Ancient History

copyright 2011, all rights reserved.

These are the six historical books of 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Chronicles.  They show the succession of the kings of Israel and Judah and tell of the various wars that occurred.

Samuel, of course, was one of God's prophets.

Basically, the story is covered in the first four of the books, and then 1st and 2nd Chronicles kind of gives us a repeat of the above information, but with a lot of genealogies.

These six books are from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version, Editor:  Frederick Hoehn.

The Lord bless you.

___1_Samuel chapter 1

1 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,

2 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.

3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh.  And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

4 And at the time when Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions,

5 But to Hannah he gave a worthy portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had shut up her womb.

6 And her adversary also provoked her severely, to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.

7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her, therefore she wept, and didn't eat.

8 Then Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you cry?  And why don't you eat?  And why is your heart grieved?  Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk.  Now Eli the priest sat on a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.

10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord, and wept severely.

11 And she vowed a vow, and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you'll indeed look at the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a man child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head."

12 And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard, therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

14 And Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk?  Put away your wine."

15 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 the Lord.

16 Don't count your handmaid as a daughter of Belial, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken until now."

17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant you your petition that you've asked from him."

18 And she said, "Let your handmaid find grace in your sight."  So the woman went her way, and ate, and her facial expression was no longer sad.

19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house in Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

20 So, after Hannah had conceived, when the time had come, she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him from the Lord."

21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

22 But Hannah didn't go up, for she said to her husband, "I won't go up until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, so that he will appear before the Lord, and there live forever."

23 And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems good to you, wait until you've weaned him, only the Lord establish his word."  So the woman stayed, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

24 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 to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the child was young.

25 And they killed a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

26 And she said, "Oh my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman that stood by you here, praying to the Lord.

27 I asked for this child, and the Lord has given me my petition that I asked him for,

28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord, as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord."  And he worshipped the Lord there.

___1_Samuel chapter 2

1 And Hannah prayed, and said, "My heart rejoices in the Lord, my horn is exalted in the Lord, my mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.

2 There is none holy like the Lord, for there is none beside you, nor is there any rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so very proudly, don't let arrogance come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men have been broken, and those who stumbled have been clothed with strength.

5 Those who were full have hired out themselves for bread, and those who were hungry stopped, so that the barren has given birth to seven, and she that has many children has grown feeble.

6 The Lord kills, and makes alive, he brings down to the grave, and brings up.

7 The Lord makes poor, and makes rich, he brings low, and lifts up.

8 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory, for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he has set the world on them.

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces, out of heaven he shall thunder on them, the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed."

11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house.  And the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.

12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial, they didn't know the Lord.

13 And the priests' custom with the people was that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand,

14 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 to all the Israelites that came there.

15 Also before they burned 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 from you, but raw."

16 And if any man said to him, "Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as your soul desires," then he would answer him, "No, but you shall give it to me now, and if not, I will take it by force."

17 So the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men hated the offering of the Lord.

18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod.

19 Also 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.

20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, "The Lord give you seed of this woman for the loan that is lent to the Lord."  And they went to their own home.

21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters.  And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

23 And he said to them, "Why do you do such things?  For I hear of your evil dealings by all these people.

24 No, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear, you make the Lord's people transgress.

25 If one man sins against another, the judge shall judge him, but if a man sins against the Lord, who shall intreat for him?"  But they didn't listen to the voice of their father, because the Lord had decided to kill them.

26 And the child Samuel continued to grow, and was in favor both with the Lord, and also with men.

27 And a man of God came to Eli, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, Did I plainly appear to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer on my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me?  And did I give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

29 Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, that I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons more than me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?

30 So the Lord God of Israel says, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, would walk before me forever, but now the Lord says, be it far from me, for those who honor me, I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

31 See, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father's house, so that there won't be an old man in your house.

32 And you'll see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth that God shall give Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.

33 And the man of yours, whom I shall not cut off from my 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.

34 And this shall be a sign to thee, that shall come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas, in one day they shall die both of them.

35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind, and I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before my anointed forever.

36 And it shall happen, that everyone 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, please, into one of the priests' offices, so that I can eat a piece of bread."

___1_Samuel chapter 3

1 And the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli.  And the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no open vision.

2 And at that time, when Eli had laid down in his place, and his eyes began to grow dim, he could not see,

3 And before the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel had laid down to sleep,

4 That the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, "Here am I."

5 And he ran to Eli, and said, "Here am I, for you called me."  And he said, "I didn't call, lie down again."  And he went and lay down.

6 And the Lord called yet again, "Samuel."  And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I, for you called me."  And he answered, "I didn't call, my son, lie down again."

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him.

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time.  And he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I, for you called me."  And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and it shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears."  So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called like at other times, "Samuel, Samuel."  Then Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant hears."

11 And the Lord said to Samuel, "See, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone that hears it shall tingle.

12 In that day, I will perform against Eli all things that I have spoken concerning his house, when I begin, I will also make an end.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the sin that he knows, because his sons made themselves filthy, and he didn't restrain them.

14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the sin of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever."

15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord.  And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.

16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my son."  And he answered, "Here am I."

17 And he said, "What is the thing that the Lord has said to you?  Please don't hide it from me, God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he said to you."

18 And Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him.  And he said, "It is the Lord, let him do what seems good to him."

19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and didn't let any of his words fall to the ground.

20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.

21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

___1_Samuel chapter 4

1 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.

2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel, and when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines, and they killed of the army in the field about four thousand men.

3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord struck us today before the Philistines?  Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh to us, so that, when it comes among us, it will save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, so that they could bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who lives between the cherubims, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth echoed back.

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?"  And they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp.

7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp."  And they said, "Woe to us!  For there has not been such a thing previously.

8 Woe to us!  Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods?  These are the Gods that struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O you Philistines, so that you're not servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you, quit yourselves like men, and fight."

10 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.

11 And the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.

12 And a man of Benjamin ran out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn, and with dirt on his head.

13 And when he came, see, Eli sat on 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 shouted.

14 And when Eli heard the noise of the shouting, he said, "What does the noise of this commotion mean?"  And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.

15 Now Eli was ninety eight years old, and his eyes were dim, so that he couldn't see.

16 And the man said to Eli, "I am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army."  And he said, "What happened there, my son?"

17 And the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken."

18 And when he made mention of the ark of God, he fell off of the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died, for he was an old man, and heavy.  And he had judged Israel forty years.

19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered, and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed, for her pains came on her.

20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said to her, "Don't be afraid, for you've given birth to a son.  But she didn't answer, nor did she regard it.

21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," because the ark of God had been taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

22 And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken."

___1_Samuel chapter 5

1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

3 And when those of Ashdod arose early on the next day, see, Dagon had fallen on his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord.  And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

4 And when they arose early on the next morning, see, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold, only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod until this day.

6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy on those of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with hemorrhoids, Ashdod and the coasts of it.

7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel shall not stay with us, for his hand is severe on us, and on Dagon our god."

8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to 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 taken to Gath."  And they carried the ark of the God of Israel there.

9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it there, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction, and he struck the men of the city, both small and great, and they had hemorrhoids in their secret parts.

10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron.  And as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites shouted, saying, "They have brought here the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people."

11 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 its own place, so that it doesn't kill us, and our people," for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city, the hand of God was very heavy there.

12 And the men that didn't die were struck with the hemorrhoids, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

___1_Samuel chapter 6

1 And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do to the ark of the Lord?  Tell us how we shall send it to its place."

3 And they said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it empty, but be sure to return him a trespass offering, then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand has not been removed from you."

4 Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering that 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.

5 Wherefore you shall make images of your hemorrhoids, and images of your mice that mar the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel, perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

6 Why then do you harden your hearts, like the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?  When he had done wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?

7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there has come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them,

8 And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it on the cart, and put the jewels of gold, that you return to him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side of it, and send it away, so that it can go.

9 And see, if it goes up by the way of its own coast to Bethshemesh, then he has done us this great evil, but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us, it was a chance that happened to us."

10 And the men did so, and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home,

11 And they laid the ark of the Lord on the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their hemorrhoids.

12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Bethshemesh.

13 And those 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.

14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone, and they cut up the wood of the cart, and offered the kine as a burnt offering to the Lord.

15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the coffer that was with it, in which 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 to the Lord.

16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

17 And these are the golden hemorrhoids that the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to the Lord, for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one,

18 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, to the great stone of Abel, on which they set down the ark of the Lord, which stone remains until this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.

19 And he struck the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, he smote of the people fifty thousand seventy men, and the people lamented, because the Lord had struck many of the people with a great slaughter.

20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, "Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?  And to whom shall he go up from us?"

21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord, come down, and fetch it."

___1_Samuel chapter 7

1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord.

2 And while the ark stayed in Kirjathjearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

3 And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."

4 Then the children of Israel put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.

5 And Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you to the Lord."

6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the Lord.  And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had 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.

8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don't stop praying to the Lord our God for us, so that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly to the Lord, and Samuel called to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him.

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel, but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and crushed them, and they were struck before Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Bethcar.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, "To here has the Lord helped us."

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel, and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered the coasts of them out of the hands of the Philistines.  And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 And he went from year to year in a circle to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

17 And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel, and he built an altar to the Lord there.

___1_Samuel chapter 8

1 And when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abiah, they were judges in Beersheba.

3 And his sons didn't walk in his ways, but turned aside after money, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah,

5 And said to him, "See, you're old, and your sons don't walk in your ways, now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, "Give us a king to judge us."  And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, so that I wouldn't rule over them.

8 According to all the works that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, with which they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so they also do to you.

9 Now therefore listen to their voice, but yet protest solemnly to them, and show them the manner of the king that shall rule over them."

10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that asked from him a king.

11 And he said, "This will be the manner of the king that shall rule over you, he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen, and some shall run before his chariots.

12 And he will appoint himself 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.

13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15 And he will take a tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 He will take a tenth of your sheep, and you'll be his servants.

18 And you'll cry out in that day because of your king that you shall have chosen you, and the Lord will not hear you in that day."

19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, we will have a king over us,

20 So that we also will be like all the nations, and that our king will judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles."

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of the Lord.

22 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and make them a king.  And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."

___1_Samuel chapter 9

1 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.

2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and 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.

3 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."

4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they didn't find them, then they passed through the land of Shalim, and they weren't there, and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn't find them.

5 And when they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, "Come, and let us return, so that my father doesn't stop caring for the asses, and start worrying about us."

6 And he said to him, "Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man, all that he says surely happens, now let us go there, perhaps he can show us our way that we should go."

7 Then said Saul to his servant, "But see, if we go, what shall we bring the man?  For the bread is spent in our containers, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God, what do we have?"

8 And the servant answered Saul, and said, "See, I have here at hand one fourth of a shekel of silver, I'll give that to the man of God, to tell us our way."

9 (Before in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spoke, "Come, and let us go to the seer," for he that is now called a Prophet was previously called a Seer.)

10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said, come, let us go."  So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?"

12 And they answered them, and said, "He is, see, he is before you, make haste now, for he came today to the city, for there is a sacrifice of the people today in the high place,

13 As soon as you've come into the city, you'll immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice, and afterwards they eat who have been invited.  Now therefore get you up, for about this time you'll find him."

14 And they went up into the city, and when they had come into the city, see, Samuel came out opposite them, for to go up to the high place.

15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, so that he will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked at my people, because their cry has come to me."

17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, "Behold the man whom I spoke to you about!  This same shall rule over my people."

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me, please, where the seer's house is."

19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am the seer, go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.

20 And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, don't set your mind on them, for they've been found.  And on whom is all the desire of Israel?  Is it not on you, and on all your father's house?"

21 And Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel?  And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?  Why then do you speak this way to me?"

22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the most important place among those who were invited, which was about thirty people.

23 And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion that I gave you, about which I said to you, Set it by you."

24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul.  And Samuel said, "See what is left!  Set it before you, and eat, for to this time it has been kept for you since I said, I have invited the people."  So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 And when they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel talked with Saul on the top of the house.

26 And they arose early, and at about daybreak, Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, "Up, so that I can send you away."  And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, outside.

27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but you stand still a while, so I can show you the word of God."

___1_Samuel chapter 10

1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, "Is it not because the Lord has anointed you to be captain over his inheritance?

2 When you've departed from me today, then you'll find two men by Rachel's tomb in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to thee, The asses that you went to look for have been found, and see, your father has left the care of the asses, and sorrows for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

3 Then you shall go on forward from there, and you shall come to the plain of Tabor, and three men going up to God to Bethel shall meet you, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine,

4 And they will greet you, and give you two loaves of bread, that you'll receive from their hands.

5 After that you'll come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is, and when you've come there to the city, you'll meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a flute, and a harp, before them, and they shall prophesy,

6 And the Spirit of the Lord will come on you, and you'll prophesy with them, and shall be turned into a different man.

7 And let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do as occasion serves you, for God is with you.

8 And you shall go down before me to Gilgal, and see, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings, seven days you shall wait, 'til I come to you, and show you what you shall do."

9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him a different heart, and all those signs happened that day.

10 And when they came there to the hill, see, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God came on him, and he prophesied among them.

11 And when all that knew him before saw, see, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said to each other, "What is this that has come to the son of Kish?  Is Saul also among the prophets?"

12 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?"

13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 And Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?"  And he said, "To seek the asses, and when we saw that they were nowhere, we came to Samuel."

15 And Saul's uncle said, "Tell me, please, what Samuel said to you."

16 And Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the asses were found."  But of the matter of the kingdom, about which Samuel spoke, he didn't tell him.

17 And Samuel called the people together to the Lord to Mizpeh,

18 And said to the children of Israel, "Thus says the Lord 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 those who oppressed you,

19 And you have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations, and you have said to him, No, set a king over us.  Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands."

20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

21 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, and when they sought him, he couldn't be found.

22 Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come there.  And the Lord answered, "See, he has hidden himself among the stuff."

23 And they ran and fetched him there, and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

24 And Samuel said to all the people, "See him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?"  And all the people shouted, and said, "God save the king."

25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord.  And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah, and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

27 But the children of Belial said, "How shall this man save us?"  And they despised him, and brought him no presents.  But he said nothing.

___1_Samuel chapter 11

1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you."

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, "On this condition will I make a covenant with you, if I may poke out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach on all Israel."

3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days' respite, so that we can send messengers to all the coasts of Israel, and then, if there's no man to save us, we will come out to you."

4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the news in the ears of the people, and all the people lifted up their voices, and cried.

5 And see, Saul came after the herd out of the field, and Saul said, "What are the people crying?"  And they told him the news from the men of Jabesh.

6 And the Spirit of God came on Saul when he heard that news, and his anger was kindled greatly.

7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, "Whoever doesn't come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen."  And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out unanimously.

8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 And they said to the messengers that came, "Say this to the men of Jabeshgilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you'll have help."  And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do with us all that seems good to you."

11 And it was so on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies, and they came into the middle of the host in the morning watch, and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day, and those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 And the people said to Samuel, "Who was it that said, Shall Saul rule over us?  Bring the men, so we can put them to death."

13 And Saul said, "There shall not a man be put to death this day, for today the Lord has made salvation in Israel."

14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there."

15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal, and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

___1_Samuel chapter 12

1 And Samuel said to all Israel, "See, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.

2 And now, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray headed, and, see, my sons are with you, and I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.

3 See, here I am, witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed, whose ox have I taken?  Or whose ass have I taken?  Or whom have I defrauded?  Whom have I oppressed?  Or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes with that?  And I will restore it you."

4 And they said, "You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man's hand."

5 And he said to them, "The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand."  And they answered, "He is witness."

6 And Samuel said to the people, "It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

7 Now therefore stand still, so I can reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, that he did to you and to your fathers.

8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them live in this place.

9 And when they forgot the Lord 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.

10 And they cried to the Lord, and said, we have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth, but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.

11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived safely.

12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, no, but a king shall rule over us, when the Lord your God was your king.

13 Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have desired!  And, see, the Lord has set a king over you.

14 If you will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both you and also the king that rules over you continue following the Lord your God,

15 But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, like it was against your fathers.

16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, that the Lord will do before your eyes.

17 Is it not wheat harvest today?  I will call to the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain, so that you'll perceive and see that your wickedness is great, that you've done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king."

18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, so we don't die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king."

20 And Samuel said to the people, "Don't be afraid, you have done all this wickedness, yet don't turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart,

21 And don't turn aside, for then you would go after vain things, that can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain.

22 For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you his people.

23 Also as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in stopping to pray for you, but I will teach you the good and the right way,

24 Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things he has done for you.

25 But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king."

___1_Samuel chapter 13

1 Saul ruled one year, and when he had ruled two years over Israel,

2 Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, from which 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.

3 And Jonathan struck 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."

4 And all Israel heard that Saul had struck a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was hated by the Philistines.  And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people like the sand that is on the sea shore in multitude, and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a difficult place, (for the people were distressed,) then the people hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.  As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 And he waited seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed, but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him.

9 And Saul said, "Bring me here a burnt offering, and peace offerings."  And he offered the burnt offering.

10 And as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, to greet him.

11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?"  And Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn't come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash,

12 Therefore I said, the Philistines will come down now on me to Gilgal, and I haven't made supplication to the Lord, I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering."

13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You've done foolishly, you haven't kept the commandment of the Lord your God, that he commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom on Israel forever.

14 But now your kingdom shall not continue, the Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be captain over his people, because you haven't kept that which the Lord commanded you."

15 And Samuel got up, and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.  And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, lived in Gibeah of Benjamin, but the Philistines camped in Michmash.

17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies, one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual,

18 And another company turned the way to Bethhoron, and another company turned to the way of the border that looks to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "So that the Hebrews won't make themselves swords or spears,"

20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

21 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.

22 So in the day of battle, 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 there was found.

23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

___1_Samuel chapter 14

1 Now one day, Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that carried his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side."  But he didn't tell his father.

2 And Saul waited in the farthest part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree that is in Migron, and the people that were with him were about six hundred men,

3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod.  And the people didn't know that Jonathan was gone.

4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over to 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.

5 The front of the one was situated northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah.

6 And Jonathan said to the young man that carried his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised, it may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few."

7 And his armor bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart, turn, see, I am with you according to your heart."

8 Then said Jonathan, "See, we will pass over to these men, and we will expose our presence to them.

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

10 But if they say thus, Come up to us, then we will go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this shall be a sign to us."

11 And both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said see, the Hebrews come out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing."  And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel."

13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed after him.

14 And that first slaughter, that Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were a half acre of land, that a yoke of oxen might plow.

15 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 earth quaked, so it was a very great trembling.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and see, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down each other.

17 Then Saul said to the people that were with him, "Number now, and see who has gone from us."  And when they had numbered, see, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

18 And Saul said to Ahiah, "Bring here the ark of God."  For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

19 And while Saul talked to the priest, the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased, and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle, and see, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great slaughter.

21 Also the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, that went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 Likewise all the men of Israel that had hidden themselves in Mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over to Bethaven.

24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had told the people, "Cursed be the man that eats any food until evening, so I can be avenged against my enemies."  So none of the people tasted any food.

25 And all of those of the land came to the woods, and there was honey on the ground.

26 And when the people had come into the woods, see, the honey dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

27 But Jonathan didn't hear when his father charged the people with the oath, so he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened.

28 Then one of the people answered, and said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, cursed be the man that eats any food this day."  And the people were faint.

29 Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land, please observe how my eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found?  For wouldn't there have now been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?"

31 And they struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very faint.

32 And the people flew on the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and killed them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood.

33 Then they told Saul, "See, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood."  And he said, "You have transgressed, roll a great stone to me this day."

34 And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, bring me here every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat, and don't sin against the Lord in eating with the blood."  And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.

35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord, the same was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36 And Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines at night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them."  And they said, do whatever seems good to you.  Then the priest said, "Let us draw near here to God."

37 And Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines?  Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?"  But he didn't answer him that day.

38 And Saul said, "Come near here, all the chief of the people, and know and see how this sin has been today.

39 For, as the Lord lives, who saves 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.

40 Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side."  And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."

41 Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot."  And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.

42 And Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son."  And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you've done."  And Jonathan told him, "I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand, and see, I must die."

44 And Saul answered, "God do so and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan."

45 And the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has done this great salvation in Israel?  God forbid, as the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day."  So the people rescued Jonathan, so that he didn't die.

46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his 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 wherever he turned himself, he vexed them.

48 And he gathered an army, and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who spoiled them.

49 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,

50 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.

51 And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 And there was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him to himself.

___1_Samuel chapter 15

1 Samuel also said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel, now therefore listen to the voice of the words of the Lord.

2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him on the way, when he came up from Egypt.

3 Now go and strike Amalek, and completely destroy all that they have, and don't spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass."

4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

6 And Saul said to the Kenites, go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, so that I don't destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt.  So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

7 And Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah until you come to Shur, that is opposite Egypt.

8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and completely destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

9 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 completely destroy them, but everything that was filthy and refuse, that they destroyed completely.

10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying,

11 "I regret that I've set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments."  And it grieved Samuel, and he prayed to the Lord all night.

12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, "Saul came to Carmel, and see, he set himself up a place, and has gone around, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal."

13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you by the Lord, I have performed the commandment of the Lord."

14 And Samuel said, "What does this bleating of the sheep in my ears mean then, and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?"

15 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 to the Lord your God, and the rest we have completely destroyed."

16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stay, and I will tell you what the Lord has said to me this night."  And he said to him, "Say on."

17 And Samuel said, "When you were little in your own sight, weren't you made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel?

18 And the Lord sent you on a journey, and said, go and completely destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they're consumed.

19 Why then you didn't obey the voice of the Lord, but jumped on the spoil, and did evil in the sight of the Lord?"

20 And Saul said to Samuel, "Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way that the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things that should have been completely destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal."

22 And Samuel said, "Does the Lord have as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  See, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king."

24 And Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, please, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, so that I can worship the Lord."

26 And Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel."

27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he grabbed hold of the skirt of his mantle, and it tore.

28 And Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, that is better than you.

29 And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man, that he should repent."

30 Then he said, "I have sinned, yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, so I can worship the Lord your God."

31 So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshipped the Lord.

32 Then Samuel said, "Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites."  And Agag came to him delicately.  And Agag said, surely the bitterness of death is past.

33 And Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so your shall mother be childless among women."  And Samuel cut Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

35 And Samuel didn't go anymore to see Saul until the day of his death, but Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

___1_Samuel chapter 16

1 And the Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing that I've rejected him from ruling over Israel?  Fill your horn with oil, and go, I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided myself a king among his sons."

2 And Samuel said, "How can I go?  If Saul hears it, he will kill me."  And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, I've come to sacrifice to the Lord.

3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do, and you shall anoint to me him whom I name to you."

4 And Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem.  And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"

5 And he said, "Peaceably, I've come to sacrifice to the Lord, make yourselves holy, and come with me to the sacrifice."  And he made Jesse and his sons holy, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 And when they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, surely the Lord's anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't look at his face, or at how tall he is, because I've refused him, for the Lord doesn't see like man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel.  And he said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this."

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by.  And he said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this."

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel.  And Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these."

11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?"  And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and, see, he keeps the sheep.  And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and fetch him, for we will not sit down 'til he comes here."

12 And he sent, and brought him in.  Now he was ruddy, and with a beautiful face, and attractive to look at.  And the Lord said, "Get up, anoint him, he's the one."

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came on David from that day forward.  So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

15 And Saul's servants said to him, "See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.

16 Let our lord now command your servants, that are before you, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a harp, and when the evil spirit from God is on you, he shall play with his hand, and you'll be well."

17 And Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me."

18 Then one of the servants answered, and said, "See, I've 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 attractive person, and the Lord is with him."

19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep."

20 And Jesse took an ass loaded with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him, and he loved him greatly, and he became his armor carrier.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David, please, stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight."

23 And when the evil spirit from God was on Saul, David took a harp, and played with his hand, so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

___1_Samuel chapter 17

1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, that belongs to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.

2 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.

3 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.

4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was nine feet and a span.

5 And he had a helmet of brass on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

6 And he had greaves of brass on his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron, and someone carrying a shield went before him.

8 And he stood and shouted to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to set your battle in array?  Am I not a Philistine, and you servants to Saul?  Choose a man for youselves, and let him come down to me.

9 If he's 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 you'll be our servants, and serve us."

10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day, give me a man, so we can fight together."

11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were discouraged, and quite afraid.

12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons, and the man was considered to be an old man in the days of Saul.

13 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 to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 And David was the youngest, and the three eldest followed Saul.

15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

16 And the Philistine came near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17 And Jesse said to David his son, take now for your brothers an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers,

18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and find out how your brothers are doing, and take their pledge.

19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

20 And David got 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 out to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.

22 And David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran into the army, and came and greeted his brothers.

23 And as he talked with them, see, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, named Goliath, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words, and David heard them.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were very afraid.

25 And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man that has come up?  Surely to defy Israel he has come up, and it shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel."

26 And David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying, "What shall be done to the man that kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel?  For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, "So shall it be done to the man that kills him."

28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men, and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here?  And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?  I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart, for you've come down so you can see the battle."

29 And David said, "What have I now done?  Is there not a reason?"

30 And he turned from him toward someone else, and spoke after the same manner, and the people answered him again after the former manner.

31 And when the words were heard that David spoke, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him.

32 And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him, your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

33 And Saul said to David, "You're not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you're just a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

34 And David said to Saul, "Your servant kept his father's sheep, and a lion came, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock,

35 And I went out after him, and struck him, and delivered it out of his mouth, and when he rose up against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him, and killed him.

36 Your servant killed both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God."

37 David said also, "The Lord who 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 to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you."

38 And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put a helmet of brass on his head, also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39 And David put his sword on his armor, and he tried to go, but he had not proven it.  And David said to Saul, "I can't go with these, for I haven't proven them."  And David took them off.

40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag that he had, even in a scrip, and his sling was in his hand, and he went near the Philistine.

41 And the Philistine came on and drew near David, and the man that carried the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked around, and saw David, he scorned him, for he was just a youth, and ruddy, and with an attractive face.

43 And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with staves?"  And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field."

45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you've defied.

46 This day will the Lord deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you, and take your head from you, and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day to the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord doesn't save by sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."

48 And when the Philistine got up, and came near to meet David, David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took from there a stone, and slang it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him, but there was no sword in the hand of David.

51 David therefore ran, and stood on the Philistine, and took his sword, and pulled it out of the sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with it.  And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they ran away.

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah got up, 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, to Gath, and to Ekron.

53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

55 And when Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the host, "Abner, whose son is this youth?"  And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I can't tell."

56 And the king said, "Inquire whose son the stripling is."

57 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.

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

___1_Samuel chapter 18

1 And when he finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 And Saul took him that day, and would no more let him go home to his father's house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even his sword, and his bow, and his girdle.

5 And David went out wherever 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.

6 And as they came, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

7 And the women answered each other as they played, and said, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

8 And Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him, and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands, and what can he have more but the kingdom?"

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And on the next day, the evil spirit from God came on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house, and David played with his hand, like at other times, and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

11 And Saul threw the javelin, for he said, "I will strike David to the wall with it."  And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and had departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand, and he went out and came in before the people.

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.

15 So when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

17 And Saul said to David, "See my elder daughter Merab, I will give you her for your wife, only be valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles."  For Saul said, "Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him."

18 And David said to 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?"

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

20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David, and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21 And Saul said, "I will give her to him, so that she will be a trap to him, and so that the hand of the Philistines will be against him."  So Saul said to David, "You shall this day be my son in law in the one of the two."

22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, "Talk with David privately, and say, see, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you, now therefore be the king's son in law."

23 And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David.  And David said, "Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, since I'm a poor man, and lightly esteemed?"

24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, "David spoke like this."

25 And Saul said, "Say this to David, the king doesn't desire any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies."  But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law, and the days had not expired.

27 So David got up and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred Philistines, and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, so that he could be the king's son in law.  And Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David, and Saul became David's enemy continually.

30 Then the princes of the Philistines went out, and after they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was much set by.

___1_Samuel chapter 19

1 And Saul said to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David, and Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you, now therefore, please, be careful until the morning, and stay in a secret place, and hide yourself,

3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will talk with my father about you, and what I see, I will tell you."

4 And Jonathan spoke good about David to Saul his father, and said to him, "Let the king not sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works toward you have been very good,

5 For he put his life in his hand, and killed the Philistine, and the Lord made a great salvation for all Israel, you saw it, and rejoiced, so then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a reason?"

6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed."

7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things.  And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in the past.

8 And there was war again, and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and killed them with a great slaughter, and they fled from him.

9 And the evil spirit from the Lord was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand, and David played with his hand.

10 And Saul sought to strike David to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he struck the javelin into the wall, and David fled, and escaped that night.

11 Saul also sent messengers to David's house, to watch him, and to kill him in the morning, and Michal, David's wife told him, saying, "If you don't save your life to night, tomorrow you'll be killed."

12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he went, and fled, and escaped.

13 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.

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."

15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, so I can kill him."

16 And when the messengers had come in, see, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.

17 And Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me this way, and sent away my enemy, so that he has escaped?"  And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, Let me go, why should I kill you?"

18 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 lived in Naioth.

19 And it was told Saul, see, "David is at Naioth in Ramah."

20 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 on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21 And when they told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied also.  And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

22 Then he went also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu, and he asked and said, "Where are Samuel and David?"  And someone said, "See, they're at Naioth in Ramah."

23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God was on him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 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.  So they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

___1_Samuel chapter 20

1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done?  What is my iniquity?  And what is my sin before your father, so that he seeks my life?"

2 And he said to him, "God forbid, you shall not die, see, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it to me, and why should my father hide this thing from me?  It is not so."

3 And David swore also, and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found grace in yours eyes, and he says, let Jonathan not know this, so he won't be grieved, but truly as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death."

4 Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever your soul desires, I will do it for you."

5 And David said to Jonathan, "See, tomorrow is the new moon, and I shouldn't fail to sit with the king to eat, but let me go, so I can hide myself in the field until the third day at evening.

6 If your father at all misses me, then say, David earnestly asked permission from me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

7 If he says thus, It is well, your servant shall have peace, but if he's very angry, then be sure that evil is determined by him.

8 Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you, but if there's iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?"

9 And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you, for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn't I tell it you?"

10 Then David said to Jonathan, "Who shall tell me?  Or what if your father answers you roughly?"

11 And Jonathan said to David, "Come, and let us go out into the field."  And they went out both of them into the field.

12 And Jonathan said to David, "O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about tomorrow any time, or the third day, and, see, if there is good toward David, and I then don't send to you, and show it you,

13 The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan, but if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will show it you, and send you away, so you can go in peace, and the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father.

14 And you shall not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the Lord, that I don't die,

15 But also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies."

17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

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

19 And when you've stayed three days, then you shall go down quickly, and come to the place where you hid yourself when the business was in hand, and shall remain by the stone Ezel.

20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.

21 And see, I will send a lad, saying, go, find the arrows.  If I specifically say to the lad, see, the arrows are on this side of you, take them, then come, for there is peace to you, and no hurt, as the Lord lives.

22 But if I say thus to the young man, see, the arrows are beyond you, go your way, for the Lord has sent you away.

23 And concerning the matter that you and I have spoken of, see, the Lord be between you and me forever."

24 So David hid himself in the field, and when the new moon had come, the king sat down to eat.

25 And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall, and Jonathan got up, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

26 But Saul didn't say anything that day, for he thought, something has happened him, he is not clean, surely he is not clean.

27 And on the next day, that was the second day of the month, David's place was empty, and Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why doesn't the son of Jesse come to eat, neither yesterday, nor today?"

28 And Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked permission from me to go to Bethlehem,

29 And he said, let me go, please, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there, and now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away, please, and see my brothers.  That's why he didn't come to the king's table."

30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of the perverse rebellious woman, don't I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own confusion, and to the confusion of your mother's nakedness?

31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom.  So now send and fetch him to me, for he shall surely die."

32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, "Why should he be killed?  What has he done?"

33 And Saul threw a javelin at him to strike him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David.

34 So Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger, and ate no meat the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.

35 And it in the morning, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.

36 And he said to his lad, "Run, find now the arrows that I shoot."  And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

37 And when the lad had come to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan shouted to the lad, and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?"

38 And Jonathan shouted to the lad, "Make speed, hurry up, don't stay."  And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

39 But the lad didn't know anything, only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

40 And Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to his lad, and said to him, "Go, carry them to the city.

41 And as soon as the lad had gone, David got up out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times, and they kissed each other, and wept with each other, until David finished.

42 And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, since we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, the Lord be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed forever."  And he got up and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

___1_Samuel chapter 21

1 Then David went to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no man with you?"

2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has commanded me a business, and has said to me, let no man know anything of the business about which I send you, and what I have commanded you, and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

3 Now therefore what is under your hand?  Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or what there is present."

4 And the priest answered David, and said, "There is no common bread under my hand, but there is hallowed bread, if the young men have kept themselves at least from women."

5 And David answered the priest, "Of a truth women have been kept from us for about three days, since I came out, and the containers of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yes, though it were made holy this day in the container."

6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread, for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord, and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the top man of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul.

8 And David said to Ahimelech, "And isn't there 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."

9 And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, see, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod, if you want to take that, take it, for there is no other except that here."  And David said, "There is none like that, give it to me."

10 And David got up, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

11 And the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David the king of the land?  Didn't they sing to each other about him in dances, saying, Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands?"

12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13 And he changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be crazy in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spit fall down on his beard.

14 Then Achish said to his servants, "See, you can see the man is crazy, why then have you brought him to me?

15 Do I need crazy men, that you have brought this fellow to play the crazy man in my presence?  Shall this fellow come into my house?"

___1_Samuel chapter 22

1 David therefore departed from there, and escaped to the cave Adullam, and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.

2 And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves to him, and he became a captain over them, and there were with him about four hundred men.

3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother come out and be with you, 'til I know what God will do for me."

4 And he brought them before the king of Moab, and they lived with him all the while that David was in the hold.

5 And the prophet Gad said to David, "Don't stay in the hold, depart, and get to the land of Judah."  Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

6 When Saul heard that David had been discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul lived in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him,)

7 Then Saul said to his servants that stood around him, "Hear now, you Benjamites, will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds,

8 So that all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one that shows me that my son has made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or shows me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?"

9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

10 And he inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

11 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 all of them came to the king.

12 And Saul said, "Hear now, you son of Ahitub."  And he answered, "Here I am, my lord."

13 And Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, so that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?"

14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, "And who is so faithful among all your servants as David, who is the king's son in law, and goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house?

15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him?  Be it far from me, let the king not impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father, for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more."

16 And the king said, you shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house.

17 And the king said to the infantry that stood around him, "Turn, and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me."  But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to fall on the priests of the Lord.

18 And the king said to Doeg, "Turn and fall on the priests."  And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell on the priests, and killed on that day eighty five persons that wore a linen ephod.

19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck 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.

20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

21 And Abiathar showed David that Saul had killed the Lord's priests.

22 And David said to Abiathar, "I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul, I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house.

23 Live with me, don't be afraid, for he that seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be in safeguard."

___1_Samuel chapter 23

1 Then they told David, "See, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors."

2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go and strike these Philistines?"  And the Lord said to David, "Go, and strike the Philistines, and save Keilah."

3 And David's men said to him, "See, we're afraid here in Judah, how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?"

4 Then David inquired of the Lord again.  And the Lord answered him and said, "Get up, go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand."

5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and struck them with a great slaughter.  So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 And when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.

7 And Saul was told that David had come to Keilah.  And Saul said, "God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars."

8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

9 And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."

10 Then David said, "O Lord God of Israel, your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand?  Will Saul come down, like your servant has heard?  O Lord God of Israel, I beg of you, tell your servant."  And the Lord said, he will come down.

12 Then said David, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?"  And the Lord said, they will deliver you up.

13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, got up and departed out of Keilah, and went wherever they could go.  And it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, and he didn't go there.

14 And David lived in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph.  And Saul sought him every day, but God didn't deliver him into his hand.

15 And David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life, and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the woods.

16 And Jonathan Saul's son got up, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.

17 And he said to him, "Don't be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you, and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you, and that also Saul my father knows."

18 And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord, and David lived in the woods, and Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, "Doeosn't David hide himself with us in strong holds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, that is on the south of Jeshimon?

20 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."

21 And Saul said, "Blessed be you by the Lord, for you have compassion on me.

22 Go, please, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he deals very subtlely.

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you, and if he's in the land, I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah."

24 And they got up, 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.

25 Saul also and his men went to seek him.  And they told David, so he came down into the rocks, and lived in the wilderness of Maon.  And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

26 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 surrounded David and his men to take them.

27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land."

28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines, therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

29 And David went up from there, and lived in strong holds at Engedi.

___1_Samuel chapter 24

1 And when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, it was told him, saying, "See, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to take a nap, and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of David said to him, "See, the day about which the Lord said to you, see, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, so you can do to him as it shall seem good to you."  Then David got up, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.

5 And afterward, David's heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6 And he said to his men, the Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

7 So David held his servants back with these words, and didn't allow them to rise against Saul.  But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

8 David also got up afterward, and went out of the cave, and shouted after Saul, saying, "My lord the king."  And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

9 And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to hear men's words, saying, See, David seeks your hurt?

10 See, this day your eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and some told me kill you, but my eye spared you, and I said, I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.

11 Also, my father, see, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand, for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, yet you hunt my soul to take it.

12 The Lord judge between me and you, and the Lord avenge me of you, but my hand shall not be on you.

13 As says the proverb of the ancients, wickedness proceeds from the wicked, but my hand shall not be on you.

14 After whom has the king of Israel come out?  After whom do you pursue?  After a dead dog, after a flea.

15 The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand."

16 And when David had stopped speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?"  And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 And he said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me good, but I've rewarded you evil.

18 And you have showed this day how that you have dealt well with me, since when the Lord had delivered me into your hand, you didn't kill.

19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go well away?  So the Lord reward you good for what you've done to me this day.

20 And now, see, I know well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.

21 Swear now therefore to me by the Lord, that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house."

22 And David swore to Saul.  And Saul went home, but David and his men got up to the hold.

___1_Samuel chapter 25

1 And Samuel died, and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah.  And David got up, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

2 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.

3 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 face, but the man was churlish and evil in his doings, and he was of the house of Caleb.

4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.

5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said to the young men, "Get up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name,

6 And thus shall you say to him that lives in prosperity, Peace be both to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.

7 And now I have heard that you have shearers, now your shepherds who were with us, we didn't hurt them, neither was there anything missing to them, all the while they were in Carmel.

8 Ask your young men, and they will show you.  So let the young men find favor in your eyes, for we come in a good day, please give, whatever comes to your hand to your servants, and to your son David."

9 And when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and stopped.

10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, "Who is David?  And who is the son of Jesse?  There are many servants these days that break away every man from his master.

11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men, whom I don't know where they're from?"

12 So David's young men turned their way, and went back, and came and told him all those sayings.

13 And David said to his men, "Gird on every man his sword."  And they girded on every man his sword, and David also girded on his sword, and about four hundred men went up after David, and two hundred stayed by the stuff.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "See, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them.

15 But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields,

16 They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17 Now therefore know and consider what you will do, for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household, for he is such a son of Belial, that a man can't speak to him."

18 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 a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

19 And she said to her servants, "Go on before me, see, I come after you."  But she didn't tell her husband Nabal.

20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, see, David and his men came down opposite her, and she met them.

21 Now David had said, "Surely in vain I've kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him, and he has repaid me evil for good.

22 So and more also do God to the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisses against the wall."

23 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,

24 And fell at his feet, and said, "On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be, and let your handmaid, please, speak in your audience, and hear the words of your handmaid.

25 Let not my lord, please, regard this man of Belial, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he, Nabal is his name, and foolishness is with him, but I, your handmaid, didn't see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.

26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, seeing the Lord has withheld you from coming to shed blood, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now let your enemies, and those who seek evil against my lord, be like Nabal.

27 And now this blessing that your handmaid has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men that follow my lord.

28 Please forgive the trespass of your handmaid, for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil has not been found in you all your days.

29 Yet a man has risen to pursue you, and to seek your soul, but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord your God, and the souls of your enemies shall he sling out, like out of the middle of a sling.

30 And when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and shall have appointed you ruler over Israel,

31 This shall be no grief to you, nor offence of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood causeless, or that my lord has avenged himself, but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid."

32 And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me,

33 And blessed be your advice, and blessed be you, who has kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with my own hand.

34 For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light any that pisses against the wall."

35 So David received from her hand that which she had brought him, and said to her, "Go up in peace to your house, see, I have listened to your voice, and have accepted your person."

36 And Abigail came to Nabal, and, see, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king, and Nabal's heart was merry inside him, for he was very drunk, so she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

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

38 And about ten days afterward, the Lord struck Nabal, so that he died.

39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the Lord, that has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept his servant from evil, for the Lord has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head."  And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

40 And when the servants of David had come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, "David sent us to you, to take you to him as wife."

41 And she got up, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, "See, let your handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord."

42 And Abigail hurried, and got up, and rode on an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her, and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they were both his wives.

44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

___1_Samuel chapter 26

1 And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, "Doesn't David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, that is before Jeshimon?"

2 Then Saul got up, 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.

3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, that is before Jeshimon, by the way.  But David lived in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had really come.

5 And David got up, and came to the place where Saul had pitched, and David saw 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 around him.

6 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."

7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and, see, Saul lay sleeping inside the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster, but Abner and the people lay around him.

8 Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day, now therefore let me strike him, please, with the spear to the earth immediately, and I will not strike him the second time."

9 And David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?"

10 David said furthermore, "As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go down into battle, and die.

11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed, but please take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go."

12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster, and they got away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, nor awoke, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them,

14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Don't you answer, Abner?"  Then Abner answered and said, "Who are you that calls to the king?"

15 And David said to Abner, "Are you not a valiant man?  And who is like you in Israel?  Why then haven't you kept your lord the king?  For there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord.

16 This thing is not good that you have done.  As the Lord lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed.  And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster."

17 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."

18 And he said, "Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant?  For what have I done?  Or what evil is in my hand?

19 Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant.  If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering, but if they are the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, go, serve other gods.

20 Now therefore, let my blood not fall to the earth before the face of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

21 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, see, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly."

22 And David answered and said, "See, the king's spear!  And let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

23 The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed.

24 And see, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation."

25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David, you shall both do great things, and also shall still prevail."  So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

___1_Samuel chapter 27

1 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 anymore in any coast of Israel, so shall I escape out of his hand."

2 And David got up, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

4 And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, and he sought no more again for him.

5 And David said to Achish, "If I have now found grace in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, so I can live there, for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?"

6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day, so Ziklag pertains to the kings of Judah to this day.

7 And the time that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

8 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 go to Shur, to the land of Egypt.

9 And David struck 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.

10 And Achish said, "Where have you made a road today?  And David said, against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites."

11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, "So that they won't tell on us, saying, so did David, and so will be his manner all the while he lives in the country of the Philistines."

12 And Achish believed David, saying, "He has made his people Israel to completely hate him, therefore he shall be my servant forever."

___1_Samuel chapter 28

1 And in those days, the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel.  And Achish said to David, "Know surely, that you'll go out with me to battle, you and your men."

2 And David said to Achish, "Surely you shall know what your servant can do."  And Achish said to David, "Therefore I'll make you keeper of my head forever."

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, in his own city.  And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem, and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord didn't answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

7 Then said Saul to his servants, "Seek me a woman that has a familiar spirit, so I can go to her, and inquire of her."  And his servants said to him, "See, there is a woman that has a familiar spirit at Endor."

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman at night, and he said, "Please, divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name to you."

9 And the woman said to him, "You know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land, why then do you lay a trap for my life, to cause me to die?"

10 And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, "As the Lord lives, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing."

11 Then the woman said, whom shall I bring up to you?  And he said, "Bring me up Samuel."

12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice, and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me?  For you are Saul."

13 And the king said to her, "Don't be afraid, what did you see?"  And the woman said to Saul, "I saw gods ascending out of the earth."

14 And he said to her, "What form does he have?  And she said, an old man comes 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.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled me, to bring me up?"  And Saul answered, "I am very distressed, for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me, and doesn't answer me anymore, neither by prophets, nor by dreams, therefore I've called you, so you can make known to me what I should do."

16 Then said Samuel, "Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has departed from you, and has become your enemy?

17 And the Lord has done to him, as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, to David,

18 Because you didn't obey the voice of the Lord, nor executed his fierce anger on Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day.

19 The Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me, the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."

20 Then Saul fell immediately down on the earth, and was very afraid, because of the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all day, nor all night.

21 And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was very troubled, and said to him, "See, your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words that you spoke to me.

22 Now therefore, please, listen also to the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a bite of food before you, and eat, so that you'll have strength, when you go on your way."

23 But he refused, and said, "I won't eat."  But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him, and he listened to their voice.  So he got up from the earth, and sat on the bed.

24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house, and she hurried, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread with it,

25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants, and they ate.  Then they rose up, and went away that night.

___1_Samuel chapter 29

1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, and the Israelites pitched by a fountain that is in Jezreel.

2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands, but David and his men passed on in the rear guard with Achish.

3 Then the princes of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?"  And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, "Isn't this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell to me until this day?"

4 And the princes of the Philistines were angry with him, and the princes of the Philistines said to him, "Make this fellow return, so he can return to his place that you've appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, so that he won't be an adversary to us in the battle, for how would he reconcile himself with his master?  Wouldn't it be with the heads of these men?

5 Isn't this David, about whom they sang to each other in dances, saying, Saul killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands?"

6 Then Achish called David, and said to him, "Surely, as the Lord lives, you have 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 to me until this day, but the lords don't favor you.

7 So now return, and go in peace, so that you don't displease the lords of the Philistines."

8 And David said to Achish, "But what have I done?  And what have you found in your servant so long as I have been with you to this day, so that I can't go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"

9 And Achish answered and said to David, "I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God, but the princes of the Philistines have said, he shall not go up with us to the battle.

10 So now rise up early in the morning with your master's servants that have come with you, and as soon as you're up early in the morning, and have light, depart."

11 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.

___1_Samuel chapter 30

1 And when David and his men had come to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and struck Ziklag, and burned it with fire,

2 And had taken the women captives, that were in it, they didn't kill any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

3 So David and his men came to the city, and, see, it was burned with fire, and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, had been taken captives.

4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the souls of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters, but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here."  And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

8 And David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue after this troop?  Shall I overtake them?"  And he answered him, "Pursue, for you'll surely overtake them, and without fail recover all."

9 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.

10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men, for two hundred stayed behind, that were so faint that they couldn't go over the brook Besor.

11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate, and they made him drink water,

12 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.

13 And David said to him, "To whom do you belong?  And where are you from?"  And he said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.

14 We made an invasion on the south of the Cherethites, and on the coast that belongs to Judah, and on the south of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire."

15 And David said to him, "Can you bring me down to this company?"  And he said, swear to me by God, "That you will neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this company."

16 And when he had brought him down, see, they were spread abroad on all the earth, 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.

17 And David struck them from the twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who rode on camels, and fled.

18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives.

19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them, David recovered all.

20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, that they drove before those other cattle, and said, "This is David's spoil."

21 And David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they couldn't follow David, whom they had made also to stay at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him, and when David came near to the people, he greeted them.

22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, "Because they didn't go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, so that they can lead them away, and depart."

23 Then said David, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which the Lord has given us, who has preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

24 For who will listen to you in this matter?  But as his part is that goes down to the battle, so shall his part be that stays by the stuff, they shall divide equally."

25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "See a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord,"

27 To those who were in Bethel, and to thoe who were in south Ramoth, and to those who were in Jattir,

28 And to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa,

29 And to those who were in Rachal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,

30 And to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Chorashan, and to those who were in Athach,

31 And to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men used to frequent.

___1_Samuel chapter 31

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down dead in Mount Gilboa.

2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and on his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.

3 And the battle went badly against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.

4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised don't come and thrust me through, and abuse me."  But his armor bearer wouldn't, for he was very afraid.  Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell on it.

5 And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on his sword, and died with him.

6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.

7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities, and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.

8 And on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the killed, they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.

10 And they put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard about what the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 All the valiant men got up, 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.

13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

___2_Samuel chapter 1

1 Now after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had lived two days in Ziklag,

2 On the third day, see, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn, and earth on his head, and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3 And David said to him, "Where do you come from?"  And he said to him, I've escaped out of the camp of Israel.

4 And David said to him, "What happened?  Please tell me."  And he answered that the people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and died, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 And David said to the young man that told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"

6 And the young man that told him said, "As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, see, Saul leaned on his spear, and see, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me.  And I answered, here I am.

8 And he said to me, who are you?  And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9 He said to me again, stand, I pray you, on me, and kill me, for anguish has come on me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10 So I stood on him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen, and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord."

11 Then David took hold of his clothes, and tore them, and likewise all the men that were with him,

12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 And David said to the young man that told him, "Where are you from?"  And he answered, "I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite."

14 And David said to him, "How is it that you weren't afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?"

15 And David called one of the young men, and said, "Go near, and fall on him."  And he struck him so that he died.

16 And David said to him, "Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have killed the Lord's anointed."

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,

18 (Also he told them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow, see, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

19 "The beauty of Israel has been killed on your high places, how have the mighty fallen!

20 Don't tell it in Gath, don't publish it in the streets of Askelon, so that the daughters of the Philistines don't rejoice, so that the daughters of the uncircumcised don't triumph.

21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, nor let there be rain, on you, nor fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty is vilely thrown away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the killed, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan didn't turn back, and the sword of Saul didn't return empty.

23 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.

24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in red cloth, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 How have the mighty fallen in the middle of the battle!  O Jonathan, you were killed in your high places.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan, very pleasant have you been to me, your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.

27 How have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"

___2_Samuel chapter 2

1 And after this, David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?"  And the Lord said to him, "Go up."  And David said, "Where shall I go up?"  And he said, "To Hebron."

2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

3 And David brought up his men that were with him, every man with his household, and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

4 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 those who buried Saul.

5 And David sent messengers to the men of Jabeshgilead, and said to them, "Blessed be you by the Lord, because you've shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.

6 And now the Lord show kindness and truth to you, and I also will repay you this kindness, because you've done this thing.

7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant, for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them."

8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim,

9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

10 Ishbosheth, Saul's son was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel, and ruled two years.  But the house of Judah followed David.

11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13 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.

14 And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men now get up, and play before us."  And Joab said, "Let them get up."

15 Then twelve of Benjamin, that pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul got up and went over, and twelve of the servants of David.

16 And they caught everyone his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side, so they fell down together, so that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

17 And there was a very severe battle that day, and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel, and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

19 And Asahel pursued after Abner, and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, "Are you Asahel?"  And he answered, "I am."

21 And Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men, and take his armor."  But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

22 And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me, why should I strike you to the ground?  How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?"

23 But he refused to turn aside, so Abner with the rear end of the spear struck him under the fifth rib, so that the spear came out behind him, and he fell down there, and died in the same place, and as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.

24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner, and the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill.

26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever?  Don't you know that it will be bitterness in the end?  How long shall it be then, before you tell the people to return from following their brothers?"

27 And Joab said, "As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone up everyone from following his brother."

28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.

29 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.

30 And Joab returned from following Abner, and when he had gathered all the people together, of David's servants, nineteen men and Asahel were missing.

31 But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred sixty men died.

32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, that was in Bethlehem.  And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.

___2_Samuel chapter 3

1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 And sons were born to David in Hebron, and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,

3 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,

4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith, and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital,

5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife.  These were born to David in Hebron.

6 And while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, and Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?"

8 Then Abner was very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I a dog's head, who against Judah shows kindness this day to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?

9 So do God to Abner, and more also, unless, as the Lord has sworn to David, even so I do to him,

10 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."

11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?  Saying also, make your league with me, and, see, my hand shall be with you, to bring around all Israel to you."

13 And he said, "Well, I will make a league with you, but one thing I require of you, that is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face."

14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Deliver me my wife Michal, that I engaged to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines."

15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim.  Then Abner said to him, "Go, return."  And he returned.

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, "You sought for David in times past to be king over you,

18 Now then do it, for the Lord has spoken about 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 enemies."

19 And Abner also spoke 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.

20 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.

21 And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they will make a league with you, and so that you will rule over all that your heart desires."  And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 And see, 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 had gone in peace.

23 When Joab and all the host that was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace."

24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, "What have you done?  See, Abner came to you, why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone?

25 You know 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 do."

26 And when Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David didn't know it.

27 And when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there under the fifth rib, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord forever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner,

29 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 has an issue, or that is a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls on the sword, or that lacks bread.

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

31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, "Tear your clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner."  And king David himself followed the bier.

32 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.

33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, "Did Abner die like a fool dies?

34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters, like a man falls before wicked men, so did you fall."  And all the people wept again over him.

35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David swore, saying, "So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, 'til the sun is down."

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.

38 And the king said to his servants, "Don't you know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king, and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me, the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness."

___2_Samuel chapter 4

1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands, 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,

3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were visitors there until this day.)

4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet.  He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled, and as she made haste to flee, he fell, and became lame.  And his name was Mephibosheth.

5 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.

6 And they came there inside the house, as though they would have fetched wheat, and they struck him under the fifth rib, and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bed room, and they struck him, and killed him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and got away through the plain all night.

8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, see the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life, and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day against Saul, and against his descendants.

9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

10 When someone told me, saying, see, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his news,

11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed?  Shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hands, and take you away from the earth?"

12 And David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hung them up over the pool in Hebron.  But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

___2_Samuel chapter 5

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David to Hebron, and said see, "We are your bone and your flesh.

2 Also in the past, when Saul was king over us, you were he that led out and brought in Israel, and the Lord said to you, you shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be a captain over Israel."

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to rule, and he ruled forty years.

5 In Hebron he ruled over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he ruled thirty three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "Unless you take away the blind and the lame, you can't come in here," thinking that David can't come in here.

7 But David took the strong hold of Zion, the same is the city of David.

8 And David said on that day, "Whoever gets up to the gutter, and strikes the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated by David's soul, he shall be chief and captain."  So they said, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."

9 So David lived in the fort, and called it the city of David.  And David built all around from Millo and inward.

10 And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons, and they built David a house.

12 And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

13 And David took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron, and there were more sons and daughters born to David.

14 And these be the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem, Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David, and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19 And David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up to the Philistines?  Will you deliver them into my hand?"  And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand."

20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David struck them there, and said, "The Lord has broken forth on my enemies before me, like the breach of waters."  Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

21 And there they left their idols, and David and his men burned them.

22 And the Philistines came up again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up, but circle around behind them, and come at them opposite the mulberry trees.

24 And let it be, when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall stir up yourself, for then shall the Lord go out before you, to strike the host of the Philistines."

25 And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gazer.

___2_Samuel chapter 6

1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 And David got up, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of Hosts that dwells between the cherubims.

3 And they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah, and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.

5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it.

7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error, and there he died by the ark of God.

8 And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach on Uzzah, and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.

9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, "How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?"

10 So David would not remove the ark of the Lord to him into the city of David, but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

11 And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.

12 And it was told king David, saying, "The Lord has blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertains to 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.

13 And it was so, that when those who carried the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, and David was girded with a linen ephod.

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

17 And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, in the middle of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it, and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to everyone a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.  So all the people departed everyone to his house.

20 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 today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!"

21 And David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me before your father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel, therefore I will play before the Lord.

22 And I will yet be more common than thus, and will be base in my own sight, and concerning the maid servants that you've spoken about, by them I'll be had in honor."

23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

___2_Samuel chapter 7

1 And when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest all around from all his enemies,

2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays within curtains."

3 And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you."

4 And that night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,

5 "Go and tell my servant David, thus says the Lord, shall you build me a house for me to live in?

6 But I haven't lived in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, until this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

7 In all the places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel did I speak a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?

8 Now therefore so shall you say to my servant David, thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel,

9 And I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

10 Also I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, so that they will live in a place of their own, and move no more, neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them anymore, as previously,

11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies.  Also the Lord tells you that he will make you a house.

12 And when your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your descendants after you, who shall proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son.  If he commits iniquity, I will punish him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men,

15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you, your throne shall be established forever."

17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.

18 Then king David went in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, "Who am I, O Lord God?  And what is my house, that you have brought me until now?

19 And this was yet a small thing in your sight, O Lord God, but you have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come.  And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?

20 And what can David say more to you?  For you, Lord God, know your servant.

21 For your word's sake, and according to your own heart, have you done all these great things, to make your servant know them.

22 So you are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you, nor is there any God beside you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23 And what nation in the earth is like your people, like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for yourself great things and terrible, for your land, before your people, that you redeemed to yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

24 For you have confirmed to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

25 And now, O Lord God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as you have said.

26 And let your name be magnified forever, saying, the Lord of hosts is the God over Israel, and let the house of your servant David be established before you.

27 For you, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house, therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.

28 And now, O Lord God, you are that God, and your words are true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant,

29 Therefore now let it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you, for you, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever."

___2_Samuel chapter 8

1 And after this David struck the Philistines, and subdued them, and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And he struck Moab, and measured them with a line, throwing them down to the ground, with two lines he measured to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive.  And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

3 David struck also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and David killed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.

5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to strengthen Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed of the Syrians twenty two thousand men.

6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts.  And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

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

8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took very much brass.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the host of Hadadezer,

10 Then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and struck him, for Hadadezer had wars with Toi.  And Joram brought with him containers of silver, and containers of gold, and containers of brass,

11 Which also king David dedicated to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations that he subdued,

12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 And David got himself a name when he returned from striking the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

14 And he put garrisons in Edom, throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all of those of Edom became David's servants.  And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

15 And David ruled over all Israel, and David executed judgment and justice for all his people.

16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,

17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests, and Seraiah was the scribe,

18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David's sons were the main rulers.

___2_Samuel chapter 9

1 And David said, "Is there yet anyone that is left of the house of Saul, so I can show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba.  And when they had called him to David, the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "Your servant is he."

3 And the king said, "Is there yet any of the house of Saul, so I can show the kindness of God to him?"  And Ziba said to the king, "Jonathan still has a son, who is lame on his feet."

4 And the king said to him, "Where is he?"  And Ziba said to the king, "See, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar."

5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face, and did reverence.  And David said, "Mephibosheth."  And he answered, "See, your servant!"

7 And David said to him, "Don't be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat bread at my table continually."

8 And he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?"

9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given to your master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

10 You therefore, and your sons, and your servants, shall till the land for him, and you shall bring in the fruits, so that your master's son can have food to eat, but Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread always at my table."  Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so shall your servant do."  "As for Mephibosheth, said the king," he shall eat at my table, "like one of the king's sons."

12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha.  And all that lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.

13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table, and was lame on both his feet.

___2_Samuel chapter 10

1 And after this, the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son ruled instead of him.

2 Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to 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.

3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David is honoring your father, because he has sent comforters to you?  Hasn't David rather sent his servants to you, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?"

4 So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, to their buttocks, and sent them away.

5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed, and the king said, "Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, 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.

7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate, and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

9 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,

10 And the rest of the people he put into the hand of Abishai his brother, so that he would put them in array against the children of Ammon.

11 And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God, and the Lord do what seems good to him."

13 And Joab went near, and the people that were with him, to the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.

14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, then they also fled before Abishai, and entered into the city.  So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15 And when the Syrians saw that they were struck before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

16 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.

17 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.

18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were struck before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them.  So the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon anymore.

___2_Samuel chapter 11

1 And after the year had ended, at the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah.  But David remained at Jerusalem.

2 And one evening, David got up from his bed, and walked on 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 at.

3 And David sent and inquired about the woman.  And someone said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness, and she returned to her house.

5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, "I am with child."

6 And David sent to Joab, saying, send me Uriah the Hittite.  And Joab sent Uriah to David.

7 And when Uriah had come to him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

8 And David said to Uriah, go down to your house, and wash your feet.  And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and an order of meat from the king was sent after him.

9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and didn't go down to his house.

10 And when they had told David, "Uriah didn't go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Didn't you come from your journey?  Why then didn't you go down to your house?"

11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark, and Israel, and Judah, stay in tents, and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields, shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife?  As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing."

12 And David said to Uriah, "Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart."  So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day, and the next day.

13 And when David had called him, he ate and drink before him, and he made him drunk, and at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but didn't go down to his house.

14 And in the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, "Set Uriah in the front of the hottest battle, and pull back from him, so that he will be struck, and die."

16 And when Joab observed the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were.

17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab, and some of the people of the servants of David fell, and Uriah the Hittite died also.

18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war,

19 And charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end of telling the matters of the war to the king,

20 And if the king's anger arises, and he says to you, why did you approach so near to the city when you fought?  Didn't you know that they would shoot from the wall?

21 Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth?  Didn't a woman throw a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez?  Why did you go so near the wall?  Then say, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also."

22 So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.

23 And the messenger said to David, "Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entering of the gate.

24 And the shooters shot from off the wall at your servants, and some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also."

25 Then David said to the messenger, "Thus shall you say to Joab, don't let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another, make your battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it, and encourage him."

26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.  But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

___2_Samuel chapter 12

1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David.  And he came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in one city, the one rich, and the other poor.

2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds,

3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, that he had bought and nourished up, and it grew up together with him, and with his children, it ate of his own food, and drank from his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter.

4 And a traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and from his own herd, to dress for the traveling man that had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and cooked it for the man that had come to him."

5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man that has done this thing shall surely die,

6 And he shall restore the lamb four fold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."

7 And Nathan said to David, "You are the man.  Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul,

8 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 also have given to you such and such things.

9 Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight?  You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you've despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

11 Thus says the Lord, see, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun."

13 And David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord."  And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin, you shall not die.

14 But, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die."

15 And Nathan departed to his house.  And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick.

16 David therefore besought God for the child, and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.

17 And the elders of his house got up, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth, but he wouldn't, nor did he eat bread with them.

18 And on the seventh day, the child died.  And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "See, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn't listen to our voice, how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?"

19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead, therefore David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?"  And they said, "He is dead."

20 Then David got up from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothes, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped, then he came to his own house, and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate.

21 Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done?  You fasted and wept for the child, while it was alive, but when the child was dead, you got up and ate bread.

22 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, so that the child will live?

23 But now he is dead, why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon, and the Lord loved him.

25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, "I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it, so that I don't take the city, and it be called after my name."

29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight of it was a talent of gold with the precious stones, and it was set on David's head.  And he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance.

31 And he brought out the people that were in it, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick kiln, and thus did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon.  So David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

___2_Samuel chapter 13

1 And after this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 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 anything to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

4 And he said to him, "Why are you, being the king's son, lean from day to day?  Won't you tell me?"  And Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

5 And Jonadab said to him, lay down on your bed, and make yourself sick, and when your father comes to see you, say to him, "Please, let my sister Tamar come, and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, so I can see it, and eat it from her hand."

6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick, and when the king had come to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, so I can eat from her hand."

7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and cook him food."

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down.  And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

9 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 every man went out from him.

10 And Amnon said to Tamar, bring the food into the room, so that I can eat from your hand.  And Tamar took the cakes that she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.

11 And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, "Come lie with me, my sister."

12 And she answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing ought to be done in Israel, don't do this foolishness.

13 And I, where shall I cause my shame to go?  And as for you, you'll be like one of the fools in Israel.  Now therefore, please, speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you."

14 But he wouldn't listen to her voice, but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her very much, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her.  And Amnon said to her, "Get up, be gone."

16 And she said to him, "There is no reason, this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me."  But he would not listen to her.

17 Then he called his servant that ministered to him, and said, put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

18 And she had a garment of various colors on her, for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins dressed.  Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

20 And Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you?  But be quiet now, my sister, he is your brother, don't pay attention to this thing."  So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 And after two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baalhazor, that is beside Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, "See now, your servant has sheep shearers, let the king, please, and his servants go with your servant."

25 And the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all now go, so that we won't be indebted to you."  And he pressed him, but he wouldn't go, but blessed him.

26 Then said Absalom, "If not, please, let my brother Amnon go with us."  And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"

27 But Absalom pressed him, so that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, strike Amnon, then kill him, don't be afraid, haven't I commanded you?  Be courageous, and be valiant."

29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded.  Then all the king's sons got up, and every man got up on his mule, and fled.

30 And while they were on the way, news came to David, saying, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left."

31 Then the king got up, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, "Let my lord not suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons, for Amnon only is dead, for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 Now therefore let my lord the king not take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon only is dead."

34 But Absalom fled.  And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, see, there came many people by the way of the hill side behind him.

35 And Jonadab said to the king, "See, the king's sons come, as your servant said, so it is."

36 And as soon as he had made an end of speaking, see, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept, and the king also and all his servants wept very severely.

37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.  And David mourned for his son every day.

38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 And the soul of king David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.

___2_Samuel chapter 14

1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched from there a wise woman, and said to her, "Please, pretend to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and don't anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead,

3 And come to the king, and speak like this to him."  So Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, "Help, O king."

5 And the king said to her, "What's wrong with you?"  And she answered, "I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.

6 And your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was no one to separate them, but the one struck the other, and killed him.

7 And see, the whole family has risen against your handmaid, and they said, deliver him that struck his brother, so that we can kill him, for the life of his brother whom he killed, and we will destroy the heir also, and so they shall quench my coal that is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the earth."

8 And the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you."

9 And the woman of Tekoah said to 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."

10 And the king said, "Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore."

11 Then she said, "Please, let the king remember the Lord your God, that you would not allow the avengers of blood to destroy anymore, so that they won't destroy my son."  And he said, "As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth."

12 Then the woman said, "Let your handmaid, please, speak one word to my lord the king."  And he said, "Go ahead."

13 And the woman said, "Why then have you thought such a thing against the people of God?  For the king speaks this thing as one who is faulty, in that the king doesn't fetch home again his banished.

14 For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, that can't be gathered up again, neither does God respect any person, yet does he devise means, so that his banished is not expelled from him.

15 Now therefore the reason I've come to speak about this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid, and your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king, it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

16 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.

17 Then your handmaid said, the word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable, for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad, therefore the Lord your God will be with you."

18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, "Please don't hide from me, the thing that I shall ask you."  And the woman said, "Let my lord the king now speak."

19 And the king said, "Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?"  And the woman answered, "As your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken, for your servant Joab, he told me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid,

20 To bring about this form of speech has your servant Joab done this thing, and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth."

21 And the king said to Joab, "See now, I have done this thing, go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again."

22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king, and Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found grace in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant."

23 So Joab got up and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

24 And the king said, "Let him return to his own house, and let him not see my face."  So Absalom returned to his own house, and didn't see the king's face.

25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty, from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

26 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.

27 And to Absalom three sons were born, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar, she was a woman of a fair countenance.

28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and didn't see the king's face.

29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king, but he wouldn't come to him, and when he sent again the second time, he wouldn't come.

30 Therefore he said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there, go and set it on fire."  And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

31 Then Joab got up, and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, why have your servants set my field on fire?

32 And Absalom answered Joab, "See, I sent to you, saying, come here, so that I can send you to the king, to say, why have 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 is any iniquity in me, let him kill me."

33 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.

___2_Samuel chapter 15

1 And after this, Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 And Absalom got 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 to him, and said, "Of what city are you?"  And he said, "Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel."

3 And Absalom said to him, "See, your matters are good and right, but there is no man appointed by the king to hear you."

4 Absalom said also, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, so that every man who has any suit or cause would come to me, and I would do him justice!"

5 And it was so, that when any man came near to him to do him obeisance, he put out his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 And Absalom did like that to all Israel that came to the king for judgment, so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And after forty years, Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow, that I've vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.

8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord."

9 And the king said to him, go in peace.  So he got up, and went to Hebron.

10 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 reigns in Hebron."

11 And two hundred men out of Jerusalem went with Absalom, who were called, and they went in their simplicity, and they didn't know anything.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices.  And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 And a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel favor Absalom."

14 And David said to all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, "Get up, and let's flee, for we shall not otherwise escape from Absalom, make speed to depart, so he doesn't overtake us suddenly, and bring evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword."

15 And the king's servants said to the king, "See, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall appoint."

16 And the king went out, and all his household after him.  And the king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.

17 And the king went out, and all the people after him, and waited in a place that was far off.

18 And all his servants passed on beside him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you go also with us?  Return to your place, and stay with the king, for you are a stranger, and also an exile.

20 Since you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us?  Seeing I go where I can, return, and take back your brothers, mercy and truth be with you."

21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, there also will your servant be."

22 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.

23 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.

24 And see, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, carrying the ark of the covenant of God, and they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up, until all the people had finished passing out of the city.

25 And the king said to Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city, if I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation,

26 But if he says thus, I have no delight in you, see, here I am, let him do to me as seems good to him."

27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a seer?  Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 See, I will wait in the plain of the wilderness, until word comes from you to certify me."

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they waited there.

30 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 were with him covered every man their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31 And someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom."  And David said, "O Lord, please, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."

32 And when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshipped God, see, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head,

33 To whom David said, "If you pass on with me, then you'll be a burden to me,

34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king, as I have been your father's servant until now, so I will now also be your servant, then you can defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

35 And don't you have there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests?  Therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 See, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, and by them you shall send to me everything that you can hear."

37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

___2_Samuel chapter 16

1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, see, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2 And the king said to Ziba, "What do you mean by these?"  And Ziba said, "The asses are for the king's household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, so that such as are faint in the wilderness can drink."

3 And the king said, "And where is your master's son?"  And Ziba said to the king, "See, he stays at Jerusalem, for he said, Today the house of Israel shall restore me the kingdom of my father."

4 Then the king said to Ziba, "See, all that pertained to Mephibosheth is yours."  And Ziba said, "I humbly beseech you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord, O king."

5 And when king David came to Bahurim, see, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, he came out, and cursed still as he came.

6 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.

7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, "Come out, come out, you bloody man, and you man of Belial,

8 The Lord has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, instead of whom you've ruled, and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son, and see, you are taken in your mischief, because you're a bloody man."

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?  Let me go over, please, and take off his head."

10 And the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?  So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, Curse David.  Who shall then say, why have you done so?"

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, "See, my son, who came out of my body, seeks my life, how much more now may this Benjamite do it?  Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has sent him.

12 It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me good for his cursing this day."

13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and threw dust.

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "God save the king, God save the king."

17 And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness to your friend?  Why didn't you go with your friend?"

18 And Hushai said to Absalom, "No, but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I stay.

19 And again, whom should I serve?  Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son?  As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence."

20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, "Give counsel among you what we shall do."

21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, that he has left to keep the house, and all Israel shall hear that you're hated by your father, then shall the hands of all that are with you be strong."

22 So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 And the advice of Ahithophel, that he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God, so was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

___2_Samuel chapter 17

1 Also Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night,

2 And I will come on 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 strike the king only,

3 And I will bring back all the people to you, the man whom you seek is as if all returned, so all the people shall be in peace."

4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then Absalom said, "Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says."

6 And when Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, "Ahithophel has spoken after this manner, shall we do after his saying?  If not, speak."

7 And Hushai said to Absalom, "The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.

8 For," said Hushai, "you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are chafed in their minds, like a bear robbed of her whelps in the field, and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

9 See, he is hidden now in some pit, or in some other place, and when some of them are overthrown at the first, whoever hears it will say, there is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, shall completely melt, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.

11 Therefore I advise that all Israel be generally gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in your own person.

12 So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him like the dew falls on the ground, and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

13 Also, if he has gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there's not one small stone found there."

14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel."  For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord would bring evil on Absalom.

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "Thus and thus did Ahithophel advise Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and thus I have advised.

16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Don't lodge this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over, so that the king won't be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel, so they wouldn't be seen to come into the city, and a young woman went and told them, and they went and told king David.

18 But a lad saw them, and told Absalom, but both of them went away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court, and they went down into the well.

19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn on it, and the thing was not known.

20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?"  And the woman said to them, "They've gone over the brook of water."  And when they had sought and couldn't find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 And after they had departed, they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said to David, "Get up, and pass quickly over the water, for thus has Ahithophel advised against you."

22 Then David got up, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan, by the morning light not one of them remained that had not gone over Jordan.

23 And when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled his ass, and got up, and went home to his house, to his city, and put his affairs in order, and hung himself, and died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.

24 Then David came to Mahanaim.  And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

25 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.

26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

27 And when David had come to Mahanaim, 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,

28 Brought beds, and basins, and pots, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,

29 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 are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness."

___2_Samuel chapter 18

1 And David counted the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2 And David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, and one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite.  And the king said to the people, "I will surely go out with you myself also."

3 But the people answered, "You shall not go out, 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 are worth ten thousand of us, therefore now it is better that you strengthen us out of the city."

4 And the king said to them, "I'll do what seems best to you."  And the king stood by the side of the gate, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Absalom."  And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

6 So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was in the woods of Ephraim,

7 Where the people of Israel were killed before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

8 For the battle was scattered over the face of all the country, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 And Absalom met the servants of David.  And Absalom rode on a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between heaven and earth, and the mule that was under him went away.

10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, "See, I saw Absalom hung in an oak."

11 And Joab said to the man that told him, "And, you saw him, and why did you not strike him there to the ground?  And I would have given you ten shekels of silver, and a girdle."

12 And the man said to Joab, "Though I would receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet I wouldn't put forth my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that no one touches the young man Absalom.

13 Otherwise I would have worked falsehood against my own life, for there is no matter hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me."

14 Then said Joab, "I can't wait like this 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 middle of the oak.

15 And ten young men that carried Joab's armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.

16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel, for Joab held back the people.

17 And they took Absalom, and threw him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very great heap of stones on him, and all Israel fled everyone to his tent.

18 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 to this day, Absalom's place.

19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me now run, and take the king news, how that the Lord has avenged him of his enemies."

20 And Joab said to him, "You shall not take news this day, but you shall bear news another day, but this day you shall bear no news, because the king's son is dead."

21 Then said Joab to Cushi, "Go tell the king what you've seen."  And Cushi bowed himself to Joab, and ran.

22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, "But however, let me, please, also run after Cushi.  And Joab said, "Why would you run, my son, since you have no news ready?"

23 "But however," said he, "let me run."  And he said to him, "Run."  Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

24 And David sat between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw a man running alone.

25 And the watchman shouted, and told the king.  And the king said, "If he's alone, there is news in his mouth."  And he came apace, and came near.

26 And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the porter, and said, "See another man running alone."  And the king said, he also brings news.

27 And the watchman said, "I think 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 comes with good news."

28 And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, "All is well."  And he fell down to the earth on his face before the king, and said, "Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king."

29 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 didn't know what it was."

30 And the king said to him, "Turn aside, and stand here."  And he turned aside, and stood still.

31 And see, Cushi came, and Cushi said, "News, my lord the king, for the Lord has avenged you this day of all of those who rose up against you."

32 And the king said to 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 like that young man is."

33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the room 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 for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

___2_Samuel chapter 19

1 And it was told Joab, "See, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom."

2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people, for the people heard that day how the king was grieved for his son.

3 And the people got them by stealth that day into the city, like people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, "You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, who 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,

6 In that you loved your enemies, and hate your friends.  For you have declared this day, that you regard neither princes nor servants, for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all of us had died this day, then it had pleased you well.

7 Now therefore arise, go out, and speak comfortably to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you don't go out, not one will remain with you this night, and that will be worse to you than all the evil that happened you from your youth until now."

8 Then the king got up, and sat in the gate.  And they told to all the people, saying, "See, the king sits in the gate."  And all the people came before the king, for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land for Absalom.

10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle.  Now therefore why do you not speak a word of bringing the king back?"

11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, why are you the last to bring the king back to his house?  Seeing the speech of all Israel has come to the king, to his house.

12 You are my brothers, you are my bones and my flesh, why then are you the last to bring back the king?

13 And say to Amasa, Are you not of my bone, and of my flesh?  God do so to me, and more also, if you are not captain of the host before me continually in the office of Joab."

14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, like the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king, "Return, and all your servants."

15 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.

16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

17 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.

18 And a ferry boat went over 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, when he had come over Jordan,

19 And said to the king, "Let not my lord impute iniquity to me, nor remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, so that the king should take it to his heart.

20 For your servant knows that I have sinned, therefore, see, I have come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king."

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?"

22 And David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to me?  Shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel?  For don't I know that I am this day king over Israel?"

23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die."  And the king swore to him.

24 And Mephibosheth the son 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.

25 And when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?"

26 And he answered, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said, I will saddle me an ass, so that I can ride on it, and go to the king, because your servant is lame.

27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God, do therefore what is good in your eyes.

28 For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king, yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table.  What right therefore do I have yet to cry anymore to the king?"

29 And the king said to him, "Why speak anymore of your matters?  I have said, you and Ziba divide the land."

30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, "Yes, let him take all, since my lord the king has come again in peace to his own house."

31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old, and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.

33 And the king said to Barzillai, "Come over with me, and I will feed you with me in Jerusalem."

34 And Barzillai said to the king, "How long do I have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

35 I am this day eighty years old, and can I discern between good and evil?  Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink?  Can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and singing women?  Why then would your servant be a burden to my lord the king?

36 Your servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king, and why should the king repay me with such a reward?

37 Let your servant, please, turn back again, so I can die in my own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother.  But look at your servant Chimham, let him go over with my lord the king, and do to him what shall seem good to you."

38 And the king answered, "Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you, and whatever you shall require of me, I will do for you."

39 And all the people went over Jordan.  And when the king had come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.

40 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.

41 And see, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, "Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?"

42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is near of kin to us, why then are you angry about this matter?  Have we eaten at all of the king's cost?  Or has he given us any gift?"

43 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.

___2_Samuel chapter 20

1 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, nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse, every man to his tents, O Israel."

2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri, but the men of Judah stuck with their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3 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 didn't have sex with them.  So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

4 Then said the king to Amasa, "Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and you be here."

5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he took longer than the set time that he had appointed him.

6 And David said to Abishai, "Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than Absalom did, take you your lord's servants, and pursue after him, so that he doesn't get himself fenced cities, and escape us."

7 And Joab's men went out after him, 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.

8 When they were at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them.  And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded on him, and on it a girdle with a sword fastened on his loins in the sheath of it, and as he went out it fell out.

9 And Joab said to Amasa, "Are you in health, my brother?"  And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

10 But Amasa didn't pay attention to the sword that was in Joab's hand, so he struck him with that in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn't strike him again, and he died.  So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, "He that favors Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab."

12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the middle 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 threw a cloth on him, when he saw that everyone that came near him stood still.

13 When he had been removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites, and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they threw 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.

16 Then a wise woman out of the city shouted, "Hear, hear, please say, to Joab, come near here, so I can talk with you."

17 And when he had come near to her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?"  And he answered, "I am he."  Then she said to him, "Hear the words of your handmaid."  And he answered, "I hear."

18 Then she said, "They were wont to speak in old time, saying, they shall surely ask for advice at Abel, and so they ended the matter.

19 I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel, you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel, why do you want to swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?"

20 And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

21 The matter is not so, but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David, deliver him only, and I will depart from the city."  And the woman said to Joab, "See, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall."

22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom.  And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw 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 to the king.

23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,

24 And Adoram was over the tribute, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,

25 And Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests,

26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler near David.

___2_Samuel chapter 21

1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year, and David inquired of the Lord.  And the Lord answered, "It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he killed the Gibeonites."

2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said to 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 to them, and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.)

3 So David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you?  And how shall I make the atonement, so that you'll bless the inheritance of the Lord?"

4 And the Gibeonites said to him, "We will have no silver nor gold from Saul, nor of his house, nor shall you kill any man for us in Israel."  And he said, "I will do for you what you shall say."

5 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,

6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord chose.  And the king said, "I will give them."

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to 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,

9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hung them in the hill before the Lord, and all seven fell together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped on them out of heaven, and allowed neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, who had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hung them, when the Philistines had killed Saul in Gilboa,

13 And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and they gathered the bones of them that were hung.

14 And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father, and they performed all that the king commanded.  And after that God was entreated for the land.

15 Also the Philistines had yet war again with Israel, and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines, and David became faint.

16 And Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have killed David.

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah strengthened him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him.  Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall no more go out with us to battle, so that you don't quench the light of Israel."

18 And after this, there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob, then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.

19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

20 And there was again a battle in Gath, where there was a very tall man, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, twenty four in number, and he also was born to the giant.

21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David killed him.

22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

___2_Samuel chapter 22

1 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul,

2 And he said, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,

3 The God of my rock, in him I will trust, he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior, you save me from violence.

4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies.

5 When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid,

6 The sorrows of hell surrounded me, the traps of death went before me,

7 In my distress I called on the Lord, and cried to my God, and he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry entered into his ears.

8 Then the earth shook and trembled, the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was angry.

9 Smoke went up out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured, coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and darkness was under his feet.

11 And he rode on a cherub, and flew, and he was seen on the wings of the wind.

12 And he made darkness pavilions all around him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

13 Through the brightness before him coals of fire were kindled.

14 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most high uttered his voice.

15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them, lightning, and struck them.

16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the reprimanding of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17 He sent from above, he took me, he pulled me out of many waters,

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay.

20 He brought me forth also into a large place, he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands he has repaid me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all his judgments were before me, and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from my iniquity.

25 Therefore the Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful, and with the upright man you will show yourself upright.

27 With the pure you will show yourself pure, and with the froward you will show yourself unsavory.

28 And you will save the afflicted people, but your eyes are on the haughty, so that you can bring them down.

29 For you are my lamp, O Lord, and the Lord will shine light on my darkness.

30 For by you I have run through a troop, by my God have I jumped over a wall.

31 As for God, his way is perfect, the word of the Lord is tested, he is a buckler to all those who trust in him.

32 For who is God, except the Lord?  And who is a rock, except our God?

33 God is my strength and power, and he makes my way perfect.

34 He makes my feet like hinds' feet, and sets me on my high places.

35 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.

36 You've also given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness has made me great.

37 You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet did not slip.

38 I have pursued my enemies, and destroyed them, and didn't turn away again until I had consumed them.

39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, so that they couldn't get up, yes, they've fallen under my feet.

40 For you've girded me with strength for battle, those who rose up against me you have subdued under me.

41 You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so I could destroy those who hate me.

42 They looked, but there was no one to save, even to the Lord, but he didn't answer them.

43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I stomped them like the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.

44 You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people, you have kept me to be head of the heathen, a people that I didn't know shall serve me.

45 Strangers shall submit themselves to me, as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient to me.

46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

47 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and the God of the rock of my salvation be exalted.

48 It is God that avenges me, and that brings down the people under me,

49 And that brings me out from my enemies, you also have lifted me up on high above those who rose up against me, you have delivered me from the violent man.

50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises to your name.

51 He is the tower of salvation for his king, and shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendants for evermore."

___2_Samuel chapter 23

1 Now these are 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,

2 "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and his word was in my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said, the rock of Israel spoke to me, he that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

5 Although my house is not so with God, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he doesn't make it grow.

6 But all of the sons of Belial shall be like thorns thrust away, because they can't be taken with hands,

7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear, and they shall be completely burned with fire in the same place.

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had, the Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains, the same was Adino the Eznite, he lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he killed at one time.

9 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 gone away,

10 He got up, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword, and the Lord made a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to spoil.

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite.  And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a piece of ground full of lentiles, and the people fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stood in the middle of the ground, and defended it, and killed the Philistines, and the Lord made a great victory.

13 And three of the thirty top men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

14 And David was then in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15 And David longed, and said, "Oh that someone would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is by the gate!"

16 And the three mighty men broke 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, but he wouldn't drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord.

17 And he said, "Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this, is not this the blood of the men that went in danger of their lives?  Therefore he would not drink it."  These things did these three mighty men.

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three.  And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and killed them, and had the name among three.

19 Was he not most honorable of three?  Therefore he was their captain, but he attained not to the first three.

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he killed two lion-like men of Moab, he went down also and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in time of snow,

21 And he killed an Egyptian, a goodly man, and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had the name among three mighty men.

23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the first three.  And David set him over his guard.

24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

39 Uriah the Hittite, thirty seven in all.

___2_Samuel chapter 24

1 And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, "Go, count Israel and Judah."

2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, "Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and count the people, so I will know the number of the people."

3 And Joab said to the king, "Now the Lord your God add to the people, however many they are, a hundredfold, and so that the eyes of my lord the king will see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?"

4 But 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 count the people of Israel.

5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lies in the middle of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer,

6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi, and they came to Danjaan, and around to Zidon,

7 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, to Beersheba.

8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

9 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to 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.

10 And David's heart struck him after he had counted the people.  And David said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done, and now, I beg you, O Lord, take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly."

11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

12 "Go and say to David, thus says the Lord, I offer you three things, choose one of them, so I can do it to you."

13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, "Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land?  Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you?  Or that there be three days' pestilence in your land?  Now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me."

14 And David said to Gad, "I am in a great difficulty, let us fall now into the hand of the Lord, for his mercies are great, and let me not fall into the hand of man."

15 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the time appointed, and seventy thousand men of the people died from Dan to Beersheba.

16 And when the angel stretched out his hand on Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, "It is enough, stop your hand now."  And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite.

17 And David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel that struck the people, and said, "See, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done?  Let your hand, please, be against me, and against my father's house."

18 And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, raise an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."

19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded.

20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face on the ground.

21 And Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?"  And David said, "To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the Lord, so that the plague will be stopped from the people."

22 And Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him, see, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood."

23 All these things did Araunah, like a king, give to the king.  And Araunah said to the king, "The Lord your God accept you."

24 And the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you at a price, and I won't offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God of that which costs me nothing."  So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

25 And David built an altar to the Lord there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.  So the Lord was entreated for the land, and the plague was stopped from Israel.

___1_Kings chapter 1

1 Now king David was old and stricken in years, and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn't stay warm.

2 So his servants said to 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, so that my lord the king will get heat."

3 So they sought for a fair young woman throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 And the young woman was very beautiful, and cherished the king, and ministered to him, but the king didn't have sex with her.

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

6 And his father had not displeased him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?"  And he also was a very goodly man, and his mother bore him after Absalom.

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed Adonijah and helped him.

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

9 And Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, that is by Enrogel, and called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants,

10 But he didn't call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.

11 So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Haven't you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith rules, and David our lord doesn't know it?

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

13 Go to king David, and say to him, Didn't you, my lord, O king, swear to your handmaid, saying, assuredly Solomon your son shall rule after me, and he shall sit on my throne?  Why then does Adonijah rule?"

14 See, while you're still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words.

15 And Bathsheba went in to the king into the room, and the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite ministered to the king.

16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king.  And the king said, "What do you want?"

17 And she said to him, "My lord, you swore by the Lord your God to your handmaid, saying, assuredly Solomon your son shall rule after me, and he shall sit on my throne.

18 And now, see, Adonijah rules, and now, my lord the king, you don't know it,

19 And he has killed oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host, but Solomon your servant he hasn't called.

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

21 Otherwise when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders."

22 And lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

23 And they told the king, saying, "See, Nathan the prophet."  And when he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 And Nathan said, "My lord, O king, have you said, Adonijah shall rule after me, and he shall sit on my throne?

25 For he has gone down this day, and has killed oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest, and see, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.

26 But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he hasn't called.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you have not shown it to your servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"

28 Then king David answered and said, "Call me Bathsheba."  And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

29 And the king swore, and said, "As the Lord lives, that has redeemed my soul out of all distress,

30 Just like I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, assuredly Solomon your son shall rule after me, and he shall sit on my throne instead of me, even so will I certainly do this day."

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, "Let my lord king David live forever."

32 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.

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

34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel, and blow with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

35 Then you shall come up after him, so that he can come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king instead of me, and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah."

36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, "Amen, the Lord God of my lord the king say so too.

37 As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so let him be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David."

38 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 on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 And Zadok the priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon.  And they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, "God save king Solomon."

40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth tore with the sound of them.

41 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, "Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?"

42 And while he yet spoke, see, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came, and Adonijah said to him, "Come in, for you are a valiant man, and bring good news."

43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, "Truly our lord king David has made Solomon king.

44 And the king has 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 on the king's mule,

45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they've come up from there rejoicing, so that the city echoed back.  This is the noise that you've heard.

46 And also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.

47 And also the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.  And the king bowed himself on the bed.

48 And also thus said the king, blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has given someone to sit on my throne this day, my eyes seeing it."

49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and every man went away.

50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and got up, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

51 And it was told Solomon, saying, "See, Adonijah fears king Solomon, for see, he has caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, let king Solomon swear to me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword."

52 And Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth, but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die."

53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar.  And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

___1_Kings chapter 2

1 Now the days of David came near for him to die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

2 "I go the way of all the earth, be strong therefore, and show yourself a man,

3 And keep the charge of the Lord 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, so that you'll prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn,

4 So that the Lord will continue his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, if your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

5 Also you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his girdle that was around his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

6 Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don't let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those who eat at your table, for they came to me when I fled because of Absalom your brother.

8 And see, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim, but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword.

9 Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man, and know what you ought to do to him, but his hoar head bring down to the grave with blood."

10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

11 And the days that David ruled over Israel were forty years, seven years ruled he in Hebron, and thirty three years he ruled in Jerusalem.

12 Then Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was established greatly.

13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon.  And she said, "Do you come peaceably?"  And he said, "Peaceably."

14 He said also, "I have somewhat to say to you."  And she said, say on.

15 And he said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should rule, but the kingdom has turned around, and has become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord.

16 And now I ask one petition of you, don't deny me."  And she said to him, say on.

17 And he said, "Please speak to Solomon the king, (for he will not say no to you,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife."

18 And Bathsheba said, "Well, I will speak for you to the king."

19 Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah.  And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother, and she sat at his right hand.

20 Then she said, "I desire one small petition of you, please don't say no to me."  And the king said to her, ask on, my mother, for "I will not say no to you."

21 And she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife."

22 And king Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah?  Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother, for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah."

23 Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.

24 Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day."

25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he fell on him so that he died.

26 And the king said to Abiathar the priest, "Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are worthy of death, but I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you have been afflicted in everything in which my father was afflicted."

27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, so that he would fulfill the word of the Lord, that he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

28 Then news came to Joab, for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom.  And Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab had fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and see, he is by the altar.  Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, fall on him."

30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said to him, "Thus says the king, Come out."  And he said, "No, but I will die here."  And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

31 And the king said to him, "Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him, so that you'll take away the innocent blood, that Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.

32 And the Lord shall return his blood on his own head, who fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, my father David not knowing about it, by name, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

33 Their blood shall therefore return on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed forever, but on David, and on his descendants, and on his house, and on his throne, there shall be peace forever from the Lord."

34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell on him, and killed him, and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his office over the army, and the king put Zadok the priest in the office of Abiathar.

36 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and live there, and don't go out anywhere.

37 For it shall be, that on the day you go out, and pass over the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall surely die, your blood shall be on your own head."

38 And Shimei said to the king, "The saying is good, as my lord the king has said, so your servant will do."  And Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.

39 And at the end of three years, two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish son of Maachah king of Gath.  And they told Shimei, saying, "See, your servants are in Gath."

40 And Shimei got up, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants, and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

41 And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone out of Jerusalem to Gath, and had come back.

42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Didn't I make you swear by the Lord, and protested to you, saying, know for certain, on the day you go out, and walk abroad anywhere, that you shall surely die?  And you said to me, the word that I have heard is good.

43 Why then haven't you kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment that I have charged you with?"

44 The king said also to Shimei, "You know all the wickedness that your heart is partner with, that you did to David my father, therefore the Lord shall return your wickedness on your own head,

45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever."

46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, who went out, and fell on him, so that he died.  And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

___1_Kings chapter 3

1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem all around.

2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built to the name of the Lord, until those days.

3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.

4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place, Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you."

6 And Solomon said, "You have shown to 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've kept for him this great kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a little child, I don't know how to go out or come in.

8 And your servant is among your people that you've chosen, a great people, that can't be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, so I can discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge your so great a people?"

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said to him, "Because you've asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment,

12 See, I have done according to your words, see, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was no one like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.

13 And I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches, and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you all your days.

14 And if you'll walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, like your father David did, then I will lengthen your days."

15 And Solomon awoke, and, see, it was a dream.  And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

16 Then two women came to the king that were prostitutes, and stood before him.

17 And the one woman said, "O my lord, I and this woman live in one house, and I received deliverance from a child with her in the house.

18 And the third day after I was delivered, this woman received deliverance also, and we were together, there was no stranger with us in the house, except the two of us in the house.

19 And this woman's child died in the night, because she overlaid it.

20 And she got up 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.

21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, see, it was dead, but when I had considered it in the morning, see, it was not my son, that I bore."

22 And the other woman said, "No, 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 spoke before the king.

23 Then the king said, "The one says, this is my son that lives, and your son is the dead, and the other says, no, but your son is the dead, and my son is the living."

24 And the king said, "Bring me a sword."  And they brought a sword before the king.

25 And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other."

26 Then the woman spoke whose the living child was to the king, for her bowels yearned on her son, and she said, "O my lord, give her the living child, and don't at all kill it."  But the other said, let it be neither mine nor yours, but divide it.

27 Then the king answered and said, "Give her the living child, and don't at all kill it, she is the mother of it."

28 And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had judged, and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

___1_Kings chapter 4

1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

2 And these were the princes which he had, Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,

3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.

4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests,

5 And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers, and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend,

6 And Ahishar was over the household, and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the taxes.

7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, that provided food for the king and his household, each man his month in a year made provision.

8 And these are their names, the son of Hur, in mount Ephraim,

9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan,

10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth, to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher,

11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor, who had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife,

12 Baana the son of Ahilud, to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, that is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, to the place that is beyond Jokneam,

13 The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead, to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, that are in Gilead, to him also pertained the region of Argob, that is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and brass bars,

14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim,

15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali, he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife,

16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth,

17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar,

18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin,

19 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan, and he was the only officer who was in the land.

20 Judah and Israel were many, like the sand that is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

21 And Solomon ruled over all kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt, they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal,

23 Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallow deer, and fatted fowl.

24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the river, from Tiphsah to Azzah, over all the kings on this side of the river, and he had peace on all sides around him.

25 And Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

27 And those officers provided food for king Solomon, and for all that came to king Solomon's table, every man in his month, they lacked nothing.

28 Barley also, and straw for the horses and dromedaries they brought to the place where the officers were, every man according to his assignment.

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding very much, and largeness of heart, like the sand that is on the sea shore.

30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

31 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 all around.

32 And he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand five.

33 And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall, he spoke also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fish.

34 And there came from all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

___1_Kings chapter 5

1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the office of his father, for Hiram was always a lover of David.

2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3 "You know how David my father could not build a house to the name of the Lord his God for the wars that were around him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

5 And see, I purpose to build a house to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your office, he shall build a house for my name.

6 Now therefore command that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon, and my servants shall be with your servants, and to you will I give wages for your servants according to all that you shall appoint, for you know that there are not among us any that can cut timber as skillfully as the Zidonians."

7 And when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people."

8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have considered the things that you sent to me for, and I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.

9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will convey them by sea in floats to the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be delivered there, and you shall receive them, and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household."

10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.

11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food for his household, and twenty measures of pure oil, thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a league together.

13 And king Solomon raised a draft out of all Israel, and the draft was thirty thousand men.

14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses, a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home, and Adoniram was over the draft.

15 And Solomon had seventy thousand that carried burdens, and eighty thousand cutters in the mountains,

16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers that were over the work, three thousand three hundred, that ruled over the people that did the work.

17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and cut stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders cut them, and the stone squarers, so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

___1_Kings chapter 6

1 And in the four hundred eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's rule over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord.

2 And the house that king Solomon built for the Lord, the length of it was ninty feet, and the breadth of it thirty feet, and the height of it forty five feet.

3 And the porch before the temple of the house, thirty feet was the length of it, according to the breadth of the house, and fifteen feet was the breadth of it before the house.

4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.

5 And against the wall of the house he built rooms all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the oracle, and he made rooms all around,

6 The lowermost room was seven and a half feet broad, and the middle was nine feet broad, and the third was ten and a half feet broad, for outside in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests all around, so that the beams wouldn't be fastened in the walls of the house.

7 And the house, while it was being built, was built of stone made ready before it was brought there, so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was being built.

8 The door for the middle room was in the right side of the house, and they went up with winding stairs into the middle room, and out of the middle into the third.

9 So he built the house, and finished it, and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.

10 And then he built rooms against all the house, seven and a half feet high, and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

11 And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying,

12 "Concerning this house that you're building, if you'll walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them, then I will perform my word with you, that I spoke to David your father,

13 And I will live among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel."

14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

15 And he built the walls of the house inside with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling, and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

16 And he built thirty feet on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar, he built them for it inside, for the oracle, and for the most holy place.

17 And the house, that is, the temple before it, was sixty feet long.

18 And the cedar of the house inside was carved with knops and open flowers, all was cedar, there was no stone seen.

19 And the oracle he prepared in the house inside, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

20 And the oracle in the front was thirty feet in length, and thirty feet in breadth, and thirty feet in height, and he plated it with pure gold, and so covered the altar that was of cedar.

21 So Solomon plated the house inside with pure gold, and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle, and he plated it with gold.

22 And the whole house he plated with gold, until he had finished all the house, also the whole altar that was by the oracle he plated with gold.

23 And inside the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each fifteen feet high.

24 And seven and a half feet was the one wing of the cherub, and seven and a half feet the other wing of the cherub, from the furthest part of the one wing to the furthest part of the other were fifteen feet.

25 And the other cherub was fifteen feet, both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.

26 The height of the one cherub was fifteen feet, and so was it for the other cherub.

27 And he set the cherubims inside the inner house, and they stretched out 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 each other in the middle of the house.

28 And he plated the cherubims with gold.

29 And he carved all the walls of the house all around with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, inside and outside.

30 And the floor of the house he plated with gold, inside and outside.

31 And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree, the lintel and side posts were one fifth of the wall.

32 The two doors also were of olive tree, and he carved on them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and plated them with gold, and spread gold on the cherubims, and on the palm trees.

33 So also did he make for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, one fourth of the wall.

34 And the two doors were of fir tree, the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

35 And he carved on them cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and covered them with gold fitted on the carved work.

36 And he built the inner court with three rows of cut stone, and a row of cedar beams.

37 In the fourth year, the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month Zif,

38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all the parts of it, and according to all the fashion of it.  So he was building it for seven years.

___1_Kings chapter 7

1 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.

2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon, the length of it was one hundred fifty feet, and the breadth of it seventy five feet, and the height of it forty five feet, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars.

3 And it was covered with cedar above on the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.

4 And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.

5 And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows, and light was against light in three ranks.

6 And he made a porch of pillars, the length of it was seventy five feet, and the breadth of it forty five feet, and the porch was before them, and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.

7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he could judge, the porch of judgment, and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.

8 And his house where he lived had another court inside the porch, that was of the like work.  Solomon made also a house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken as wife, like this porch.

9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of cut stones, sawed with saws, inside and outside, from the foundation to the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.

10 And the foundation was of costly stones, great stones, stones of fifteen feet, and stones of twelve feet.

11 And above were costly stones, after the measures of cut stones, and cedars.

12 And the great court all around was with three rows of cut stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the Lord, and for the porch of the house.

13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.

14 He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass, and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass.  And he came to king Solomon, and made all his work.

15 For he cast two pillars of brass, of twenty seven feet high each, and a line of eighteen feet circled either of them.

16 And he made two chapiters of brass cast in foundry, to set on the tops of the pillars, the height of the one chapiter was seven and a half feet, and the height of the other chapiter was seven and a half,

17 And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters that were on the top of the pillars, seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.

18 And he made the pillars, and two rows all around on the one network, to cover the chapiters that were on the top, with pomegranates, and he did so for the other chapiter.

19 And the chapiters that were on the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.

20 And the chapiters on the two pillars had pomegranates also above, opposite the belly that was by the network, and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows all around on the other chapiter.

21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple, and he set up the right pillar, and called the name of it Jachin, and he set up the left pillar, and called the name of it Boaz.

22 And on the top of the pillars was lily work, so was the work of the pillars finished.

23 And he made a sea that had been cast in foundry, fifteen feet from the one brim to the other, it was round, and its height was seven and a half feet, and a line of forty five feet circled it.

24 And under the brim of it all around there were knops surrounding it, ten per eighteen inches, surrounding the sea all around, the knops were cast in two rows when it was cast.

25 It stood on 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 on them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

26 And it was a hand breadth thick, and the brim of it was made like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies, it contained two thousand baths.

27 And he made ten bases of brass, six feet was the length of one base, and six feet the breadth of it, and four and a half feet the height of it.

28 And the work of the bases was like this: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges,

29 And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims, and on the ledges there was a base above, and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work.

30 And every base had four brass wheels, and plates of brass, and the four corners of which had undersetters, under the wash basin were undersetters cast in foundry, at the side of every addition.

31 And the mouth of it inside the chapiter and above was eighteen inches, but the mouth of it was round like the work of the base, twenty seven inches, and also on the mouth of it were engravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.

32 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 a twenty seven inches.

33 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 cast in foundry.

34 And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base, and the undersetters were of the very base itself.

35 And in the top of the base there was a round circle of nine inches high, and on the top of the base the ledges of it and the borders of it were of the same.

36 For on the plates of the ledges of it, and on the borders of it, he engraved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions all around.

37 After this manner he made the ten bases, all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.

38 Then he made ten wash basins of brass, one wash basin contained forty baths, and every wash basin was six feet, and on every one of the ten bases one wash basin.

39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house, and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward opposite the south.

40 And Hiram made the wash basins, and the shovels, and the basins.  So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the Lord,

41 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 that were on the top of the pillars,

42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the pillars,

43 And the ten bases, and ten wash basins on the bases,

44 And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea,

45 And the pots, and the shovels, and the basins, and all these containers, that Hiram made for king Solomon for the house of the Lord, were of bright brass.

46 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.

47 And Solomon left all the containers unweighed, because there were very many, nor was the weight of the brass found out.

48 And Solomon made all the containers that pertained to the house of the Lord, the altar of gold, and the table of gold, on which was the showbread,

49 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold,

50 And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold, and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, of the temple.

51 So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the Lord.  And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and the containers, did he put among the treasures of the house of the Lord.

___1_Kings chapter 8

1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, so that they could bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.

2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.

3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

4 And they brought up the ark of the Lord, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy containers that were in the tabernacle, those did the priests and the Levites bring up.

5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that couldn't be told nor numbered for multitude.

6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubims.

7 For the cherubims spread out their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves of it above.

8 And they pulled out the staves, so that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen outside, and they are there until this day.

9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone, that Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

10 And when the priests had come out of the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord,

11 So that the priests couldn't stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.

12 Then Solomon said, "The Lord said that he would live in the thick darkness.

13 I have surely built you a house to live in, a settled place for you to live in forever."

14 And the king turned his face around, and blessed all the congregation of Israel, (and all the congregation of Israel stood,)

15 And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying,

16 Since the day that I brought out my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, so that my name would be in it, but I chose David to be over my people Israel.

17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

18 And the Lord said to David my father, since it was in your heart to build a house to my name, you did well that it was in your heart.

19 But you shall not build the house, but your son that shall come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.

20 And the Lord has performed his word that he spoke, and I have risen up in the office of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

21 And I have set there a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."

22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven,

23 And he said, "Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keeps covenant and mercy with your servants that walk before you with all their heart,

24 Who have kept with your servant David my father what you promised him, you spoke also with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day.

25 Therefore now, Lord God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father what you promised 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, so that they walk before me as you have walked before me.

26 And now, O God of Israel, please let your word be verified, that you spoke to your servant David my father.

27 But will God indeed live on the earth?  See, the heaven and heaven of heavens can't contain you, how much less this house that I've built?

28 Yet have respect to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer, that your servant prays before you today,

29 So that your eyes will be open toward this house night and day, toward the place about which you've said, my name shall be there, so that you'll listen to the prayer that your servant shall make toward this place.

30 And listen to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place, and hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

31 If any man trespasses against his neighbor, and an oath be laid on him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before your altar in this house,

32 Then hear in heaven, and do, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

33 When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and shall turn again to you, and confess your name, and pray, and make supplication to you in this house,

34 Then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers.

35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you afflict them,

36 Then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, so that you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and give rain on your land, that you've given to your people for an inheritance.

37 If there's a famine in the land, if there's pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there are caterpillars, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

38 Whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, that shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread out his hands toward this house,

39 Then hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart you know, (for only you know the hearts of all the children of men,)

40 So that they'll fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.

41 Also concerning a stranger, that is not of your people Israel, but comes out of a far country for your name's sake,

42 (For they shall hear of your great name, and of your strong hand, and of your stretched out arm,) when he shall come and pray toward this house,

43 Hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to you for, so that all people of the earth will know your name, to fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they will know that this house, that I've built, is called by your name.

44 If your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever you shall send them, and shall pray to the Lord toward the city that you've chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name,

45 Then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

46 If they sin against you, (for there is no man that doesn't sin,) and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives to the land of the enemy, far or near,

47 Yet if they shall think themselves in the land where they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captives, saying, we have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness,

48 And so return to you with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, that led them away captive, and pray to you toward their land, that you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,

49 Then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, your dwelling place, and maintain their cause,

50 And forgive your people that have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you, and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, so that they will have compassion on them,

51 For they are your people, and your inheritance, that you brought out of Egypt, from the furnace of iron,

52 So that your eyes will be open to the supplication of your servant, and to the supplication of your people Israel, to listen to them in all that they call to you for.

53 For you separated them from among all the people of the earth, to be your inheritance, as you spoke by the hand of Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God."

54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, he got up from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,

56 "Blessed be the Lord, that has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised, there has not failed one word of all his good promise, that he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

57 The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers, let him not leave us, nor forsake us,

58 So that he will incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, that he commanded our fathers.

59 And let these my words, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near the Lord our God day and night, so that he maintains the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require,

60 So that all the people of the earth will know that the Lord is God, and that there is no one else.

61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day."

62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the Lord.

63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, that he offered to the Lord, twenty two thousand oxen, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep.  So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord.

64 The same day the king hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brass altar that was before the Lord was too small to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entrance of Hamath to the river of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days and seven days, so fourteen days.

66 On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.

___1_Kings chapter 9

1 And when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire that he was pleased to do,

2 The Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.

3 And the Lord said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before me, I have hallowed this house, that you have built, to put my name there forever, and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.

4 And if you'll walk before me, like David your father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my judgments,

5 Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom in Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, there shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel.

6 But if you shall at all turn from following me, you or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them,

7 Then I will cut off Israel out of the land that I have given them, and this house, that I have hallowed for my name, I will throw out of my sight, and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people,

8 And at this house, that is high, everyone that passes by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss, and they shall say, why has the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house?

9 And they shall answer, because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought out their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold on other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them, that's why the Lord has brought on them all this evil."

10 And at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord, and the king's house,

11 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.

12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, and they didn't please him.

13 And he said, what cities are these that you have given me, my brother?  And he called them the land of Cabul to this day.

14 And Hiram sent to the king one hundred twenty talents of gold.

15 And this is the reason of the levy that king Solomon raised, to build the house of the Lord, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.

16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and killed the Canaanites that lived in the city, and given it for a present to his daughter, Solomon's wife.

17 And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the lower,

18 And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,

19 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.

20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, that were not of the children of Israel,

21 Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able completely to destroy, on those did Solomon levy a tribute of bond service to this day.

22 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.

23 These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon's work, five hundred fifty, that bore rule over the people that did the work.

24 But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David to her house that Solomon had built for her, then he built Millo.

25 And three times in a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar that he built to the Lord, and he burnt incense on the altar that was before the Lord.  So he finished the house.

26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, that is beside Eloth, on the shore of the red sea, in the land of Edom.

27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.

28 And they came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.

___1_Kings chapter 10

1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.

2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that carried spices, and very much gold, and precious stones, and when she had come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

3 And Solomon told her all her questions, there was not anything hidden from the king, that he didn't tell her.

4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,

5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.

6 And she said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.

7 But I didn't believe the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it, and, see, the half was not told me, your wisdom and prosperity exceeds the fame that I heard.

8 Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, and that hear your wisdom.

9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel, because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do judgment and justice."

10 And she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones, there came no more such abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.

12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers, there came no such almug trees, nor were seen to this day.

13 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal abundance.  So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty six talents of gold,

15 Beside what he had from the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold, six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.

17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold, three pounds of gold went to one shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

18 Also the king made a great throne of ivory, and plated it with the best gold.

19 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.

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

21 And all king Solomon's drinking containers were of gold, and all the containers 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.

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

23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

25 And they brought every man his present, containers of silver, and containers of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

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

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

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

29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty, and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

___1_Kings chapter 11

1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites,

2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said to the children of Israel, you shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in to you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods, Solomon stuck to these in love.

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

4 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the dirty thing of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and didn't go fully after the Lord, as did David his father.

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

8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed to their gods.

9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,

10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods, but he didn't keep that which the Lord commanded.

11 So the Lord said to Solomon, "Since this has been done by you, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.

12 But in your days I will not do it for David your father's sake, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

13 But I will not tear away all the kingdom, but will give one tribe to your son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen."

14 And the Lord stirred up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite, he was of the king's descendants in Edom.

15 For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host had gone up to bury the dead, after he had struck every male in Edom,

16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom,)

17 Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child.

18 And they got up out of Midian, and came to Paran, and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and appointed him food, and gave him land.

19 And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

20 And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house, and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.

21 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, so I can go to my own country."

22 Then Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you lacked with me, that, see, you seek to go to your own country?"  And he answered, "Nothing, but let me go in anyway."

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

24 And he gathered men to him, and became captain over a band, when David killed those of Zobah, and they went to Damascus, and lived in it, and ruled in Damascus.

25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did, and he hated Israel, and ruled over Syria.

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

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

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

29 And at the time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way, and he had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the field,

30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces,

31 And he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, see, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you,

32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel,)

33 Because 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 my eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

34 But 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,

35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it to you, ten tribes.

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

37 And I will take you, and you shall rule according to all that your soul desires, and shall be king over Israel.

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

39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not forever."

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

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

42 And the time that Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son ruled instead of him.

___1_Kings chapter 12

1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

2 And when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt,)

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

4 "Your father made our yoke grievous, now therefore make the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke that he put on us lighter, and we will serve you."

5 And he said to them, "Depart for three days, then come again to me."  And the people departed.

6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, "How do you advise me to answer these people?"

7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

8 But he forsook the advice of the old men, that they had given him, and consulted with the young men that had grown up with him, and who stood before him,

9 And he said to them, what advice do you give that we may answer these people, who have spoken to me, saying, "Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?"

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

11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke, my father has chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

12 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.

13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him,

14 And spoke to them according to the advice 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."

15 So the king didn't listen to the people, for the cause was from the Lord, so that he would perform his saying, that the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 So when all Israel saw that the king didn't listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion do we have in David?  Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse, to your tents, O Israel, now see to your own house, David."  So Israel departed to their tents.

17 But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them.

18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the taxes, and all Israel stoned him with stones, so that he died.  Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

20 And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel, there was no one that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

21 And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

23 "Speak to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

24 Thus says the Lord, you shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers the children of Israel, return every man to his house, for this thing is from me."  They listened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned, according to the word of the Lord.

25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and lived in it, and went out from there, and built Penuel.

26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David,

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

28 About which the king got advice, and made two calves of gold, and said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem, see your gods, O Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt."

29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

30 And this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one, to Dan.

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

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

33 So he offered on the altar that he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month that he had devised of his own heart, and ordained a feast to the children of Israel, and he offered on the altar, and burnt incense.

___1_Kings chapter 13

1 And see, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

2 And he shouted against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, "O altar, altar, thus says the Lord, see, a child shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and on you shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense on you, and men's bones shall be burnt on you."

3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign that the Lord has spoken, see, the altar shall be torn, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out."

4 And when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, that had shouted against the altar in Bethel, he put out his hand from the altar, saying, "Take hold of him."  And his hand, that he put out against him, dried up, so that he couldn't pull it in again to himself.

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

6 And the king answered and said to the man of God, "Entreat now the face of the Lord your God, and pray for me, so that my hand will be restored me again."  And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became like it was before.

7 And the king said to the man of God, "Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward."

8 And the man of God said to the king, "If you will give me half your house, I will not go in with you, nor will I eat bread nor drink water in this place,

9 For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return back by the same way that you came."

10 So he went another way, and didn't return by the way that he came to Bethel.

11 Now there lived 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 that he had spoken to the king, they told also to their father.

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

13 And he said to his sons, "Saddle me the ass."  So they saddled him the ass, and he rode on it,

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

15 Then he said to him, come home with me, and eat bread.

16 And he said, "I may not return with you, nor go in with you, nor will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place,

17 For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, you shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor return back to go by the way that you came."

18 He said to him, "I am a prophet also like you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, bring him back with you into your house, so that he can eat bread and drink water."  But he lied to him.

19 So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water.

20 And as they sat at the table, the word of the Lord came to the prophet that brought him back,

21 And he cried to the man of God that came from Judah, saying, "Thus says the Lord, since you have disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment that the Lord your God commanded you,

22 But came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place, about which the Lord said to you, eat no bread, and drink no water, your carcass shall not come to the tomb of your fathers."

23 And after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, he saddled for him the ass, for the prophet whom he had brought back.

24 And when he had gone, a lion met him by the way, and killed him, and his carcass was thrown in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcass.

25 And see, men passed by, and saw the carcass thrown in the way, and the lion standing by the carcass, and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.

26 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard about it, he said, it is the man of God, who was disobedient to the word of the Lord, therefore the Lord has delivered him to the lion, that has torn him, and killed him, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke to him.

27 And he spoke to his sons, saying, "Saddle me the ass."  And they saddled him.

28 And he went and found his carcass thrown in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcass, the lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the ass.

29 And the prophet took up the carcass of the man of God, and laid it on the ass, and brought it back, and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.

30 And he laid his carcass in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, "Alas, my brother!"

31 And after he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried, lay my bones beside his bones,

32 For the saying that he shouted by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places that are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely happen."

33 After this thing Jeroboam didn't return from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places, whoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.

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

___1_Kings chapter 14

1 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.

2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, "Please get up, and disguise yourself, so that you're not known to be the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh, see, there is Ahijah the prophet, who told me that I would be king over these people.

3 And take with you ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him, he shall tell you what shall become of the child."

4 And Jeroboam's wife did so, and got up, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah.  But Ahijah couldn't see, for his eyes were set by reason of his age.

5 And the Lord said to Ahijah, "See, the wife of Jeroboam comes to ask a thing of you for her son, for he is sick, thus and thus shall you say to her, for it shall be, when she comes in, that she shall pretend to be a different woman.

6 And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, "Come in, you wife of Jeroboam, why do you pretend to be someone else?  For I am sent to you with heavy news.

7 Go, tell Jeroboam, thus says the Lord God of Israel, since as I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel,

8 And tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do only that which was right in my eyes,

9 But have done evil more than all that were before you, for you have gone and made other gods, and images cast in foundry, to provoke me to anger, and have thrown me behind your back,

10 Therefore see, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisses against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, like a man takes away dung, 'til it's all gone.

11 Him that dies of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat, and him that dies in the field shall the fowls of the air eat, for the Lord has spoken it.

12 Arise therefore, get yourself to your own house, and when your feet enter into the city, the child shall die.

13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.

14 Also the Lord shall raise himself up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day, but what?  Even now.

15 For the Lord shall strike Israel, like a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall uproot Israel out of this good land, that he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the Lord to anger.

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

17 And Jeroboam's wife got up, and departed, and came to Tirzah, and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died,

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

19 And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he ruled, see, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

20 And the days that Jeroboam ruled were twenty two years, and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son ruled instead of him.

21 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon ruled in Judah.  Rehoboam was forty one years old when he began to rule, and he ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord chose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there.  And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

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

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

24 And there were also Sodomites in the land, and they did according to all the dirty things of the nations that the Lord threw out before the children of Israel.

25 And in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,

26 And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, he took away all, and he took away all the shields of gold that Solomon had made.

27 And king Rehoboam made instead of them brass shields, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.

28 And it was so, when the king went into the house of the Lord, that the guard carried them, and brought them back into the guard room.

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

30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.

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

___1_Kings chapter 15

1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam ruled over Judah.

2 He ruled three years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, that he had done before him, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, like the heart of David his father.

4 But for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem,

5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and didn't turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.

7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?  And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

8 And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son ruled instead of him.

9 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel Asa ruled over Judah.

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

11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, like David his father.

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

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

14 But the high places were not removed, but Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.

15 And he brought in the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that he himself had dedicated, into the house of the Lord, silver, and gold, and containers.

16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

17 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, so that he would not allow any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants, and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that lived at Damascus, saying,

19 "There is a league between me and you, and between my father and your father, see, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold, come and break your league with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will depart from me."

20 So Benhadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts that he had against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

21 And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah.

22 Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah, no one was exempted, and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber from it, that Baasha had built with, and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

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

24 And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son ruled instead of him.

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

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

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

28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed him, and ruled instead of him.

29 And when he ruled, he struck all the house of Jeroboam, he didn't leave to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the Lord, that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite,

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

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

32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to rule over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty four years.

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

___1_Kings chapter 16

1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,

2 "Since I exalted you out of the dust, and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins,

3 See, I will take away the descendants of Baasha, and the descendants of his house, and will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

4 Him that dies of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat, and him that dies of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat."

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

6 So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah, and Elah his son ruled instead of him.

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

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

9 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.

10 And Zimri went in and struck him, and killed him, in the twenty seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and ruled instead of him.

11 And when he began to rule, as soon as he sat on his throne, he killed all the house of Baasha, he didn't leave him anyone that pisses against a wall, neither of his kinsfolk, nor of his friends.

12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

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

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

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

16 And the people that were encamped heard that, Zimri has conspired, and has also killed the king, so all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.

17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

18 And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the palace of the king's house, and burned the king's house over him with fire, and died,

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

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

21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts, half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.

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

23 In the thirty first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to rule over Israel, twelve years, six years he ruled in Tirzah.

24 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 that he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.

25 But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.

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

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

28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son ruled instead of him.

29 And in the thirty eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to rule over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri ruled over Israel in Samaria for twenty two years.

30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all that were before him.

31 And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, that he had built in Samaria.

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

34 In his days, Hiel the Bethelite, built Jericho, he laid the foundation of it in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates of it in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

___1_Kings chapter 17

1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."

2 And the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

3 "Get from here, and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

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

5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook.

7 And after a while, the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

8 And the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

9 "Get up and go to Zarephath, that belongs to Zidon, and live there, see, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you."

10 So he got up and went to Zarephath.  And when he came to the gate of the city, see, the widow woman was there gathering sticks, and he called to her, and said, "Fetch me, please, a little water in a container, so I can drink."

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

12 And she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I don't have a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse, and see, I am gathering two sticks, so I can go in and dress it for me and my son, so we can eat it, and die."

13 And Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid, go and do as you have said, but make of it for me a little cake first, and bring it to me, and afterward make for you and for your son.

14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not run out, nor shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth."

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

16 And the barrel of meal didn't run out, nor did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke by Elijah.

17 And after these things, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, got sick, and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him.

18 And she said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, O man of God?  Have you come to me to call my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?"

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

20 And he called to the Lord, and said, "O Lord my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I visit, by killing her son?"

21 And he stretched himself on the child three times, and called to the Lord, and said, "O Lord my God, please, let this child's soul come into him again."

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

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

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

___1_Kings chapter 18

1 And after many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth."

2 And Elijah went to show himself to Ahab.  And there was a severe famine in Samaria.

3 And Ahab called Obadiah, who was the governor of his house.  (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly,

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

5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, go into the land, to all fountains of water, and to all brooks, perhaps we'll find grass to save the horses and mules alive, so we don't lose all the animals.

6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it, Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

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

8 And he answered him, "I am, go, tell your lord, see, Elijah is here."

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

10 As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, where my lord has not sent to seek you, and when they said, he is not there, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they didn't find you.

11 And now you say, go, tell your lord, see, Elijah is here.

12 And as soon as I've gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord shall carry you I don't know where, and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can't find you, he'll kill me, but I your servant fear the Lord from my youth.

13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14 And now you say, go, tell your lord, see, Elijah is here, and he'll kill me."

15 And Elijah said, as the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, "I will surely show myself to him today."

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 And when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Are you he that troubles Israel?"

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

19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table."

20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.

21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long do you halt between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him."  And the people didn't answer him a word.

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

23 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,

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

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

26 And they took the bullock that was given to them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us."  But there was no voice, nor any that answered.  And they jumped on the altar that was made.

27 And at noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, "Cry out loud, for he is a god, either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or perhaps he's sleeping, and must be awakened."

28 And they cried out loud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, 'til the blood gushed out from them.

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

30 And Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me."  And all the people came near to him.  And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been broken down.

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

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

33 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."

34 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.

35 And the water ran all around the altar, and he filled the trench also with water.

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

37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, so these people will know that you are the Lord God, and that you have turned their heart back again."

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

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and they said, "The Lord, he is the God, the Lord, he is the God."

40 And Elijah said to them, "Take the prophets of Baal, don't let one of them escape."  And they took them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, "Get up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of abundance of rain."

42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink.  And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and he threw himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees,

43 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."

44 And at the seventh time, he said, "See, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand."  And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, prepare your chariot, and get down, so that the rain doesn't stop you."

45 And in the mean while, the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.  And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

___1_Kings chapter 19

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

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

3 And when he saw that, he got up, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 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 to die, and said, "It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers."

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, see, then an angel touched him, and said to him, "Get up and eat."

6 And he looked, and, see, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head.  And he are and drank, and laid down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, because the journey is too great for you."

8 And he got up, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mountain of God.

9 And he came there to a cave, and lodged there, and, see, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

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

11 And he said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord."  And, see, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake,

12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave.  And see, a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

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

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

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your office.

17 And him that escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill, and him that escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill.

18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

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

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

21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate.  Then he got up, and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.

___1_Kings chapter 20

1 And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together, and there were thirty two kings with him, and horses, and chariots, and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.

2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said to him, "Thus says Benhadad,

3 Your silver and your gold is mine, your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine."

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

5 And the messengers came again, and said, thus speaks Benhadad, saying, "Although I have sent to you, saying, you shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children,

6 Yet I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants, and it shall be, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away."

7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, "Look, please, and see how this man seeks mischief, for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold, and I didn't deny him."

8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, don't listen to him, nor consent.

9 So he said to the messengers of Benhadad, "Tell my lord the king, all that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I can't do.  "And the messengers departed, and brought him word again."

10 And Benhadad sent to him, and said, "The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria is enough for handfuls for all the people that follow me."

11 And the king of Israel answered, "Tell him, let him that girds on his harness not boast himself like he that puts it off."

12 And when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, he said to his servants, "Set yourselves in array."  And they set themselves in array against the city.

13 And see, there came a prophet to Ahab king of Israel, saying, "Thus says the Lord, have you seen all this great multitude?  See, I will deliver it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord."

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

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

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

17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first, and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, "Men have come out of Samaria."

18 And he said, "Whether they've come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they've come out for war, take them alive."

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

20 And they killed every one his man, and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the horsemen.

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

22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself, and watch, and see what you do, for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you."

23 And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their gods are gods of the hills, therefore they were stronger than we are, but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they are.

24 And do this thing, take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their places,

25 And assemble an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot, and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they are."  And he listened to their voice, and did so.

26 And at the return of the year, Benhadad counted the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

27 And the children of Israel were counted, and were all present, and went against them, and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids, but the Syrians filled the country.

28 And a man of God came, and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, "Thus says the Lord, because the Syrians have said, the Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore I'll deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord."

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

30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city, and there a wall fell on twenty seven thousand of the men that were left.  And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner room.

31 And his servants said to him, "See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, let us, please, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel, perhaps he will save your life."

32 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 says, "Please, let me live."  And he said, "Is he still alive?  He is my brother."

33 Now the men did diligently observe whether anything would come from him, and did hastily catch it, and they said, "Your brother Benhadad."  Then he said, go, bring him.  Then Benhadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

34 And Benhadad said to him, "The cities, that my father took from your father, I will restore, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, like my father made in Samaria."  Then Ahab said, "I will send you away with this covenant."  So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor in the word of the Lord, "Strike me, please."  And the man refused to strike him.

36 Then said he to him, because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, see, as soon as you've departed from me, a lion shall kill you.  And as soon as he'd departed from him, a lion found him, and killed him.

37 Then he found another man, and said, "Strike me, please."  And the man struck him, so that in striking he wounded him.

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

39 And as the king passed by, he shouted to the king, and he said, "Your servant went out into the middle of the battle, and see, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, keep this man, if by any means he's missing, then shall your life be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.

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

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

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

43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.

___1_Kings chapter 21

1 And after these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, that was in Jezreel, adjoining the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

2 And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, so I can have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house, and I will give you instead of it a better vineyard than it, or, if it seems good to you, I will give you the worth of it in money."

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

4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, for he had said, "I won't give you the inheritance of my fathers."  And he laid down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, "Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread?"

6 And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it, and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard."

7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel?  Get up, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry, I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, living with Naboth.

9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people,

10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to testify against him, saying, you blasphemed God and the king.  And then carry him out, and stone him, so that he dies."

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

12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.

13 And two men came in, children of Belial, and sat before him, and the men of Belial witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth blasphemed God and the king."  Then they carried him out of the city, and stoned him with stones, so that he died.

14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned, and is dead."

15 And when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, get up, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, that he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.

16 And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

17 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

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

19 And you shall speak to him, saying, thus says the Lord, have you killed, and also taken possession?"  And you shall speak to him, saying, "Thus says the Lord, in the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood.

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

21 See, I will bring evil on you, and will take away your descendants, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisses against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,

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

23 And the Lord also spoke about Jezebel, saying, "The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.

24 Him that dies of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat, and him that dies in the field shall the fowls of the air eat."

25 But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.

26 And he did very dirtily in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord threw out before the children of Israel.

27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

29 "Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before me?  Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but in his son's days will I bring the evil on his house."

___1_Kings chapter 22

1 And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.

2 And in the third year, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we are still, and don't take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?"

4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle to Ramothgilead?"  And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."

5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire, please, at the word of the Lord today."

6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I not do so?"  And they said, "Go up, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king."

7 And Jehoshaphat said, "Isn't there here a prophet of the Lord besides, so we can inquire from him?"

8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he doesn't prophesy good concerning me, but evil."  And Jehoshaphat said, let the king not say so.

9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, "Hasten here Micaiah the son of Imlah."

10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat 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.

11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron, and he said, "Thus says the Lord, with these shall you push the Syrians, until you have consumed them."

12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hand."

13 And the messenger that had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "See now, the words of the prophets declare good to the king unanimously, let your word, please, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good."

14 And Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that's what I'll speak."

15 So he came to the king.  And the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we not do so?  And he answered him, "Go, and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king."

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

17 And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills, like sheep that don't have a shepherd, and the Lord said, these have no master, let them return every man to his house in peace."

18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?"

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

20 And the Lord said, who shall persuade Ahab, to go up and fall at Ramothgilead?  And one said like this, and another said like that.

21 And a spirit came and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.

22 And the Lord said to him, how?  And he said, I will go out, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.  And he said, you shall persuade him, and prevail also, go out, and do so.

23 Now therefore, see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all your prophets, and the Lord has spoken evil concerning you."

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

25 And Micaiah said, "See, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner room to hide yourself."

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

27 And say, "Thus says the king, put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace."

28 And Micaiah said, "If you return at all in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me."  And he said, "Listen, O people, everyone of you."

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

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

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

32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "Surely it is the king of Israel."  And they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat shouted out.

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

34 And a certain man drew a bow by chance, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the harness, so he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host, for I am wounded."

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

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

37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.

38 And someone washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and they washed his armor, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke.

39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house that he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son ruled instead of him.

41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to rule over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

42 Jehoshaphat was thirty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled twenty five years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father, he didn't turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, but the high places were not taken away, for the people offered and burnt incense still in the high places.

44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

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

46 And the remnant of the Sodomites, who remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

47 There was then no king in Edom, a deputy was king.

48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they didn't go, for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, let my servants go with your servants in the ships.  But Jehoshaphat wouldn't.

50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son ruled instead of him.

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

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

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

___2_Kings chapter 1

1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick, and he sent messengers, and said to them, "Go, inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease."

3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

4 Now therefore thus says the Lord, you shall not come down from that bed on which you've gone up, but shall surely die."  And Elijah departed.

5 And when the messengers turned back to him, he said to them, "Why have you now turned back?"

6 And they said to him, a man came up to meet us, and said to us, "Go, turn again to the king that sent you, and say to him, thus says the Lord, is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that you send to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?  Therefore you shall not come down from that bed on which you've gone up, but shall surely die."

7 And he said to them, "What kind of man was he that came up to meet you, and told you these words?"

8 And they answered him, "He was a hairy man, and girded with a girdle of leather around his loins."  And he said, it is Elijah the Tishbite.

9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty.  And he went up to him, and see, he sat on the top of a hill.  And he spoke to him, "You man of God, the king has said, come down."

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

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

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

13 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 to him, "O man of God, please, let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight.

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

15 And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, "Go down with him, don't be afraid of him."  And he got up, and went down with him to the king.

16 And he said to him, "Thus says the Lord, since you have sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?  Therefore you shall not come down from that bed on which you've gone up, but shall surely die."

17 So he died according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken.  And Jehoram ruled instead of him in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because he had no son.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

___2_Kings chapter 2

1 And when the Lord wanted to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 And Elijah said to Elisha, "Wait here, please, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel."  And Elisha said to him, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I won't leave you."  So they went down to Bethel.

3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from your head today?"  And he said, "Yes, I know it, be quiet."

4 And Elijah said to him, Elisha, "Wait here, please, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho."  And he said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I won't leave you."  So they came to Jericho.

5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from your head today?"  And he answered, "Yes, I know it, be quiet."

6 And Elijah said to him, "Wait here, please, for the Lord has sent me to Jordan."  And he said, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, "I won't leave you."  And the two of them went on.

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

8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground.

9 And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I'm taken away from you."  And Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me."

10 And he said, "You have asked a difficult thing, but if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you, but if not, it shall not be so."

11 And as they still went on, and talked, see, a chariot of fire appeared, and horses of fire, and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he shouted, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen of it."  And he saw him no more, and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them into two pieces.

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

14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?"  And when he also had struck the waters, they separated here and there, and Elisha went over.

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

16 And they said to him, "See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, let them go, please, and seek your master, so that perhaps the Spirit of the Lord didn't take him up, and throw him on some mountain, or into some valley."  And he said, you shall not send.

17 And when they urged him 'til he was ashamed, he said, "Send."  They sent therefore fifty men, and they looked for him for three days, but didn't find him.

18 And when they came again to him, (for he waited at Jericho,) he said to them, "Didn't I say to you you, don't go?"

19 And the men of the city said to Elisha, "Look, please, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is nothing, and the ground barren."

20 And he said, "Bring me a new cruse, and put salt in it."  And they brought it to him.

21 And he went out to the spring of the waters, and threw the salt in there, and said, "Thus says the Lord, I have healed these waters, there shall not be from there anymore death or barren land."

22 So the waters were healed to this day, according to the saying of Elisha that he spoke.

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

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

25 And he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

___2_Kings chapter 3

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

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

3 But he stuck to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, he didn't depart from that.

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

5 But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

6 And king Jehoram went out of Samaria at the same time, and counted all Israel.

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

8 And he said, "Which way shall we go up?"  And he answered, "The way through the wilderness of Edom."

9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, and they circled for seven days' journey, and there was no water for the army, and for the cattle that followed them.

10 And the king of Israel said, "Alas!  For the Lord has called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!"

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

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

13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you?  Get to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother."  And the king of Israel said to him, "No, for the Lord has called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab."

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

15 But now bring me a minstrel."  And when the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came on him.

16 And he said, "Thus says the Lord, make this valley full of ditches."

17 For thus says the Lord, you shall not see wind, neither shall you see rain, yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you can drink, both you, and your cattle, and your animals.

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

19 And you shall strike 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."

20 And in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, see, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

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

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

23 And they said, this is blood, the kings are surely killed, and they have struck one another, now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.

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

25 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land every man threw his stone, and filled it, and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees, only in Kirharaseth did they leave the stones of it, but the slingers went around it, and struck it.

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

27 Then he took his eldest son that should have ruled instead of him, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall.  And there was great indignation against Israel, and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

___2_Kings chapter 4

1 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, and the creditor has come to take to him my two sons to be bondmen."

2 And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you?  Tell me, what do you have in the house?"  And she said, "Your handmaid doesn't have anything in the house, except a pot of oil."

3 Then he said, "Go, borrow containers abroad from all your neighbors, empty containers, don't borrow just a few.

4 And when you've come in, you shall shut the door on you and on your sons, and shall pour out into all those containers, and you shall set aside that which is full."

5 So she went from him, and shut the door on her and on her sons, who brought the containers to her, and she poured out.

6 And when the containers were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another container."  And he said to her, "There is not a container more."  And the oil stopped.

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

8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where there was a great woman, and she constrained him to eat bread.  And so it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread.

9 And she said to her husband, "See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us continually.

10 Let us make a little room, please, on the wall, and let us set for him a bed there, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick, and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there."

11 And it fell on a day, that he came there, and he turned into the room, and lay there.

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

13 And he said to him, say now to her, "See, you have been careful for us with all this care, what is to be done for you?  Would you be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host?"  And she answered, "I live among my own people."

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

15 And he said, call her.  And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway.

16 And he said, "About this season, according to the time of life, you'll embrace a son."  And she said, "No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid."

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

18 And after the child grew bigger, it happened one day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

19 And he said to his father, "My head, my head.  And he said to a young man, carry him to his mother.

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

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

22 And she called to her husband, and said, "Send me, please, one of the young men, and one of the asses, so I can run to the man of God, and come again."

23 And he said, "Why would you go to him today?  It is neither new moon, nor Sabbath."  And she said, "It shall be well."

24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, "Drive, and go forward, don't slack your riding for me, unless I tell you to."

25 So she went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel.  And when the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, "See, yonder is that Shunammite,

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

27 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 inside her, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me."

28 Then she said, "Did I desire a son from my lord?  Didn't I say, do not deceive me?"

29 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, don't greet him, and if anyone greets you, don't answer him back, and lay my staff on the face of the child."

30 And the mother of the child said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you."  And he got up, and followed her.

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

32 And when Elisha had come into the house, see, the child was dead, and laid on his bed.

33 He went in therefore, and shut the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.

34 And he went up, and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on the child, and the flesh of the child grew warm.

35 Then he returned, and walked in the house back and forth, and went up, and stretched himself on him, and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

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

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

38 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 to his servant, "Put a large pot on, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.

39 And someone went out into the field to gather vegetables, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage, for they didn't know them.

40 So they poured out for the men to eat.  And as they were eating the pottage, they shouted out, and said, "O you man of God, there is death in the pot."  And they couldn't eat from it.

41 But he said, "Then bring meal."  And he threw it into the pot, and he said, pour out for the people, so they can eat.  And there was no harm in the pot.

42 And a man came from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in their husks.  And he said, "Give to the people, so they can eat."

43 And his helper said, "What, should I set this before a hundred men?"  He answered back, "Give the people, so they can eat, for thus says the Lord, they shall eat, and shall have food left over."

44 So he set it before them, and they ate, and some of it was left over, according to the word of the Lord.

___2_Kings chapter 5

1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance to Syria, he was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper.

2 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.

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

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

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

6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, "Now when this letter has come to you, see, I have with it sent Naaman my servant to you, so you can heal him of his leprosy."

7 And when the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes, and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy?  So consider, please, and see how he seeks a quarrel against me."

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

9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

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

11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, "See, I thought, he will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.

12 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.

13 And his servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it?  How much rather then, when he says to you, wash, and be clean?"

14 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 to the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

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

16 But he said, as the Lord lives, before whom I stand, "I will receive none."  And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

17 And Naaman said, "Shall there not then, please, be given to your servant two mules' load of goods?  For your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord.

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

19 And he said to him, go in peace.  So he departed from him a little way.

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "See, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving from his hands what he brought, but, as the Lord lives, I will run after him, and take something from him."

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

22 And he said, "All is well.  My master has sent me, saying, see, even now there have come to me from Mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets, give them, please, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments."

23 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 on two of his servants, and they carried them before him.

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

25 But he went in, and stood before his master.  And Elisha said to him, "Where have you come from, Gehazi?"  And he said, "Your servant didn't go anywhere."

26 And he said to him, "Didn't my heart go 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 olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall stick to you, and to your descendants forever."  And he went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.

___2_Kings chapter 6

1 And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we live with you is too small for us.

2 Let's go, please, to Jordan, and take there every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we can live."  And he answered, "Go."

3 And someone said, "Be content, please, and go with your servants."  And he answered, "I will go."

4 So he went with them.  And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.

5 But as one of them was cutting down a beam, the axe head fell into the water, and he shouted, and said, "Alas, master!  For it was borrowed."

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

7 Therefore he said, "Take it up to you."  And he put out his hand, and took it.

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

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

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

11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was very troubled for this thing, and he called his servants, and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?"

12 And one of his servants said, "No one, my lord, O king, but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."

13 And he said, go and spy where he is, so I can send and fetch him.  And it was told him, saying, "See, he is in Dothan."

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

15 And when the servant of the man of God had risen early, and gone out, see, an army surrounded the city both with horses and chariots.  And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master!  How shall we do?"

16 And he answered, "Don't be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, please, open his eyes, so he can see."  And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.

18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, "Strike these people, please, with blindness."  And he struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

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

20 And when they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "Lord, open the eyes of these men, do they can see."  And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw, and, see, they were in the middle of Samaria.

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

22 And he answered, "You shall not strike them, would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow?  Set bread and water before them, so they can eat and drink, and go to their master."

23 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 armies of Syria didn't come anymore into the land of Israel.

24 And after this, Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria.

25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, and, see, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and one fourth of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.

26 And as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman shouted a to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king."

27 And he said, "If the Lord doesn't help you, from where shall I help you?  Out of the barn floor, or out of the winepress?"

28 And the king said to her, "What ails you?"  And she answered, "This woman said to me, give your son, so we can eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.

29 So we boiled my son, and ate him, and I said to her on the next day, give your son, so we can eat him, and she has hidden her son."

30 And when the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes, and he passed by on the wall, and the people looked, and see, he had sackcloth inside on his flesh.

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

32 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 how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head?  Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold him tightly at the door, is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?"

33 And while he yet talked with them, see, the messenger came down to him, and he said, "See, this evil is from the Lord, why should I wait for the Lord any longer?"

___2_Kings chapter 7

1 Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the Lord, thus says the Lord, tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria."

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

3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate, and they said to each other, "Why do we sit here until we die?

4 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 to the host of the Syrians, if they save us alive, we shall live, and if they kill us, we shall but die."

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

6 For the Lord 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 to each other, "See, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come against us."

7 So they got up 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 lives.

8 And when these lepers came to the farthest part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drank, and carried away silver, and gold, and clothing, and went and hid it, and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried from there also, and went and hid it.

9 Then they said to each other, "We don't do well, this day is a day of good news, and we are silent, if we wait 'til the morning light, some mischief will come on us, now therefore come, so we can go and tell the king's household."

10 So they came and called to the porter of the city, and they told them, saying, "We went to the camp of the Syrians, and, see, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were."

11 And he called the porters, and they told it to the king's house inside.

12 And the king got up in the night, and said to his servants, "I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us.  They know that we're hungry, therefore they've 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."

13 And one of his servants answered and said, "Let some people take, please, five of the horses that remain, that are left in the city, (see, they are like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it, see, I say, they are like all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed,) and let us send and see."

14 They took therefore two chariot horses, and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, "Go and see."

15 And they went after them to Jordan, and see, all the road was full of garments and containers that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste.  And the messengers returned, and told the king.

16 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 the Lord.

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

18 And it happened like the man of God had said to the king, saying, "Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria,"

19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, "Now, see, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?"  And he said, "See, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it."

20 And so it fell out to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died.

___2_Kings chapter 8

1 Then Elisha spoke to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise, and go you and your household, and stay wherever you can stay, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it shall also come on the land seven years."

2 And the woman got up, and did after the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household, and lived in the land of the Philistines seven years.

3 And at the seven years' end, the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines, and she went to call to the king for her house and for her land.

4 And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, "Tell me, please, all the great things that Elisha has done."

5 And as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, see, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, called 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."

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

7 And Elisha came to Damascus, and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick, and it was told him, saying, "The man of God has come here."

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

9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' load, and came and stood before him, and said, "Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, shall I recover of this disease?"

10 And Elisha said to him, "Go, say to him, you can certainly recover, but the Lord has showed me that he shall surely die."

11 And he settled his countenance steadily, until he was ashamed, and the man of God wept.

12 And Hazael said, "Why does my lord weep?  And he answered, because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel, their strong holds you'll set on fire, and their young men you'll kill with the sword, and will dash their children, and rip up their women with child."

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

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

15 And on the next day, he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died, and Hazael ruled instead of him.

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

17 He was thirty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eight years in Jerusalem.

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

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

20 In his days, Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.

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

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

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

24 And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Ahaziah his son ruled instead of him.

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

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

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

28 And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram.

29 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that 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.

___2_Kings chapter 9

1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said to him, "Gird up your loins, and take this box of oil in your hand, and go to Ramothgilead,

2 And when you come there, find there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him get up from among his brothers, and take him to an inner room,

3 Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus says the Lord, I have anointed you king over Israel.  Then open the door, and flee, and don't stay."

4 So the young man, the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.

5 And when he came, see, the captains of the army were sitting, and he said, "I have an errand to you, O captain."  And Jehu said, "To which of all of us?"  And he said, "To you, O captain."

6 And he got up, and went into the house, and he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel.

7 And you shall strike the house of Ahab your master, so I can avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.

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

9 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,

10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be no one to bury her."  And he opened the door, and fled.

11 Then Jehu came out to the servants of his lord, and someone said to him, "Is all well?  Why did this this crazy guy come to you?"  And he said to them, "You know the man, and his communication."

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

13 Then they hurried, 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."

14 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.

15 But king Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that 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 out nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel."

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

17 And a watchman stood 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 a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, is it peace?"

18 So there went someone on horseback to meet him, and said, thus says the king, is it peace?  And Jehu said, "what do you have to do with peace?  Turn behind me."  And the watchman told, saying, "The messenger came to them, but he's not coming back."

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

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

21 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.

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

23 And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "There is treachery, O Ahaziah."

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

25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Take up, and throw him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, the Lord laid this burden on him,

26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, says the Lord, and I will repay you in this piece of ground, says the Lord.  Now therefore take and throw him into the plot of ground, according to the word of the Lord."

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

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

29 And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to rule over Judah.

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

31 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, "Did Zimri have peace, who killed his master?"

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

33 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 trampled her under foot.

34 And when he had come in, he ate and drink, and said, "Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her, for she is a king's daughter."

35 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.

36 So they came back, and told him.  And he said, "This is the word of the Lord, that he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, in the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel,

37 And the carcass of Jezebel shall be like manure on the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel, so that they shall not say, this is Jezebel."

___2_Kings chapter 10

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

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

3 Choose out the best and fittest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."

4 But they were very afraid, and said, "See, two kings couldn't stand before him, how then shall we stand?"

5 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 shall tell us, we will not make any king, do that which is good in your eyes."

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

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

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

9 And in the morning, he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous, see, I conspired against my master, and killed him, but who killed all these?

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

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

12 And he got up and departed, and came to Samaria.  And as he was at the shearing house on the way,

13 Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, "Who are you?  And they answered, "We are the brothers of Ahaziah, and we go down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen."

14 And he said, "Take them alive."  And they took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, forty two men, he left none of them.

15 And when he had departed from there, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him, and he greeted him, and said to him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?"  And Jehonadab answered, "It is."  "If it is, give me your hand."  And he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot.

16 And he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord."  So they made him ride in his chariot.

17 And when he came to Samaria, he killed all that remained to Ahab in Samaria, 'til he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the Lord, that he spoke to Elijah.

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

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

20 And Jehu said, "Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal."  And they proclaimed it.

21 And Jehu sent through all Israel, and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn't come.  And they came into the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was full from one end to the other.

22 And he said to him that was over the vestry, bring vestments for all the worshippers of Baal.  And he brought them vestments.

23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said to the worshippers of Baal, search, and look so that there are none of the servants of the Lord here with you, but the worshippers of Baal only.

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

25 And as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, "Go in, and kill them, let no one come out."  And they struck them with the edge of the sword, and the guard and the captains threw them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.

26 And they brought the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.

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

28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

29 But from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu didn't depart from after them, specifically:  the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

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

31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart, for he didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.

32 In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short, and Hazael struck them in all the coasts of Israel,

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

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

35 And Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria.  And Jehoahaz his son ruled instead of him.

36 And the time that Jehu ruled over Israel in Samaria was twenty eight years.

___2_Kings chapter 11

1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she got up and killed all the royal descendants.

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

3 And he was with her hidden in the house of the Lord six years.  And Athaliah ruled over the land.

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

5 And he commanded them, saying, "This is the thing that you shall do, one third of you that enter in on the Sabbath shall be keepers of the watch of the king's house,

6 And one third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one third at the gate behind the guard, so you shall keep the watch of the house, so that it's not broken down.

7 And two parts of all you that go out on the Sabbath, they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord around the king.

8 And you shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand, and he that comes too close, let him be killed, and be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.

9 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 supposed to come in on the Sabbath, with those who should go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

10 And the priest gave king David's spears and shields to the captains over hundreds, that were in the temple of the Lord.

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

12 And he brought out the king's son, and put the crown on 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."

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

14 And when she looked, see, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets, and Athaliah tore her clothes, and shouted, "Treason, treason."

15 But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said to them, take her out of range, and him that follows her kill with the sword."  For the priest had said, "Let her not be killed in the house of the Lord."

16 And they laid hands on her, and she went by the way by which the horses came into the king's house, and she was killed there.

17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, so that they would be the Lord's people, between the king also and the people.

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

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

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

21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to rule.

___2_Kings chapter 12

1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to rule, and he ruled forty years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

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

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

4 And Jehoash said to the priests, all the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money of everyone that passes the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that comes into any man's heart to bring into the house of the Lord,

5 Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance, and let them repair the holes of the house, wherever any hole is found.

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

7 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said to them, "Why haven't you repaired the breaches of the house?  Now therefore receive no more money from your acquaintance, but deliver it for the holes of the house.

8 And the priests consented to receive no more money from the people, nor to repair the holes of the house.

9 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as you come into the house of the Lord, and the priests that kept the door put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord.

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

11 And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of those who did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the Lord, and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders, that worked on the house of the Lord,

12 And to masons, and cutters of stone, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the holes of the house of the Lord, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

13 But there were not made for the house of the Lord bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any containers of gold, or containers of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the Lord,

14 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired with that the house of the Lord.

15 Also they didn't reckon with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen, for they dealt faithfully.

16 The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the Lord, it was the priests'.

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

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

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

20 And his servants got up, and made a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of Millo, that goes down to Silla.

21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Amaziah his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Kings chapter 13

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

2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, he didn't depart from them.

3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.

4 And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.

5 (And the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians, and the children of Israel lived in their tents, as previously.

6 But they didn't depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked in it, and the grove remained also in Samaria.)

7 Nor did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand infantry, for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.

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

9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son ruled instead of him.

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

11 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, but he walked in it.

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

13 And Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne, and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

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

15 And Elisha said to him, "Take bow and arrows."  And he took to himself bow and arrows.

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

17 And he said, "Open the window eastward."  And he opened it.  Then Elisha said, "Shoot."  And he shot.  And he said, "The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria, for you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek, 'til you have consumed them."

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

19 And the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Syria 'til you had consumed it, but now you'll strike Syria only three times."

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

21 And as they were burying a man, see, they spied a band of men, and they threw the man into the tomb of Elisha, and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

22 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

23 And the Lord was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor did he throw from his presence yet.

24 So Hazael king of Syria died, and Benhadad his son ruled instead of him.

25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, that he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war.  Joash beat him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel.

___2_Kings chapter 14

1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah ruled.

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

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

4 But the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places.

5 And as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, he killed his servants that had killed the king his father.

6 But the children of the murderers he didn't kill, according to what is written in the book of the law of Moses, in which the Lord commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers, but every man shall be put to death for his own sin."

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

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let's look each other in the face."

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

10 You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up, glory about this, and stay home, for why should you meddle to your hurt, so that you'll, you, and Judah with you?"

11 But Amaziah would not listen.  Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked each other in the face at Bethshemesh, that belongs to Judah.

12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to their tents.

13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, two hundred yards.

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

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

16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel, and Jeroboam his son ruled instead of him.

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

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

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

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

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

22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

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

24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.

25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, that he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gathhepher.

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

27 And the Lord didn't say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

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

29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, with the kings of Israel, and Zachariah his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Kings chapter 15

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

2 He was sixteen years old when he began to rule, and he ruled fifty two years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

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

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

5 And the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a several house.  And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

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

7 So Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son ruled instead of him.

8 In the thirty eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zachariah the son of Jeroboam ruled over Israel in Samaria six months.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done, he didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and ruled instead of him.

11 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, see, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12 This was the word of the Lord that he spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."  And that's what happened.

13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to rule in the thirty ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he ruled a full month in Samaria.

14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and killed him, and ruled instead of him.

15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy that he made, see, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

16 Then Menahem struck Tiphsah, and all that were in it, and the coasts of it from Tirzah, because they didn't open to him, therefore he struck it, and he ripped up all the pregnant women in it.

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

18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

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

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

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

22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son ruled instead of him.

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

24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

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

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

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

28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, he didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglathpileser king of Assyria came 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.

30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck him, and killed him, and ruled instead of him, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

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

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

33 He was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

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

35 But the high places were not removed, the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.  He built the higher gate of the house of the Lord.

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

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

38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Kings chapter 16

1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to rule.

2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to rule, and ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem, and didn't do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father.

3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the dirty things of the heathen, whom the Lord threw out from before the children of Israel.

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

5 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.

6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath for Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath, and the Syrians came to Elath, and lived there to this day.

7 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, that rise up against me."

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

9 And the king of Assyria listened to him, for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and killed Rezin.

10 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 design of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship of it.

11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Urijah the priest made it for when king Ahaz would return from Damascus.

12 And when the king had come from Damascus, the king saw the altar, and the king approached to the altar, and offered on it.

13 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, on the altar.

14 And he brought also the brass altar, that was before the Lord, from the front of the house, from between the altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north side of the altar.

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

16 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the wash basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the brass oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stones.

18 And the covert for the Sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry outside, he turned from the house of the Lord for the king of Assyria.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Hezekiah his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Kings chapter 17

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

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

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

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

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

6 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.

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

8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord threw out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, that they had made.

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

10 And they set themselves up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree,

11 And there they burned incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them, and made wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger,

12 For they served idols, about which the Lord had said to them, you shall not do this thing.

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

14 But they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.

15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies that he testified against them, and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.

16 And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made themselves images cast in the foundry, two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

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

18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight, there was no one left but the tribe of Judah only.

19 Also Judah didn't keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel that they made.

20 And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had thrown them out of his sight.

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

22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam that he did, they didn't depart from them,

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

24 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 lived in the cities of it.

25 And so it was at the beginning of their living there, that they didn't fear the Lord, therefore the Lord sent lions among them, that killed some of them.

26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations that you have removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, don't know the manner of the God of the land, therefore he has sent lions among them, and see, they kill them, because they don't know the manner of the God of the land."

27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, carry there one of the priests whom you brought from there, and let them go and live there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.

28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

29 But every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived.

30 And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

31 And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

32 So they feared the Lord, and made for themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

33 They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, like the nations whom they carried away from there.

34 To this day they do after the former manner, they don't fear the Lord, nor do they do according to statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment that the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel,

35 With whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them,

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

37 And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, that he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forever, and you shall not fear other gods.

38 And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, neither shall you fear other gods.

39 But you shall fear the Lord your God, and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies."

40 But they did not listen, but they did after their former manner.

41 So these nations feared the Lord, and served their engraved images, both their children, and their children's children, like their fathers did, so do they until this day.

___2_Kings chapter 18

1 Now in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to rule.

2 He was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled twenty nine years in Jerusalem.  His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

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

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

5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

6 For he stuck to the Lord, and didn't depart from following him, but kept his commandments, that the Lord commanded Moses.

7 And the Lord was with him, and he prospered wherever he went out, and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and didn't serve.

8 He struck the Philistines, even to Gaza, and the borders of it, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

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

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

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

12 Because they didn't obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.

13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.

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

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

16 At that time Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars that Hezekiah king of Judah had plated, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army against Jerusalem.  And they went up and came to Jerusalem.  And when they had come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, that is in the highway of the fuller's field.

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

19 And Rabshakeh said to them, "Speak now to Hezekiah, thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, what confidence is this in which you trust?

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

21 Now see, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, on Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will pierce his hand, so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all those who trust on him.

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

23 Now therefore, please give security deposits to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver to you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.

24 How then will 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?

25 Have I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it?  The Lord said to me, go up against this land, and destroy it."

26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it, and don't talk with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall."

27 But Rabshakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words?  Hasn't he sent me to the men who sit on the wall, so that they can eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?"

28 Then Rabshakeh stood and shouted with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spoke, saying, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria,

29 Thus says the king, don't Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand,

30 Nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, the Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

31 Don't listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat every man of his own vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and drink everyone the waters of his cistern,

32 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 olive oil and of honey, so you can live, and not die, and don't listen to Hezekiah, when he persuades you, saying, the Lord will deliver us.

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

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

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

36 But the people were quiet, and didn't answer him a word, for the king's commandment was, saying, "Don't answer him."

37 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

___2_Kings chapter 19

1 And when king Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.

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

3 And they said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah, this day is a day of trouble, and of reprimand, and blasphemy, for the children have come to the birth, and there is not strength to give birth.

4 It may be the Lord your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words that the Lord your God has heard, so lift up your prayer for the remnant that are left."

5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

6 And Isaiah said to them, "Thus shall you say to your master, thus says the Lord, don't be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

7 See, I will send a blast on him, and he shall hear a rumor, and shall return to his own land, and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."

8 So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.

9 And when he heard say about Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, see, he has come out to fight against you, he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,

10 "Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, don't let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

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

12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them that my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Thelasar?

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

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

15 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, who lives between the cherubims, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth, you have made heaven and earth.

16 Lord, bow down your ear, and hear, open, Lord, your eyes, and see, and hear the words of Sennacherib, that has sent to reproach the living God.

17 Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,

18 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.

19 Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beg of you, save us out of his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you are the Lord God, you only."

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

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

22 Whom have you reproached and blasphemed?  And against whom have you exalted your voice, and lifted up yours eyes on high?  Against the Holy one of Israel.

23 By your messengers you have reproached the Lord, and have said, with the multitude of my chariots I've come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees from it, and the choice fir trees from it, and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.

24 I have dug and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet I've dried up all the rivers of besieged places.

25 Have you not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it?  Now I've made it happen, that you should be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.

26 Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were discouraged and confused, they were like the grass of the field, and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops, and like corn blasted before it's grown up.

27 But I know your dwelling, and your going out, and your coming in, and your rage against me.

28 Because your rage against me and your tumult has come up into my ears, therefore I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came.

29 And this shall be a sign to you, you shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springs of the same, and in the third year plant, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits from them.

30 And the remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

31 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of Mount Zion, the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.

32 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, he shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor throw a bank against it.

33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, says the Lord.

34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

35 And that night, the angel of the Lord went out, and struck in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred eighty five thousand, and when they got up early in the morning, see, they were all dead corpses.

36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and lived at Nineveh.

37 And as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Armenia.  And Esarhaddon his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Kings chapter 20

1 In those days Hezekiah was sick to death.  And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live."

2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,

3 "I beg of you, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight."  And Hezekiah wept severely.

4 And before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

5 "Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, see, I will heal you, on the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.

6 And I will add to your days fifteen years, and I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

7 And Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs."  And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day?"

9 And Isaiah said, "This sign shall you have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has spoken, shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?"

10 And Hezekiah answered, "It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees, no, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees."

11 And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

13 And Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures, there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn't show them.

14 Then Isaiah came the prophet to king Hezekiah, and said to him, "What did these men say?  And where did they come from to you?"  And Hezekiah said, they've come from a far country, from Babylon.

15 And he said, "What have they seen in your house?"  And Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all the things that are in my house, there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them."

16 And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord.

17 See, the days come, that all that is in your house, and what your fathers have laid up in store to this day, shall be carried into Babylon, nothing shall be left, says the Lord.

18 And of your sons that shall issue from you, that you shall father, they'll  take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."

19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good."  And he said, "Is it not good, if peace and truth are in my days?"

20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a aqueduct, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Kings chapter 21

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to rule, and ruled fifty five years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Hephzibah.

2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the dirty things of the heathen, whom the Lord threw out before the children of Israel.

3 For he built up again the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, "In Jerusalem will I put my name."

5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards, he made much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

7 And he set an engraved image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever,

8 Neither will I make the feet of Israel move anymore out of the land that 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."

9 But they didn't listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel.

10 And the Lord spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,

11 "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these dirty things, and has done wickedly more than all that the Amorites did, that were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols,

12 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel, see, I am bringing such evil on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle.

13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem like a man wipes a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.

14 And I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies,

15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, to this day."

16 Also Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, 'til he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, beside his sin with which he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

18 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 ruled instead of him.

19 Amon was twenty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled two years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.

20 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like his father Manasseh did.

21 And he walked in all the ways that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them,

22 And he forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and didn't walk in the way of the Lord.

23 And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and killed the king in his own house.

24 And the people of the land killed all of those who had conspired against king Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king instead of him.

25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

26 And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Kings chapter 22

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to rule, and he ruled thirty one years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

3 And in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the Lord, saying,

4 "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, so that he can add up the silver that is brought into the house of the Lord, that the keepers of the door have gathered from the people,

5 And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the doers of the work that is in the house of the Lord, to repair the holes of the house,

6 To carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the house."

7 But there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hands, because they dealt faithfully.

8 And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord."  And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

9 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 those who do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord."

10 And Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book."  And Shaphan read it before the king.

11 And when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.

12 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,

13 "Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found, for great is the anger of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us."

14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe, (now she lived in Jerusalem in the college,) and they communed with her.

15 And she said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, tell the man that sent you to me,

16 Thus says the Lord, see, I will bring evil on this place, and on the inhabitants of it, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read,

17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they would provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my anger shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

18 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, thus says the Lord God of Israel, concerning the words that you have heard,

19 Because your heart was tender, and you have humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord.

20 See therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered into your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring on this place."  And they brought the word back to the king word.

___2_Kings chapter 23

1 And the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.

2 And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great, and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord.

3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book.  And all the people stood to the covenant.

4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the containers that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven, and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them to Bethel.

5 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 around Jerusalem, those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

6 And he brought out the grove from the house of the Lord, outside Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and threw the powder from it on the graves of the children of the people.

7 And he broke down the houses of the Sodomites, that were by the house of the Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

8 And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and broke down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, that were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.

9 But the priests of the high places didn't come up to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, but they ate of the unleavened bread among their brothers.

10 And he defiled Topheth, that is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, so that no man could make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

11 And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the Lord, by the room of Nathanmelech the chamberlain, that was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.

12 And the altars that were on the top of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the Lord, the king beat down, and broke them down from there, and threw the dust of them into the brook Kidron.

13 And the high places that were before Jerusalem, that were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the dirty thing of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the dirty thing of the Moabites, and for Milcom the dirty thing of the children of Ammon, the king defiled.

14 And he broke in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.

15 Also the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place that Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he broke down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.

16 And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the Lord that the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

17 Then he said, "What title is that that I see?"  And the men of the city told him, "It is the tomb of the man of God, who came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Bethel."

18 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.

19 And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, that the kings of Israel had made to provoke the Lord to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.

20 And he killed all the priests of the high places that were there on the altars, and burned men's bones on them, and returned to Jerusalem.

21 And the king commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant."

22 Surely there was not held such a Passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah,

23 But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, in which this Passover was held to the Lord in Jerusalem.

24 Also the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the dirty things that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, so that he would perform the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.

25 And like him there was no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, neither after him got up any like him.

26 But the Lord didn't turn from the fierceness of his great anger, with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him with.

27 And the Lord said, "I will remove Judah also out of my sight, like I have removed Israel, and will throw off this city Jerusalem that I've chosen, and the house about which I said, my name shall be there."

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

29 In his days, Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates, and king Josiah went against him, and he killed him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.

30 And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb.  And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king instead of his father.

31 Jehoahaz was twenty three years old when he began to rule, and he ruled three months in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

32 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done.

33 And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he wouldn't rule in Jerusalem, and put the land to a tribute of a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

34 And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the office of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt, and died there.

35 And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh, he exacted the silver and the gold from the people of the land, of everyone according to his taxation, to give it to Pharaohnechoh.

36 Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eleven years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

37 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done.

___2_Kings chapter 24

1 In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years, then he turned and rebelled against him.

2 And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, that he spoke by his servants the prophets.

3 Surely at the commandment of the Lord did this come on Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did,

4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon.

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

6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son ruled instead of him.

7 And the king of Egypt didn't come again anymore out of his land, for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to rule, and he ruled in Jerusalem three months.  And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done.

10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.

11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants besieged it.

12 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 rule.

13 And he carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the containers of gold that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said.

14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths, no one remained, except the poorest sort of the people of the land.

15 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, he carried them into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, the king of Babylon brought them captive to Babylon.

17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king instead of him, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

18 Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eleven years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

19 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

20 For through the anger of the Lord in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had thrown them out from his presence, Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

___2_Kings chapter 25

1 And in the ninth year of his rule, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and they built forts against it all around.

2 And the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

3 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.

4 And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled at night by the way of the gate between two walls, that is by the king's garden, (now the Chaldeans were against the city all around,) and the king went the way toward the plain.

5 And the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army were scattered from him.

6 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah, and they gave judgment against him.

7 And they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, that is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan came, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, to Jerusalem,

9 And he burned the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house he burned with fire.

10 And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around.

11 Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away.

12 But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and farmers.

13 And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the brass sea that was in the house of the Lord, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

14 And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the containers of brass with which they ministered, they took away.

15 And the fire pans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.

16 The two pillars, one sea, and the bases that Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, the brass of all these containers was without weight.

17 The height of the one pillar was twenty seven feet, and the chapiter on it was brass, and the height of the chapiter four and a half feet, and the wreathen work, and pomegranates on the chapiter all around, all of brass, and like these had the second pillar with wreathen work.

18 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door,

19 And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of those who were in the king's presence, who were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land that were found in the city,

20 And Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah,

21 And the king of Babylon struck them, and killed them at Riblah in the land of Hamath.  So Judah was carried away out of their land.

22 And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler over them.

23 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, 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.

24 And Gedaliah swore to them, and to their men, and said to them, "Don't be afraid to be the servants of the Chaldeans, live in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you."

25 But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal descendants, came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.

26 And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, got up, and came to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

27 And in the thirty seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty seventh day of the month, Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to rule lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison,

28 And he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,

29 And changed his prison garments, and he ate bread continually before him all the days of his life.

30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him by the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

___1_Chronicles chapter 1

1 Adam, Sheth, Enosh,

2 Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered,

3 Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,

4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

5 The sons of Japheth, Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

6 And the sons of Gomer, Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.

7 And the sons of Javan, Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

8 The sons of Ham, Cush, and Mizraim, put, and Canaan.

9 And the sons of Cush, Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha.  And the sons of Raamah, Sheba, and Dedan.

10 And Cush fathered Nimrod, he began to be mighty on the earth.

11 And Mizraim fathered Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

12 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.

13 And Canaan fathered Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,

14 The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,

15 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

16 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.

17 The sons of Shem, Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.

18 And Arphaxad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber.

19 And to Eber were born two sons, the name of the one was Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan.

20 And Joktan fathered Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

21 Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,

22 And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,

23 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab.  All these were the sons of Joktan.

24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,

25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,

26 Serug, Nahor, Terah,

27 Abram, the same is Abraham.

28 The sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael.

29 These are their generations, the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

30 Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,

31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.  These are the sons of Ishmael.

32 Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, she bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.  And the sons of Jokshan, Sheba, and Dedan.

33 And the sons of Midian, Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah.  All these are the sons of Keturah.

34 And Abraham fathered Isaac.  The sons of Isaac, Esau and Israel.

35 The sons of Esau, Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.

36 The sons of Eliphaz, Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.

37 The sons of Reuel, Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

38 And the sons of Seir, Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.

39 And the sons of Lotan, Hori, and Homam, and Timna was Lotan's sister.

40 The sons of Shobal, Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam.  And the sons of Zibeon, Aiah, and Anah.

41 The sons of Anah, Dishon.  And the sons of Dishon, Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.

42 The sons of Ezer, Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan.  The sons of Dishan, Uz, and Aran.

43 Now these are the kings that ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the children of Israel, Bela the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

44 And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah ruled instead of him.

45 And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites ruled instead of him.

46 And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, ruled instead of him, and the name of his city was Avith.

47 And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah ruled instead of him.

48 And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river ruled instead of him.

49 And when Shaul was dead, Baalhanan the son of Achbor ruled instead of him.

50 And when Baalhanan was dead, Hadad ruled instead of him, and the name of his city was Pai, and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

51 Hadad died also.  And the dukes of Edom were, duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth,

52 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,

53 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,

54 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram.  These are the dukes of Edom.

___1_Chronicles chapter 2

1 These are the sons of Israel, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,

2 Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

3 The sons of Judah, Er, and Onan, and Shelah, which three were born to him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess.  And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the Lord, and he killed him.

4 And Tamar his daughter in law bore him Pharez and Zerah.  All the sons of Judah were five.

5 The sons of Pharez, Hezron, and Hamul.

6 And the sons of Zerah, Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara, five of them in all.

7 And the sons of Carmi, Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.

8 And the sons of Ethan, Azariah.

9 The sons also of Hezron, that were born to him, Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.

10 And Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah,

11 And Nahshon fathered Salma, and Salma fathered Boaz,

12 And Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse,

13 And Jesse fathered his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,

14 Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,

15 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh,

16 Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail.  And the sons of Zeruiah, Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.

17 And Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite.

18 And Caleb the son of Hezron fathered children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth, her sons are these, Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.

19 And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took to him Ephrath, who bore him Hur.

20 And Hur fathered Uri, and Uri fathered Bezaleel.

21 And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old, and she bore him Segub.

22 And Segub fathered Jair, who had twenty three cities in the land of Gilead.

23 And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns of it, sixty cities.  All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.

24 And after Hezron was dead in Calebephratah, then Abiah Hezron's wife bore him Ashur the father of Tekoa.

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

26 Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah, she was the mother of Onam.

27 And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker.

28 And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada.  And the sons of Shammai, Nadab, and Abishur.

29 And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban, and Molid.

30 And the sons of Nadab, Seled, and Appaim, but Seled died without children.

31 And the sons of Appaim, Ishi.  And the sons of Ishi, Sheshan.  And the children of Sheshan, Ahlai.

32 And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai, Jether, and Jonathan, and Jether died without children.

33 And the sons of Jonathan, Peleth, and Zaza.  These were the sons of Jerahmeel.

34 Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters.  And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.

35 And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife, and she bore him Attai.

36 And Attai fathered Nathan, and Nathan fathered Zabad,

37 And Zabad fathered Ephlal, and Ephlal fathered Obed,

38 And Obed fathered Jehu, and Jehu fathered Azariah,

39 And Azariah fathered Helez, and Helez fathered Eleasah,

40 And Eleasah fathered Sisamai, and Sisamai fathered Shallum,

41 And Shallum fathered Jekamiah, and Jekamiah fathered Elishama.

42 Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.

43 And the sons of Hebron, Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema.

44 And Shema fathered Raham, the father of Jorkoam, and Rekem fathered Shammai.

45 And the son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Bethzur.

46 And Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran, and Moza, and Gazez, and Haran fathered Gazez.

47 And the sons of Jahdai, Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph.

48 Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber, and Tirhanah.

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

50 These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim,

51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader.

52 And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons, Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites.

53 And the families of Kirjathjearim, the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites, of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.

54 The sons of Salma, Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites.

55 And the families of the scribes who lived at Jabez, the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites.  These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

___1_Chronicles chapter 3

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

2 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith,

3 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital, the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.

4 These six were born to him in Hebron, and there he ruled seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he ruled thirty three years.

5 And these were born to him in Jerusalem, Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel,

6 Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,

7 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

8 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.

9 These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.

10 And Solomon's son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,

11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,

12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,

13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,

14 Amon his son, Josiah his son.

15 And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.

16 And the sons of Jehoiakim, Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.

17 And the sons of Jeconiah, Assir, Salathiel his son,

18 Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

19 And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei, and the sons of Zerubbabel, Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister,

20 And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five.

21 And the sons of Hananiah, Pelatiah, and Jesaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.

22 And the sons of Shechaniah, Shemaiah, and the sons of Shemaiah, Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.

23 And the sons of Neariah, Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.

24 And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.

___1_Chronicles chapter 4

1 The sons of Judah, Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.

2 And Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai, and Lahad.  These are the families of the Zorathites.

3 And these were of the father of Etam, Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash, and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi,

4 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.

5 And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.

6 And Naarah bore him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari.  These were the sons of Naarah.

7 And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.

8 And Coz fathered Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.

9 And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him with sorrow."

10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, so that it won't grieve me!"  And God granted him what he requested.

11 And Chelub the brother of Shuah fathered Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.

12 And Eshton fathered Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash.  These are the men of Rechah.

13 And the sons of Kenaz, Othniel, and Seraiah, and the sons of Othniel, Hathath.

14 And Meonothai fathered Ophrah, and Seraiah fathered Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim, for they were craftsmen.

15 And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh, Iru, Elah, and Naam, and the sons of Elah, Kenaz.

16 And the sons of Jehaleleel, Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.

17 And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon, and she bore Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.

18 And his wife Jehudijah bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.  And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.

19 And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.

20 And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon.  And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Benzoheth.

21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who made fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,

22 And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem.  And these are ancient things.

23 These were the potters, and those that lived among plants and hedges, there they lived with the king for his work.

24 The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul,

25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.

26 And the sons of Mishma, Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.

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

28 And they lived at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,

29 And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,

30 And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,

31 And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim.  These were their cities until the rule of David.

32 And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities,

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

34 And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,

35 And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,

36 And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,

37 And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah,

38 These mentioned by their names were princes in their families, and the house of their fathers increased greatly.

39 And they went to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.

40 And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable, for those of Ham had lived there of old.

41 And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them completely to this day, and lived in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks.

42 And some of them, 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.

43 And they struck the rest of the Amalekites that had escaped, and lived there to this day.

___1_Chronicles chapter 5

1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn, but, since he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

2 For Judah prevailed above his brothers, and of him came the chief ruler, but the birthright was Joseph's,)

3 The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4 The sons of Joel, Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

5 Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,

6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive, he was prince of the Reubenites.

7 And his brothers by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,

8 And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, to Nebo and Baalmeon,

9 And eastward he inhabited to the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their cattle multiplied in the land of Gilead.

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

11 And the children of Gad lived opposite them, in the land of Bashan to Salchah,

12 Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.

13 And their brothers of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.

14 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,

15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.

16 And they lived in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, on their borders.

17 All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, 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 forty four thousand seven hundred sixty, that went out to the war.

19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.

20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them, for they shouted to God in the battle, and he was entreated by them, because they put their trust in him.

21 And they took away their cattle, of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men a hundred thousand.

22 For many fell down killed, because the war was of God.  And they lived instead of them until the captivity.

23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh lived in the land, they increased from Bashan to Baalhermon and Senir, and to mount Hermon.

24 And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.

25 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.

26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, to this day.

___1_Chronicles chapter 6

1 The sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

2 And the sons of Kohath, Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.

3 And the children of Amram, Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam.  The sons also of Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

4 Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua,

5 And Abishua fathered Bukki, and Bukki fathered Uzzi,

6 And Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, and Zerahiah fathered Meraioth,

7 Meraioth fathered Amariah, and Amariah fathered Ahitub,

8 And Ahitub fathered Zadok, and Zadok fathered Ahimaaz,

9 And Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, and Azariah fathered Johanan,

10 And Johanan fathered Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem,)

11 And Azariah fathered Amariah, and Amariah fathered Ahitub,

12 And Ahitub fathered Zadok, and Zadok fathered Shallum,

13 And Shallum fathered Hilkiah, and Hilkiah fathered Azariah,

14 And Azariah fathered Seraiah, and Seraiah fathered Jehozadak,

15 And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

16 The sons of Levi, Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

17 And these be the names of the sons of Gershom, Libni, and Shimei.

18 And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.

19 The sons of Merari, Mahli, and Mushi.  And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.

20 Of Gershom, Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,

21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.

22 The sons of Kohath, Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,

23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,

24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.

25 And the sons of Elkanah, Amasai, and Ahimoth.

26 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah, Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,

27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.

28 And the sons of Samuel, the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.

29 The sons of Merari, Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,

30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.

31 And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark had rest.

32 And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and then they waited on their office, according to their order.

33 And these are those who waited with their children.  Of the sons of the Kohathites, Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,

34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

35 The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,

36 The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,

37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,

38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.

39 And his brother Asaph, who stood at his right hand, Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,

40 The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,

41 The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,

42 The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,

43 The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

44 And their brothers the sons of Merari stood on the left hand, Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,

45 The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,

46 The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,

47 The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

48 Their brothers also the Levites were appointed to all kinds of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

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

50 And these are the sons of Aaron, Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,

51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,

52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,

53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

54 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.

55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs around it.

56 But the fields of the city, and the villages of it, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, specifically, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,

58 And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,

59 And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs,

60 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.

61 And to the sons of Kohath, that were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, specifically, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.

62 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.

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

64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.

65 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, that are called by their names.

66 And the remainder of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.

67 And they gave to them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in Mount Ephraim with her suburbs, they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,

68 And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,

69 And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs,

70 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.

71 To 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,

72 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,

73 And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs,

74 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,

75 And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs,

76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.

77 To the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs,

78 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,

79 Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs,

80 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

81 And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.

___1_Chronicles chapter 7

1 Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.

2 And the sons of Tola, Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, to know, of Tola, they were valiant men of might in their generations, whose number in the days of David was twenty two thousand six hundred.

3 And the sons of Uzzi, Izrahiah, and the sons of Izrahiah, Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five, all of them chief men.

4 And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, thirty six thousand men, for they had many wives and sons.

5 And their brothers among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies eighty seven thousand.

6 The sons of Benjamin, Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.

7 And the sons of Bela, Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor, and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty two thousand thirty four.

8 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.

9 And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor, was twenty thousand two hundred.

10 The sons also of Jediael, Bilhan, and the sons of Bilhan, Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.

11 All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valor, were seventeen thousand two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle.

12 Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher.

13 The sons of Naphtali, Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.

14 The sons of Manasseh, Ashriel, whom she bore, (but his concubine the Aramitess bore Machir the father of Gilead,

15 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.

16 And Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name Peresh, and the name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.

17 And the sons of Ulam, Bedan.  These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.

18 And his sister Hammoleketh bore Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.

19 And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.

20 And the sons of Ephraim, Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,

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

22 And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.

23 And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bore a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.

24 (And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the lower, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.)

25 And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,

26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,

27 Non his son, Jehoshua his son.

28 And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns of it, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns of it, Shechem also and the towns of it, to Gaza and the towns of it,

29 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.  The children of Joseph the son of Israel lived In those.

30 The sons of Asher, Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.

31 And the sons of Beriah, Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.

32 And Heber fathered Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.

33 And the sons of Japhlet, Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath.  These are the children of Japhlet.

34 And the sons of Shamer, Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.

35 And the sons of his brother Helem, Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.

36 The sons of Zophah, Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,

37 Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.

38 And the sons of Jether, Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.

39 And the sons of Ulla, Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.

40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes.  And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty six thousand men.

___1_Chronicles chapter 8

1 Now Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,

2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.

3 And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,

4 And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,

5 And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.

6 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,

7 And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and fathered Uzza, and Ahihud.

8 And Shaharaim fathered children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away, Hushim and Baara were his wives.

9 And he fathered of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,

10 And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma.  These were his sons, heads of the fathers.

11 And of Hushim he fathered Abitub, and Elpaal.

12 The sons of Elpaal, Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns of it,

13 Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath,

14 And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,

15 And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,

16 And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,

17 And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,

18 Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal,

19 And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,

20 And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,

21 And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi,

22 And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,

23 And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,

24 And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,

25 And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak,

26 And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,

27 And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.

28 These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men.  These lived in Jerusalem.

29 And at Gibeon lived the father of Gibeon, whose wife's name was Maachah,

30 And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,

31 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.

32 And Mikloth fathered Shimeah.  And these also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, opposite them.

33 And Ner fathered Kish, and Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

34 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal, and Meribbaal fathered Micah.

35 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.

36 And Ahaz fathered Jehoadah, and Jehoadah fathered Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri fathered Moza,

37 And Moza fathered Binea, Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son,

38 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.

39 And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.

40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, one hundred fifty.  All these are of the sons of Benjamin.

___1_Chronicles chapter 9

1 So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies, and see, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.

2 Now the first inhabitants that lived in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

3 And in Jerusalem lived of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh,

4 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.

5 And of the Shilonites, Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.

6 And of the sons of Zerah, Jeuel, and their brothers, six hundred ninety.

7 And of the sons of Benjamin, Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,

8 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,

9 And their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred fifty six.  All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.

10 And of the priests, Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,

11 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,

12 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,

13 And their brothers, heads of the house of their fathers, one thousand seven hundred sixty, very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

14 And of the Levites, Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari,

15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,

16 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 lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

17 And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brothers, Shallum was the chief,

18 Who until now, waited in the king's gate eastward, they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.

19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle, and their fathers, being over the host of the Lord, were keepers of the entry.

20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the Lord was with him.

21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

22 All these that were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred twelve.  These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the prophet ordained in their set office.

23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord, specifically, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.

24 In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.

25 And their brothers, that were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.

26 For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the rooms and treasuries of the house of God.

27 And they lodged around the house of God, because the charge was on them, and the opening of it every morning pertained to them.

28 And certain of them had the charge of the ministering containers, that they should bring them in and out by tale.

29 Some of them also were appointed to oversee the containers, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.

30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment out of the spices.

31 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.

32 And some of their other brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath.

33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the rooms were free, for they were employed in that work day and night.

34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations, these lived at Jerusalem.

35 And in Gibeon lived the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah,

36 And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,

37 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.

38 And Mikloth fathered Shimeam.  And they also lived with their brothers at Jerusalem, opposite their brothers.

39 And Ner fathered Kish, and Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

40 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal, and Meribbaal fathered Micah.

41 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.

42 And Ahaz fathered Jarah, and Jarah fathered Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri fathered Moza,

43 And Moza fathered Binea, and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

44 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.

___1_Chronicles chapter 10

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down dead in Mount Gilboa.

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

3 And the battle went severely against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers.

4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised don't come and abuse me.  But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid."  So Saul took a sword, and fell on it.

5 And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.

6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.

7 And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.

8 And on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the killed, they found Saul and his sons fallen in Mount Gilboa.

9 And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry news to their idols, and to the people.

10 And they put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

11 And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

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

13 So Saul died for his transgression that he committed against the Lord, against the word of the Lord, that he didn't keep, and also for asking advice of someone that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it,

14 And didn't inquire of the Lord, therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.

___1_Chronicles chapter 11

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

2 And also in the past, even when Saul was king, you were he that led out and brought in Israel, and the Lord your God said to you, you shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over my people Israel."

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

4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come here."  But David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.

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

7 And David lived in the castle, therefore they called it the city of David.

8 And he built the city all around, from Millo all around, and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

9 So David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

10 These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

11 And this is the number of the mighty men that David had, Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains, he lifted up his spear against three hundred killed by him at one time.

12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.

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

14 And they set themselves in the middle of that parcel, and delivered it, and killed the Philistines, and the Lord saved them by a great deliverance.

15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

16 And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.

17 And David longed, and said, "Oh that someone would give me drink from the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!"

18 And the three broke 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, but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord,

19 And said, "My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing, shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in danger?  For with the danger of their lives they brought it."  Therefore he would not drink it.  These three mightiest did these things.

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

21 Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, for he was their captain, but he didn't attain to the first three.

22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he killed two lion-like men of Moab, also he went down and killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day.

23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high, and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam, and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.

25 See, he was honorable among the thirty, but didn't attain to the first three, and David set him over his guard.

26 Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite,

29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

34 The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,

35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,

39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,

43 Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,

45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,

47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.

___1_Chronicles chapter 12

1 Now these are those who 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.

2 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, of Saul's brothers of Benjamin.

3 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,

4 And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,

5 Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,

6 Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,

7 And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

8 And of the Gadites there separated themselves to 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 on the mountains,

9 Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

14 These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host, one of the least was over a hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

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

16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold to David.

17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, "If you've come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you, but if you've come to betray me to my enemies, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look at it, and reprimand it."

18 Then the spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, "Yours are we, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse, peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers, for your God helps you."  Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

19 And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle, but they didn't help them, for the lords of the Philistines on advisement sent him away, saying, "He will fall to his master Saul to the danger of our heads."

20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.

21 And they helped David against the band of the rovers, for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the host.

22 For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God.

23 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 the Lord.

24 The children of Judah that carried shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, ready armed to the war.

25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand one hundred.

26 Of the children of Levi four thousand six hundred.

27 And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand seven hundred,

28 And Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house twenty two captains.

29 And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, for until now the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.

30 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous throughout the house of their fathers.

31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were expressed by name, to come and make David king.

32 And of the children of Issachar, who 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 brothers were at their commandment.

33 Of Zebulun, such as went out to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, who could keep rank, they were not of double heart.

34 And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty seven thousand.

35 And of the Danites expert in war twenty eight thousand six hundred.

36 And of Asher, such as went out to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.

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

38 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.

39 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had prepared for them.

40 Also those who were near them, to 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.

___1_Chronicles chapter 13

1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.

2 And David said to all the congregation of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brothers everywhere, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and suburbs, so they can gather themselves to us,

3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we didn't inquire at it in the days of Saul."

4 And all the congregation said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even to the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.

6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, that belonged to Judah, to bring up there the ark of God the Lord, who lives between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.

7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to steady the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

10 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he struck him, because he put his hand on the ark, and there he died before God.

11 And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach on Uzza, so that place is called Perezuzza until this day.

12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, "How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?"

13 So David didn't bring the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months.  And the Lord blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.

___1_Chronicles chapter 14

1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build a house for him.

2 And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.

3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters.

4 Now these are the names of his children that he had in Jerusalem, Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,

5 And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,

6 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

7 And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

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

9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

10 And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines?  And will you deliver them into my hand?"  And the Lord said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand."

11 So they came up to Baalperazim, and David struck them there.  Then David said, "God has broken in on my enemies by my hand like the breaking forth of waters," therefore they called the name of that place Baalperazim.

12 And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.

14 Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "Don't go up after them, turn away from them, and come at them opposite the mulberry trees.

15 And it shall be, when you hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines."

16 David therefore did like God commanded him, and they struck the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.

17 And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him on all nations.

___1_Chronicles chapter 15

1 And David made houses for himself in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.

2 Then David said, "No one ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to him forever."

3 And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place that he had prepared for it.

4 And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites,

5 Of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and his brothers one hundred twenty,

6 Of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred twenty,

7 Of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brothers one hundred thirty,

8 Of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred,

9 Of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brothers eighty,

10 Of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brothers one hundred twelve.

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

12 And said to them, "You are the chief of the fathers of the Levites, make yourselves holy, both you and your brothers, so that you can bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it.

13 Since because you didn't do it before, the Lord our God made a breach on us, because we didn't seek him after the due order."

14 So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.

15 And the children of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with its staves, like Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord.

16 And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

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

18 And with them their brothers 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.

19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass,

20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth,

21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.

22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song, he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.

23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were door keepers for the ark.

24 And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew with the trumpets before the ark of God, and Obededom and Jehiah were door keepers for the ark.

25 So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obededom with joy.

26 And when God helped the Levites that bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.

27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that carried the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers, David also had on himself a ephod of linen.

28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

29 And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looking out of a window saw king David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart.

___1_Chronicles chapter 16

1 So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

2 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

3 And he dealt to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

4 And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel,

5 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,

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

7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brothers.

8 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the people.

9 Sing to him, sing psalms to him, talk of all his wondrous works.

10 Glory in his holy name, let the heart of those rejoice who seek the Lord.

11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.

12 Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,

13 O you seed of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 He is the Lord our God, his judgments are in all the earth.

15 Be mindful always of his covenant, the word that he commanded to a thousand generations,

16 Even of the covenant that he made with Abraham, and of his oath to Isaac,

17 And has confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

18 Saying, to you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance,

19 When you were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.

20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people,

21 He allowed no man to do them wrong, yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,

22 Saying, don't touch my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth, show forth from day to day his salvation.

24 Declare his glory among the heathen, his marvelous works among all nations.

25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, he also is to be feared above all gods.

26 For all the gods of the people are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

27 Glory and honor are in his presence, strength and gladness are in his place.

28 Give to the Lord, you kindreds of the people, give to the Lord glory and strength.

29 Give to the Lord the glory due to his name, bring an offering, and come before him, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

30 Fear before him, all the earth, the world also shall be stable, so that it's not moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let men say among the nations, the Lord rules.

32 Let the sea roar, and the fullness of it, let the fields rejoice, and all that is in it.

33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he comes to judge the earth.

34 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.

35 And say, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, so that we can give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.

36 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel forever and always.  And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord.

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

38 And Obededom with their brothers, sixty eight, Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters,

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

40 To offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, that he commanded Israel,

41 And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because his mercy endures forever,

42 And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who were to make a sound, and with musical instruments of God.  And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.

43 And all the people departed every man to his house, and David returned to bless his house.

___1_Chronicles chapter 17

1 Now as David sat in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, "See, I live in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remains under curtains."

2 Then Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."

3 And the same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4 "Go and tell David my servant, thus says the Lord, you shall not build me a house to live in,

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

6 Wherever I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, why haven't you built me a house of cedars?

7 Now therefore thus shall you say to my servant David, thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that you should be ruler over my people Israel,

8 And I have been with you wherever you have walked, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall live in their place, and shall be moved no more, nor shall the children of wickedness waste them anymore, as at the beginning,

10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel.  Also I will subdue all your enemies.  Furthermore I tell you that the Lord will build you a house.

11 And when your days are expired that you must go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendants after you, that shall be of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son, and I will not take my mercy away from him, like I took it from him that was before you,

14 But I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever."

15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.

16 And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me to this?

17 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O God, for you have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord God.

18 What can David speak more to you for the honor of your servant?  For you know your servant.

19 O Lord, for your servant's sake, and according to your own heart, you've done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

20 O Lord, there is no one like you, nor is there any God beside you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 And what nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make yourself a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before your people, whom you have redeemed out of Egypt?

22 For you made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, Lord, became their God.

23 Therefore now, Lord, let the thing that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have said.

24 Let it be established, so that your name will be magnified forever, saying, the Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, a God to Israel, and let the house of David your servant be established before you.

25 For you, O my God, have told your servant that you will build him a house, therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray before you.

26 And now, Lord, you are God, and have promised this goodness to your servant,

27 Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will be before you forever, for you bless, O Lord, and it shall be blessed forever."

___1_Chronicles chapter 18

1 Now after this David struck the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And he struck Moab, and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

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

4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand infantry, David also hacked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them a hundred chariots.

5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David killed of the Syrians twenty two thousand men.

6 Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus, and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts.  Thus the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

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

8 Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, David brought very much brass, with which Solomon made the brass sea, and the pillars, and the containers of brass.

9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had struck all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah,

10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and struck him, (for Hadarezer had war with Tou,) and with him all kinds of containers of gold and silver and brass.

11 King David dedicated those also to the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations, from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12 Also Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

13 And he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants.  Thus the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

14 So David ruled over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.

16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests, and Shavsha was scribe,

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

___1_Chronicles chapter 19

1 Now after this, Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son ruled instead of him.

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

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

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

5 Then some people went, and told David how the men were treated.  And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed.  And the king said, "Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves stink to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.

7 So they hired thirty two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and pitched before Medeba.  And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

8 And when David heard about it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city, and the kings that had come were by themselves in the field.

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

11 And the rest of the people he delivered to the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

12 And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God, and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight."

14 So Joab and the people that were with him went near before the Syrians to the battle, and they fled before him.

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

16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew out the Syrians that were beyond the river, and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

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

18 But the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians seven thousand men who fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants, nor would the Syrians help the children of Ammon anymore.

___1_Chronicles chapter 20

1 And after the year had expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led out the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah.  But David stayed at Jerusalem.  And Joab struck Rabbah, and destroyed it.

2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it, and it was set on David's head, and he brought also very much spoil out of the city.

3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes.  Thus did David deal with all the cities of the children of Ammon.  And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

4 And after this, there was war at Gezer with the Philistines, at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai, that was of the children of the giant, and they were subdued.

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

6 And still again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great height, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, and he also was the son of the giant.

7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother killed him.

8 These were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

___1_Chronicles chapter 21

1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to count Israel.

2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, "Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me, so I will know it."

3 And Joab answered, "The Lord make his people a hundred times as many more as they are, but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants?  Why then does my lord require this thing?  Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?"

4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab.  So Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

5 And Joab gave the total of the number of the people to David.  And all of those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men that drew sword, and Judah was four hundred seventy thousand men that drew sword.

6 But Levi and Benjamin he didn't count among them, for the king's word stank to Joab.

7 And God was displeased with this thing, therefore he struck Israel.

8 And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing, but now, I beg of you, put away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly."

9 And the Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,

10 "Go and tell David, saying, thus says the Lord, I offer you three things, choose one of them, so I can do it to you."

11 So Gad came to David, and said to him, thus says the Lord, make your choice of,

12 Either three years' famine, or three months to be destroyed before your enemies, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days the sword of the Lord, the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel.  Now therefore advise yourself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me."

13 And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress, let me fall now into the hand of the Lord, for very great are his mercies, but let me not fall into the hand of man."

14 So the Lord sent pestilence on Israel, and seventy thousand men fell of Israel.

15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, and as he was destroying, the Lord saw, and he changed his mind about the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, "It is enough, stop your hand now."  And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem.  Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.

17 And David said to God, "Is it not I that commanded the people to be counted?  It is I that has sinned and done evil indeed, but as for these sheep, what have they done?  Let your hand, please, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house, but not on your people, that they should be plagued."

18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, that he spoke in the name of the Lord.

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

21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

22 Then David said to Ornan, "Grant me the place of this threshing floor, so I can build an altar in it to the Lord, you shall grant it me for the full price, so that the plague will be stopped from the people."

23 And Ornan said to David, "Take it, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes, see, I give you the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering, I give it all."

24 And king David said to Ornan, "No, but I will truly buy it for the full price, for I will not take that which is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost."

25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

26 And David built an altar to the Lord there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord, and he answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.

27 And the Lord commanded the angel, and he put up his sword again into its sheath.

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

29 For the tabernacle of the Lord, that Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.

30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

___1_Chronicles chapter 22

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

2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel, and he set masons to cut stones to build the house of God.

3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings, and brass in abundance without weight,

4 Also cedar trees in abundance, for the Zidonians and inhabitants of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.

5 And David said, "Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be very magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries, I will therefore now make preparation for it."  So David prepared abundantly before his death.

6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel.

7 And David said to Solomon, "My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God,

8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, you have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars, you shall not build a house to my name, because you've shed much blood on the earth in my sight.

9 See, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around, for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.

10 He shall build a house for my name, and he shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.

11 Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and prosper you, and build the house of the Lord your God, as he has said about you.

12 Only the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, so you'll keep the law of the Lord your God.

13 Then you'll prosper, if you're careful to fulfill the statutes and judgments that the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel, be strong, and of good courage, don't be afraid, nor be discouraged.

14 Now see, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a million talents of silver, and of brass and iron without weight, for it is in abundance, I've also prepared timber and stone, and you can add to that.

15 Also there are workmen with you in abundance, cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of cunning men for every kind of work.

16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number.  Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with you."

17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,

18 "Is not the Lord your God with you?  And hasn't he given you rest on every side?  For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before his people.

19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God, arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy containers of God, into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord."

___1_Chronicles chapter 23

1 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

2 And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward, and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty eight thousand.

4 Of which, twenty four thousand were to advance the work of the house of the Lord, and six thousand were officers and judges,

5 Also four thousand were porters, and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments that I made, said David, to praise with them.

6 And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, specifically, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.

8 The sons of Laadan, the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

9 The sons of Shimei, Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three.  These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.

10 And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah.  These four were the sons of Shimei.

11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second, but Jeush and Beriah didn't have many sons, therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.

12 The sons of Kohath, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

13 The sons of Amram, Aaron and Moses, and Aaron was separated, so that he should make holy the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister to him, and to bless in his name forever.

14 Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.

16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.

17 And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief.  And Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

18 Of the sons of Izhar, Shelomith the chief.

19 Of the sons of Hebron, Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 Of the sons of Uzziel, Michah the first, and Jesiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari, Mahli, and Mushi.  The sons of Mahli, Eleazar, and Kish.

22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters, and their brothers the sons of Kish took them.

23 The sons of Mushi, Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 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 polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and older.

25 For David said, "The Lord God of Israel has given rest to his people, so they can live in Jerusalem forever,

26 And also to the Levites, they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any containers of it for the service of it."

27 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and older,

28 Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, in the courts, and in the rooms, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God,

29 Both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all kinds of measure and size,

30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening,

31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices to the Lord in the Sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded to them, continually before the Lord,

32 And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brothers, in the service of the house of the Lord.

___1_Chronicles chapter 24

1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron.  The sons of Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

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

3 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.

4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus they were divided.  Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.

5 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.

6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

11 The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,

12 The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

15 The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,

16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,

17 The twenty first to Jachin, the twenty second to Gamul,

18 The twenty third to Delaiah, the twenty fourth to Maaziah.

19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the Lord, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

20 And the rest of the sons of Levi were these, of the sons of Amram, Shubael, of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.

21 Concerning Rehabiah, of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.

22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth, of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.

23 And the sons of Hebron, Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

24 Of the sons of Uzziel, Michah, of the sons of Michah, Shamir.

25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah, of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.

26 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi, the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.

27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.

28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.

29 Concerning Kish, the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.

30 The sons also of Mushi, Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth.  These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.

31 These likewise drew straws opposite their brothers 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, the principal fathers opposite their younger brothers.

___1_Chronicles chapter 25

1 Also David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who would prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals, and the number of the workmen according to their service was,

2 Of the sons of Asaph, Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king.

3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord.

4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman, Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth,

5 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.

6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

7 So the number of them, with their brothers that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all that were cunning, was two hundred eighty eight.

8 And they drew straws, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph, the second to Gedaliah, who with his brothers and sons were twelve,

10 The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

11 The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

12 The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

13 The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

14 The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

15 The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

16 The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

17 The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

18 The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

19 The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

20 The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

23 The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

25 The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

26 The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

27 The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

28 The twenty first to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

29 The twenty second to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

30 The twenty third to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve,

31 The twenty fourth Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brothers, were twelve.

___1_Chronicles chapter 26

1 Concerning the divisions of the porters, of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.

2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.

4 Also the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,

5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth, for God blessed him.

6 Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father, for they were mighty men of valor.

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

8 All these of the sons of Obededom, they and their sons and their brothers, able men for strength for the service, were sixty two of Obededom.

9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, strong men, eighteen.

10 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,)

11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth, all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.

12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the Lord.

13 And they drew straws, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.

14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah.  Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they drew straws, and his lot came out northward.

15 To Obededom southward, and to his sons the house of Asuppim.

16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.

17 Eastward, there were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.

18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

19 These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.

20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.

21 As concerning the sons of Laadan, the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.

22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the Lord.

23 Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites,

24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.

25 And his brothers by Eliezer, Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.

26 Which Shelomith and his brothers 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.

27 Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord.

28 And all that Samuel the prophet, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, and whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brothers.

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.

30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the Lord, and in the service of the king.

31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers.  In the fortieth year of the rule of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.

32 And his brothers, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.

___1_Chronicles chapter 27

1 Now the children of Israel after their number, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, who came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty four thousand.

2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his course were twenty four thousand.

3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.

4 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 four thousand.

5 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 four thousand.

6 This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty, and in his course was Ammizabad his son.

7 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 four thousand.

8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite, and in his course were twenty four thousand.

9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim, and in his course were twenty four thousand.

11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites, and in his course were twenty four thousand.

12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites, and in his course were twenty four thousand.

13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites, and in his course were twenty four thousand.

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

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

16 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,

17 Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel, of the Aaronites, Zadok,

18 Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David, of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael,

19 Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah, of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel,

20 Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah, of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah,

21 Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah, of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner,

22 Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham.  These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.

23 But David didn't take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the heavens.

24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he didn't finish, because anger fell for it against Israel, nor was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.

25 And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel, and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah,

26 And over those who did the work of the field for tilling of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub,

27 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite, over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite,

28 And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the low plains was Baalhanan the Gederite, and over the cellars of oil was Joash,

29 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,

30 Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite, and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite,

31 And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite.  All these were the rulers of the substance that was king David's.

32 Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe, and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons,

33 And Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion,

34 And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar, and the general of the king's army was Joab.

___1_Chronicles chapter 28

1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by 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, to Jerusalem.

2 Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, "Hear me, my brothers, and my people, as for me, I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building,

3 But God said to me, "You shall not build a house for my name, because you have been a man of war, and have shed blood.

4 But the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for he has chosen Judah to be the ruler, and of the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel,

5 And of all my sons, (for the Lord has given me many sons,) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.

6 And he said to me, Solomon your son, he shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

7 Also I will establish his kingdom forever, if he's constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God, so that you'll possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you forever.

9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts, if you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will throw you off forever.

10 Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary, be strong, and do it."

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses of it, and of the treasuries of it, and of the upper rooms of it, and of the inner parlors of it, and of the place of the mercy seat,

12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the rooms all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things,

13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the containers of service in the house of the Lord.

14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all kinds of service, silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service,

15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps of it, and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps of it, according to the use of every candlestick.

16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of showbread, for every table, and likewise silver for the tables of silver,

17 Also pure gold for the flesh hooks, and the bowls, and the cups, and for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin, and likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver,

18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight, and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

19 "All this," David said, "the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand on me, all the works of this pattern."

20 And David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it, don't be afraid, nor be discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, will be with you, he will not fail you, nor forsake you, until you've finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

21 And see, the courses of the priests and the Levites, they shall be with you for all the service of the house of God, and there shall be with you for all kinds of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any kind of service, also the princes and all the people will be completely at your commandment."

___1_Chronicles chapter 29

1 Furthermore David the king said to all the congregation, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and tender, and the work is great, for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.

2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood, onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

3 Also, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of my own proper good, of gold and silver, that I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

4 Three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to plate the walls of the houses with,

5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of craftsmen.  And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day to the Lord?"

6 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,

7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

8 And those with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

9 Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord, and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

10 So David blessed the Lord before all the congregation, and David said, "Blessed be you, Lord God of Israel our father, forever and always.

11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty, for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is yours, yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all, and in your hand is power and might, and in your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all.

13 Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name.

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

15 For we are strangers before you, and visitors, as were all our fathers, our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no one abiding.

16 O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own.

17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness.  As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things, and now I've seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.

18 O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart toward you,

19 And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision."

20 And David said to all the congregation, "Now bless the Lord your God."  And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king.

21 And they sacrificed sacrifices to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings to the Lord, on the next day after that day, a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,

22 And ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great gladness.  And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him to the Lord to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.

23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.

24 And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves to Solomon the king.

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

26 Thus David the son of Jesse ruled over all Israel.

27 And the time that he ruled over Israel was forty years, he ruled seven years in Hebron, and he ruled thirty three years in Jerusalem.

28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor, and Solomon his son ruled instead of him.

29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, see, they are written in the book of Samuel the prophet, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,

30 With all his rule and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

___2_Chronicles chapter 1

1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, that Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness.

4 But the ark of God David had brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

5 Also the brass altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon and the congregation sought to it.

6 And Solomon went up there to the brass altar before the Lord, that was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you."

8 And Solomon said to God, "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me to rule instead of him.

9 Now, O Lord God, let your promise to David my father be established, for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, so that I can go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this your people, that are so many?"

11 And God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of your enemies, nor yet have asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, so you can judge my people, over whom I have made you king,

12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted to you, and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, nor after you shall any have the like."

13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and ruled over Israel.

14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen, and he had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and he made cedar trees as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance.

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

17 And they fetched up, and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty, and so they brought out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.

___2_Chronicles chapter 2

1 And Solomon determined to build a house for the name of the Lord, and a house for his kingdom.

2 And Solomon chose seventy thousand men to carry burdens, and eighty thousand to cut in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them.

3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, "As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house to live in, so deal with me.

4 See, I build a house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the Lord our God.  This is an ordinance forever to Israel.

5 And the house which I build is great, for great is our God above all gods.

6 But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens can't contain him?  Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except only to burn sacrifice before him?

7 Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.

8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill in cutting timber in Lebanon, and, see, my servants shall be with your servants,

9 To prepare me timber in abundance, for the house that I am about to build shall be wonderful great.

10 And see, I will give to your servants, the cutters that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil."

11 Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, that he sent to Solomon, "Because the Lord has loved his people, he has made you king over them."

12 Huram said also, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, who will build a house for the Lord, and a house for his kingdom.

13 And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,

14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson, also to engrave any kind of engraving, and to find out every device that shall be put to him, with your cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David your father.

15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, that my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants,

16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need, and we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa, and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem."

17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering that David his father had numbered them with, and they were found to be one hundred fifty thousand three thousand six hundred.

18 And he set seventy thousand of them to be carriers of burdens, and eighty thousand to be cutters in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set the people a work.

___2_Chronicles chapter 3

1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

2 And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his rule.

3 Now these are the things in which Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God.  The length by feet after the first measure was ninety, and the breadth thirty feet.

4 And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, thirty feet, and the height was one hundred eighty feet, and he plated it inside with pure gold.

5 And the greater house he ceiled with fir tree, which he plated with fine gold, and set on it palm trees and chains.

6 And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

7 He plated also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls of it, and the doors of it, with gold, and engraved cherubims on the walls.

8 And he made the most holy house, the length of which was according to the breadth of the house, thirty feet, and the breadth of it thirty feet, and he plated it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.

9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold.  And he plated the upper rooms with gold.

10 And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and plated them with gold.

11 And the wings of the cherubims were thirty feet long, one wing of the one cherub was seven and a half feet, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing was likewise seven and a half feet, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.

12 And one wing of the other cherub was seven and a half feet, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing was seven and a half feet also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.

13 The wings of these cherubims spread themselves out thirty feet, and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.

14 And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and made cherubims on it.

15 Also he made before the house two pillars of fifty two and a half feet high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was seven and a half feet.

16 And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars, and made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.

17 And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left, and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

___2_Chronicles chapter 4

1 Also he made an altar of brass, thirty feet the length of it, and thirty feet the breadth of it, and fifteen feet the height of it.

2 Also he made a sea of fifteen feet from brim to brim cast in the foundry, round in circle, and seven and a half feet the height of it, and a line of forty five feet surrounded it.

3 And under it was the likeness of oxen, that surrounded it, ten in eighteen inches, surrounding the sea all around.  Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.

4 It stood on 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 on them, and all their hind parts were inward.

5 And the thickness of it was a hand breadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies, and it received and held three thousand baths.

6 He made also ten wash basins, 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.

7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

8 He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left.  And he made a hundred basins of gold.

9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and plated the doors of them with brass.

10 And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, opposite the south.

11 And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins.  And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God,

12 Specifically, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters that were on the top of the pillars,

13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths, two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the pillars.

14 He made also bases, and wash basins he made on the bases,

15 One sea, and twelve oxen under it.

16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh hooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make for king Solomon for the house of the Lord of bright brass.

17 The king cast them in the plain of Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.

18 Thus Solomon made all these containers in great abundance, for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

19 And Solomon made all the containers that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables on which the showbread was set,

20 Also the candlesticks with their lamps, so that they would burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold,

21 And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, he made of gold, and that was perfect gold,

22 And the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold, and the entry of the house, the inner doors of it for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.

___2_Chronicles chapter 5

1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the Lord was finished, and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated, and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, he put among the treasures of the house of God.

2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.

3 So all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king in the feast that was in the seventh month.

4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark.

5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy containers that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.

6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled to him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubims,

8 For the cherubims spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves of it above.

9 And they pulled out the staves of the ark, so that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle, but they were not seen outside.  And there it is to this day.

10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tables that Moses put in it at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

11 And when the priests had come out of the holy place, (for all the priests that were present were made holy, and did not then wait by course,

12 Also the Levites that were the singers, all of those of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brothers, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred twenty priests sounding with trumpets,)

13 As the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, "For he is good, for his mercy endures forever," then the house was filled with a cloud, the house of the Lord,

14 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

___2_Chronicles chapter 6

1 Then Solomon said, "The Lord has said that he would live in the thick darkness.

2 But I have built a house of habitation for you, and a place for your dwelling forever.

3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel, and all the congregation of Israel stood.

4 And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has with his hands fulfilled what he spoke with his mouth to my father David, saying,

5 Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, so that my name would be there, nor did I choose any man to be a ruler over my people Israel,

6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there, and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

8 But the Lord said to David my father, since it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well in that it was in your heart,

9 But you shall not build the house, but your son who shall come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.

10 The Lord therefore has performed his word that he has spoken, for I've risen up in the office of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

11 And in it I have put the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel."

12 And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands,

13 For Solomon had made a brass scaffold, of seven and a half feet long, and seven and a half feet broad, and four and a half feet high, and had set it in the middle of the court, and on it he stood, and kneeled down on his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven,

14 And said, "O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heaven, nor in the earth, who keeps covenant, and showed mercy to your servants, that walk before you with all their hearts,

15 You who have kept with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, and spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day.

16 Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, there shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, yet so that your children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as you have walked before me.

17 Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let your word be verified, that you have spoken to your servant David.

18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?  See, heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain you, how much less this house that I have built!

19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and the prayer that your servant prays before you,

20 So that your eyes will be open on this house day and night, on the place about which you have said that you would put your name there, to listen to the prayer that your servant prays toward this place.

21 Listen therefore to the supplications of your servant, and of your people Israel, that they shall make toward this place, hear from your dwelling place, from heaven, and when you hear, forgive.

22 If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to make him swear, and the oath comes before your altar in this house,

23 Then hear from heaven, and do, and judge your servants, by requiting the wicked, by repaying his way on his own head, and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

24 And if your people Israel are put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and shall return and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house,

25 Then hear from the heavens, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their fathers.

26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you, yet if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you afflict them,

27 Then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you have taught them the good way, in which they should walk, and send rain on your land, that you have given to your people for an inheritance.

28 If there is drought in the land, if there's pestilence, if there's blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars, if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land, whatever disease or whatever sickness there is,

29 Then what prayer or whatever supplication shall be made of any man, or of all your people Israel, when everyone shall know his own trouble and his own grief, and shall spread out his hands in this house,

30 Then hear from heaven your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know, (for only you know the hearts of the children of men,)

31 So that they'll fear you, to walk in your ways, so long as they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.

32 Also concerning the stranger, that is not of your people Israel, but has come from a far country for your great name's sake, and your mighty hand, and your stretched out arm, if they come and pray in this house,

33 Then hear from the heavens, from your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to you for, so that all people of the earth will know your name, and fear you, as do your people Israel, and will know that this house that I have built is called by your name.

34 If your people go out to war against their enemies by the way that you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,

35 Then hear from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

36 If they sin against you, (for there is no man who doesn't sin,) and you are angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives to a land far off or near,

37 Yet if they think themselves in the land where they've been carried captive, and turn and pray to you in the land of their captivity, saying, we have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly,

38 If they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, that you gave to their fathers, and toward the city that you have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name,

39 Then hear from the heavens, from your dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.

40 Now, my God, let, I beg of you, your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

41 Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength, let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness.

42 O Lord God, don't turn away the face of your anointed, remember the mercies of David your servant."

___2_Chronicles chapter 7

1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.

3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, "For he is good, for his mercy endures forever."

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.

5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty two thousand oxen, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep, so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

6 And the priests waited on their offices, the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, that David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endures forever, when David praised by their ministry, and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

7 Also Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for he offered burnt offerings there, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brass altar that Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.

8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath to the river of Egypt.

9 And on the eighth day they made a solemn assembly, for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

10 And on the twenty third day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shown David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.

11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prospered.

12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon at night, and said to him, "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven so that there's no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people,

14 If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15 Now my eyes shall be open, and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

16 For now I've chosen and made this house holy, so that my name will be there forever, and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.

17 And as for you, if you'll walk before me, like David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and shall observe my statutes and my judgments,

18 Then I'll establish the throne of your kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David your father, saying, there shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel.

19 But if you turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, that I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them,

20 Then I'll pluck them up by the roots out of my land that I have given them, and this house, that I have made holy for my name, I'll throw out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

21 And this house, that is high, shall be an astonishment to everyone that passes by it, so that he shall say, why has the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house?

22 And it shall be answered, because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them, therefore he has brought all this evil on them."

___2_Chronicles chapter 8

1 And at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the Lord, and his own house,

2 The cities that Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to live there.

3 And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.

4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, that he built in Hamath.

5 Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the lower, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars,

6 And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

7 As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, that were not of Israel,

8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn't consume, Solomon made them pay tribute until this day.

9 But of the children of Israel,  Solomon didn't make any servants for his work, but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.

10 And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, two hundred fifty, that bore rule over the people.

11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, "My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, to which the ark of the Lord has come."

12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the Lord, that he had built before the porch,

13 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, in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.

14 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.

15 And they didn't depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.

16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared to the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, and until it was finished.  So the house of the Lord was perfected.

17 Then Solomon went to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.

18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea, and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

___2_Chronicles chapter 9

1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that carried spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones, and when she had come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

2 And Solomon told her all her questions, and there was nothing hidden from Solomon that he didn't tell her.

3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,

4 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, his cupbearers also, and their apparel, and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.

5 And she said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom,

6 But I didn't believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it, and see, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me, for you exceed the fame that I heard.

7 Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, that stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom.

8 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you to set you on his throne, to be king for the Lord your God, because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore he made you king over them, to do judgment and justice."

9 And she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones, neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.

10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.

11 And the king made from the algum trees terraces to the house of the Lord, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers, and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, beside that which she had brought to the king.  So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.

13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty six talents of gold,

14 Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought.  And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold, six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.

16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold, three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield.  And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

17 Also the king made a great throne of ivory, and plated it with pure gold.

18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, that were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays,

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

20 And all the drinking containers of king Solomon were of gold, and all the containers of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold, none were of silver, it was not anything accounted of in the days of Solomon.

21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram, once every three years came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

24 And every man brought his present, containers of silver, and containers of gold, and clothing, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

26 And he ruled over all the kings from the river to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.

27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem like stones, and cedar trees he made like the sycamore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.

28 And they brought to Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.

29 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?

30 And Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Chronicles chapter 10

1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

2 And when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

3 And they sent and called him.  So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

4 "Your father made our yoke grievous, now therefore ease somewhat the grievous servitude of your father, and his heavy yoke that he put on us, and we will serve you."

5 And he said to them, "Come back to me after three days."  And the people departed.

6 And king Rehoboam got advice with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, "What advice do you give me to answer these people?"

7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you'll be kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever."

8 But he forsook the advice that the old men gave him, and got advice from the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

9 And he said to them, "What do you advise me to answer these people, who have spoken to me, saying, ease somewhat the yoke that your father put on us?"

10 And the young men that were brought up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus shall you answer the people that spoke to you, saying, your father made our yoke heavy, but make it somewhat lighter for us, thus shall you say to them, my little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will put more to your yoke, my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king said, saying, "Come back to me on the third day."

13 And the king answered them roughly, and king Rehoboam forsook the advice of the old men,

14 And answered them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it, my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

15 So the king didn't listen to the people, for the cause was from God, so that the Lord would perform his word, that he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion do we have in David?  And we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse, every man to your tents, O Israel, and now, David, see to your own house."  So all Israel went to their tents.

17 But as for the children of Israel that lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them.

18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the taxes, and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, so that he died.  But king Rehoboam made speed to get up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

___2_Chronicles chapter 11

1 And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, so he could bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

2 But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

3 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

4 Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers, return every man to his house, for this thing is done of me."  And they obeyed the words of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

5 And Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

6 He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.

11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of food, and of oil and wine.

12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.

14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had thrown them out from executing the priest's office to the Lord,

15 And he ordained himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves that he had made.

16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.

17 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.

18 And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as his wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse,

19 Who bore him children, Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines, (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty eight sons, and sixty daughters.)

22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brothers, for he thought to make him king.

23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, to every fenced city, and he gave them food in abundance.  And he desired many wives.

___2_Chronicles chapter 12

1 And when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.

2 And in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord,

3 With twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen, and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.

4 And he took the fenced cities that pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus says the Lord, you have forsaken me, and therefore I've also left you in the hand of Shishak."

6 So then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves, and they said, "The Lord is righteous."

7 And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves, therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my anger shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

8 But they shall be his servants, so that they'll know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."

9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, he took all, he carried away also the shields of gold that Solomon had made.

10 Instead of which, king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.

11 And when the king entered into the house of the Lord, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard room.

12 And when he humbled himself, the anger of the Lord turned from him, so that he would not destroy him completely, and also in Judah things went well.

13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and ruled, for Rehoboam was forty one years old when he began to rule, and he ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there.  And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

14 And he did evil, because he didn't prepare his heart to seek the Lord.

15 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.

16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Chronicles chapter 13

1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abijah began to rule over Judah.

2 He ruled 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.

3 And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, four hundred thousand chosen men, Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valor.

4 And Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in Mount Ephraim, and said, "Hear me, Jeroboam, and all Israel,

5 Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, has risen up, and has rebelled against his lord.

7 And there are gathered to him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender hearted, and could not withstand them.

8 And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David, and you are a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, that Jeroboam made you for gods.

9 Have you not thrown out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made yourselves priests after the manner of the nations of other lands?  So that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same can be a priest of those that are not gods.

10 But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him, and the priests, who minister to the Lord, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait on their business,

11 And they burn to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense, the showbread also they set in order on the pure table, and the candlestick of gold with the lamps of it, to burn every evening, for we keep the charge of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken him.

12 And see, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you.  O children of Israel, don't fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper."

13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come behind them, so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

14 And when Judah looked back, see, the battle was before and behind, and they shouted to the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout, and as the men of Judah shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand.

17 And Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter, so there fell down killed of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers.

19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns of it, and Jeshanah with the towns of it, and Ephrain with the towns of it.

20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah, and the Lord struck him, and he died.

21 But Abijah grew mighty, and married fourteen wives, and fathered twenty two sons, and sixteen daughters.

22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.

___2_Chronicles chapter 14

1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son ruled instead of him.  In his days the land was quiet ten years.

2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God,

3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves,

4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images, and the kingdom was quiet before him.

6 And he built fenced cities in Judah, for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest.

7 Therefore he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side.  So they built and prospered.

8 And Asa had an army of men that carried targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin, that carried shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand, all these were mighty men of valor.

9 And Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them, with an army of a million, and three hundred chariots, and came to Mareshah.

10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 And Asa called to the Lord his God, and said, "Lord, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power, help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude.  O Lord, you are our God, don't let man prevail against you."

12 So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerar, and the Ethiopians were overthrown, so that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before his host, and they carried away very much spoil.

14 And they struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord came on them, and they spoiled all the cities, for there was very much spoil in them.

15 They struck also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

___2_Chronicles chapter 15

1 And the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded,

2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin, the Lord is with you, while you are with him, and if you seek him, he will be found of you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

3 Now for a long season Israel has been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.

4 But when they in their trouble did turn to the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.

5 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were on all the inhabitants of the countries.

6 And nation was destroyed by nation, and city by city, for God did vex them with all adversity.

7 Be strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."

8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the dirty idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities that he had taken from Mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the porch of the Lord.

9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers 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 the Lord his God was with him.

10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the rule of Asa.

11 And they offered to the Lord the same time, of the spoil that they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul,

13 So that whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

14 And they swore to the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.

16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove, and Asa cut down her idol, and stomped on it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel, but the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and containers.

19 And there was no more war until the thirty fifth year of the rule of Asa.

___2_Chronicles chapter 16

1 In the thirty sixth year of the rule of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah for the purpose of not letting anyone go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that lived at Damascus, saying,

3 "There is a league between me and you, as there was between my father and your father, see, I have sent you silver and gold, go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel, so he will depart from me."

4 And Benhadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

5 And when Baasha heard it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work stop.

6 Then Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber of it, with which Baasha was building, and he built with that Geba and Mizpah.

7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the host of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand.

8 Weren't the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen?  Yet, because you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand.

9 For the eyes of the Lord run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.  In this you have done foolishly, therefore from now on you shall have wars."

10 Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in a prison house, for he was in a rage with him because of this thing.  And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

11 And see, the acts of Asa, first and last are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12 And Asa in the thirty ninth year of his rule was diseased in his feet, until his disease was very great, yet in his disease he didn't seek to the Lord, but to the physicians.

13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty first year of his rule.

14 And they buried him in his own tomb, that he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed that was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art, and they made a very great burning for him.

___2_Chronicles chapter 17

1 And Jehoshaphat his son ruled instead of him, and strengthened himself against Israel.

2 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, that Asa his father had taken.

3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn't seek to Baalim,

4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord, also he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

7 Also in the third year of his rule he sent to his princes, to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

8 And with them he sent Levites, 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.

9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went around throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

10 And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver, and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he goats.

12 And Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly, and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.

13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah, and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem.

14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers, of Judah, the captains of thousands, Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand.

15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand.

16 And next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

17 And of Benjamin, Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready prepared for the war.

19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

___2_Chronicles chapter 18

1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria.  And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.

3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramothgilead?"  And he answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the war."

4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire, please, at the word of the Lord today."

5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I not go?"  And they said, "Go up, for God will deliver it into the king's hand."

6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Isn't there another prophet of the Lord here, so we can inquire from him?"

7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man, by whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesied good to me, but always evil, the same is Micaiah the son of Imla."  And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."

8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, "Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla."

9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat both of them on their thrones, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made for himself horns of iron, and said, "Thus says the Lord, with these you shall push Syria until they are consumed."

11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king."

12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "See, the words of the prophets declare good to the king unanimously, please let your word therefore, be like one of theirs, and speak good."

13 And Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, what my God says, that's will I'll say."

14 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I refrain from going?"  And he said, "Go up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand."

15 And the king said to him, "How many times shall I warn you to say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord?"

16 Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd, and the Lord said, These have no master, let them return therefore every man to his house in peace."

17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he would not prophesy good to me, but evil?"

18 Again he said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord, I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing at his right hand and on his left.

19 And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, to go up and fall at Ramothgilead?  And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him.  And the Lord said to him, how?

21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.  And the Lord said, you shall entice him, and you shall also prevail, go out, and do so.

22 Now therefore, see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the Lord has spoken evil against you."

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?"

24 And Micaiah said, "See, you'll see on that day when you shall go into an inner room to hide yourself."

25 Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son,

26 And say, thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace."

27 And Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, then the Lord has not spoken by me."  And he said, "Listen, all you people."

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle, but you put on your robes."  So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went to the battle.

30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, "Don't fight with small or great, but only with the king of Israel."

31 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel."  Therefore they surrounded him to fight, but Jehoshaphat shouted out, and the Lord helped him, and God moved them to depart from him.

32 For when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

33 And a certain man drew a bow by chance, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the harness, therefore he said to his chariot man, "Turn your hand, so you can carry me out of the host, for I am wounded."

34 And the battle increased that day, but the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening, and about the time of the sun going down he died.

___2_Chronicles chapter 19

1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the ungodly, and love those who hate the Lord?  Therefore there is anger against you from before the Lord.

3 But there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God."

4 And Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem, and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers.

5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

6 And said to the judges, "Take heed what you do, for you judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment.

7 So now let the fear of the Lord be on you, take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes."

8 Also in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat set some of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.

9 And he charged them, saying, "Thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

10 And whatever cause shall come to you of your brothers that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall warn them that not to trespass against the Lord, and so anger come against you, and on your brothers, this do, and you shall not trespass.

11 And see, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters, also the Levites shall be officers before you.  Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good."

___2_Chronicles chapter 20

1 After this also, the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them others beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea on this side of Syria, and see, they are in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi."

3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord, out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,

6 And said, "O Lord God of our fathers, aren't you God in heaven?  And don't you rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen?  And in your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you?

7 Aren't you our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and gave it to the seed of Abraham your friend forever?

8 And they lived in it, and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying,

9 If, when evil comes on 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 to you in our affliction, then you will hear and help.

10 And now, see, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and didn't destroy them,

11 See, I say, how they reward us, to come to throw us out of your possession, that you've given us to inherit.

12 O our God, will you not judge them?  For we have no might against this great company that comes against us, neither do we know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

14 Then on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, the Spirit of the Lord came among the congregation,

15 And he said, "Listen all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, thus says the Lord to you, be not afraid nor discouraged by reason of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

16 Tomorrow go down against them, see, they come up by the cliff of Ziz, and you shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 You shall not need to fight in this battle, set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem, don't be afraid, nor be discouraged, tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord will be with you."

18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.

19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa, and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established, believe his prophets, so shall you prosper."

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, "Praise the Lord, for his mercy endures forever."

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who had come against Judah, and they were struck.

23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, to completely kill and destroy them, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.

24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked to the multitude, and, see, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and no one escaped.

25 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.

26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the Lord, therefore the name of the same place was called, the valley of Berachah, to this day.

27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets to the house of the Lord.

29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

31 And Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah, he was thirty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled twenty five years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn't depart from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord.

33 But the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts to the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, see, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

35 And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly,

36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Eziongeber.

37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has broken your works."  And the ships were broken, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

___2_Chronicles chapter 21

1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David.  And Jehoram his son ruled instead of him.

2 And he had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah, all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah, but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.

4 Now when Jehoram had risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and killed all his brothers with the sword, and various also of the princes of Israel.

5 Jehoram was thirty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eight years in Jerusalem.

6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like the house of Ahab, for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife, and he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

7 But the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever.

8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.

9 Then Jehoram went out with his princes, and all his chariots with him, and he rose up at night, and struck the Edomites that were surrounding, and the captains of the chariots.

10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day.  At the same time, Libnah also revolted from under his hand, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers.

11 Also he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah to do that.

12 And a writing came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, "Thus says the Lord God of David your father, because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

13 But have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers of your father's house, who were better than you,

14 See, with a great plague the Lord will strike your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your goods,

15 And you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out because of the sickness day by day.

16 Also the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians,

17 And they came up into Judah, and broke 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 no son left to him, except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

18 And after all this the Lord struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

19 And in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out because of his sickness, so he died of severe diseases.  And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.

20 He was thirty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired.  But they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

___2_Chronicles chapter 22

1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king instead of him, for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the eldest.  So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah ruled.

2 Ahaziah was forty two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled one year in Jerusalem.  His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.

4 So he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father to his destruction.

5 He walked also following their advice, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead, and the Syrians struck Joram.

6 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds that were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.  And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.

7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram, for when he had come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

8 And when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he killed them.

9 And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him, (for he was hidden in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu, and when they had killed him, they buried him, "Because," they said, "he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart."  So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep the kingdom.

10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she got up and destroyed all the royal descendants of the house of Judah.

11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were killed, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom.  So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she didn't kill him.

12 And he was with them hidden in the house of God six years, and Athaliah ruled over the land.

___2_Chronicles chapter 23

1 And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.

2 And they went around in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God.  And he said to them, "See, the king's son shall rule, as the Lord has said about the sons of David.

4 This is the thing that you shall do, one third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors,

5 And one third shall be at the king's house, and one third at the gate of the foundation, and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.

6 But let no one come into the house of the Lord, except the priests, and those who minister of the Levites, they shall go in, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord.

7 And the Levites shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand, and whoever else comes into the house, he shall be put to death, but be with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out."

8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest didn't dismiss the courses.

9 Also Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, who were in the house of God.

10 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king all around.

11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony, and made him king.  And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, "God save the king."

12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lord,

13 And she looked, and see, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and those who taught the singing of praise.  Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, "Treason, treason."

14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said to them, "Take her out of range, and whoever follows her, let him be killed with the sword."  For the priest said, "Don't kill her in the house of the Lord."

15 So they laid hands on her, and when she had come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they killed her there.

16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the Lord's people.

17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the Lord by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.

19 And he set the door keepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was unclean in anything would enter in.

20 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the Lord, and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.

21 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, after they had killed Athaliah with the sword.

___2_Chronicles chapter 24

1 Joash was seven years old when he began to rule, and he ruled forty years in Jerusalem.  His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.

2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

3 And Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he fathered sons and daughters.

4 And after this, Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord.

5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and make sure you hasten the matter.  But the Levites didn't hasten it.

6 And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, "Why have you not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the Lord, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?"

7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God, and also all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord did they bestow on Baalim.

8 And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the Lord.

9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.

10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and threw into the chest, until they had made an end.

11 Now at the time the chest was brought to the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it back to its place.  Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord, and also such as made iron and brass to mend the house of the Lord.

13 So the workmen worked, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in its state, and strengthened it.

14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, from which containers were made for the house of the Lord, containers to minister, and to offer with, and spoons, and containers of gold and silver.  And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.

15 But Jehoiada became old, and was full of days when he died, he was one hundred thirty years old when he died.

16 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.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came, and made obeisance to the king.  Then the king listened to them.

18 And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols, and anger came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.

19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to the Lord, and they testified against them, but they would not listen.

20 And the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God, why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you can't prosper?  Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has also forsaken you."

21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord.

22 Thus Joash the king didn't remember the kindness that Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son.  And when he died, he said, "The Lord look at it, and require it."

23 And at the end of the year, the host of Syria came up against him, and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them to the king of Damascus.

24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the Lord delivered a very large army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.  So they executed judgment against Joash.

25 And when they had 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 killed him on his bed, and he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they didn't bury him in the tombs of the kings.

26 And these are those who conspired against him, Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.

27 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the repairing of the house of God, see, they are written in the story of the book of the kings.  And Amaziah his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Chronicles chapter 25

1 Amaziah was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled twenty nine years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.

3 Now when the kingdom was established to him, he killed his servants that had killed the king his father.

4 But he didn't kill their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not die for the children, nor shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin."

5 Also Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

6 He hired also one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver.

7 But a man of God came to him, saying, "O king, don't let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel, specifically, with all the children of Ephraim.

8 But if you will go, do it, be strong for the battle, God shall make you fall before the enemy, for God has power to help, and to cast down."

9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?"  And the man of God answered, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this."

10 Then Amaziah separated them, specifically, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again, so their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.

11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led out his people, and went to the valley of salt, and struck of the children of Seir ten thousand.

12 And another ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock, so that they were all broken in pieces.

13 But the soldiers of the army that Amaziah sent back, so that they wouldn't go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Bethhoron, and struck three thousand of them, and took much spoil.

14 Now after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, 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 to them.

15 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him, "Why have you sought after the gods of the people, that could not deliver their own people out of your hand?"

16 And as he talked with him, the king said to him, "Are you made of the king's counsel?  Stop, why should you be struck?"  Then the prophet stopped, and said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my advice."

17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us see each other in the face."

18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thorn that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, give your daughter to my son as wife, and a wild animal passed by that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thistle.

19 You say, see, you have struck the Edomites, and your heart lifts you up to boast.  Stay at home now, why should you meddle to your hurt, so that you'll fall, you, and Judah with you?"

20 But Amaziah would not listen, for it came of God, so that he would deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.

21 So Joash the king of Israel went up, and they saw each other in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, that belongs to Judah.

22 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.

23 And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, two hundred yards.

24 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the containers that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

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

26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, see, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

27 Now after the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent to Lachish after him, and killed him there.

28 And they brought him on horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

___2_Chronicles chapter 26

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

2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to rule, and he ruled fifty two years in Jerusalem.  His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.

6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities around Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that lived in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.

8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, and his name spread around even to the entering in of Egypt, for he strengthened himself very much.

9 Also Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.

10 Also he built towers in the desert, and dug many wells, for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains, farmers also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel, for he loved farming.

11 Also Uzziah had an army 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.

12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand six hundred.

13 And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and chain mail vests, and bows, and slings to throw stones.

15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and on the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones with.  And his name spread far abroad, for he was marvelously helped, 'til he was strong.

16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of the Lord, that were valiant men,

18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, "It doesn't pertain to you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense, go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed, nor shall it be for your honor from the Lord God."

19 Then Uzziah was angry, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar.

20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked at him, and see, he was leprous in his forehead, and they threw him out of there, yes, he himself hurried also to go out, because the Lord had struck him.

21 And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a several house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord, and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.

22 Now Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last.

23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial that belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper," and Jotham his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Chronicles chapter 27

1 Jotham was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem.  His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did, but he didn't enter into the temple of the Lord.  And the people did yet corruptly.

3 He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.

4 Also he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them.  And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley.  So much did the children of Ammon pay to him, both the second year, and the third.

6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.

7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

8 He was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem.

9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Chronicles chapter 28

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to rule, and he ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem, but he didn't do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father,

2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also images cast in the foundry for Baalim.

3 Also he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the dirty things of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 So the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria, and they struck 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 struck him with a great slaughter.

6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, who were all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.

8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them, "See, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.

10 And now you purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bond women for you, but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?

11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, that you have taken captive of your brothers, for the fierce anger of the Lord is on you."

12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,

13 And said to them, "You shall not bring in the captives here, for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, you intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass, for our trespass is great, and there is fierce anger against Israel."

14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

15 And the men who 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 put shoes on them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them on asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers, then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.

17 For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah, and carried away captives.

18 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 of it, and Timnah with the villages of it, Gimzo also and the villages of it, and they lived there.

19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he made Judah naked, and transgressed severely against the Lord.

20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came to him, and distressed him, but didn't strengthen him.

21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria, but he didn't help him.

22 And in the time of his distress he trespassed yet more against the Lord, this is that king Ahaz.

23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, who struck him, and he said, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, so they will help me."  But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

24 And Ahaz gathered together the containers of the house of God, and cut in pieces the containers of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.

26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, but they didn't bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel, and Hezekiah his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Chronicles chapter 29

1 Hezekiah began to rule when he was twenty five years old, and he ruled twenty nine years in Jerusalem.  And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

3 In the first year of his rule, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them.

4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,

5 And said to them, "Hear me, you Levites, make yourselves holy now, and make the house of the Lord God of your fathers holy, and carry the filthiness out of the holy place.

6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned their faces away from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs.

7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.

8 So the anger of the Lord was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as you see with your eyes.

9 For see, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.

10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.

11 My sons, don't be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that you should minister to him, and burn incense.

12 Then the Levites got up, 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,

13 And of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri, and Jeiel, and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah, and Mattaniah,

14 And of the sons of Heman, Jehiel, and Shimei, and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah, and Uzziel.

15 And they gathered their brothers, and made themselves holy, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord.

16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord.  And the Levites took it, to carry it out into the brook Kidron.

17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to make holy, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of the Lord, so they made the house of the Lord holy in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.

18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, "We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the containers of it, and the showbread table, with all the containers of it.

19 Also all the containers that king Ahaz in his rule threw away in his transgression, we have prepared and made holy, and see, they are before the altar of the Lord.

20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.

21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah.  And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord.

22 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 on the altar, they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood on the altar.

23 And they brought the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation, and they laid their hands on them,

24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood on the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel, for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

25 And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet, for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets.

26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering on the altar.  And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.

28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded, and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.

30 Also, Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer.  And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, "Now you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord."  And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a free heart, burnt offerings.

32 And the number of the burnt offerings, that the congregation brought, was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs, all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord.

33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.

34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings, so their brothers the Levites helped them, 'til the work had ended, and until the other priests had made themselves holy, for the Levites were more upright in heart to make themselves holy than the priests.

35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering.  So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order.

36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people, for the thing was done suddenly.

___2_Chronicles chapter 30

1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel.

2 For the king had taken advice, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month.

3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not made themselves holy sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.

5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem, for they had not done it for a long time the way that it was written.

6 So the messengers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, "You children of Israel, turn again to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

7 And don't be like your fathers, and like your brothers, who trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as you see.

8 Now don't be stiff necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, that he has made holy forever, and serve the Lord your God, so that the fierceness of his anger will turn away from you.

9 For if you turn again to the Lord, your brothers and your children shall find compassion before those who lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.

10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh to Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

11 But various of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord.

13 And many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.

14 And they got up and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense, and threw them into the brook Kidron.

15 Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month, and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and made themselves holy, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord.

16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God, the priests sprinkled the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites.

17 For there were many in the congregation that were not made holy, therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the Passovers for everyone that was not clean, to make them holy to the Lord.

18 For a multitude of the people, many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than it was written.  But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "The good Lord pardon everyone

19 That prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he's not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary."

20 And the Lord listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

21 And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments to the Lord.

22 And Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord, and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers.

23 And the whole assembly took advice to keep another seven days, and they kept another seven days with gladness.

24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep, and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep, and a great number of priests made themselves holy.

25 And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that lived in Judah, rejoiced.

26 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.

27 Then the priests the Levites got up and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, to heaven.

___2_Chronicles chapter 31

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had completely destroyed them all.  Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

2 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 the Lord.

3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, specifically, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the Lord.

4 Also, he commanded the people that lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, so that they would be encouraged in the law of the Lord.

5 And as soon as the commandment came around, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field, and the tithe of all things they brought in abundantly.

6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things that were consecrated to the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps.

7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord, and his people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, "Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty, for the Lord has blessed his people, and what is left is this great store."

11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them,

12 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.

13 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.

14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord, and the most holy things.

15 And next to him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brothers by courses, as well to the great as to the small,

16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, to everyone that enters into the house of the Lord, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses,

17 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,

18 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 made holy themselves in holiness,

19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, that 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.

20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and did that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God.

21 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.

___2_Chronicles chapter 32

1 After these things, and the establishment of it, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.

2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

3 He took advice with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains that were outside the city, and they helped him.

4 So many people were gathered together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the middle of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?"

5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall outside, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.

6 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 spoke comfortably to them, saying,

7 "Be strong and courageous, don't be afraid nor discouraged for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him, for there are more with us than with him,

8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles."  And the people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,

10 "Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, on what do you trust, that you stay in the siege in Jerusalem?

11 Doesn't Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

12 Hasn't the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, you shall worship before one altar, and burn incense on it?

13 Don't you know what I and my fathers have done to all the people of other lands?  Were the gods of the nations of those lands in any way able to deliver their lands out of my hand?

14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers completely destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?

15 Now therefore don't let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you this way, nor believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers, how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?"

16 And his servants spoke yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

17 He wrote also letters to rail at the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, "As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand."

18 Then they shouted with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to make afraid them, and to trouble them, so that they would take the city.

19 And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, like against the gods of the people of the earth, who were the work of the hands of man.

20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and called to heaven.

21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria.  So he returned with shame of face to his own land.  And when he had come into the house of his god, those who came out of his own body killed him there with the sword.

22 Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.

23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from then on.

24 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and prayed to the Lord, and he spoke to him, and he gave him a sign.

25 But Hezekiah didn't give back according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was lifted up, therefore there was anger against him, and on Judah and Jerusalem.

26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the anger of the Lord didn't come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very much riches and honor, and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all kinds of pleasant jewels,

28 Store houses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil, and stalls for all kinds of beasts, and cotes for flocks.

29 Also he provided himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him substance very much.

30 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.

31 But in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to test him, so that he would know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, see, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the best of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death.  And Manasseh his son ruled instead of him.

___2_Chronicles chapter 33

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to rule, and he ruled fifty five years in Jerusalem,

2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like the dirty things of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For he built again the high places that Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, about which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem shall my name be forever."

5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom, also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards, he made much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, about which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever,

8 Neither will I anymore remove the foot of Israel from out of the land that I have appointed for your fathers, so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses."

9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.

10 And the Lord spoke to Manasseh, and to his people, but they would not listen.

11 So the Lord brought against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

13 And prayed to him, and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.  Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

14 Now after this he built a wall outside the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, to the entering in at the fish gate, and surrounded Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.

15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

16 And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on it peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.

17 But the people sacrificed still in the high places, yet to the Lord their God only.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers that spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.

19 His prayer also, and how God was entreated by him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up groves and engraved images, before he was humbled, see, they are written among the sayings of the seers.

20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house, and Amon his son ruled instead of him.

21 Amon was twenty two years old when he began to rule, and ruled two years in Jerusalem.

22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father, for Amon sacrificed to all the carved images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them,

23 And didn't humble himself before the Lord, like Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but Amon trespassed more and more.

24 And his servants conspired against him, and killed him in his own house.

25 But the people of the land killed all of those who had conspired against king Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king instead of him.

___2_Chronicles chapter 34

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to rule, and he ruled in Jerusalem thirty one years.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

3 For in the eighth year of his rule, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the images cast in foundry.

4 And they broke down the altars of Baalim in his presence, and he cut down the images that were on high above them, and the groves, and the carved images, and the images cast in the foundry, he broke in pieces, and made dust of them, and strawed it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

5 And he burnt the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, to Naphtali, with their mattocks all around.

7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his rule, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, that the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and they returned to Jerusalem.

10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the Lord, and they gave it to the workmen that worked in the house of the Lord, to repair and amend the house,

11 They gave it to the craftsmen and builders, to buy cut stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed.

12 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 set it forward, and other of the Levites, all that were skillful with instruments of music.

13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that made the work in any kind of service, and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses.

15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord."  And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.

16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, "All that was committed to your servants, they do it.

17 And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen."

18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book."  And Shaphan read it before the king.

19 And when the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying,

21 "Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found, for great is the anger of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book."

22 And Hilkiah, and those who 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 lived in Jerusalem in the college,) and they spoke to her to that effect.

23 And she answered them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, tell the man that sent you to me,

24 Thus says the Lord, see, I will bring evil on this place, and on the inhabitants of it, all the curses that are written in the book that they have read before the king of Judah,

25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they would provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my anger shall be poured out on this place, and shall not be quenched.

26 And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the words that you have heard,

27 Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, and humbled yourself before me, and tore your clothes, and wept before me, I have heard you also, says the Lord.

28 See, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring on this place, and on the inhabitants of it."  So they brought the king word again.

29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

30 And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small, and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord.

31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that are written in this book.

32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it.  And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

33 And Josiah took away all the dirty things out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God.  And all his days they didn't depart from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.

___2_Chronicles chapter 35

1 Also Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord,

3 And said to the Levites that taught all Israel, who were holy to the Lord, "Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon the son of David king of Israel built, it shall not be a burden on your shoulders, serve now the Lord your God, and his people Israel,

4 And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.

5 And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brothers the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.

6 So kill the Passover, and make yourselves holy, and prepare your brothers, so they'll do according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

7 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.

8 And his princes gave willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites, Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings two thousand six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.

9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave to the Levites for Passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.

10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.

11 And they killed the Passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

12 And they removed the burnt offerings, so that they would give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses.  And they did so with the oxen.

13 And they roasted the Passover with fire according to the ordinance, but the other holy offerings they sod in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.

14 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.

15 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 didn't depart from their service, for their brothers the Levites prepared for them.

16 So all the service of the Lord was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josiah.

17 And the children of Israel that were present kept the Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.

18 And there was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet, neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

19 In the eighteenth year of the rule of Josiah this Passover was kept.

20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him.

21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, "What do I have to do with you, king of Judah?  I don't come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war, for God commanded me to make haste, refrain meddling with God, who is with me, so he doesn't destroy you."

22 But Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, so he could fight with him, and didn't listen to the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

23 And the archers shot at king Josiah, and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am severely wounded."

24 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 tombs of his fathers.  And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and the singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel, and see, they are written in the lamentations.

26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the Lord,

27 And his deeds, first and last, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

___2_Chronicles chapter 36

1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king instead of his father in Jerusalem.

2 Jehoahaz was twenty three years old when he began to rule, and he ruled three months in Jerusalem.

3 And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim.  And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.

5 Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eleven years in Jerusalem, and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.

6 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.

7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the containers of the house of the Lord to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.

8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his dirty things that he did, and that which was found in him, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, and Jehoiachin his son ruled instead of him.

9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to rule, and he ruled three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

10 And when the year had expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly containers of the house of the Lord, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

11 Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to rule, and ruled eleven years in Jerusalem.

12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and didn't humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord.

13 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 to the Lord God of Israel.

14 Also, all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much according to all the dirty things of the heathen, and polluted the house of the Lord that he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up at times, and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place,

16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and mistreated his prophets, until the anger of the Lord came up against his people, 'til there was no remedy.

17 Therefore he brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age, he gave them all into his hand.

18 And all the containers of the house of God, large and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.

19 And they burned the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all the palaces of it with fire, and destroyed all the goodly containers of it.

20 And those who had escaped from the sword, he carried away to Babylon, where they were servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia,

21 To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths, for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah would be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

23 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  Who is there among you of all his people?  The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up."