to butt those sheep, and trampled upon them, and behaved itself unseemly. And Yahweh of the sheep sent the lamb (Samuel) to another lamb (David) and raised it to being a ram and leader of the sheep instead of that ram which had forsaken its glory. And it went to it and spake to it alone, and raised it to being a ram, and made it the prince and leader of the sheep; but during all these things those dogs oppressed the sheep. And the first ram (Saul) pursued that second ram (David), and that second ram arose and fled before it; and I saw till those dogs pulled down the first ram. And that second ram arose and led the [little] sheep. And those sheep grew and multiplied; but all the dogs, and foxes, and wild boars feared and fled before it, and that ram (David) butted and killed the wild beasts, and those wild beasts had no longer any power among the sheep and robbed them no more of ought. And that ram begat many sheep and fell asleep; and a little sheep (Solomon) became ram in its stead, and became prince and leader of those sheep. And that house became great and broad, and it was built for those sheep: (and) a tower lofty and great was built on the house for Yahweh of the sheep, and that house was low, but the tower was elevated and lofty, and Yahweh of the sheep stood on that tower and they offered a full table before Him.
89:51-67. The Two Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, to the Destruction of Jerusalem.
And again I saw those sheep that they again erred and went many ways, and forsook that their house, and Yahweh of the sheep called some (the prophets) from amongst the sheep and sent them to the sheep, but the sheep began to slay them. And one of them (Elijah) was saved and was not slain, and it sped away and cried aloud over the sheep; and they sought to slay it, but Yahweh of the sheep saved it from the sheep, and brought it up to me, and caused it to dwell there. And many other sheep He sent to those sheep to testify unto them and lament over them. And after that I saw that when they forsook the house of Yahweh and His tower they fell away entirely, and their eyes were blinded; and I saw Yahweh of the sheep how He wrought much slaughter amongst them in their herds until those sheep invited that slaughter and betrayed His place. And He gave them over into the hands of the lions and tigers, and wolves and hyenas, and into the hand of the foxes, and to all the wild beasts, and those wild beasts began to tear in pieces those sheep. And I saw that He forsook that their house and their tower and gave them all into the hand of the lions, to tear and devour them, into the hand of all the wild beasts. And I began to cry aloud with all my power, and to appeal to Yahweh of the sheep, and to represent to Him in regard to the sheep that they were devoured by all the wild beasts. But He remained unmoved, though He saw it, and rejoiced that they were devoured and swallowed and robbed, and left them to be devoured in the hand of all the beasts. And He called seventy shepherds, and cast those sheep to them that they might pasture them, and He spake to the shepherds and their companions: ' Let each individual of you pasture the sheep henceforward, and everything that I shall command you that do you. And I will deliver them over unto you duly numbered, and tell you which of them are to be destroyed-and them destroy you.' And He gave over unto them those sheep. And He called another and spake unto him: ' Observe and mark everything that the shepherds will do to those sheep; for they will destroy more of them than I have commanded them. And every excess and the destruction which will be wrought through the shepherds, record (namely) how many they destroy according to my command, and how many according to their own caprice: record against every individual shepherd all the destruction he effects. And read out before me by number how many they destroy, and how many they deliver over for destruction, that I may have this as a testimony against them, and know every deed of the shepherds, that I may comprehend and see what they do, whether or not they abide by my command which I have commanded them. But they shall not know it, and you shalt not declare it to them, nor admonish them, but only record against each individual all the destruction which the shepherds effect each in his time and lay it all before me.' And I saw till those shepherds pastured in their season, and they began to slay and to destroy more than they were bidden, and they delivered those sheep into the hand of the lions. And the lions and tigers eat and devoured the greater part of those sheep, and the wild boars eat along with them; and they burnt that tower and demolished that house. And I became exceedingly sorrowful over that tower because that house of the sheep was demolished, and afterwards I was unable to see if those sheep entered that house.
The Genealogy from Adam to Noah
Adam, Seth, Enos,
Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared,
Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
1Chronicles 1:1-4
The Descendants of Noah's Sons
JAPHETH
The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
HAM
The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.
And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.
And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,
The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,
And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
SHEM
The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.
And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber (Hebrews).
“Jews began to call themselves Hebrews and Israelites in 1860″ —Encyclopedia Judaica 1971 Vol 10:23
"Strictly speaking it is incorrect to call an ancient Israelite a ‘Jew’ or to call a contemporary Jew an Israelite or a Hebrew." (1980 Jewish Almanac, p. 3).
And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the land was divided: and his brother's name was Joktan.
And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,
And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
1Chronicles 1:5-23
From Shem to Abraham
Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
Eber, Peleg, Reu,
Serug, Nahor, Terah,
Abram; the same is Abraham.
1Chronicles 1:24-27
The Descendants of Abraham
The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.
ISHMAEL
These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,
Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.
KETURA
Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.
And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.
ISAAC
And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.
ESAU
“Edom is in modern Jewry.” —The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1925 edition, Vol.5, p.41
The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
The sons of Eliphaz; Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.
The sons of Reuel; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.
And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan's sister.
The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.
The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
The sons of Ezer; Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran.
1Chronicles 1:28-42
The Kings and Dukes of Edom
Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.
And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.
And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
And when Shaul was dead, Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
And when Baalhanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth,
Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.
1Chronicles 1:43-54
JACOB
The Twelve Sons of Israel
These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
1Chronicles 2:1-2
The Tribe of Judah
The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of Yahweh; and He slew him.
And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.
And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.
And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.
And the sons of Ethan; Azariah.
The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz,
And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse,
And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,
Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
Ozem the sixth, David the seventh:
Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.
And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Ithra the Israelite.
And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was threescore years old; and she bare him Segub.
And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead.
And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
And after that Hezron was dead in Calebephratah, then Abiah Hezron's wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.
And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah.
Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.
And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker.
And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur.
And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid.
And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children.
And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai.
And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether died without children.
And the sons of Jonathan; Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.
And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bare him Attai.
And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,
And Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed,
And Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah,
And Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah,
And Eleasah begat Sisamai, and Sisamai begat Shallum,
And Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.
The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.
And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.
And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:
And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.
And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.
And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
PRAYER OF JABEZ
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that you wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that your hand might be with me, and that you wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.
And Eshton begat Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Rechah.
And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.
And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.
And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.
And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.
And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.
And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Benzoheth.
The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,
And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And these are ancient things.
These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.
And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.
And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur.
And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.
Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
And the sons of Hebron; Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema.
And Shema begat Raham, the father of Jorkoam: and Rekem begat Shammai.
And the son of Shammai was Maon: and Maon was the father of Bethzur.
And Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez: and Haran begat Gazez.
And the sons of Jahdai; Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph.
Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bare Sheber, and Tirhanah.
She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.
These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim,
Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader.
And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons; Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites.
And the families of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.
The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites.
And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.
DAVID'S SONS
Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:
The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:
The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.
These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years.
And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel: Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,
And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.
These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.
And Solomon's son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
Amon his son, Josiah his son.
And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son, Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:
And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five.
And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.
And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.
And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.
And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.
1Chronicles 2:3-55 3:1-24 4:1-23
Tribe of Levi
The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,
And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,
And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth, Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,
And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,
And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)
And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,
And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,
And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,
And Jehozadak went into captivity, when Yahweh carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.
And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.
Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.
The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.
As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son, Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Joel, Vashni, and Abiah.
The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son, Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.
And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of Yahweh, after that the ark had rest.
And they ministered before the dwelling place of the Tent of Meeting with singing, until Solomon had built the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.
And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,
The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,
The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,
The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,
The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most set-apart, and to make propitiation for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.
Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.
And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.
But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,
And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,
And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs:
And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.
And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.
And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.
And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.
And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.
And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,
And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,
And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs:
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.
Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:
And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,
And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:
And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,
And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:
And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.
Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs, Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:
And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.
1Chronicles 6:1-81
The Tribe of Reuben
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)
The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,
Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,
Beerah his son, whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.
And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,
And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baalmeon:
And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.
And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.
1Chronicles 5:1-10
Tribe of Gad
And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salchah:
Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.
And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.
These are the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;
Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.
And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders.
All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam II king of Israel.
1Chronicles 5:11-17
The Half-Tribe of Manasseh (East of Jordan)
And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baalhermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.
And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.
1Chronicles 5:23-24
The Tribe of Simeon
The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:
Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.
And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.
And they dwelt at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,
And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.
And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:
And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.
And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,
And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;
These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.
And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.
And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms: because there was pasture there for their flocks.
And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.
1Chronicles 4:24-43
The Tribe of Issachar
Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.
And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.
And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.
And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.
1Chronicles 7:1-5
The Tribe of Naphtali
The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
1Chronicles 7:13
The Half-Tribe of Manasseh (West of Jordan)
The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare: (but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:
And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.
And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
1Chronicles 7:14-19
The Tribe of Ephraim
And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,
And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.
And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
(And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the nether, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.)
And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,
Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
Non his son, Jehoshua his son.
And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:
And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.
1Chronicles 7:20-29
The Tribe of Asher
The sons of Asher; Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.
And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
And the sons of Japhlet; Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.
And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.
All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men.
1Chronicles 7:30-40
The Tribe of Benjamin
The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.
And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.
And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.
And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour, was twenty thousand and two hundred.
The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.
All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valour, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle.
Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher.
Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:
And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,
And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.
And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:
Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:
And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,
And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;
And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,
And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,
And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,
And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;
And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife's name was Maachah:
And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.
And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.
And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.
And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.
And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:
And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.
And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.
And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.
1Chronicles 7:6-12 8:1-40 9:35-44 1Samuel 14:49-51
Additional Historical Statements
The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites (Gad), and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to
bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand
seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.
And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.
And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and He was intreated of them; because they put their trust in Him.
And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.
For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of
Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.
And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;
Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.
And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.
And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,
And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.
And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,
And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;
And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;
Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.
And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of Yahweh, were keepers of the entry.
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and Yahweh was with him.
And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the Tent of Meeting.
All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.
So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of Yahweh, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.
In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.
For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.
And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.
And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.
Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.
And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.
And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.
And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.
And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.
1Chronicles 5:18-22 9:1-34
Samuel's Birth and Infancy
Samuel was a Levite
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto Yahweh of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of Yahweh, were there.
And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but Yahweh had shut up her womb.
And her adversary (Peninnah her rival wife) also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.
And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh, so Peninnah provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest you? and why eatest you not? and why is your heart grieved? am not I better to you than ten sons?
So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat of honor by a door post of the temple of Yahweh.
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Yahweh, and wept sore.
And she vowed a vow, and said, O Yahweh of hosts, if You wilt indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Your handmaid, but wilt give unto Your handmaid a man child, then I will dedicate him unto Yahweh all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that Eli marked her mouth.
Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
And Eli said unto her, How long wilt you be drunken? put away your wine from you.
And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before Yahweh.
Count not your handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant you your petition that you hast asked of Him.
And she said, Let your handmaid find grace in your sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her.
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Yahweh.
1Samuel 1:1-20
The child Samuel dedicated to Yahweh
And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and there abide for ever.
And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth you good; tarry until you have weaned him; only Yahweh establish His word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of Yahweh in Shiloh: and the child was young.
And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
And she said, Oh my lord, as your soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by you here, praying unto Yahweh.
For this child I prayed; and Yahweh hath given me my petition which I asked of Him:
Therefore also I have dedicated him to Yahweh; as long as he liveth he shall be dedicated to Yahweh. And he worshipped Yahweh there.
And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in Yahweh, mine horn is exalted in Yahweh: my mouth is enlarged over mine hated enemies; because I rejoice in Your salvation.
There is none set-apart as Yahweh: for there is none beside You: neither is there any rock like our God.
Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for Yahweh is a God of knowledge, and by Him deeds are measured.
The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
Yahweh killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
Yahweh maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up.
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the needy from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the seat of honor: for the pillars of the land are Yahweh's, and He hath set the world upon them.
He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
The adversaries of Yahweh shall be broken to pieces; out of the sky shall He thunder upon them: Yahweh shall judge the ends of the land; and He shall give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.
1Samuel 1:21-28 2:1-10
Samuel at Shiloh
Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not Yahweh.
And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of you, but raw, with the blood.
And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as your soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but you shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before Yahweh: for men abhorred the grain offering of Yahweh.
Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
And he said unto them, Why do you such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make Yahweh's people to transgress.
If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against Yahweh, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Yahweh would slay them.
And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto Yahweh before Eli the priest.
And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with Yahweh, and also with men.
But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Yahweh give you seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to Yahweh. And they went unto their own home.
And Yahweh visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before Yahweh.
And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith Yahweh, Did I plainly appear unto the house of your ancestors, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon Mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me? and did I give unto the house of your ancestors all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
Wherefore kick you at My sacrifice and at Mine grain offering, which I have commanded in My habitation; and honourest your sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel My people?
Wherefore Yahweh God of Israel saith, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your ancestors, should walk before Me for ever: but now Yahweh saith, Be it far from Me; for them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your ancestor's house, that there shall not be an old man in your house.
And you shalt see an enemy in My habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in your house for ever.
And the man of your, whom I shall not cut off from Mine altar, shall be to consume your eyes, and to grieve your heart: and all the increase of your house shall die in the flower of their age.
And this shall be a sign unto you, that shall come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
And I will raise Me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in Mine heart and in My mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before Mine anointed for ever.
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in your house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray you, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
Yahweh calls Samuel
And the child Samuel ministered unto Yahweh before Eli. And the word of Yahweh was precious in those days; there was no distinct vision.
And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of Yahweh, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
That Yahweh called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for you calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
And Yahweh called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
Now Samuel did not yet know Yahweh, neither was the word of Yahweh yet revealed unto him.
And Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you didst call me. And Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.
Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if He call you, that you shalt say, Speak, Yahweh; for your servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
And Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for your servant heareth.
And Yahweh said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor grain offering for ever.
And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Yahweh. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
And he said, What is the thing that Yahweh hath said unto you? I pray you hide it not from me: God do so to you, and more also, if you hide any thing from me of all the things that He said unto you.
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is Yahweh: let Him do what seemeth Him good.
And Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him, and did let none of His words fall to the ground.
And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Yahweh.
And Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh: for Yahweh revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Yahweh.
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
1Samuel 2:11-36 3:1-21 4:1
Israel's Defeat and Loss of the Ark
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath Yahweh smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our hated enemies.
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
And when the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the land echoed.
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of Yahweh was come into the camp.
And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O you Philistines, that you be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
1Samuel 4:1-11
The Fall of the House of Eli
And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with dirt upon his head.
And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat of honor backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had led Israel forty years.
And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and delivered; for her pains came upon her.
And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for you hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
1Samuel 4:12-22
The Ark of God
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
But the hand of Yahweh was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and He devastated them, and smote them with hemorrhoids, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for His hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.
And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of Yahweh was against the city with a very great destruction: and He smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had hemorrhoids in their secret parts.
Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a panic of death throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to the sky.
And the ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of Yahweh? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.
And they said, If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return Him a compensation: then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.
Then said they, What shall be the compensation which we shall return to Him? They answered, Five golden hemorrhoids, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.
Wherefore you shall make images of your hemorrhoids, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure He will lighten His hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.
Wherefore then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought ruthlessly among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
Now therefore make a new cart, and take two nursing kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:
And take the ark of Yahweh, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which you return it for compensation, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.
And see, if it goeth up by the way of it's own coast to Bethshemesh, then He hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.
And the men did so; and took two nursing kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
And they laid the ark of Yahweh upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their hemorrhoids.
And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.
And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they split the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto Yahweh.
And the Levites took down the ark of Yahweh, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto Yahweh.
And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
And these are the golden hemorrhoids which the Philistines returned for compensation unto Yahweh; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;
And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of Yahweh: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.
And Yahweh smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh, even He smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because Yahweh had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this set-apart Yahweh God? and to whom shall it go up from us?
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of Yahweh; come you down, and fetch it up to you.
And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh.
1Samuel 5:1-12 6:1-21 7:1
And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.
1Samuel 7:2
National Repentance Through Samuel's Labors
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return unto Yahweh with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto Yahweh, and serve Him only: and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.
And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto Yahweh.
And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against Yahweh. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
1Samuel 7:3-6
Israel's Victory over the Philistines
And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto Yahweh our God for us, that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto Yahweh: and Samuel cried unto Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh heard him.
And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath Yahweh helped us.
1Samuel 7:7-12
Summary Statements of Samuel's Work as Judge
So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto Yahweh.
1Samuel 7:13-17
The Persistent Demand of the People for a King
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
And said unto him, Behold, you art old, and your sons walk not in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto Yahweh.
And Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto you: for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto you.
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and declare to them the laws of the king that shall reign over them.
And Samuel told all the words of Yahweh unto the people that asked of him a king.
And he said, This will be the laws of the king that shall reign over you: He, a man king, will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and you shall be his servants.
And you shall cry out in that day because of your king which you shall have chosen you; and Yahweh will not hear you in that day.
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh.
And Yahweh said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go you every man unto his city.
1Samuel 8:1-22
Samuel Meets Saul, Who is Destined by Yahweh to Be King over Israel
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the asses.
And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of Elohiym, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
As soon as you be come into the city, you shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time you shall find him.
And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, for to go up to the high place.
Now Yahweh had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
To morrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shalt anoint him to be captain over My people Israel, that he may save My people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon My people, because their cry is come unto Me.
And when Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to you of! this same shall reign over My people.
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, where the seer's house is.
And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for you shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your mind.
And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you, and on all your father's house?
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest you so to me?
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said unto you, Set it by you.
And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before you, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for you since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
1Samuel 9:1-25
Saul is Privately Anointed by Samuel
And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send you away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand you still a while, that I may shew you the word of God.
Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because Yahweh hath anointed you to be captain over His inheritance?
1Samuel 9:26-27 10:1
The Signs of the Divine Confirmation
When you art departed from me to day, then you shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto you, The asses which you wentest to seek are found: and, lo, your father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
Then shalt you go on forward from thence, and you shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet you three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
And they will salute you, and give you two loaves of bread; which you shalt receive of their hands.
After that you shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when you art come thither to the city, that you shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall speak in religious ecstasy with music:
And the Spirit of Yahweh will come upon you, and you shalt speak in religious ecstasy with music with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
And let it be, when these signs are come unto you, that you do as occasion serve you; for God is with you.
And you shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt you tarry, till I come to you, and shew you what you shalt do.
And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another mind: and all those signs came to pass that day.
And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went you? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray you, what Samuel said unto you.
And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
1Samuel 10:2-16
The Choice of Saul by Lot at Mizpeh
And Samuel called the people together unto Yahweh to Mizpeh;
And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith Yahweh God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
And you have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before Yahweh by your tribes, and by your thousands.
And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.
When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
1Samuel 10:17-21
The Installation of Saul as King
Therefore they enquired of Yahweh further, if the man should yet come thither. And Yahweh answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff that was brought.
And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
And Samuel said to all the people, See you him whom Yahweh hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a scroll, and laid it up before Yahweh. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
1Samuel 10:22-25
Saul's Brief Retirement to Private Life
And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
1Samuel 10:26-27
A Generic Account of the Whole of Saul's Reign
So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his hated enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
1Samuel 14:47-52
Confirmation and General Recognition of Saul as King
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.
And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to you.
Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
And when he mustered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall you say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, you shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and you shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day Yahweh hath wrought salvation in Israel.
Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that you said unto me, and have made a king over you.
And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
Behold, here I am: witness against me before Yahweh, and before Saul His anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
And they said, you hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast you taken ought of any man's hand.
And he said unto them, Yahweh is witness against you, and Saul His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
And Samuel said unto the people, It is Yahweh that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your ancestors up out of the land of Egypt.
Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before Yahweh of all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which He did to you and to your ancestors.
When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your ancestors cried unto Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your ancestors out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
And when they forgat Yahweh their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
And they cried unto Yahweh, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our hated enemies, and we will serve You.
And Yahweh sent Gideon, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your hated enemies on every side, and you dwelled safe.
And when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when Yahweh your God was your king.
Now therefore behold the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have desired! and, behold, Yahweh hath set a king over you.
If you will revere Yahweh, and serve Him, and obey His voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then shall both you and also the king that reigneth over you continue following Yahweh your God:
But if you will not obey the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then shall the hand of Yahweh be against you, as it was against your ancestors.
Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which Yahweh will do before your eyes.
Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto Yahweh, and He shall send thunder and rain; that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking you a king.
So Samuel called unto Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for your servants unto Yahweh your God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: you have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart;
And turn you not aside: for then should you go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
For Yahweh will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it hath pleased Yahweh to make you His people.
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
Only revere Yahweh, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.
But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king.
1Samuel 11:1-15 12:1-25
The Beginnings of Royalty
Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
1Samuel 13:1-2
The War Against the Philistines
And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.
When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
And Samuel said, What hast you done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto Yahweh: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
And Samuel said to Saul, you hast done foolishly: you hast not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which He commanded you: for now would Yahweh have established your kingdom upon Israel for ever.
But now your kingdom shall not continue: Yahweh hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and Yahweh hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because you hast not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.
And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul mustered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.
And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
And the destroying bands came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.
And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, Yahweh's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Yahweh will work for us: for there is no restraint to Yahweh to save by many or by few.
And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in your heart: turn you; behold, I am with you according to your heart.
Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will show ourselves unto them.
If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for Yahweh hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for Yahweh hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the ground quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw your hand.
And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
So Yahweh saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.
And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had put under oath the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine hated enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
Then answered one of the people, and said, your father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their hated enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Yahweh, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against Yahweh in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
And Saul built an altar unto Yahweh: the same was the first altar that he built unto Yahweh.
And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto you. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt you deliver them into the hand of Israel? But He answered him not that day.
And Saul said, Draw you near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
For, as Yahweh liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
Then said he unto all Israel, Be you on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto you.
Therefore Saul said unto Yahweh God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken by lot: but the people escaped.
And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken by lot.
Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for you shalt surely die, Jonathan.
And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as Yahweh liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath worked with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
1Samuel 13:3-23 14:1-46
Yahweh's Rejection of Saul
Samuel also said unto Saul, Yahweh sent me to anoint you to be king over His people, over Israel: now therefore hearken you unto the voice of the words of Yahweh.
Thus saith Yahweh of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
Now go and smite Amalek, and devote to destruction all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
And Saul gathered the people together, and mustered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for you shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until you comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword.
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not devote them to destruction: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they devoted to destruction.
Then came the word of Yahweh unto Samuel, saying,
I am grieved that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto Yahweh all night.
And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be you of Yahweh: I have performed the commandment of Yahweh.
And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto Yahweh your God; and the rest we have devoted to destruction.
Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell you what Yahweh hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
And Samuel said, When you wast little in your own sight, wast you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and Yahweh anointed you king over Israel?
And Yahweh sent you on a journey, and said, Go and devote to destruction the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
Wherefore then didst you not obey the voice of Yahweh, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of Yahweh?
And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of Yahweh, and have gone the way which Yahweh sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have devoted to destruction the Amalekites.
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto Yahweh your God in Gilgal.
And Samuel said, Hath Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you hast rejected the word of Yahweh, He hath also rejected you from being king.
And Saul said unto Samuel, I have missed the mark of duty: for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
Now therefore, I pray you, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh.
And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with you: for you hast rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh hath rejected you from being king over Israel.
And as Samuel turned about to go away, Saul laid hold upon the skirt of Samuel's mantle, and it rent.
And Samuel said unto him, Yahweh hath rent the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of your, that is better than you.
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor change His mind: for He is not a man, that He should repent.
Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray you, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.
So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped Yahweh.
Then said Samuel, Bring you hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
And Samuel said, As your sword hath made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal.
Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and Yahweh was grieved that He had made Saul king over Israel.
1Samuel 15:1-35
David Chosen and Anointed as Saul's Successor by Samuel
And Yahweh said unto Samuel, How long wilt you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill your horn with oil, and go, I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons.
And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And Yahweh said, Take an heifer with you, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Yahweh.
And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew you what you shalt do: and you shalt anoint unto Me him whom I name unto you.
And Samuel did that which Yahweh spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest you peaceably?
And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto Yahweh: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely Yahweh's anointed is before him.
But Yahweh said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for Yahweh seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Yahweh looketh on the heart.
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath Yahweh chosen this.
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath Yahweh chosen this.
Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Yahweh hath not chosen these.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all your children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And Yahweh said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of Yahweh came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
1Samuel 16:1-13
David's Introduction to the Court of Saul
But the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him.
And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth you.
Let our lord now command your servants, which are before you, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shalt be well.
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and Yahweh is with him.
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep.
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray you, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
1Samuel 16:14-23
David and Goliath
Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
And he had an helmet of bronze upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.
And he had shin guards of bronze upon his legs, and a spear of bronze between his shoulders.
And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are you come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall you be our servants, and serve us.
And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for your brethren an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brethren;
And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how your brethren fare, and take their proof of well being.
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
And the men of Israel said, Have you seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free from taxes and levy in Israel.
And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest you down hither? and with whom hast you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you art come down that you mightest see the battle.
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
And Saul said to David, you art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for you art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
And David said unto Saul, your servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
Your servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
David said moreover, Yahweh that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Yahweh be with you.
And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of bronze upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he labored to walk; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that you comest to me with a staff and stones? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
Then said David to the Philistine, you comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you hast defied.
This day will Yahweh deliver you into mine hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from you; and I will give the carcases of the army of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the land; that all the land may know that there is a God in Israel.
And all this assembly shall know that Yahweh saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is Yahweh's, and He will give you into our hands.
And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the ground.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As your soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
And the king said, Enquire you whose son the stripling is.
And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
And Saul said to him, Whose son art you, you young man? And David answered, I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until you come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
1Samuel 17:1-54
David at the Court of Saul
And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the royal robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and under the influence of an evil spirit he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
And Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.
Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give you to wife: only be you valiant for me, and fight Yahweh's battles. For Saul said in his heart, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
And Saul said in his heart, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, you shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in you, and all his servants love you: now therefore be the king's son in law.
And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
And Saul said, Thus shall you say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's hated enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days of betrothment were not fulfilled.
Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
And Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's hated enemy continually.
Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill you: now therefore, I pray you, take heed to yourself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide yourself:
And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you art, and I will commune with my father of you; and what I see, that I will tell you.
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against you, and because his works have been to you-ward very good:
For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and Yahweh wrought a great salvation for all Israel: you sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt you sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As Yahweh liveth, he shall not be slain.
And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
1Samuel 18:1-30 19:1-7
David is Forced to Leave Court
And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
And the evil spirit from Yahweh was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If you save not your life to night, to morrow you shalt be slain.
So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast you deceived me so, and sent away mine hated enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I be put to death?
So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before your father, that he seeketh my life?
And he said unto him, God forbid; you shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
And David replied to him, and said, Your father certainly knoweth that I have found favor in your eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as Yahweh liveth, and as your soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever your soul desireth, I will even do it for you.
And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.
If your father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
If he say thus, It is well; your servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
Therefore you shalt deal kindly with your servant; for you hast brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me yourself; for why shouldest you bring me to your father?
And Jonathan said, Far be it from you: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon you, then would not I tell it you?
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if your father answer you roughly?
And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
And Jonathan said unto David, O Yahweh God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto you, and shew it you;
Yahweh do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do you evil, then I will shew it you, and send you away, that you mayest go in peace: and Yahweh be with you, as He hath been with my father.
And you shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of Yahweh, that I die not:
But also you shalt not cut off your kindness from my house for ever: no, not when Yahweh hath cut off the hated enemies of David every one from the face of the ground.
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let Yahweh even require it at the hand of David's hated enemies.
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and you shalt be missed, because your seat will be empty.
And when you hast stayed three days, then you shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where you didst hide yourself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, take them; then come you: for there is peace to you, and no hurt; as Yahweh liveth.
But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond you; go your way: for Yahweh hath sent you away.
And as touching the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Yahweh be between you and me for ever.
So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.
Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not ritually clean; surely he is not clean because he has not purified himself.
And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
And he said, Let me go, I pray you; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in your eyes, let me get away, I pray you, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.
Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, you son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that you hast chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and unto the shame of your mother's nakedness?
For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, you shalt not be established, nor your kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.
And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond you?
And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of Yahweh, saying, Yahweh be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
1Samuel 19:8-24 20:1-42
David's Flight
Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art you alone, and no man with you?
And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send you, and what I have commanded you: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
Now therefore what is under your hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are set-apart, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before Yahweh, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under your hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if you wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
And David remembered these words in his mind, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, you see the man is mad: wherefore then have you brought him to me?
Have I need of mad men, that you have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If you be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if you be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helpeth you. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray you, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get you into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
1Samuel 21:1-15 22:1-5 1Chronicles 12:16-18
Saul's Vengeance on the Priests of Nob
When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, you Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
And Ahimelech enquired of Yahweh for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
And Saul said, Hear now, you son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
And Saul said unto him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all your servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at your bidding, and is honourable in your house?
Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
And the king said, you shalt surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house.
And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of Yahweh; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of Yahweh.
And the king said to Doeg, Turn you, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
1Samuel 22:6-20
David in Keilah
Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
Therefore David enquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And Yahweh said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
Then David enquired of Yahweh yet again. And Yahweh answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.
So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain Yahweh's priests.
And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I am guilty the death of all the persons of your father's house.
Abide you with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh your life: but with me you shalt be in safeguard.
And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said in his heart, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
Then said David, O Yahweh God of Israel, your servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as your servant hath heard? O Yahweh God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant. And Yahweh said, He will come down.
Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And Yahweh said, They will deliver you up.
Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
1Samuel 22:21-23 23:1-13
David's Last Meeting with Jonathan
And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; and you shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto you; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
And they two made a covenant before Yahweh: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
1Samuel 23:14-18
David's Betrayal by the Ziphites
Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.
And Saul said, Blessed be you of Yahweh; for you have compassion on me.
Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his foot is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come you again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
1Samuel 23:19-24
David's Escape from Saul in the Wilderness of Maon
And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste you, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
1Samuel 23:24-28
David in the Wilderness of En-gedi: He Spares Saul in the Cave
And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which Yahweh said unto you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
And he said unto his men, Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, Yahweh's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of Yahweh.
So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest you men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh your hurt?
Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you: but mine eye spared you; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh's anointed.
Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and killed you not, know you and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you huntest my soul to take it.
Yahweh judge between me and you, and Yahweh avenge me of you: but mine hand shall not be upon you.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon you.
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
Yahweh therefore be judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
And he said to David, you art more righteous than I: for you hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil.
And you hast shewed this day how that you hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when Yahweh had delivered me into your hand, you killedst me not.
For if a man find his hated enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Yahweh reward you good for that you hast done unto me this day.
And now, behold, I know well that you shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
Swear now therefore unto me by Yahweh, that you wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that you wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
1Samuel 23:29 24:1-22
The Death of Samuel
David in the Wilderness of Paran: the History of Nabal and Abigail
And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
And thus shall you say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be unto all that you hast.
And now I have heard that you hast shearers: now your shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
Ask your young men, and they will shew you. Wherefore let the young men find favour in your eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray you, whatsoever cometh to your hand unto your servants, and to your son David.
And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
And David said unto his men, Gird you on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.
But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:
They protected us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
Now therefore know and consider what you wilt do; for harm is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let your handmaid, I pray you, speak in your audience, and hear the words of your handmaid.
Let not my lord, I pray you, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and foolishness is with him: but I your handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom you didst send.
Now therefore, my lord, as Yahweh liveth, and as your soul liveth, seeing Yahweh hath withholden you from coming to shed blood, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now let your hated enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as foolish Nabal.
And now this blessing which your handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
I pray you, forgive the trespass of your handmaid: for Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of Yahweh, and evil hath not been found in you all your days.
Yet a man is risen to pursue you, and to seek your soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Yahweh your God; and the souls of your hated enemies, them shall He sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
And it shall come to pass, when Yahweh shall have done to my lord according to all the good that He hath spoken concerning you, and shall have appointed you ruler over Israel;
That this shall be no grief unto you, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that you hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when Yahweh shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid.
And David said to Abigail, Blessed be Yahweh God of Israel, which sent you this day to meet me:
And blessed be your advice, and blessed be you, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
For in very deed, as Yahweh God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting you, except you hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to your house; see, I have hearkened to your voice, and have accepted your person.
And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
And it came to pass about ten days after, that Yahweh smote Nabal, that he died.
1Samuel 25:1-38
David's Matrimonial Relations
And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be Yahweh, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept His servant from evil: for Yahweh hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto you, to take you to him to wife.
And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the ground, and said, Behold, let your handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
1Samuel 25:39-44
David, Betrayed Again by the Ziphites, Spares Saul the Second Time
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with you.
So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray you, with the spear even to the ground at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against Yahweh's anointed, and be guiltless?
David said furthermore, As Yahweh liveth, Yahweh shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
Yahweh forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against Yahweh's anointed: but, I pray you, take you now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from Yahweh was fallen upon them.
Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest you not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art you that criest to the king?
And David said to Abner, Art not you a valiant man? and who is like to you in Israel? wherefore then hast you not kept your lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord.
This thing is not good that you hast done. As Yahweh liveth, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept your master, Yahweh's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this your voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
Now therefore, I pray you, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If Yahweh have stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before Yahweh; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of Yahweh, saying, Go, serve other gods.
Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the ground before the face of Yahweh: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do you harm, because my soul was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
Yahweh render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for Yahweh delivered you into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against Yahweh's anointed.
And, behold, as your life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of Yahweh, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.
Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David: you shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
1Samuel 26:1-25
David Again in the Land of the Philistines
And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
And David said unto Achish, If I have now found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?
Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as you goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.
And Achish said, Whither have you raided to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.
They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.
The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,
And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,
Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,
And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
1Samuel 27:1-12 1Chronicles 12:7
David and the Philistine Invasion of Israel
And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know you assuredly, that you shalt go out with me to battle, you and your men.
And David said to Achish, Surely you shalt know what your servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make you keeper of mine head for ever.
Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.
Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which you hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as Yahweh liveth, you hast been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the eye of the lords favour you not.
Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that you displease not the lords of the Philistines.
And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast you found in your servant so long as I have been with you unto this day, that I may not go fight against the hated enemies of my lord the king?
And Achish answered and said to David, I know that you art good in my sight, as a messenger of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with your master's servants that are come with you: and as soon as you be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
And there came some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.
As he went to Ziklag, there came to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.
And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.
For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.
1Samuel 28:1-2 29:1-11 1Chronicles 12:19-22
David's Victory over the Amalekites Who Had Destroyed Ziklag
And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the emotions of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in Yahweh his God.
And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray you, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
And David enquired at Yahweh, saying, Shall I pursue after this band of marauders? shall I overtake them? And He answered him, Pursue: for you shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;
And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.
And David said unto him, To whom belongest you? and whence art you? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, slave to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.
We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.
And David said to him, Canst you bring me down to this band of marauders? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that you wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this band of marauders.
And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the ground, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.
And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other livestock, and said, This is David's spoil.
And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.
Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.
Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which Yahweh hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the band of marauders that came against us into our hand.
For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.
And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the hated enemies of Yahweh;
To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,
And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,
And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,
And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,
And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men went.
1Samuel 30:1-31
The Philistines Pitch in Shunem: the Israelites in Gilboa
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
1Samuel 28:4
Saul's Visit to the Witch of Endor
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
And when Saul enquired of Yahweh, Yahweh answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray you, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto you.
And the woman said unto him, Behold, you knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest you a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
And Saul sware to her by Yahweh, saying, As Yahweh liveth, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing.
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto you? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast you deceived me? for you art Saul.
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest you? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast you disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost you ask of me, seeing Yahweh is departed from you, and is become your enemy?
And Yahweh hath done to you, as He spake by me: for Yahweh hath rent the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbour, even to David:
Because you obeyedst not the voice of Yahweh, nor executedst His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath Yahweh done this thing unto you this day.
Moreover Yahweh will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt you and your sons be with me: Yahweh also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
Then Saul fell straightway all along on the ground, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, your handmaid hath obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto your words which you spakest unto me.
Now therefore, I pray you, hearken you also unto the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you mayest have strength, when you goest on your way.
But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the ground, and sat upon the bed.
And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
1Samuel 28:3,5-25
The Fall of the House of Saul
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these possessors of foreskins come and thrust me through, and torture me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon, and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against Yahweh, even against the word of Yahweh, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
And enquired not of Yahweh: therefore He slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
1Samuel 31:1-13 1Chronicles 10:1-14 2Samuel 4:4
The News of Saul's Death is Brought to David
Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and soil upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
And David said unto him, From whence comest you? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray you, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest you that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
And he said unto me, Who art you? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
He said unto me again, Stand, I pray you, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art you? And he answered, I am the son of a resident alien, an Amalekite.
And David said unto him, How wast you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy Yahweh's anointed?
And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
And David said unto him, your blood be upon your head; for your mouth hath testified against you, saying, I have slain Yahweh's anointed.
2Samuel 1:1-16
David's Lamentation for Saul and Jonathan
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
The beauty of Israel is slain upon your high places: how are the mighty fallen!
Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the possessors of foreskin triumph.
Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely rejected, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not in vain.
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, you wast slain in your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast you been unto me: your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
2Samuel 1:17-27
David is Anointed King over Judah
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And Yahweh said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And He said, Unto Hebron.
So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
2Samuel 2:1-4
David's Message to the Men of Jabesh-gilead
And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be you of Yahweh, that you have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
And now Yahweh shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because you have done this thing.
Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be you valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
2Samuel 2:5-7
Ish-bosheth is Made King of Israel
But Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
2Samuel 2:8-11
The Civil War
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and have a military contest before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, the field of the swords, which is in Gibeon.
And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art you Asahel? And he answered, I am.
And Abner said to him, Turn you aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay you hold on one of the young men, and take you his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn you aside from following me: wherefore should I smite you to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?
Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest you not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere you bid the people return from following their brethren?
And Joab said, As God liveth, unless you hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.
But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
2Samuel 2:12-32 3:1
David's Family in Hebron
And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
2Samuel 3:2-5
Abner's Quarrel with Ish-bosheth
And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was governing for the house of Saul.
And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast you gone in unto my father's concubine?
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul your father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as Yahweh hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
2Samuel 3:6-11
Abner's Desertion to David: Michal Restored to David
And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make your league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring about all Israel unto you.
And he said, Well; I will make a league with you: but one thing I require of you, that is, you shalt not see my face, except you first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when you comest to see my face.
And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
Now then do it: for Yahweh hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their hated enemies.
And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with you, and that you mayest reign over all that your heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
2Samuel 3:12-21
Joab's Murder of Abner: David's Lamentation
And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast you done? behold, Abner came unto you; why is it that you hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
You knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you doest.
And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an unclean discharge, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest you. And all the people wept again over him.
And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
And the king said unto his servants, Know you not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: Yahweh shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
2Samuel 3:22-39
The Murder of Ish-bosheth
And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands of marauders: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
2Samuel 4:1-7
David Punishes the Murderers of Ish-bosheth
And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul your enemy, which sought your life; and Yahweh hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As Yahweh liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of all adversity,
When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the land?
And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
2Samuel 4:8-12
David is Made King over Israel
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, you wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and Yahweh your God said to you, you shalt feed My people Israel, and you shalt be ruler over My people Israel.
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh: and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh by Samuel.
2Samuel 5:1-3 1Chronicles 11:1-3
Concerning the Number of Warriors Who Made David King
And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of Yahweh.
The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.
And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.
And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.
And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.
And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.
And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.
All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.
1Chronicles 12:23-40
Jerusalem Captured and Made the Capital
And king David and his men, and all Israel, went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except you take away the blind and the lame, you shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.
So David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
And David went on, and grew great, for Yahweh God of hosts was with him.
2Samuel 5:6-10 1Chronicles 11:4-9
Defensive Wars Against the Philistines
But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over all Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;
Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.
These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.
These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
And three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Yahweh.
And he said, Be it far from me, O Yahweh, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
And David enquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt you deliver them into mine hand? And Yahweh said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.
And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there. Then David said, Yahweh hath broken forth upon mine hated enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.
And when they left their idols, their gods there, David gave a commandment and his men burned them with fire.
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
And when David enquired of Yahweh, He said, you shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
And let it be, when you hearest the sound of a marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shalt go out to battle: for then shall Yahweh go out before you, to smite the host of the Philistines.
And David did so, as Yahweh had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gazer.
And the fame of David went out into all lands; and Yahweh brought the fear of him upon all nations.
2Samuel 5:17-25 23:13-17 1Chronicles 11:11-12 12:8-15 14:8-17
David's Alliance with Hiram of Tyre
And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
And David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
2Samuel 5:11-12 1Chronicles 14:1-2
Offensive Wars against the Philistines
And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah, Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, you shalt go no more out with us to battle, that you quench not the light of Israel.
And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.
And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.
And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim (Jair), a Bethlehemite, slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
And yet again there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
2Samuel 8:1 21:15-22 1Chronicles 18:1 20:4-8
The Ammonite-Syrian Campaign
And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest you that David doth honour your father, that he hath sent comforters unto you? hath not David rather sent his servants unto you, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate of the city: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seemeth Him good.
And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
2Samuel 10:1-14 1Chronicles 19:1-15
The Syrian Campaign
And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven thousand chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
2Samuel 10:15-19 1Chronicles 19:16-19
The Second Ammonite Campaign
And it came to pass, in the spring time after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
And David said to Uriah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest you not from your journey? why then didst you not go down unto your house?
And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as you livest, and as your soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let you depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set you Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire you from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
And charged the messenger, saying, When you hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto you, Wherefore approached you so nigh unto the city when you did fight? knew you not that they would shoot from the wall?
Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went you nigh the wall? then say you, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
And the shooters shot from off the wall upon your servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt you say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease you, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make your battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage you him.
And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased Yahweh.
And Yahweh sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he did not want to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Yahweh liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
And Nathan said to David, you art the man. Thus saith Yahweh God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul;
And I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto you such and such things.
Wherefore hast you despised the commandment of Yahweh, to do evil in His sight? you hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be your wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house; because you hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.
Thus saith Yahweh, Behold, I will raise up calamity against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them unto your neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
For you didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Yahweh. And Nathan said unto David, Yahweh also hath put away your sin; you shalt not die.
Howbeit, because by this deed you hast given great occasion to the hated enemies of Yahweh to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto you shall surely die.
And Nathan departed unto his house. And Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the ground.
And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
Then David arose from the ground, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of Yahweh, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that you hast done? you didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you didst rise and eat bread.
And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and Yahweh loved him.
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them to work with saws, sharp intruments of iron, axes of iron, and made them pass over to the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
2Samuel 11:1-27 12:1-31 1Chronicles 20:1-3
The Campaign Against Moab
And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
2Samuel 8:2 23:20 1Chronicles 11:22 18:2
Decisive Campaign Against Hadadezer
David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah,unto Hamath, as he went to recover his border and to stablish his dominion at the river Euphrates.
And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved to himself a hundred chariots.
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much bronze.
Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadadezer, brought David very much bronze, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.
And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band of marauders, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.
2Samuel 8:3-4,7-8 1Kings 11:23-24 1Chronicles 18:3-4,7-8
Subjugation of Damascus
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Yahweh preserved David whithersoever he went.
2Samuel 8:5-6 1Chronicles 18:5-6
Submission of Hamath
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to ask peace of him, and to bless him, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of bronze:
Which also king David did dedicate unto Yahweh, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
2Samuel 8:9-11 1Chronicles 18:9-11
Subjugation of Edom
And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And Yahweh preserved David whithersoever he went.
For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;
(For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)
That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.
And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.
2Samuel 8:13-14 1Kings 11:15-18 1Chronicles 18:12-13
List of David's Heroes
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Yahweh concerning Israel.: Jashobeam the Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time, the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel had retreated:
He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and Yahweh wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. He was with David at Pasdammim. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a parcel of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
But he stood in the midst of that parcel of ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and Yahweh wrought a great victory.
And three of the thirty chief went down, and came down to the rock to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Yahweh.
And he said, Be it far from me, O Yahweh, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.
Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.
Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,
Eliphal the son of Ur,
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Naarai the son of Ezbai,
Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,
Zabad the son of Ahlai,
Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
2Samuel 23:8-39 1Chronicles 11:10-47
The Administration and Officers of the Kingdom During This Period
And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abiathar the son of Ahimelech, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.
2Samuel 8:15-18 1Chronicles 18:14-17
David's Song of Thanksgiving
And David spake unto Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh had delivered him out of the hand of all his hated enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
And he said, Yahweh is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer;
The God of my Rock; in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the Horn of my Salvation, my High Tower, and my Refuge, my Saviour; You savest me from violence.
I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine hated enemies.
When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
The sorrows of the land of the dead compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
In my distress I called upon Yahweh, and cried to my God: and He did hear my voice out of His temple, and my cry did enter into His ears.
Then the land shook and trembled; the foundations of the sky moved and shook, because He was wroth.
There went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the skies also, and came down; and darkness was under His feet.
And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and He was seen upon the wings of the wind.
And He made darkness pavilions round about Him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
Through the brightness before Him were coals of fire kindled.
Yahweh thundered from the sky, and the most High uttered His voice.
And He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of Yahweh, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters;
He delivered me from my hated enemies' strength, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but Yahweh was my stay.
He brought me forth also into a large place: He delivered me, because He delighted in me.
Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all His judgments were before me: and as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.
I was also upright before Him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
Therefore Yahweh hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in His eye sight.
With the merciful You wilt shew Yourself merciful, and with the upright man You wilt shew Yourself upright.
With the pure You wilt shew Yourself pure; and with the froward You wilt shew Yourself unsavoury.
And the afflicted people You wilt save: but Your eyes are upon the haughty, that You mayest bring them down.
For You art my lamp, O Yahweh: and Yahweh will lighten my darkness.
For by You I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of Yahweh is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him.
For who is Elohiym, save Yahweh? and who is a Rock, save our Elohiym?
God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect.
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
You hast also given me the shield of Your salvation: and Your humility hath made me great.
You hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
I have pursued mine hated enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
For You hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast You subdued under me.
You hast also given me the necks of mine hated enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
They looked, but there was none to save; even unto Yahweh, but He answered them not.
Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the ground, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
You also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, you hast kept me to be head of the nations: a people which I knew not shall serve me.
Sons of racial aliens shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
Sons of racial aliens shall fade away from discouragement, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
Yahweh liveth; and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the God of the Rock of my Salvation.
It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
And that bringeth me forth from mine hated enemies: You also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: You hast delivered me from the violent man.
Therefore I will give thanks unto You, O Yahweh, among the nations, and I will sing praises unto Your name.
He is the Tower of Salvation for His king: and sheweth mercy to His anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
2Samuel 22:1-51
Removal of the Ark from Kirjath-jearim
Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of Yahweh our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:
And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.
And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of Yahweh of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
And David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled and shook it.
And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
And David was displeased, because Yahweh had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
And David was afraid of Yahweh that day, and said, How shall the ark of Yahweh come to me?
So David would not remove the ark of Yahweh unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
And the ark of Yahweh continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and Yahweh blessed Obededom, and all his household.
And it was told king David, saying, Yahweh hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath Yahweh chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto Him for ever.
And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh unto it's place, which he had prepared for it.
And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:
Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:
Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:
Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:
Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:
Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.
And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of Yahweh God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
For because you did it not at the first, Yahweh our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order.
So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh God of Israel.
And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of Yahweh.
And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;
And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters.
So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of bronze;
And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the house of Obededom with joy.
And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.
And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.
Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of Yahweh had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
And David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
And as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart.
And they brought in the ark of Yahweh, and set it in it's place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.
And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of hosts.
And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of Yahweh, and to record, and to thank and praise Yahweh God of Israel:
Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;
Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank Yahweh into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.
Give thanks unto Yahweh, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.
Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk you of all His wondrous works.
Glory you in His set-apart name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek Yahweh.
Seek Yahweh and His strength, seek His face continually.
Remember His marvellous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth;
O you seed of Israel His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones.
He is Yahweh our God; His judgments are in all the land.
Be you mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations;
Even of the covenant which He made with Abraham, and of His oath unto Isaac;
And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
Saying, Unto you will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;
When you were but few, even a few, and sojourners in it.
And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, He reproved kings for their sakes,
Saying, Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.
Sing unto Yahweh, all the land; shew forth from day to day His salvation.
Declare His glory among the nations; His marvellous works among all nations.
For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the people are idols: but Yahweh made the skies.
Glory and honour are in His presence; strength and gladness are in His place.
Give unto Yahweh, you kindreds of the people, give unto Yahweh glory and strength.
Give unto Yahweh the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship Yahweh in the beauty of set-apartness.
Fear before Him, all the land: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.
Let the skies be glad, and let the land rejoice: and let men say among the nations, Yahweh reigneth.
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of Yahweh, because He cometh to judge the land.
O give thanks unto Yahweh; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.
And say you, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your set-apart name, and glory in Your praise.
Blessed be Yahweh God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised Yahweh.
So he left there before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required:
And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:
And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Yahweh in the high place that was at Gibeon,
To offer burnt offerings unto Yahweh upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which he commanded Israel;
And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because His mercy endureth for ever;
And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.
And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
And David said unto Michal, It was before Yahweh, which chose me before your father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of Yahweh, over Israel: therefore will I play before Yahweh.
And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which you hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
2Samuel 6:1-23 1Chronicles 13:1-14 15:1-29 16:1-43
The Promise of Eternal Dominion to the House of David
And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and Yahweh had given him rest round about from all his hated enemies;
That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for Yahweh is with you.
And it came to pass that night, that the word of Yahweh came unto Nathan, saying,
Go and tell My servant David, Thus saith Yahweh, you shalt not build Me an house to dwell in:
Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying, Why build you not Me an house of cedar?
Now therefore so thus shalt you say unto My servant David, Thus saith Yahweh of hosts, I took you from the shepherd's camp, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel:
And I was with you whithersoever you wentest, and have cut off all your hated enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the land.
Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and be disturbed no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your hated enemies. Also Yahweh telleth you that He will make you an house.
And when your days be fulfilled, and you shalt sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build an house for My name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he shall be My son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of Adam:
But My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
And your house and your kingdom shall be established for ever before you: your throne shall be established for ever.
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
Then went king David in, and sat before Yahweh, and he said, Who am I, O Yahweh Elohiym? and what is my house, that You hast brought me hitherto?
And this was yet a small thing in Your sight, O Yahweh GOD; but You hast spoken also of Your servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of Adam, O Yahweh GOD?
And what can David say more unto You for the honour of Your servant? for You, Yahweh Elohiym, knowest Your servant.
For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, hast You done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.
Wherefore You art great, O Yahweh my Elohiym: for there is none like You, neither is there any God beside You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom Elohiym went to ransom for a people to Himself, and to make Him a name, and to do for You great things and awesome, for Your land, before Your people, which You ransomed to You from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
For You hast confirmed to Yourself Your people Israel to be a people unto You for ever: and You, Yahweh, art become their God.
And now, O Yahweh God, the word that You hast spoken concerning Your servant, and concerning his family, establish it for ever, and do as You hast said.
Let it even be established, that Your name be magnified for ever, saying, Yahweh of hosts is the Elohiym over Israel: and let the house of Your servant David be established before You.
For You, O Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to Your servant, saying, I will build You an house: therefore hath Your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto You.
And now, O Yahweh GOD, You art that Elohiym, and Your words be true, and You hast promised this goodness unto Your servant:
Therefore now let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue for ever before You: for You, O Yahweh GOD, hast spoken it: and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed for ever.
2Samuel 7:1-29 1Chronicles 17:1-27
David's Kindness Towards Jonathan's Son, Mephibosheth
And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art you Ziba? And he said, your servant is he.
And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold your servant!
And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father; and you shalt eat bread at my table continually.
And he bowed himself, and said, What is your servant, that you shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto your master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
You therefore, and your sons, and your servants, shall till the land for him, and you shalt bring in the fruits, that your master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.
And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.
2Samuel 9:1-13
The Birth of Solomon
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and Yahweh loved him.
And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of Yahweh.
2Samuel 12:24-25
David's Family in Jerusalem
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:
Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet, and Nogah, and Elpalet, nine.
These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.
2Samuel 5:13-16 1Chronicles 3:5-9 14:3-7
Amnon's Crime
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David lusted her.
And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very cunning man.
And he said unto him, Why art you, being the king's son, so weak from day to day? wilt you not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I desire Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
And Jonadab said unto him, Lay you down on your bed, and make yourself sick: and when your father cometh to see you, say unto him, I pray you, let my sister Tamar come, and give me food, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray you, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and dress him food.
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the food into the bedchamber, that I may eat of your hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not you this folly.
And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for you, you shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from you.
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
And she had a tunic upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her tunic that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon your brother been with you? but hold now your peace, my sister: he is your brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
2Samuel 13:1-22
Absalom's Vengeance
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, your servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech you, and his servants go with your servant.
And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be a burden unto you. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
Then said Absalom, If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with you?
But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.
Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as your servant said, so it is.
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
2Samuel 13:23-36
Absalom's Flight and Sojourn in Geshur
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
2Samuel 13:37-39
The Recall of Absalom
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.
And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray you, feign yourself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not yourself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
And the king said unto her, What aileth you? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
And your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.
And, behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the land.
And the king said unto the woman, Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you.
And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more.
Then said she, I pray you, let the king remember Yahweh your God, that you wouldest not suffer the kinsman revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As Yahweh liveth, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the ground.
Then the woman said, Let your handmaid, I pray you, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
And the woman said, Wherefore then hast you thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.
For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth He devise means, that His banished be not expelled from Him.
Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and your handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
Then your handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as a messenger of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore Yahweh your God will be with you.
Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray you, the thing that I shall ask you. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this? And the woman answered and said, As your soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for your servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid:
To fetch about this form of speech hath your servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of a messenger of God, to know all things that are in the land.
And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day your servant knoweth that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.
So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.
Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have your servants set my field on fire?
And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto you, saying, Come hither, that I may send you to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.
2Samuel 14:1-33
Absalom Stealing the Hearts of the Men of Israel
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art you? And he said, your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
And Absalom said unto him, See, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear you.
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2Samuel 15:1-6
The Three Years' Famine
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of Yahweh. And Yahweh answered, because of Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)
Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of Yahweh?
And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt you kill any man in Israel. And he said, What you shall say, that will I do for you.
And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,
Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, whom Yahweh did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before Yahweh: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of the sky, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.
And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.
2Samuel 21:1-14
The Three Days' Pestilence
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel and Judah.
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and muster you the people, that I may know the number of the people.
And Joab answered, Yahweh make His people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?
Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the fighting men of Israel.
And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:
Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,
And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.
So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the fighting men unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He smote Israel.
And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto Yahweh, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech You, O Yahweh, take away the iniquity of Your servant; for I have done very foolishly.
For when David was up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
Go and say unto David, Thus saith Yahweh, I offer you three things; choose you one of them, that I may do it unto you.
So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Thus saith Yahweh, Choose you, Shall seven years of famine come unto you in your land? or wilt you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? or that there be three days the sword of Yahweh, even the pestilence, in the land, and the messenger of Yahweh destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise yourself what word I shall bring again to Him that sent me.
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great distress: let us fall now into the hand of Yahweh; for His mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
So Yahweh sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
And God sent a messenger unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, Yahweh beheld, and He relented Him of the evil, and said to the messenger that destroyed the people, It is enough, stay now your hand. And the messenger of Yahweh stood by the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.
And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the messenger that smote the people, stand between the land and the sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
And David said unto Yahweh, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let Your hand, I pray You, be against me, and against my father's house; but not on Your people, that they should be plagued.
Then the messenger of Yahweh commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto Yahweh in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.
And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of Yahweh.
And Araunah turned back, and saw the messenger; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Araunah was threshing wheat.
And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself before the king on his face to the ground.
And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of you, to build an altar unto Yahweh: you shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering; I give it all.
All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, Yahweh your God accept you.
And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it for the full price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto Yahweh my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
And David built there an altar unto Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon Yahweh; and He answered him from the sky by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. So Yahweh was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
And Yahweh commanded the messenger; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.
At that time when David saw that Yahweh had answered him in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
For the tabernacle of Yahweh, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.
But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the messenger of Yahweh.
2Samuel 24:1-25 1Chronicles 21:1-30
Preparations for the Building of the Temple
Then David said, This is the house of Yahweh God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
And David commanded to gather together the sojourning kinsmen that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and bronze in abundance without weight;
Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for Yahweh must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for Yahweh God of Israel.
And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of Yahweh my God:
But the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, you hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: you shalt not build an house unto My name, because you hast shed much blood upon the ground in My sight.
Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his hated enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
He shall build an house for My name; and he shall be My son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
Now, my son, Yahweh be with you; and prosper you, and build the house of Yahweh your God, as He hath said of you.
Only Yahweh give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you mayest keep the law of Yahweh your God.
Then shalt you prosper, if you takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which Yahweh charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of Yahweh an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of bronze and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and you mayest add thereto.
Moreover there are workmen with you in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
Of the gold, the silver, and the bronze, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and Yahweh be with you.
1Chronicles 22:1-16
The National Convention
So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
And he gathered together all the officers of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their heads, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.
Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of Yahweh; and six thousand were officers and judges:
Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised Yahweh with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.
The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.
And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.
The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was set apart, that he should sanctify the most set-apart things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name for ever.
Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.
The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.
Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah the first, and Jesiah the second.
The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.
And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.
The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.
And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.
The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.
The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.
Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their heads, that did the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from the age of twenty years and upward.
For David said, Yahweh God of Israel hath given rest unto His people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.
For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Yahweh, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all set-apart things, and the work of the service of the house of God;
Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for grain offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;
And to stand every morning to thank and praise Yahweh, and likewise at even;
And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto Yahweh in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before Yahweh:
And that they should keep the charge of the Tent of Meeting, and the charge of the set-apart place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of Yahweh.
The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.
Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.
And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their forefathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their forefathers.
Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the officers, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,
The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of Yahweh, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as Yahweh God of Israel had commanded him.
Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.
Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise Yahweh.
Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of Yahweh, even all that had understanding, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:
The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.
Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,
Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.
Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.
The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.
And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.
Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)
Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of Yahweh.
And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their forefathers, for every gate.
And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.
To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.
And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.
The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of Yahweh.
Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.
And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.
Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of Yahweh.
And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.
Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of Yahweh, and in the service of the king.
Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.
And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.
Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.
Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.
And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.
The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.
The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:
Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:
Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:
Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:
Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:
Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the officers of the tribes of Israel.
But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because Yahweh had said He would increase Israel like to the stars of the skies.
Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.
And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the watchtowers, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:
And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:
And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the low plains was Baalhanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:
And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:
Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite:
And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's.
Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons:
And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion:
And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab.
And David assembled all the officers of Israel, the oficers of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
But God said unto me, you shalt not build an house for My name, because you hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
Howbeit Yahweh God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for He hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father He liked me to make me king over all Israel:
And of all my sons, (for Yahweh hath given me many sons,) He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh over Israel.
And He said unto me, Solomon your son, he shall build My house and My courts: for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his father.
Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do My commandments and My judgments, as at this day.
Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of Yahweh, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of Yahweh your God: that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for Yahweh searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek Him, He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off for ever.
Take heed now; for Yahweh hath chosen you to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of Yahweh, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Yahweh.
He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:
Even the weight for the lampstands of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the lampstands of silver by weight, both for the lampstand, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every lampstand.
And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
All this, said David, Yahweh made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for Yahweh God, even my God, will be with you; He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until you hast finished all the work for the service of the house of Yahweh.
And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with you for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with you for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at your commandment.
Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for Adam, but for Yahweh God.
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the bronze for things of bronze, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the set-apart house,
Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:
The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto Yahweh?
Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,
And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of bronze eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of Yahweh, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
Wherefore David blessed Yahweh before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be You, Yahweh God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
Yours, O Yahweh, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the sky and in the land is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Yahweh, and You art exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honour come of You, and You reignest over all; and in Your hand is power and might; and in Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
Now therefore, our Elohiym, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of You, and of Your own have we given You.
For we are sojourners before You, and pilgrims, as were all our forefathers: our days on the land are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
O Yahweh our God, all this store that we have prepared to build You an house for Your set-apart name cometh of Your hand, and is all Your own.
I know also, my Elohiym, that You triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy Your people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto You.
O Yahweh God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and prepare their heart unto You:
And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
And David said to all the congregation, Now bless Yahweh your God. And all the congregation blessed Yahweh God of their forefathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshiped Yahweh, and the king.
And they sacrificed sacrifices unto Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings unto Yahweh, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:
And did eat and drink before Yahweh on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto Yahweh to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.
1Chronicles 23:1-32 24:1-31 25:1-31 26:1-32 27:1-34 28:1-21 29:22
The Outbreak of the Rebellion
And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray you, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Yahweh, in Hebron.
For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Yahweh shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.
And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their innocence, and they knew not any thing of the matter.
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
2Samuel 15:7-12
David's Flight
And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring calamity upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest you also with us? return to your place, and abide with the king: for you art a racial alien, and also an exile.
Whereas you camest but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return you, and take back your brethren: mercy and truth be with you.
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Yahweh liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will your servant be.
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of Yahweh, He will bring me again, and shew me both it, and His habitation:
But if He thus say, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him.
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Do you see? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Yahweh, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and soil upon his head:
Unto whom David said, If you passest on with me, then you shalt be a burden unto me:
But if you return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be your servant: then mayest you for me frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel.
And hast you not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever you shalt hear out of the king's house, you shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send unto me every thing that you can hear.
So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest you by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
And the king said, And where is your master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, yours is all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech you that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, you bloody man, and you man of Belial:
Yahweh hath returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you hast reigned; and Yahweh hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son: and, behold, you art taken in your mischief, because you art a bloody man.
Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray you, and take off his head.
And the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because Yahweh hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast you done so?
And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh hath bidden him.
It may be that Yahweh will look on mine affliction, and that Yahweh will requite me good for his cursing this day.
And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
2Samuel 15:13-37 16:1-14
Absalom in Jerusalem
So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.
And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? why wentest you not with your friend?
And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence.
Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto your father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that you art abhorred of your father: then shall the hands of all that are with you be strong.
So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
And I will bring back all the people unto you: the man whom you seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak you.
And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
For, said Hushai, you knowest your father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that your father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.
Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.
So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Yahweh had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring calamity upon Absalom.
Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.
Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.
And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
2Samuel 15:37 16:15-23 17:1-23
The Civil War
Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
Brought beds, and basons, and potter's vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched grain, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
But the people answered, you shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now you art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that you aid us out of the city.
And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught hold of the terebinth, and he was taken up between the sky and the land; and the mule that was under him went away.
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in a terebinth tree.
And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, you sawest him, and why didst you not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and you yourself wouldest have set yourself against me.
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with you. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.
And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that Yahweh hath avenged him of his hated enemies.
And Joab said unto him, you shalt not bear tidings this day, but you shalt bear tidings another day: but this day you shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what you hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray you, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt you run, my son, seeing that you hast no tidings ready?
But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the ground upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be Yahweh your God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for Yahweh hath avenged you this day of all them that rose up against you.
And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against you to do you hurt, be as that young man is.
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!
2Samuel 17:24-29 18:1-33
Joab's Reproval of David's Unworthy Grief
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, you hast shamed this day the faces of all your servants, which this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines;
In that you lovest your enemies, and hatest your friends. For you hast declared this day, that you regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased you well.
Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto your servants: for I swear by Yahweh, if you go not forth, there will not tarry one with you this night: and that will be worse unto you than all the harm that befell you from your youth until now.
Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
2Samuel 19:1-8
Negotiations for David's Recall
And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our hated enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land because of Absalom.
And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak you not a word of bringing the king back?
And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
Ye are my brethren, you are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are you the last to bring back the king?
And say you to Amasa, Art you not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return you, and all your servants.
2Samuel 19:9-14
David's Return
So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.
And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do you remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
For your servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh's anointed?
And David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
Therefore the king said unto Shimei, you shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
And Mephibosheth the grandson of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.
And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not you with me, Mephibosheth?
And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant Ziba deceived me: for your servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because your servant is lame.
And he hath slandered your servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as a messenger of God: do therefore what is good in your eyes.
For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst you set your servant among them that did eat at your own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
And the king said unto him, Why speakest you any more of your matters? I have said, you and Ziba divide the land.
And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
And the king said unto Barzillai, Come you over with me, and I will feed you with me in Jerusalem.
And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should your servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
Your servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
Let your servant, I pray you, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto you.
And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto you: and whatsoever you shalt require of me, that will I do for you.
And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.
And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen you away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?
And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be you angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?
And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than you: why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
2Samuel 19:15-43
Sheba's Insurrection
And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be you here present.
So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take you your lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.
And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
And Joab said to Amasa, Art you in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with you.
And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art you Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of your handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: you seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.
Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
2Samuel 20:1-22
The Officers of State After the Restoration
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
2Samuel 20:23-26
David's Failing Health: Abishag the Shunammite
Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.
So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
1Kings 1:1-4
Solomon is Made King "the Second Time"
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast you done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
Now therefore come, let me, I pray you, give you counsel, that you mayest save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon.
Go and get you in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not you, my lord, O king, swear unto your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
Behold, while you yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words.
And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.
And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest you?
And she said unto him, My lord, you swarest by Yahweh your God unto your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, you knowest it not:
And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon your servant hath he not called.
And you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, that you shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, hath he not called.
Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you hast not shewed it unto your servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
And the king sware, and said, As Yahweh liveth, that hath delivered my soul out of all distress,
Even as I sware unto you by Yahweh God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.
And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.
The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow you with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.
Then you shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: Yahweh God of my lord the king say so too.
As Yahweh hath been with my lord the king, even so be He with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.
And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the ground rent with the sound of them.
And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for you art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:
And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city echoed again. This is the noise that you have heard.
And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon more glorious than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.
And also thus said the king, Blessed be Yahweh God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to your house.
1Kings 1:5-53
David's Last Prophetic Words
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
The Spirit of Yahweh spake by me, and His word was in my tongue.
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over Adam must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the ground by clear shining after rain.
Is not my house so with Elohiym; yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, setting in order all, and guarded: will He not make to grow all my prosperity, and all my desire?
But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
But the man that shall touch them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
2Samuel 23:1-7
David's Last Words to Solomon
Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
I go the way of all the land: be you strong therefore, and shew yourself a man;
And keep the charge of Yahweh your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you mayest prosper in all that you doest, and whithersoever you turnest yourself:
That Yahweh may continue His word which He spake concerning me, saying, If your children take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said He) a man on the throne of Israel.
Moreover you knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
Do therefore according to your wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at your table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom your brother.
And, behold, you hast with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by Yahweh, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword.
Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for you art a wise man, and knowest what you oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring you down to the grave with blood.
1Kings 2:1-9
The Death of David
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.
Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,
With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.
2Samual 5:4-5 1Kings 2:10-11 1Chronicles 29:26-30
Solomon's Accession to the Throne
Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
And all the officers, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.
And Yahweh magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Yahweh his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
1Kings 2:12 1Chronicles 29:23-25 2Chronicles 1:1
Solomon's Removal of his Adversaries
And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest you peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.
He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto you. And she said, Say on.
And he said, you knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from Yahweh.
And now I ask one petition of you, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.
And he said, Speak, I pray you, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say you nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.
And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for you unto the king.
Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat of honor to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
Then she said, I desire one small petition of you; I pray you, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say you nay.
And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother to wife.
And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
Then king Solomon sware by Yahweh, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
Now therefore, as Yahweh liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon Adonijah that he died.
And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get you to Anathoth, unto your own fields; for you art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put you to death, because you barest the ark of Yahweh GOD before David my father, and because you hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.
So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto Yahweh; that he might fulfil the word of Yahweh, which He spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of Yahweh; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of Yahweh, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that you mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.
And Yahweh shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Yahweh.
So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build you an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
For it shall be, that on the day you goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, you shalt know for certain that you shalt surely die: your blood guilt shall be upon your own head.
And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will your servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, your servants be in Gath.
And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make you to swear by Yahweh, and warned you, saying, Know for a certain, on the day you goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that you shalt surely die? and you saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
Why then hast you not kept the oath of Yahweh, and the commandment that I have charged you with?
The king said moreover to Shimei, you knowest all the wickedness which your heart is privy to, that you didst to David my father: therefore Yahweh shall return your wickedness upon your own head;
And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Yahweh for ever.
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
1Kings 2:13-46
Solomon Marries Pharaoh's Daughter
And Solomon became related by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Yahweh, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
1Kings 3:1
Spiritual Condition of Solomon and his Kingdom
Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of Yahweh, until those days.
And Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
1Kings 3:2-3
Solomon's Sacrifice at Gibeon
Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.
So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the Tent of Meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the wilderness.
But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
Moreover the bronze altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of Yahweh: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.
And Solomon went up thither to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
1Kings 3:4 2Chronicles 1:2-6
Solomon's Dream and Prayer for Wisdom
In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give you.
And Solomon said unto God, You hast shewed unto Your servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before You in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; and You hast kept for him this great kindness, that You hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
And now, O Yahweh my Elohiym, let Your promise unto David my father be established: for You hast made me king over a people like the dust of the land in multitude: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
And Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
Give therefore Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, wisdom and knowledge, that I may discern between good and bad, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who is able to judge this Your so great a people?
And the speech pleased Yahweh, that Solomon had asked this thing.
And God said to Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of your hated enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, and understanding to discern judgment that you mayest judge My people, over whom I have made you king:
Behold, I have done according to your words: lo, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like unto you.
And I have also given you that which you hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto you all your days.
And if you wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David did walk, then I will lengthen your days.
And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the Tent of Meeting, and reigned over Israel.
1Kings 3:5-15 2Chronicles 1:7-13
God's Gift of Wisdom Manifest by Solomon's Judgment on the Harlots
Then came there two women, that were inn keepers, unto the king, and stood before him.
And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son. And this said, No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and your son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but your son is the dead, and my son is the living.
And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her compassion yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor your, but divide it.
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they were in awe of the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
1Kings 3:16-28
Preparations for the Building of the Temple
And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and skilled to work all works in bronze.
And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of Yahweh, and an house for his kingdom.
And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
You knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of Yahweh his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet.
But now Yahweh my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spake unto David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your room, he shall build an house unto My name.
As you didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
Behold, I build an house to the name of Yahweh my God, to dedicate it to Him, and to burn before Him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of Yahweh our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
But who is able to build Him an house, seeing the sky and sky of skies cannot contain Him? who am I then, that I should build Him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before Him?
Send me now therefore a man skilled to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the skilled men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
Now therefore command you that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon, send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees; and my servants shall be with your servants: and unto you will I give hire for your servants according to all that you shalt appoint: for you knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be Yahweh this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.
And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which you sentest to me for: and I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in rafts unto the place that you shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and you shalt receive them: and you shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
And Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as He promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.
And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by relays: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.
And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
1Kings 5:1-18 7:13-14 2Chronicles 2:1-18
The Building of the Temple
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh, at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where Yahweh appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
And the word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying,
Concerning this house which you art in building, if you wilt walk in My statutes, and execute My judgments, and keep all My commandments to walk in them; then will I perform My word with you, which I spake unto David your father:
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.
Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by feet after the first measure was 90', and the breadth 30'.
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.
He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls: also the whole altar that was by the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold.
And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.
And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.
And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, 30', and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.
And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.
And against the wall of the house he built side chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the inner sanctuary: and he made chambers round about:
The nethermost chamber was 7'6” broad, and the middle was 9' broad, and the third was 10'6” broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.
The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.
And then he built side chambers against all the house, 7'6” high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
And he built 30' on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the inner sanctuary, even for the most set-apart place.
And the house, that is, the temple before it, was 60' long.
And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
And the inner sanctuary he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
And the inner sanctuary in the forepart was 30' in length, and 30' in breadth, and 30' in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the inner sanctuary; and he overlaid it with gold.
And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold.
And he made the most set-apart house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, 30', and the breadth thereof 30': and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.
And within the inner sanctuary he made two cherubims of olive tree, each 15' high.
And 7'6” was the one wing of the cherub, and 7'6” the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were 15'.
And the other cherub was 15': both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.
The height of the one cherub was 15', and so was it of the other cherub.
And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.
The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth 30': and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.
And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.
And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.
And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the cieling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of cyprus.
And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, the floor and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold.
And for the entering of the inner sancturary he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.
So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.
And the two doors were of cyprus wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.
In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Yahweh laid, in the month Zif:
And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
1Kings 6:1-35,37-38 2Chronicles 3:1-14
The Building of the Royal Palace
But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an 150', and the breadth thereof 75', and the height thereof 45', upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.
And there were windows in three rows, and window was against window in three ranks.
And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks.
And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was 75', and the breadth thereof 45': and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.
Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.
And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.
All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.
And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of 15', and stones of 12'.
And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.
And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of Yahweh, and for the porch of the house.
1Kings 7:1-12
The Making of the Vessels, Etc., Pertaining to the Temple
And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and skilled to work all works in bronze. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.
For he cast two pillars of bronze, of 27' high apiece: and a line of 18' did compass either of them about.
And he made two chapiters of molten bronze, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was 7'6”, and the height of the other chapiter was 7'6”:
And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.
And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, 6'.
And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.
And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin, meaning He will establish: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz, meaning in strength.
And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.
Moreover he made an altar of bronze, 30' the length thereof, and 30' the breadth thereof, and 15' the height thereof.
And he made a molten sea, 15' from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was 7'6”: and a line of 45' did compass it round about.
And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in 18”, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.
He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.
And he made ten bases of bronze; 6' was the length of one base, and 6' the breadth thereof, and 4'6” the height of it.
And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges:
And on the borders that were between the joinings were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the joinings there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work.
And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates of bronze: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.
And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was 18”: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, 27”: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.
And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was 27”.
And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten.
And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself.
And in the top of the base was there a round band of 9” high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same.
For on the plates of the supports thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.
After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.
And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with bronze.
And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of Yahweh:
The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars;
And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars;
And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;
And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea, the great basin in the temple court;
And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of Yahweh, were of bright bronze.
In the plain of Jordan did the king melt them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.
And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the bronze found out.
And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of Yahweh: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was,
And the lampstands of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the inner sanctuary, with the flowers, and the lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the inner sanctuary, and the tongs of gold,
And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most set-apart place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple.
He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold.
So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of Yahweh. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of Yahweh.
2Chronicles 3:15-17 4:1-22 5:1 1Kings 7:13-51
The Dedication of the Temple
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.
And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests, the Levites, took up the ark.
And they brought up the ark of Yahweh, and the Tent of Meeting, and all the set-apart vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.
And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh unto it's place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most set-apart place, even under the wings of the cherubims.
For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the poles thereof above.
And they drew out the poles, that the ends of the poles were seen out in the set-apart place before the inner sanctuary, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Yahweh; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised Yahweh, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Yahweh;
And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the set-apart place, that the cloud filled the house of Yahweh, (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:
Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)
So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of Yahweh had filled the house of God.
Then spake Solomon, Yahweh said that he would dwell in the heavy cloud.
I have surely built You an house to dwell in, a settled place for You to abide in for ever.
And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)
And he said, Blessed be Yahweh God of Israel, which spake with His mouth unto David my father, and hath with His hand fulfilled it, saying,
Since the day that I brought forth My people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that My name might be therein, neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:
But I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there; and have chosen David to be over My people Israel.
And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of Yahweh God of Israel.
And Yahweh said unto David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build an house unto My name, you didst well that it was in your heart.
Nevertheless you shalt not build the house; but your son that shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house unto My name.
And Yahweh hath performed His word that He spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built an house for the name of Yahweh God of Israel.
And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of Yahweh, which He made with our forefathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.
And Solomon had made a bronze scaffold, of 7'6” long, and 7'6” broad, and 4'6” high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward the sky,
And he said, Yahweh God of Israel, there is no Elohiym like You, in the sky above, or on the land beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with Your servants that walk before You with all their heart:
Who hast kept with Your servant David my father that You promisedst him: You spakest also with Your mouth, and hast fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.
Therefore now, Yahweh God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that You promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in My sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that your children take heed to their way, that they walk in My law before Me as you hast walked before Me.
And now, O Yahweh God of Israel, let Your word, I pray You, be verified, which You spakest unto Your servant David my father.
But will God indeed dwell with Adam on the land? behold, the sky and sky of skies cannot contain You; how much less this house that I have builded?
Yet have You respect unto the prayer of Your servant, and to his supplication, O Yahweh my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which Your servant prayeth before You to day:
That Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which You hast said, My name shall be there: that You mayest hearken unto the prayer which Your servant shall make toward this place.
And hearken You to the supplication of Your servant, and of Your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear You in the sky Your dwelling place: and when You hearest, forgive.
If any man miss the mark of right and duty against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before Your altar in this house:
Then hear You in the sky, and do, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
When Your people Israel be smitten down before the hated enemy, because they have sinned against You, and shall turn again to You, and confess Your name, and pray, and make supplication unto You in this house:
Then hear You in the sky, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which You gavest unto their forefathers.
When the sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You; if they pray toward this place, and confess Your name, and turn from their sin, when You afflictest them:
Then hear You in the sky, and forgive the sin of Your servants, and of Your people Israel, that You teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon Your land, which You hast given to Your people for an inheritance.
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their hated enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
What prayer and supplication soever be made by any Adam, by all Your people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
Then hear You in the sky Your dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart You knowest; (for You, even You only, knowest the hearts of all the children of Adam;)
That they may revere You, to walk in Your ways, all the days that they live in the land which You gavest unto our forefathers.
If Your people go out to battle against their hated enemy, whithersoever You shalt send them, and shall pray unto Yahweh toward the city which You hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for Your name:
Then hear You in the sky their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
If they sin against You, (for there is no Adam that sinneth not,) and You be angry with them, and deliver them to the hated enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the hated enemy, far or near;
Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto You in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
And so return unto You with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their hated enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto You toward their land, which You gavest unto their forefathers, the city which You hast chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name:
Then hear You their prayer and their supplication in the sky Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause,
And forgive Your people that have sinned against You, and all their transgressions wherein they have rebelled against You, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
For they be Your people, and Your inheritance, which You broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:
That Your eyes may be open unto the supplication of Your servant, and unto the supplication of Your people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto You.
For You didst separate them from among all the people of the land, as Your inheritance, as You spakest by the hand of Moses Your servant, when You broughtest our forefathers out of Egypt, O Yahweh Elohiym.
Now, my God, let, I beseech You, Your eyes be open, and let Your ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
Now therefore arise, O Yahweh God, into Your resting place, You, and the ark of Your strength: let Your priests, O Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints rejoice in goodness.
O Yahweh God, turn not away the face of Your anointed: remember the mercies of David Your servant.
And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to the sky.
And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
Blessed be Yahweh, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant.
Yahweh our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us:
That He may incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and His statutes, and His judgments, which He commanded our forefathers.
And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before Yahweh, be nigh unto Yahweh our God day and night, that He maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
That all the people of the land may know that Yahweh is God, and that there is none else.
Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from the sky, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of Yahweh filled the house.
And the priests could not enter into the house of Yahweh, because the glory of Yahweh had filled Yahweh' house.
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of Yahweh upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised Yahweh, saying, For He is good; for His loving kindness endureth for ever.
And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before Yahweh.
And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto Yahweh, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of Yahweh.
And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of Yahweh, which David the king had made to praise Yahweh, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of Yahweh: for there he offered burnt offerings, and grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the bronze altar that was before Yahweh was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.
And at that time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days, and they blessed the king.
And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that Yahweh had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of Yahweh, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,
That Yahweh appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared unto him at Gibeon.
And Yahweh said unto him, I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you hast made before Me: For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, I have hallowed this house, which you hast built, to put My name there for ever; and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.
If I shut up the sky that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people;
If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from the sky, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
And if you wilt walk before Me, as David your father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and wilt keep My statutes and My judgments:
Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man upon the throne of Israel.
But if you shall at all turn from following Me, you or your children, and will not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
Then will I cut off Israel, and pluck them up by the roots out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for My name, will I cast out of My sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath Yahweh done thus unto this land, and to this house?
And they shall answer, Because they forsook Yahweh their God, who brought forth their forefathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath Yahweh brought upon them all this harm.
1Kings 8:1-66 9:1-9 2Chronicles 5:2-14 6:1-42 7:1-22
Solomon's Activity and Fame
And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of Yahweh, and the king's house,
That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.
(Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and cyprus trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
And he said, What cities are these which you hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.
And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.
And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.
And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are set-apart, whereunto the ark of Yahweh hath come.
And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of Yahweh, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife.
And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether,
And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.
And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto Yahweh, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before Yahweh. So he finished the house.
Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.
And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.
Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of Yahweh, and until it was finished. So the house of Yahweh was perfected.
And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Sea of Reeds, in the land of Edom.
And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to prove him with hard questions.
And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her mind.
And Solomon answered her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
And the meat of his table, and the seating of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of Yahweh; and she was amazed.
And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: your wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, which stand continually before you, and that hear your wisdom.
Blessed be Yahweh your God, which delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel: because Yahweh loved Israel for ever, therefore made He you king, to do judgment and justice.
And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of Yahweh, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
1Kings 9:10-23,25-28 10:1-13,22 2Chronicles 8:1-18 9:1-12,21
The Glory of Solomon
So king Solomon was king over all Israel.
And these were the officials which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,
Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:
And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the forced labor.
And Solomon had twelve prefects over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.
And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:
The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:
The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:
The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
Baana the son of Ahilud; who governed Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:
The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him governor of the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him governed the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:
Ahinadab the son of Iddo governed Mahanaim:
Ahimaaz governed in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
Baanah the son of Hushai governed in Asher and in Aloth:
Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:
Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
Geber the son of Uri was in the former country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only prefect which was in the land.
And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,
Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.
And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.
Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the land, which had heard of his wisdom.
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.
The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the land for riches and for wisdom.
And all the kings of the land sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale (low plains), for abundance.
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
1Kings 4:1-34 10:14-21,23-29 2Chronicles 1:14-17 9:13-20,22-28
The Strange Wives Turn Away Solomon's Heart
But king Solomon loved many racially alien women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
Of the nations concerning which Yahweh said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as was the heart of David his father.
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
And Solomon did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and went not fully after Yahweh, as did David his father.
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
And likewise did he for all his racially alien wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
1Kings 11:1-8
God's Anger and Threatening
And Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from Yahweh God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which Yahweh commanded.
Wherefore Yahweh said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of you, and you hast not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely rend the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.
Notwithstanding in your days I will not do it for David your father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of your son.
Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to your son for David My servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
1Kings 11:9-13
Solomon's Adversaries
And Yahweh stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.
Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast you lacked with me, that, behold, you seekest to go to your own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.
And God stirred Solomon up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.
And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the forced labor of house of Joseph.
And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
And he said to Jeroboam, Take you ten pieces: for thus saith Yahweh, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you:
(But he shall have one tribe for My servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
Because that they have forsaken Me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways, to do that which is right in Mine eyes, and to keep My statutes and My judgments, as did David his father.
Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David My servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept My commandments and My statutes:
But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto you, even ten tribes.
And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David My servant may have a light always before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen Me to put My name there.
And I will take you, and you shalt reign according to all that your soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
And it shall be, if you wilt hearken unto all that I command you, and wilt walk in My ways, and do that is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as David My servant did; that I will be with you, and build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto you.
And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
1Kings 11:14,21-23,25-40
The Death of Solomon
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
1Kings 11:41-43 2Chronicles 9:29-31
Introduction: Accession of Rehoboam and Revolt of the Ten Tribes
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
That they sent and called him, and Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve you.
And Rehoboam said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do you advise that I may answer this people?
And they spake unto him, saying, If you be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants for ever.
But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
And he said unto them, What counsel give you that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which your father did put upon us lighter?
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt you speak unto this people that spake unto you, saying, your father made our yoke heavy, but make you it lighter unto us; thus shalt you say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;
And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from Yahweh, that He might perform His saying, which Yahweh spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to your own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the forced labor; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
1Kings 12:1-19 2Chronicles 10:1-19
The Reign of Rehoboam of Judah
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of those Israelites of the northern kingdom living in Judah, saying,
Thus saith Yahweh, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from Me. They hearkened therefore to the word of Yahweh, and returned to depart, according to the word of Yahweh.
And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto Yahweh:
And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek Yahweh God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto Yahweh God of their fathers.
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.
And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of Yahweh, and all Israel with him.
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek Yahweh.
And Judah did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.
For they also built them high places, and sun pillars, and carved Asherah poles, on every high hill, and under every green tree.
And there were also sodomites in the land, male cult prostitutes: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against Yahweh:
With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Kushites.
And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
And he took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
And king Rehoboam made in their stead bronze shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house.
And when the king entered into the house of Yahweh, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.
Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the officers of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith Yahweh, Ye have forsaken Me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
Whereupon the officers of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, Yahweh is righteous.
And when Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and My wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know My service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
1Kings 12:21-24 14:21-31 15:16 2Chronicles 11:1-14,16-23 12:1-16
The Reign of Jeroboam of Israel
And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
Then Jeroboam rebuilt Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and rebuilt Penuel.
And Jeroboam said in his mind, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Yahweh unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
And the man of God cried against the altar in the word of Yahweh, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith Yahweh; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon you, O altar shall Josiah offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon you, O altar, and Adam's bones shall be burnt upon you, O altar.
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which Yahweh hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Seize him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had just given by the word of Yahweh.
And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought Yahweh, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.
And the man of God said unto the king, If you wilt give me half your house, I will not go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:
For so was it charged me by the word of Yahweh, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that you camest.
So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.
Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.
And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.
And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon,
And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art you the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.
Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
And he said, I may not return with you, nor go in with you: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place:
For it was said to me by the word of Yahweh, you shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you camest.
He said unto him, I am a prophet also as you art; and a messenger spake unto me by the word of Yahweh, saying, Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.
And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of Yahweh came unto the prophet that brought him back:
And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith Yahweh, Forasmuch as you hast disobeyed the mouth of Yahweh, and hast not kept the commandment which Yahweh your God commanded you,
But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which Yahweh did say to you, Eat no bread, and drink no water; your carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of your fathers.
And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of Yahweh: therefore Yahweh hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spake unto him.
And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.
And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.
And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.
And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!
And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:
For the saying which he cried by the word of Yahweh against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.
And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the land.
At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.
And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray you, and disguise yourself, that you be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get you to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people.
And take with you ten loaves, and bisquits, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell you what shall become of the child.
And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.
And Yahweh said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of you for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt you say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall disguise herself to be another woman.
And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, you wife of Jeroboam; why disguise you yourself to be another? for I am commissioned to you with heavy tidings.
Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith Yahweh God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over My people Israel,
And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you: and yet you hast not been as My servant David, who kept My commandments, and who followed Me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in Mine eyes;
But hast done evil above all that were before you: for you hast gone and made you other gods, and molten images, to provoke Me to anger, and hast cast Me behind your back:
Therefore, behold, I will bring calamity upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam all male children, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.
Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for Yahweh hath spoken it.
Arise you therefore, get you to your own house: and when your feet enter into the city, the child shall die.
And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Yahweh God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.
Moreover Yahweh shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.
For Yahweh shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and He shall root up Israel out of this good land, which He gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking Yahweh to anger.
And He shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.
And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;
And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spake by the hand of His servant Ahijah the prophet.
And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam of Israel began Abijah to reign over Judah.
He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.
And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, you Jeroboam, and all Israel;
Ought you not to know that Yahweh God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.
And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.
And now you think to withstand the kingdom of Yahweh in the hand of the sons of David; and you be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
Have you not cast out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to fill his hand with a son of the herd and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests, which minister unto Yahweh, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:
And they burn unto Yahweh every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the bread of arrangement also set they in order upon the pure table; and the lampstand of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of Yahweh our God; but you have forsaken Him.
And, behold, God Himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight you not against Yahweh God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper.
But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto Yahweh, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.
And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon Yahweh God of their fathers.
And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.
Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and Yahweh struck him, and he died.
And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.
1Kings 12:20,25-33 13:1-34 14:1-20,30 15:6 2Chronicles 11:15 12:15 13:1-20
The Reign of Abijah of Judah
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijah over Judah.
Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Absalom.
And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
And Abijah king of Judah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam king of Israel also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.
And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, you Jeroboam, and all Israel;
Ought you not to know that Yahweh God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.
And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.
And now you think to withstand the kingdom of Yahweh in the hand of the sons of David; and you be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
Have you not cast out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to fill his hand with a son of the herd and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests, which minister unto Yahweh, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:
And they burn unto Yahweh every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the bread of arrangement also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of Yahweh our God; but you have forsaken Him.
And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight you not against Yahweh God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper.
But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto Yahweh, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.
And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon Yahweh God of their fathers.
And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.
Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and Yahweh struck him, and he died.
But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father.
Nevertheless for David's sake did Yahweh his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:
Because David did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
And Abijah slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
1Kings 14:31 15:1-5,7-8 2Chronicles 12:16 13:1-22 14:1
The Reign of Asa of Judah
And Abijah slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.
And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Absalom.
And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God, as did David his father:
For he took away the altars of the racially alien gods, and the high places, and brake down the sun pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles:
And commanded Judah to seek Yahweh God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun pillars: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because Yahweh had given him rest.
Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought Yahweh our God, we have sought Him, and He hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.
And there came out against them Zerah the Kushite with an army of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
And Asa cried unto Yahweh his God, and said, Yahweh, it is nothing with You to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Yahweh our God; for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Yahweh, You art our Elohiym; let not man prevail against You.
So Yahweh smote the Kushites before Asa, and before Judah; and the Kushites fled.
And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Kushites were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Yahweh, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of Yahweh came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
They smote also the tents of the livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear you me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; Yahweh is with you, while you be with Him; and if you seek Him, He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without the Torah.
But when they in their trouble did turn unto Yahweh God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found of them.
And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great turmoil were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did trouble them with all adversity.
Be you strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of Yahweh.
And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his grandfathers had made.
But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with Yahweh all his days.
And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of Yahweh, silver, and gold, and vessels.
And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.
And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the sojourning kinsmen with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him.
So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
And they offered unto Yahweh the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
And they entered into a covenant to seek Yahweh God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
That whosoever would not seek Yahweh God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
And they sware unto Yahweh with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and Yahweh gave them rest round about.
And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image of Asherah; and Asa destroyed her abominable image, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.
And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
There is a league between me and you, and between my father and your father: behold, I have sent unto you a present of silver and gold; come and break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease, and dwelt in Tirzah.
Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because you hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on Yahweh your God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand.
Were not the Kushites and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because you didst rely on Yahweh, He delivered them into your hand.
For the eyes of Yahweh run to and fro throughout the whole land, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein you hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth you shalt have wars.
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
1Kings 15:8-12,14-22,32 2Chronicles 14:1-15 15:1-19 16:1-10
The Reign of Nadab of Israel
And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.
And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.
And he did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.
1Kings 14:20 15:25-27,31
The Reign of Baasha of Israel
Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay Nadab, and reigned in his stead.
Baasha the son of Ahijah reigned over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.
And he did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of Yahweh, which He spake by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite:
Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked Yahweh God of Israel to anger.
In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
There is a league between me and you, as there was between my father and your father: behold, I have sent unto you a present of silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.
Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
Then the word of Yahweh came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, and against his house, saying,
Forasmuch as I exalted you out of the dust, and made you prince over My people Israel; and you hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made My people Israel to sin, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke Me to anger with their sins with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.;
Behold, I will take away the followers of Baasha, and the followers of his house; and will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
1Kings 15:16-22,28-30,32-34 16:1-7 2Chronicles 16:1-6
The Reign of Elah of Israel
In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
1Kings 16:8-10,14
The Reign of Zimri of Israel
And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one male descendant, neither of his kinsman revengers, nor of his friends.
Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking Yahweh God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,
For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of Yahweh, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
1Kings 16:11-13,15-20
The Reigns of Tibni and Omri of Israel
Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
1Kings 16:21-22
The Reign of Omri of Israel
In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of Yahweh, and did worse than all that were before him.
For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
1Kings 16:23-28
The Reign of Ahab of Israel
And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of Yahweh above all that were before him.
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
And Ahab made an Asherah pole; and Ahab did more to provoke Yahweh God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
In his days did Hiel the Bethelite rebuild Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
And Jehoshaphat, king of Judah made peace with Ahab king of Israel.
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt you go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as you art, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war.
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray you, at the word of Yahweh to day.
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As Yahweh God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
And the word of Yahweh came unto Elijah, saying,
Get you hence, and turn you eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And it shall be, that you shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.
So he went and did according unto the word of Yahweh: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
And the word of Yahweh came unto him, saying,
Arise, get you to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you.
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray you, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray you, a morsel of bread in your hand.
And she said, As Yahweh your God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as you hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for you and for your son.
For thus saith Yahweh God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sendeth rain upon the land.
And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spake by Elijah.
And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with you, O you man of God? art you come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
And he said unto her, Give me your son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
And he cried unto Yahweh, and said, O Yahweh my God, hast you also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto Yahweh, and said, O Yahweh my God, I pray you, let this child's soul come into him again.
And Yahweh heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, your son liveth.
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that you art a man of God, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is truth.
And it came to pass after many days, that the word of Yahweh came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew yourself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the land.
And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah revered Yahweh greatly:
For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Yahweh, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art you that my lord Elijah?
And he answered him, I am: go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
And he said, What have I sinned, that you wouldest deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
As Yahweh your God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek you: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found you not.
And now you sayest, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of Yahweh shall carry you whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he shall slay me: but I your servant revere Yahweh from my youth.
Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid an hundred men of Yahweh's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
And now you sayest, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
And Elijah said, As Yahweh of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art you he that troubleth Israel?
And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and you hast followed Baalim.
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah poles four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt you between two opinions? if Yahweh be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
And call you on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of Yahweh: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of Yahweh that was broken down.
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, Israel shall be your name:
And with the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Yahweh God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that You art God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.
Hear me, O Yahweh, answer me, that this people may know that You art Yahweh Elohiym, and that You hast turned their heart back again.
Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, Yahweh, He is the God; Yahweh, He is the God.
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get you up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare your chariot, and get you down, that the rain stop you not.
And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
And the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not your life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then a messenger touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
And the messenger of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for you.
And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said unto him, What doest you here, Elijah?
And he said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before Yahweh. And, behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest you here, Elijah?
And he said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And Yahweh said unto him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt you anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt you anoint to be prophet in your place.
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to you?
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,
Your silver and your gold is mine; your wives also and your children, even the goodliest, are mine.
And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to your saying, I am your, and all that I have.
And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto you, saying, you shalt deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children;
Yet I will send my servants unto you to morrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.
And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.
Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that you didst send for to your servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.
And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.
And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith Yahweh, Hast you seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day; and you shalt know that I am Yahweh.
And Ahab said, By whom? And the prophet said, Thus saith Yahweh, Even by the young men of the governors of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, You.
Then he mustered the young men of the governors of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
And the young men of the governors of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out observers, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
So these young men of the governors of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen yourself, and mark, and see what you doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.
And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:
And appoint you an army, like the army that you hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
And the children of Israel were mustered, and were all sustained with their food, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Yahweh, Because the Syrians have said, Yahweh is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.
And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray you, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save your life.
So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, your servant Benhadad saith, I pray you, let me live. And he said, Is Ahab yet alive? he is my friend.
Now the men did divine and they quickly grasped it and they said, Your friend Benhadad. Then he said, Go you, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
And Benhadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from your father, I will restore; and you shalt make streets for you in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send you away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of Yahweh, Smite me, I pray you. And the man refused to smite him.
Then said he unto him, Because you hast not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, behold, as soon as you art departed from me, a lion shall slay you. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
Then the prophet found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray you. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he bruised him.
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man, Benhadad: if by any means he be missing, then shall your life be for his life, or else you shalt pay a talent of silver.
And as your servant was busy here and there, Benhadad was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall your judgment be; yourself hast decided it.
And the prophet hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
And he said unto him, Thus saith Yahweh, Because you hast let go out of your hand a man, Benhadad, whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.
And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.
And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to you, I will give you the worth of it in money.
And Naboth said to Ahab, Yahweh forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto you.
And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is your spirit so sad, that you eatest no bread?
And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard.
And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost you now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry: I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, you didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
And the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.
And you shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Yahweh, Hast you murdered, and also taken possession? And you shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Yahweh, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even your.
And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast you found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found you: because you hast sold yourself to work evil in the sight of Yahweh.
Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab all male descendants, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
And will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith you hast provoked Me to anger, and made Israel to sin.
And of Jezebel also spake Yahweh, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
And the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
Seest you how Ahab humbleth himself before Me? because he humbleth himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the calamity upon his house.
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put you on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.
But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
And a certain man drew a bow at random, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own land.
So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.
And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of Yahweh which he spake.
So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.
1Kings 16:29-34 17:1-24 18:1-46 19:1-21 20:1-43 21:1-29 22:29-40
2Chronicles 18:1,3-4,28-34
The Reign of Jehoshaphat of Judah
And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.
And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
And the remnant of the cult male temple prostitutes, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.
And Jehoshaphat strengthened himself against Israel.
And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
And Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
But sought to Yahweh God of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
Therefore Yahweh stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
And his heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh: moreover he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.
Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his officers, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of Yahweh with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
And the fear of Yahweh fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.
And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their forefathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.
And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto Yahweh; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.
And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and made peace and joined affinity with Ahab king of Israel.
And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know you that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we keep silent, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?
And Ahab said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt you go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you art, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.
And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray you, at the word of Yahweh to day.
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for Yahweh shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith Yahweh, With these shalt you push the Syrians, until you have consumed them.
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for Yahweh shall deliver it into the king's hand.
And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Yahweh besides, that we might enquire of him?
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of Yahweh: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.
And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let your word, I pray you, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
And Micaiah said, As Yahweh liveth, what Yahweh saith unto me, that will I speak.
So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for Yahweh shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of Yahweh?
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
And he said, Hear you therefore the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on His throne, and all the host of the sky standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.
And Yahweh said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said, I will persuade him.
And Yahweh said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And Yahweh said, You shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
Now therefore, behold, Yahweh hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets, and Yahweh hath spoken harm concerning you.
But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Yahweh from me to speak unto you?
And Micaiah said, Behold, you shalt see in that day, when you shalt go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.
And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.
And Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, then Yahweh hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put you on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.
But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
And a certain man drew a bow at random, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own land.
So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.
And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of Yahweh which he spake.
Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest you help the ungodly, and love them that hate Yahweh? therefore is wrath upon you from before Yahweh.
Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you hast taken away the Asherah poles out of the land, and hast prepared your heart to seek God.
And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto Yahweh God of their forefathers.
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,
And said to the judges, Take heed what you do: for you judge not for man, but for Yahweh, who is with you in the judgment.
Wherefore now let the fear of Yahweh be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of stature, nor taking of bribes.
Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.
And he charged them, saying, Thus shall you do in the reverence of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them that they trespass not against Yahweh, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and you shall not trespass.
And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the commander of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and Yahweh shall be with the good.
It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against you from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek Yahweh, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of Yahweh: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Yahweh.
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Yahweh, before the new court,
And said, O Yahweh God of our fathers, art not You God in the sky? and rulest not You over all the kingdoms of the nations? and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand You?
Art not You our Elohiym, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham Your friend for ever?
And they dwelt therein, and have built You a sanctuary therein for Your name, saying,
If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Your presence, (for Your name is in this house,) and cry unto You in our affliction, then You wilt hear and help.
And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom You wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of Your possession, which You hast given us to inherit.
O our Elohiym, wilt You not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon You.
And all Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Yahweh in the midst of the congregation;
And Jahaziel said, Hearken you, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith Yahweh unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
To morrow go you down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and you shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for Yahweh will be with you.
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before Yahweh, worshipping Yahweh.
And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise Yahweh God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in Yahweh your God, so shall you be established; believe His prophets, so shall you prosper.
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto Yahweh, and that should praise the majesty of set-apartness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise Yahweh; for His loving kindness endureth for ever.
And when they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the ground, and none escaped.
And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed Yahweh: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Blessing, unto this day.
Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for Yahweh had made them to rejoice over their hated enemies.
And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of Yahweh.
And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that Yahweh fought against the hated enemies of Israel.
So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you hast joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh hath broken your works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongeber: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber because of joining with wicked Ahaziah.
Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
And king Joram went out of Samaria the same time, and mustered all Israel.
And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt you go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as you art, my people as your people, and my horses as your horses.
And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the vassal of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
And the king of Israel said, Alas! that Yahweh hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Yahweh, that we may enquire of Yahweh by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
And Jehoshaphat said, The word of Yahweh is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the vassal of Edom went down to him.
And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with you? get you to the prophets of your father, and to the Baal prophets of your mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for Yahweh hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
And Elisha said, As Yahweh of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you.
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of Yahweh came upon him.
And he said, Thus saith Yahweh, Make this valley full of ditches.
For thus saith Yahweh, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that you may drink, both you, and your cattle, and your beasts.
And this is but a light thing in the sight of Yahweh: He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
And you shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.
And it came to pass in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.
And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.
And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
Then the king of Moab took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
1Kings 15:24 22:2-50 2Kings 3:6-27
2Chronicles 17:1-18 18:1-34 19:1-11 20:1-34 21:1
The Reign of Ahaziah of Israel
So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
And he did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:
For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger Yahweh God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.
But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
There was then no vassal in Edom: a viceroy was king.
And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongeber.
Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you hast joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh hath broken your works. And the ships of Tarshish were broken at Eziongeber, that they were not able to go to Ophir for gold, because of joining with wicked Ahaziah.
Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.
But the messenger of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that you go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
Now therefore thus saith Yahweh, you shalt not come down from that bed on which you art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are you now turned back?
And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith Yahweh, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that you sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore you shalt not come down from that bed on which you art gone up, but shalt surely die.
And Ahaziah said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?
And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, you man of God, the king hath said, Come down.
And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. And there came down fire from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.
And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. And the fire of God came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray you, let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight.
Behold, there came fire down from the sky, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in your sight.
And the messenger of Yahweh said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
And he said unto him, Thus saith Yahweh, Forasmuch as you hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore you shalt not come down off that bed on which you art gone up, but shalt surely die.
So Ahaziah died according to the word of Yahweh which Elijah had spoken. And Joram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
1Kings 22:40,47-49,52-53 2Kings 1:1-18 3:4-5 2Chronicles 20:35-37
The Reign of Joram of Israel
So Ahaziah died according to the word of Yahweh which Elijah had spoken. And Joram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
Now Joram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
And he wrought evil in the sight of Yahweh; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.
Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
And it came to pass, when Yahweh would take up Elijah into the sky by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you; for Yahweh hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As Yahweh liveth, and as your soul liveth, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.
And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest you that Yahweh will take away your master from your head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold you your peace.
And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray you; for Yahweh hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As Yahweh liveth, and as your soul liveth, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho.
And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest you that Yahweh will take away your master from your head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold you your peace.
And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray you, here; for Yahweh hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As Yahweh liveth, and as your soul liveth, I will not leave you. And they two went on.
And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.
And he said, you hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so unto you; but if not, it shall not be so.
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into the sky.
And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is Yahweh God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with your servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray you, and seek your master: lest peradventure the Spirit of Yahweh hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
And when the sons of the prophets urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray you, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith Yahweh, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, you bald head; go up, you bald head.
And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, your servant my husband is dead; and you knowest that your servant did fear Yahweh: and the lender is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for you? tell me, what hast you in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
Then he said, Go, borrow you vessels abroad of all your neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
And when you art come in, you shalt shut the door upon you and upon your sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and you shalt set aside that which is full.
So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and live you and your children of the rest.
And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a prominent woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an set-apart man of God, which passeth by us continually.
Let us make a little chamber, I pray you, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a lampstand: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.
And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.
And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, you hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for you? wouldest you be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.
And he said, About this season, according to the gestation period, you shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, you man of God, do not lie unto your handmaid.
And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the gestation period.
And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.
And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild cucumbers his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they did not know what they were.
So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O you man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.
But he said, Then bring flour. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.
And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of grain in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
And his servitor Gehazi said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith Yahweh, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.
So he set it before them, and they did eat, and there were leftovers, according to the word of Yahweh.
And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.
And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.
And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.
And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray you, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.
And he said, Wherefore wilt you go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.
Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not your riding for me, except I bid you.
So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:
Run now, I pray you, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with you? is it well with your husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.
And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and Yahweh hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?
Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go your way: if you meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute you, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
And the mother of the child said, As Yahweh liveth, and as your soul liveth, I will not leave you. And he arose, and followed her.
And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.
And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.
He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto Yahweh.
And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up your son.
Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go you and your household, and sojourn wheresoever you canst sojourn: for Yahweh hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.
And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.
And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with you is too narrow for us.
Let us go, we pray you, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go you.
And one said, Be content, I pray you, and go with your servants. And he answered, I will go.
So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did come to the surface.
Therefore said he, Take it up to you. And he put out his hand, and took it.
And king Joram went out of Samaria the same time, and mustered all Israel.
And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt you go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as you art, my people as your people, and my horses as your horses.
And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the vassal of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
And the king of Israel said, Alas! that Yahweh hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Yahweh, that we may enquire of Yahweh by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
And Jehoshaphat said, The word of Yahweh is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the vassal of Edom went down to him.
And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with you? get you to the prophets of your father, and to the Baal prophets of your mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for Yahweh hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
And Elisha said, As Yahweh of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you.
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of Yahweh came upon him.
And he said, Thus saith Yahweh, Make this valley full of ditches.
For thus saith Yahweh, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that you may drink, both you, and your cattle, and your beasts.
And this is but a light thing in the sight of Yahweh: He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
And you shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.
And it came to pass in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.
And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.
And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
Then the king od Moab took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and guarded himself there, not once nor twice.
Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will you not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that you speakest in your bedchamber.
And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
And Elisha prayed, and said, Yahweh, I pray You, open his eyes, that he may see. And Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto Yahweh, and said, Smite this people, I pray You, with blindness. And He smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria.
And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Yahweh, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
And he answered, you shalt not smite them: wouldest you smite those whom you hast taken captive with your sword and with your bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the marauding bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
And it came to pass at the seven years' end (of the famine), that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.
And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray you, all the great things that Elisha hath done.
And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.
And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him Yahweh had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
And she said unto her mistress, Would that my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto you, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to you, that you mayest recover him of his leprosy.
And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.
And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast you rent your clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shalt be clean.
But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid you do some great thing, wouldest you not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to you, Wash, and be clean?
Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the whole land, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray you, take a blessing of your servant.
But Elisha said, As Yahweh liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And Naaman urged him to take it; but he refused.
And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray you, be given to your servant two mules' burden of soil? for your servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto Yahweh.
In this thing Yahweh pardon your servant, that when my master the king of Syria goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.
And Elisha said unto Naaman, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said in his heart, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as Yahweh liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray you, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest you, Gehazi? And he said, your servant went no whither.
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with you, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto you, and unto your seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
And he said, If Yahweh do not help you, whence shall I help you? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
And the king said unto her, What aileth you? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give your son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.
So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give your son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See you how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?
And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of Yahweh; what should I, Joram, wait for Yahweh any longer, to smite Syria?
Then Elisha said, Hear you the word of Yahweh; Thus saith Yahweh, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
Then a officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if Yahweh would make windows in the sky, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, you shalt see it with your eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
For Yahweh had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
Then they said one to another, That which is not right we do: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.
So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of Adam, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray you, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of Yahweh.
And the king appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
And that officer answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if Yahweh should make windows in the sky, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, you shalt see it with your eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.
And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of Yahweh by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, your son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, you mayest certainly recover: howbeit Yahweh hath shewed me that he shall surely die.
And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.
And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that you wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt you set on fire, and their young men wilt you slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.
And Hazael said, But what, is your servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, Yahweh hath shewed me that you shalt be king over Syria.
So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to you? And he answered, He told me that you shouldest surely recover.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on Bemhadad's face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.
And Ahaziah went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.
But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.
So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up your loins, and take this box of oil in your hand, and go to Ramothgilead:
And when you comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;
Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith Yahweh, I have anointed you king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.
So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.
And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to you, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To you, O captain.
And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith Yahweh God of Israel, I have anointed you king over the people of Yahweh, even over Israel.
And you shalt smite the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Yahweh, at the hand of Jezebel.
For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab all male descendants, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:
And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:
And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.
Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to you? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.
And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith Yahweh, I have anointed you king over Israel.
Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.
So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.
But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.
So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast you to do with peace? turn you behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.
Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast you to do with peace? turn you behind me.
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.
And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the religious fornications with false gods of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.
And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Joram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and you rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this prophetic burden upon him;
Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith Yahweh; and I will requite you in this plat, saith Yahweh. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of Yahweh.
And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Joram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?
And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.
And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.
And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.
And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of Yahweh, which He spake by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:
And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.
And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that supported Ahab's children, saying,
Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;
Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?
And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are your servants, and will do all that you shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do you that which is good in your eyes.
Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If you be mine, and if you will hearken unto my voice, take you the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.
And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.
And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay you them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.
And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?
Know now that there shall fall unto the ground nothing of the word of Yahweh, which Yahweh spake concerning the house of Ahab: for Yahweh hath done that which He spake by His servant Elijah.
So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way,
Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are you? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.
And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.
And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.
And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me your hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for Yahweh. So they made him ride in his chariot.
And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of Yahweh, which he spake to Elijah.
2Kings 1:17 2:1-25 3:1-3,6-27 4:1-44 5:1-27 6:1-33 7:1-20 8:1-15,28-29 9:1-28,30-37 10:1-17
2Chronicles 22:5-9
The Reign of Jehoram of Judah
Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of Yahweh.
Yet Yahweh would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as He promised him to give him always a light, and to his children for ever.
Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a viceroy over themselves.
So Jehoram went over with his princes to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.
Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time; because he had forsaken Yahweh God of his fathers.
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith Yahweh God of David your forefather, Because you hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain your brethren of your father's house, which were better than yourself:
Behold, with a great plague will Yahweh smite your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your goods:
And you shalt have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
Moreover Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Kushites:
And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
And after all this Yahweh smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning of incense for him, like the burning of incense of his fathers.
Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
1Kings 22:50 8:18-24 2Chronicles 21:1,6-20
The Reign of Ahaziah of Judah
And Jehoram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.
Two and twenty years (2Chr 22:2 has 42) old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.
And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab.
Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.
Wherefore he did evil in the sight of Yahweh like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.
He walked also after their counsel, and went with Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.
But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.
So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast you to do with peace? turn you behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.
Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast you to do with peace? turn you behind me.
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.
And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the religious fornications with false gods of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.
And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Joram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and you rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this prophetic burden upon him;
Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith Yahweh; and I will requite you in this plat, saith Yahweh. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of Yahweh.
And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Joram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.
And Jehu arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way,
Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are you? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.
And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.
2Kings 8:24-29 9:14-28 10:12-14 2Chronicles 22:1-9
The Reign of Jehu of Israel
And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.
Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.
And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.
And he said unto him that was over the wardrobe, Bring forth apparel for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth the apparel.
And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of Yahweh, but the worshippers of Baal only.
And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.
And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.
And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a sewer unto this day.
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
And Yahweh said unto Jehu, Because you hast done well in executing that which is right in Mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in Mine heart, your children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Yahweh God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
In those days Yahweh began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;
From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.
And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.
And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
2Kings 10:18-36
The Reign of Athaliah of Judah
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.
And he was with her hid in the house of Yahweh six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.
And the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and brought them to him into the house of Yahweh, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Yahweh, and shewed them the king's son.
And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as Yahweh hath said of the sons of David.
And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;
And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall you keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.
And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of Yahweh about the king.
And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be you with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.
But let none come into the house of Yahweh, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are set-apart: but all the people shall keep the watch of Yahweh.
And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of Yahweh.
And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.
So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.
And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.
And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of Yahweh.
And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.
But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranks: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of Yahweh.
And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain.
And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
2Kings 11:1-16,20 2Chronicles 22:10-12 23:1-15,21
The Reign of Joash of Judah
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.
And Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they should be Yahweh's people; between the king also and the people.
And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of Yahweh.
And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of Yahweh: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.
And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of Yahweh by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of Yahweh, to offer the burnt offerings of Yahweh, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.
And he set the porters at the gates of the house of Yahweh, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.
And Joash did that which was right in the sight of Yahweh all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
But the high places of pagan worship were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.
And it came to pass after this, that Joash set his heart to repair the house of Yahweh.
And Joash said to the priests and the Levites, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of Yahweh, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of Yahweh,
Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.
And he said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.
But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Joash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.
And the king Joash called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast you not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of Yahweh, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of Yahweh did they bestow upon Baalim.
And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.
And at the king's commandment Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of Yahweh: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh.
And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to Yahweh the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.
And all the officers and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.
Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and emptied the chest, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of Yahweh.
Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of Yahweh: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of Yahweh,
And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of Yahweh, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.
Howbeit there were not made for the house of Yahweh bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh:
But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of Yahweh.
And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of Yahweh, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh continually all the days of Jehoiada.
Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.
The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of Yahweh: it was the priests'.
But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.
And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward His house.
Now after the death of Jehoiada came the officers of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
And they left the house of Yahweh God of their forefathers, and served Asherah and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto Yahweh; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
And the Spirit of Elohiym clothed itself with Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress you the commandments of Yahweh, that you cannot prosper? because you have forsaken Yahweh, He hath also forsaken you.
And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Yahweh.
Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, Yahweh look upon it, and require it.
And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.
For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and Yahweh delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken Yahweh God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.
Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
And Joash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash
And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.
And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.
And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 11:17-21 12:1-21 2Chronicles 23:16-21 24:1-27
The Reign of Jehoahaz of Israel
In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all the days of Jehoahaz.
And Jehoahaz besought Yahweh, and Yahweh hearkened unto him: for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.
Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah poles also in Samaria.
Neither did He leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.
And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Jehoash his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 10:35 13:1-4,6-10,22
The Reign of Jehoash of Israel
And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Jehoash his son reigned in his stead.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.
Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Jehoash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.
And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.
And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of Yahweh's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for you shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till you have consumed them.
And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.
And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, you shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst you smitten Syria till you hadst consumed it: whereas now you shalt smite Syria but thrice.
And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of Moabite raiders; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
And Yahweh was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast He them from His presence as yet.
So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.
And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.
Amaziah hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.
But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with you; for Yahweh is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
But if you wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make you fall before the hated enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.
Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
You hast indeed smitten Edom, and your heart hath lifted you up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest you meddle to your hurt, that you shouldest fall, even you, and Judah with you?
But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that He might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. . Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in battle at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Yahweh with Obededom, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
And Jehoash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam II sat upon his throne: and Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
2Kings 13:9,11-25 14:8-16 2Chronicles 25:6-10,13,17-24
The Reign of Amaziah of Judah
For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote Joash, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
And he did that which was right in the sight of Yahweh, yet not like David his forefather: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein Yahweh commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their forefathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he mustered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.
He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.
But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with you; for Yahweh is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
But if you wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make you fall before the hated enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.
Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
He slew of Edom, the children of Seir, in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Jokyoul unto this day.
And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.
But the soldiers of the army of Israel which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.
Wherefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Amaziah, and He sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast you sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of your hand?
And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art you made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest you be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy you, because you hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.
Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
You hast indeed smitten Edom, and your heart hath lifted you up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest you meddle to your hurt, that you shouldest fall, even you, and Judah with you?
But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked at one another in battle at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, 600'.
And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following Yahweh they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.
And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his forefathers in the city of David.
2Kings 12:21 14:1-14,17-20 2Chronicles 25:1-28
The Reign of Jeroboam II of Israel
And Jehoash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam II sat upon his throne: and Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam II the son of Jehoash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
(And Yahweh gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah poles also in Samaria.)
Jeroboam II restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of Yahweh God of Israel, which He spake by the hand of His servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
For Yahweh saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.
And Yahweh said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under the sky: but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam II the son of Jehoash.
Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 13:5-6,13 14:16,23-29
The Reign of Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah
And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam II king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
And he did that which was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;
And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him to prosper.
Save that the high places of pagan worship were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.
He rebuilt Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
And the Ammonites gave gifts to Azariah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.
Moreover Azariah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.
And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skilled men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.
Moreover Azariah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.
And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the hated enemy.
And Azariah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and breastplates, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against Yahweh his God, and went into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of Yahweh, that were valiant men:
And they withstood Azariah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto you, Azariah , to burn incense unto Yahweh, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for you hast trespassed; neither shall it be for your honour from Yahweh God.
Then Azariah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of Yahweh, from beside the incense altar.
And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because Yahweh had smitten him.
And Azariah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
So Azariah slept with his forefathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 14:21-22 15:1-7 2Chronicles 26:1-23
The Reign of Zechariah of Israel
And Jeroboam II slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his stead.
In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam II reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
This was the word of Yahweh which He spake unto Jehu, saying, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.
2Kings 14:29 15:8-12
The Reign of Shallum of Israel
Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
2Kings 15:13-15
The Reign of Menahem of Israel
Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.
In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
And Tiglathpileser the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Tiglathpileser a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.
And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 15:16-22
The Reign of Pekahiah of Israel
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
2Kings 15:23-26
The Reign of Pekah of Israel
In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.
In those days Yahweh began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.
At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Judahites from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
Wherefore Yahweh his God delivered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken Yahweh God of their forefathers.
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
But a prophet of Yahweh was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because Yahweh God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, He hath delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto the sky.
And now you purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against Yahweh your God?
Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which you have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of Yahweh is upon you.
Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against Yahweh already, you intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the officers and all the congregation.
And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and gave them medical treatment, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Azariah.
2Kings 15:27-31,37 16:5-6 1Chronicles 5:25-26 2Chronicles 28:5-15
The Reign of Jotham of Judah
So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Azariah king of Judah to reign.
Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.
And he did that which was right in the sight of Yahweh: he did according to all that his father Azariah had done: howbeit he entered not into the temple of Yahweh. And the people did yet corruptly.
And the high places of pagan worship were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places.
He built the high gate of the house of Yahweh, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before Yahweh his God.
In those days Yahweh began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 15:7,32-38 2Chronicles 26:23 27:1-9
The Reign of Ahaz of Judah
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of Yahweh his God, like David his forefather.
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made also molten images for Baalim.
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh had cast out before the children of Israel.
And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every luxuriant tree.
Wherefore Yahweh his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken Yahweh God of their fathers.
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
So Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.
At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Judahites from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
But a prophet of Yahweh was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because Yahweh God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, He hath delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto the sky.
And now you purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against Yahweh your God?
Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which you have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of Yahweh is upon you.
Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against Yahweh already, you intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the officers and all the congregation.
And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and gave them medical treatment, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
And again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
For Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for Ahaz made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against Yahweh.
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am your servant and your son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.
And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him, and besieged him, but strengthened him not: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.
And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it before king Ahaz came from Damascus.
And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.
And he burnt his burnt offering and his grain offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.
And he brought also the bronze altar, which was before Yahweh, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of Yahweh, and put it on the north side of the altar.
And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening grain offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the bronze altar shall be for me to enquire by.
Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.
And the corridor for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of Yahweh for the king of Assyria.
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against Yahweh: this is that king Ahaz.
For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of Yahweh, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger Yahweh God of his fathers.
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 15:38 16:1-20 2Chronicles 27:9 28:1-27
The Reign of Hoshea of Israel
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him tribute.
And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
2Kings 17:1-6 18:9-11
The Reign of Hezekiah of Judah (First Six Years)
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah.
And he did that which was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that David his father did.
He removed the high places of pagan worship, and brake the sacred sun pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles, and brake in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
He trusted in Yahweh God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
For he clave to Yahweh, and departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moses.
And Yahweh was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of Yahweh, and repaired them.
And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,
And said unto them, Hear me, you Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of Yahweh God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the set-apart place.
For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of Yahweh our God, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Yahweh, and turned their backs.
Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the set-apart place unto the God of Israel.
Wherefore the wrath of Yahweh was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as you see with your eyes.
For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with Yahweh God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us.
My sons, be not now negligent: for Yahweh hath chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister unto Him, and burn incense.
Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:
And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:
And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of Yahweh, to cleanse the house of Yahweh.
And the priests went into the inner part of the house of Yahweh, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Yahweh into the court of the house of Yahweh. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.
Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of Yahweh: so they sanctified the house of Yahweh in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of Yahweh.
Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of Yahweh.
And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of Yahweh.
So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.
And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:
And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an propitiation for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
And he set the Levites in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of Yahweh by His prophets.
And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.
And all the congregation worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshiped.
Moreover Hezekiah the king and the officers commanded the Levites to sing praise unto Yahweh with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.
Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now you have consecrated yourselves unto Yahweh, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of Yahweh. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of Yahweh was set in order.
And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto Yahweh God of Israel.
For the king had taken counsel, and his officers, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.
For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.
So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto Yahweh God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his officers throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, return again unto Yahweh God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
And be not you like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against Yahweh God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as you see.
Now be you not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto Yahweh, and enter into His sanctuary, which He hath sanctified for ever: and serve Yahweh your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.
For if you return again unto Yahweh, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away His face from you, if you return unto Him.
So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the officers, by the word of Yahweh.
And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.
And they arose and took away the pagan altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.
Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of Yahweh.
And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.
For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto Yahweh.
For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Yahweh pardon every one
That prepareth his heart to seek God, Yahweh God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.
And Yahweh hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day by day, singing with loud instruments unto Yahweh.
And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of Yahweh: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to Yahweh God of their fathers.
And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.
For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the officers gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the sojourning kinsmen that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.
So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.
Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his set-apart dwelling place, even unto the sky.
Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the sun pillars in pieces, and cut down the Asherah poles, and threw down the high places and the pagan altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of Yahweh.
He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Yahweh.
Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of Yahweh.
And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of set-apart things which were consecrated unto Yahweh their God, and laid them by heaps.
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
And when Hezekiah and the officers came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh, and His people Israel.
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of Yahweh, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for Yahweh hath blessed His people; and that which is left is this great store.
Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Yahweh; and they prepared them,
And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.
And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of Yahweh, and the most set-apart things.
And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:
Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of Yahweh, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;
Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;
And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:
Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.
And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before Yahweh his God.
And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
2Kings 16:20 18:1-7 2Chronicles 28:27 29:1-36 30:1-27 31:1-21
Appendix to the History of the Kingdom of Israel
For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
And walked in the statutes of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against Yahweh their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
And they set them up sacred sun pillars and Asherah poles in every high hill, and under every luxuriant tree:
And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the nations whom Yahweh carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke Yahweh to anger:
For they served idols, whereof Yahweh had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
Yet Yahweh testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your forefathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in Yahweh their God.
And they rejected His statutes, and His covenant that He made with their forefathers, and His testimonies which He testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom Yahweh had charged them, that they should not do like them.
And they left all the commandments of Yahweh their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made carved Asherah poles, and worshipped all the host of the sky, and served Baal.
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke Him to anger.
Therefore Yahweh was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of His sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
Also Judah kept not the commandments of Yahweh their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
And Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until He had cast them out of His sight.
For He rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following Yahweh, and made them sin a great sin.
For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
Until Yahweh removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
Because they obeyed not the voice of Yahweh their God, but transgressed His covenant, and all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they revered not Yahweh: therefore Yahweh sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which you hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore He hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom you brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
Then one of the priests whom the Assyrians had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should revere Yahweh.
Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.
And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
So they feared Yahweh, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places of pagan worship, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
They feared Yahweh, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
Unto this day they do after the former manners: they revere not Yahweh, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel;
With whom Yahweh had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not revere other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
But Yahweh, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, Him shall you revere, and Him shall you worship, and to Him shall you do sacrifice.
And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which He wrote for you, you shall observe to do for evermore; and you shall not revere other gods.
And the covenant that I have made with you you shall not forget; neither shall you revere other gods.
But Yahweh your God you shall revere; and He shall deliver you out of the hand of all your hated enemies.
Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
So these nations feared Yahweh, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
2Kings 17:7-41 18:12
The Reign of Hezekiah of Judah (Last Twenty-Three Years)
And Yahweh was with Hezekiah; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have failed to pay tribute; return from me: that which you puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king's house.
At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of Yahweh, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Yahweh, Set your house in order; for you shalt die, and not live.
Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Yahweh, saying,
I beseech You, O Yahweh, remember now how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done that which is good in Your sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of Yahweh came to him, saying,
Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of My people, Thus saith Yahweh, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will heal you: on the third day you shalt go up unto the house of Yahweh.
And I will add unto your days fifteen years; and I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David's sake.
And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that Yahweh will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of Yahweh the third day?
And Isaiah said, This sign shalt you have of Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that He hath spoken: shall the shadow of the dial go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?
And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto Yahweh: and He brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down in the steps of Ahaz.
At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto you? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
And he said, What have they seen in your house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of Yahweh.
Behold, the days come, that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith Yahweh.
And of your sons that shall issue from you, which you shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Yahweh which you hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was proud: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Yahweh came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
Storehouses also for the increase of grain, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and mangers for flocks.
Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.
This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
He took counsel with his officers and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.
So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,
Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
With the king of Assyria is an arm of flesh; but with us is Yahweh our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak you now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein you trustest?
Whereon do you trust, that you abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Yahweh our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
You sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost you trust, that you rebellest against me?
Now, behold, you trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
But if you say unto me, We trust in Yahweh our God: is not that He, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
Now therefore, I pray you, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver you two thousand horses, if you be able on your part to set riders upon them.
How then wilt you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
Am I now come up without Yahweh against this place to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Know you not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray you, to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Judahites' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Judahites' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:
Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat you every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink you every one the waters of his cistern:
Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that you may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, Yahweh will deliver us.
Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?
Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
And his servants spake yet more against Yahweh God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
Then they cried with a loud voice in the Judahites' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh.
And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
It may be Yahweh your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which Yahweh your God hath heard: wherefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that are left in Jerusalem.
So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall you say to your master, Thus saith Yahweh, Be not afraid of the words which you hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.
Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Cush, Behold, he is come out to fight against you: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,
Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not your God in whom you trustest deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Behold, you hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt you be delivered?
Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar?
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?
He wrote also letters to rail on Yahweh God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver His people out of mine hand.
And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of Yahweh, and spread it before Yahweh.
And Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh, and said, O Yahweh God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, You art the God, even You alone, of all the kingdoms of the land; You hast made the sky and the land.
Yahweh, bow down Your ear, and hear: open, Yahweh, Your eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.
Of a truth, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Now therefore, O Yahweh our God, I beseech You, save You us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the land may know that You art Yahweh Elohiym, even You only.
And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to the sky.
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith Yahweh God of Israel, That which you hast prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
This is the word that Yahweh hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised you, and laughed you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at you.
Whom hast you reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast you exalted your voice, and lifted up your eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
By your messengers you hast reproached Yahweh, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice cyprus trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.
I have digged and drunk foreign waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.
Hast you not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have planned it? now have I brought it to pass, that you shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
But I know your abode, and your going out, and your coming in, and your rage against Me.
Because your rage against Me and your tumult is come up into Mine ears, therefore I will put My hook in your nose, and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you camest.
And this shall be a sign unto you, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow you, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of Yahweh of hosts shall do this.
Therefore thus saith Yahweh concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith Yahweh.
For I will defend this city, to save it, for Mine own sake, and for My servant David's sake.
And it came to pass that night, that the messenger of Yahweh went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand, all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria.: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned with shame of face to his own land, and dwelt at Nineveh.
And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own loins slew him there with the sword.
Thus Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
And many brought gifts unto Yahweh to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 18:7-8,13-37 19:1-36 20:1-21 2Chronicles 32:1-33
The Reign of Manasseh of Judah
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, after the abominations of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
For he built up again the high places of pagan worship which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made Asherah poles, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshiped all the host of the sky, and served them.
And he built pagan altars in the house of Yahweh, of which Yahweh said, In Jerusalem will I put My name.
And he built altars for all the host of the sky in the two courts of the house of Yahweh.
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke Him to anger.
And he set a carved pole of Asherah that he had made in the house, of which Yahweh said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put My name for ever:
Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.
But they hearkened not: and Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do more evil than did the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel.
And Yahweh spake by His servants the prophets, saying,
Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:
Therefore thus saith Yahweh God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.
And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.
And I will forsake the remnant of Mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their hated enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their hated enemies;
Because they have done that which was evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger, since the day their forefathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.
And Yahweh spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
Wherefore Yahweh brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
And when he was in affliction, he besought Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
And prayed unto Him: and He was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh He was God.
Prayer of Manasseh O Yahweh, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made the sky and the land, with all the ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of Your commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by Your awesome and glorious name; whom all men fear, and tremble before Your power; for the majesty of Your glory cannot be borne, and Your angry threatening toward sinners is importable: but Your merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; for You art the most El Elyon, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and are grieved of the evils of men. You, O Yahweh, according to Your great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against You: and of Your infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be preserved.
You therefore, O Yahweh, that art the Elohiym of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against You; but You hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner: for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Yahweh, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of the sky for the multitude of mine iniquities.
I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot lift up mine head, neither have any release: for I have provoked Your wrath, and done evil before You: I did not Your will, neither kept I Your commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences.
Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching You of favor.
I have sinned, O Yahweh, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: wherefore, I humbly beseech You, forgive me, O Yahweh, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquities. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For You art the God, even the God of them that repent; and in me You wilt shew all Your goodness: for You wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to Your great mercy.
Therefore I will praise You for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the skies do praise You, and Yours is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Now after this he built a wall outside the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
And he took away the racially alien gods, and the idol out of the house of Yahweh, and all the pagan altars that he had built in the mount of the house of Yahweh, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
And he repaired the altar of Yahweh, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve Yahweh God of Israel.
Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto Yahweh their God only.
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up Asherah poles and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
2Kings 20:21 21:1-18 2Chronicles 32:33 33:1-20 Prayer of Manasseh-Apocrypha
The Reign of Amon of Judah
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as his father Manasseh did.
And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:
And he forsook Yahweh God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of Yahweh.
And humbled not himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.
And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 21:18-23,25-26 2Chronicles 33:20-24
The Reign of Josiah
And the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
And he did that which was right in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to Yahweh with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.
Notwithstanding Yahweh turned not from the fierceness of His great wrath, wherewith His anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked Him withal.
And Yahweh said, I will remove Judah also out of My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his forefather: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places of pagan worship, and the Asherah poles, and the carved images, and the molten images.
And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the sun pillars, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the Asherah poles, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and sprinkled it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.
And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.
And when he had broken down the pagan altars and the Asherah poles, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the sun pillars throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, when he had purged the land, and the house, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to the house of Yahweh, saying,
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of Yahweh, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:
And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of Yahweh: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of Yahweh, to repair the breaches of the house,
Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house which the kings of Judah had destroyed. .
And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to supervise; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.
Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh, Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law of Yahweh given by Moses in the house of Yahweh. The Torah. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of Yahweh.
And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,
Go you, enquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second district:) and they spake to her to that effect.
And she answered them, Thus saith Yahweh God of Israel, Tell you the man that sent you to me,
Thus saith Yahweh, Behold, I will bring calamity upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:
Because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands, their idols; therefore My wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.
And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of Yahweh, so shall you say unto him, Thus saith Yahweh God of Israel concerning the words which you hast heard;
Because your heart was tender, and you didst humble yourself before God, when you heardest His words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst yourself before Me, and didst rend your clothes, and weep before Me; I have even heard you also, saith Yahweh.
Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shalt be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the harm that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.
And the king went up into the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the Levites, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Yahweh.
And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.
And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their forefathers.
And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of Yahweh all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for Asherah, and for all the host of the sky: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.
And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of the sky.
And he brought out the Asherah poles from the house of Yahweh, outside Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.
And he brake down the houses of the male temple prostitutes, that were by the house of Yahweh, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah poles.
And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and pronounced unclean the high places of pagan worship where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.
Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of Yahweh in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren.
And he pronounced unclean Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.
And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of Yahweh, by the chamber of Nathanmelech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
And the pagan altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of Yahweh, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.
And the high places of pagan worship that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king pronounce unclean.
And he brake in pieces the sacred sun pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles, and filled their places with the bones of men.
Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the household idols, and the caste idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of Yahweh.
And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. And all his days they departed not from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the carved Asherah poles.
And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of Yahweh which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.
Then he said, What grave stone is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that you hast done against the altar of Bethel.
And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.
And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Yahweh to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.
And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto Yahweh your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to Yahweh in Jerusalem.
And he set the priests in their charges, and strengthened them to the service of the house of Yahweh,
And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were set-apart unto Yahweh, Put the set-apart ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now Yahweh your God, and His people Israel,
And prepare yourselves by the houses of your forefathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.
And stand in the set-apart place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.
So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of Yahweh by the hand of Moses.
And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance.
And his officers gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred sheep, and three hundred oxen.
Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.
So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.
And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.
And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto Yahweh, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.
And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other set-apart offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.
And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
So all the service of Yahweh was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of Yahweh, according to the commandment of king Josiah.
And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.
After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against the king of Assyria Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him;
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear you from meddling with God, who is with me, that He destroy you not.
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.
And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.
2Kings 21:24,26 22:1-13 23:1-30 2Chronicles 33:25 34:1-33 35:1-27
The Reign of Jehoahaz of Judah
Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his forefathers had done.
And Pharaohnechoh the king of Egypt put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
2Kings 23:30-33 2Chronicles 36:1-3
The Reign of Jehoiakim of Judah
And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz his brother away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.
And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaohnechoh.
Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his forefathers had done.
In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
And Yahweh sent against him raiding bands of the Chaldees, and raiding bands of the Syrians, and raiding bands of the Moabites, and raiding bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spake by His servants the prophets.
Surely at the commandment of Yahweh came this upon Judah, to remove them out of His sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;
And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which Yahweh would not pardon.
And Nebuchadnezzar bound Jehoiakim in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of Yahweh to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
2Kings 23:34-37 24:1-7 2Chronicles 36:4-8
The Reign of Jehoiachin of Judah
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father had done.
At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
2Kings 24:6,8-12 2Chronicles 36:8-9
The Reign of Zedekiah of Judah
And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah Jehoiachin's uncle king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
And the king of Babylon carried out thence all the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of Yahweh, as Yahweh had said.
And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
And Zedekiah did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God, according to all that Jehoiakim had done, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of Yahweh.
And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto Yahweh God of Israel.
Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the nations; and polluted the house of Yahweh which He had hallowed in Jerusalem.
And Yahweh God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling place:
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
And it came to pass in the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.
And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.
And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.
And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.
So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.
And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of bronze, and carried him to Babylon.
2Kings 24:13-20 25:1-7 2Chronicles 36:10-16
Appendix to the History of the Kingdom of Judah
Therefore Yahweh brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:
And he burnt the house of Yahweh, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.
And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:
And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city:
And Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:
And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.
And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of Yahweh, and the bases, and the bronzen sea that was in the house of Yahweh, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the bronze of them to Babylon.
And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze wherewith they ministered, took they away.
And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.
The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of Yahweh; the bronze of all these vessels was without weight.
The height of the one pillar was 27', and the chapiter upon it was bronze: and the height of the chapiter 4'6”; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of bronze: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.
And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the deserters that deserted to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away.
And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.
And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
To fulfil the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil seventy years.
But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.
And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.
And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you.
But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Judahites and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.
And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.
And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;
And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the captive kings that were with him in Babylon;
And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.
And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the land hath Yahweh God of the sky given me; and He hath charged me to build Him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up.
2Kings 25:8-30 2Chronicles 36:17-19,22-23
To Be Continued...
...Ezra and Nehemiah and the remnant of Judah return to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity.