45 Bible Verses about Wicked

Jehovah sent you on a mission. He said: Go and destroy those sinners, the Amalekites. Fight against them until every one is dead.

You felt sure of yourself in your evil. You thought that no one could see you. Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray. Then you said to yourself: 'I am God! There is no one else like me.'

Jehovah sent an angel who exterminated all the soldiers, officials, and commanders in the Assyrian king's camp. Sennacherib was humiliated and returned to his own country. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him with a sword.

While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer assassinated him. They escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon succeeded him as king.

Lot rushed out to tell his sons-in-law: Hurry! Get out of the city! Jehovah is going to destroy it. But the young men thought he was only joking.

Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar. So he and his two daughters moved up into the hills and lived in a cave. The older daughter said to her sister: Our father is getting old. There are no men in the whole world to marry us so we can have children. Come, let us get our father drunk. Then we can sleep with him and have children by him. read more.
That night they gave him wine to drink. The older daughter had intercourse with him. But he was so drunk that he did not know it. The next day the older daughter said to her sister: I slept with him last night. Let us get him drunk again tonight, and you sleep with him. Then each of us will have a child by our father. So that night they got him drunk. The younger daughter had intercourse with him. Again he was so drunk that he did not know it. Both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their own father. The older daughter had a son, whom she named Moab. He was the ancestor of the present-day Moabites. The younger daughter also had a son, whom she named Ben-ammi. He was the ancestor of the present-day Ammonites.

The sons of Eli were corrupt. They did not know Jehovah.

Eli was very old. He heard everything his sons did to Israel. He heard how they slept with the women who served at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So he said to them: Why do you do such things? I hear of your evil dealings by all the people. No, my sons. It is not a good report that I hear. You make Jehovah's people transgress. read more.
If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against Jehovah, who will intercede for him? But his sons did not listen to the voice of their father. Jehovah desired to put them to death.

Elisha left Jericho to go to Bethel. On the way some boys came out of a town and taunted and made fun of him. They shouted: Get out of here, baldy! Elisha turned around and glared at them. He cursed them in the name of Jehovah. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys to pieces.

So these nations worshiped Jehovah and they still served the images (idols) they had made. Their children and their children's children did the same. They do just as their fathers did to this very day.

While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer assassinated him. They escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon succeeded him as king.

He sinned against Jehovah, following the wicked example of his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel, and King Jeroboam, who had led Israel into sin.

He followed all the practices of his father. He was a servant and worshipper of the false gods to which his father had been a servant.

He was not completely loyal to Jehovah his God as his great-grandfather David had been. He committed the same sins as his father did.

He (Noah) said: Canaan is cursed! He will be a lowly slave to his brothers.

The sons did not follow their father's example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice.

Adonijah, son of Haggith, was very handsome. His mother gave birth to him after Maacah had Absalom. Adonijah boasted about himself, saying, I will be king. He got a chariot and horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.

Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was laughing in mockery.

In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah. He ruled three years as king in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. He was not completely loyal to Jehovah his God as his great-grandfather David had been. He committed the same sins as his father did. read more.
For David's sake Jehovah his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising Abijam a son to rule after him to keep Jerusalem secure. Jehovah did this because David had done what was right in Jehovah's eyes. He obeyed his commandments, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. Abijam continued the war that Rehoboam and Jeroboam started. There was war throughout Abijam's lifetime. Everything else that Abijah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. Then Abijam went to rest with his fathers, and they buried him in the earth in the town of David. Asa his son became king in his place.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah. He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the disgusting ways of those nations Jehovah sent out before the children of Israel. He built the high places that Hezekiah his father destroyed. He made altars for Baal. Then he made an Asherah as Ahab, king of Israel, had done. Manasseh was a worshipper and servant of all the stars of heaven. read more.
He built heathen altars in the Temple of Jehovah. The same Temple that Jehovah spoke of when he said: In Jerusalem will I put my name. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in the two outer courts of the Temple of Jehovah. He made his own son pass through fire. He burned him as an offering to Molech. He practiced reading the future; gave positions to those who had control of spirits and to wonder-workers. He did much evil in the eyes of Jehovah and provoked him to anger. He made an image of the goddess Asherah and set it in the Temple of Jehovah. This is the same Temple that Jehovah said to David and to Solomon his son: In this house, and in Jerusalem, the town which I have made mine out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever (for a very long time). And never again will I send the feet of Israel wandering from the land that I gave to their fathers. If only they will take care to do all my orders, and obey all the law my servant Moses gave them. But they would not listen. Manasseh enticed them to do evil. In fact they committed more evil than the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel. Jehovah said through his servants the prophets: Manasseh king of Judah committed detestable sins. He did more evil than all the Amorites before him. He enticed Judah to do evil with his false gods. Because of this,' says Jehovah the God of Israel: 'I will send such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of all who hear of it will burn. The line of Samaria and the weight of Ahab will be stretched over Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be washed clean as a plate is washed, and turned over on its face. I will discard the rest of my heritage. I will give them into the hands of their enemies. They will take their property and their goods for themselves. Because they have done evil in my eyes. They moved me to anger from the day their fathers came out of Egypt till this day.' Even more, Manasseh killed many innocent men. He filled Jerusalem from one end to the other with blood. He also caused Judah to sin and do evil in the eyes of Jehovah. Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all he did, and his sins, are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. So Manasseh went to rest with his fathers. He was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza. Amon his son became king in his place.

Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim against her that Jehovah has seen their terrible wickedness.

Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests' duties must be put to death.

You brought godless foreigners into my holy place. You dishonored my temple when you offered fat and blood to me. You rejected my promise so that you could do all your disgusting things.

Jeroboam built worship sites on hilltops. He appointed men who were not descended from Levi to be priests.

King Jeroboam of Israel still did not turn from his evil ways. He continued to choose priests from ordinary families to serve at the altars he had built. He ordained as priest anyone who wanted to be one.

So they worshipped Jehovah. They appointed priests from the people for the high places. The priests were to make offerings for them in the houses of the high places.

The chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria the bathing-place of the loose women. Dogs were drinking his blood there, as Jehovah said.

He will take away the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his officials.

Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, 'I will pay you back in this field,' declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted.

Jehovah became angry at Israel again. He provoked David to turn against Israel. He said: Go count the people of Israel and Judah. King David said to Joab the commander of the army: Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are. Joab answered reluctantly: Your Majesty, may Jehovah your God make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now. May you live to see him do it. But why does Your Majesty want to do this? read more.
The king made Joab and his officers obey his order. They left his presence and went out to count the people of Israel. They crossed the Jordan and camped south of Aroer, the city in the middle of the valley, in the territory of Gad. Then they went north to Jazer. They went to Gilead and to Kadesh in Syria. Then they went to Dan (Dan-jaan), Ijon, and on toward Sidon. They came to the fortress of Tyre. They went through every town of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Finally, they went to Beersheba in the Southern Desert of Judah. After they went through the whole land, they went back to Jerusalem. It took them nine months and twenty days. Joab told David: In Israel there is eight hundred thousand who can serve in the army. In Judah there are five hundred thousand.

Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel. He made David decide to take a census. David gave orders to Joab and the other officers. He said: Go through Israel, from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are. Joab answered: May Jehovah make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now! They are all your servants, Your Majesty. Why do you want to do this and make the whole nation guilty? read more.
But the king made Joab obey the order. Joab traveled through the whole country of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem. He reported to King David the total number of men capable of military service. There were one million one hundred thousand in Israel and four hundred seventy thousand in Judah. Because Joab disapproved of the king's command, he did not take any census of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin. God was displeased with what had been done, so he punished Israel.

David did not count those less than twenty years old, because Jehovah promised that the people of Israel would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Joab, son of Zeruiah, started to count them but did not finish. God was angry with Israel because of this, and the report from it was never included in the official records of King David.

Why are you crying? Hazael asked. Because I know the horrible things you will do against the people of Israel, Elisha answered. You will burn their fortresses, slaughter their finest young men, batter their children to death, and rip open their pregnant women.

King Hazael of Syria attacked the city of Gath and conquered it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem.

Jehovah began to reduce the size of Israel's territory. King Hazael of Syria conquered all the Israelite territory

The wrath of Jehovah burned against Israel! He gave them up into the power of Hazael, king of Aram, and into the power of Benhadad, the son of Hazael, again and again. Then Jehoahaz prayed to Jehovah. Jehovah listened to him. He saw how cruelly the king of Aram crushed Israel. Jehovah gave Israel a savior, so that they became free from the hands of the Aramaeans. The children of Israel were living in their tents as in the past. read more.
Still they did not give up the sin of Jeroboam. This he made Israel do and they continued. There was an image of Asherah in Samaria. Out of all his army, Jehoahaz had only fifty horsemen and ten carriages and ten thousand footmen. The king of Aram had given them up to destruction, crushing them like dust.

A man of God from Judah went to Bethel. He arrived there while Jeroboam was at the altar ready to offer a sacrifice. He actually spoke against the altar: O altar, altar, this is what Jehovah says: 'A child, whose name will be Josiah, will be born to the family of David. He will slaughter the priests serving at the pagan altars who offer sacrifices on you. He will burn human bones on you.' The prophet went on to say: This altar will fall apart. The ashes on it will be scattered. Then you will know that Jehovah has spoken through me. read more.
King Jeroboam heard this. He pointed his outstretched hand at him and ordered: Seize that man! At once the king's arm became paralyzed so that he could not pull it back. The altar suddenly fell apart and the ashes spilled to the ground. This is what the prophet predicted in the name of Jehovah.

He thought to himself: The way things are my people will go to Jerusalem and offer sacrifices to Jehovah at the Temple there. They will transfer their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah and will kill me. After asking for advice, the king made two golden calves. He said: You have been worshiping in Jerusalem long enough. Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt. read more.
He placed one in Bethel and the other in Dan. This became Israel's sin, worshiping the golden calves. The people went as far as Dan to worship the one calf. Jeroboam built worship sites on hilltops. He appointed men who were not descended from Levi to be priests. Jeroboam appointed a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, just like the festival in Judah. He went to the altar in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He appointed priests from the illegal worship sites to serve in Bethel. He went to his altar in Bethel to burn an offering on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the festival he invented for the Israelites.

Jehovah will abandon Israel because Jeroboam sinned and led the people of Israel into sin.

Rehoboam went to Shechem because all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. Jeroboam, Nebat's son, was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. When he heard about Rehoboam, he returned from Egypt. Israel sent for Jeroboam and invited him back. Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak to Rehoboam. They said: read more.
Your father made us carry a heavy burden. Reduce the hard work and lighten the heavy burden he put on us. We will serve you. He said to them: Come back the day after tomorrow. So the people left. King Rehoboam sought advice from the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked: What do you advise? How should I respond to these people? They told him: If you are good to these people and try to please them by speaking gently to them, then they will always be your servants. He ignored the advice the elders gave him. He sought advice from the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked: What is your advice? How should we respond to these people who are asking me to lighten the burden my father put on them? The young men who had grown up with him answered: This is what you should tell them: 'My little finger is heavier than my father's whole body. If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.' So Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam two days later, as the king had instructed them. The king answered them harshly. He ignored the elder's advice. He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said: If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will use scorpions. The king refused to listen to the people because Jehovah was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jeroboam, Nebat's son through Ahijah from Shiloh.

But he paid no attention to the opinion of the elders. He went to the young men who were his advisors: What is your opinion? He asked: What answer are we to give to this people? They want me to lighten the burdens placed on them by my father. His young advisors said: This is the answer to give to the people who came to you saying: 'Your father put a hard yoke on us; will you make it less?' Say to them: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's body.' read more.
If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder! My father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes.'

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah. He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the disgusting ways of those nations Jehovah sent out before the children of Israel. He built the high places that Hezekiah his father destroyed. He made altars for Baal. Then he made an Asherah as Ahab, king of Israel, had done. Manasseh was a worshipper and servant of all the stars of heaven. read more.
He built heathen altars in the Temple of Jehovah. The same Temple that Jehovah spoke of when he said: In Jerusalem will I put my name. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in the two outer courts of the Temple of Jehovah. He made his own son pass through fire. He burned him as an offering to Molech. He practiced reading the future; gave positions to those who had control of spirits and to wonder-workers. He did much evil in the eyes of Jehovah and provoked him to anger. He made an image of the goddess Asherah and set it in the Temple of Jehovah. This is the same Temple that Jehovah said to David and to Solomon his son: In this house, and in Jerusalem, the town which I have made mine out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever (for a very long time). And never again will I send the feet of Israel wandering from the land that I gave to their fathers. If only they will take care to do all my orders, and obey all the law my servant Moses gave them. But they would not listen. Manasseh enticed them to do evil. In fact they committed more evil than the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel. Jehovah said through his servants the prophets: Manasseh king of Judah committed detestable sins. He did more evil than all the Amorites before him. He enticed Judah to do evil with his false gods. Because of this,' says Jehovah the God of Israel: 'I will send such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of all who hear of it will burn. The line of Samaria and the weight of Ahab will be stretched over Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be washed clean as a plate is washed, and turned over on its face. I will discard the rest of my heritage. I will give them into the hands of their enemies. They will take their property and their goods for themselves. Because they have done evil in my eyes. They moved me to anger from the day their fathers came out of Egypt till this day.' Even more, Manasseh killed many innocent men. He filled Jerusalem from one end to the other with blood. He also caused Judah to sin and do evil in the eyes of Jehovah. Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all he did, and his sins, are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah.

He did what Jehovah considered evil by copying the disgusting things done by the nations that Jehovah dispossessed from before the Israelites. He rebuilt the illegal places of worship that his father Hezekiah had torn down. He set up altars dedicated to other gods such as the Baals. He erected a pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh, like Ahab, worshiped and served the entire army of heaven. He built altars in Jehovah's Temple, of which Jehovah said: My name will be in Jerusalem from generation to generation. read more.
He built altars for the entire army of heaven in the two courtyards of Jehovah's Temple. He burned his son as a sacrifice in the valley of Ben Hinnom, he consulted fortunetellers, and he cast evil spells. He also practiced witchcraft, and appointed royal mediums and psychics. He did many things that made Jehovah furious. Manasseh had a carved idol made. Then he set it up in God's Temple, where God had said to David and his son Solomon: I have chosen this temple and Jerusalem from all the tribes of Israel. I will put my name here from generation to generation.

He did what Jehovah his God considered evil. He did not humble himself in front of the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke Jehovah's word. Zedekiah also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah swear an oath of allegiance to him in God's name. But Zedekiah became so stubborn and so impossible to deal with that he refused to turn back to Jehovah the God of Israel.

He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, as Jehoiakim had done.

I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. And here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.

and threw Joseph in the same prison where the king's prisoners were kept. While Joseph was in prison,

Ahab, the son of Omri, did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, even worse than all who went before him! It was as if he copied the evil ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. He took as his wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zidon, and became a servant and worshipper of Baal. He built an altar for Baal in the house of Baal that he built in Samaria. read more.
Ahab made an image of Asherah. He did more than all the kings of Israel before him to make Jehovah, the God of Israel, angry.

Jehovah says to you: I will bring disaster on you. I will do away with you and get rid of every male in your family, young and old alike. Your family will become like the family of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the family of King Baasha son of Ahijah. This is because you have stirred up my anger by leading Israel into sin. Concerning Jezebel, Jehovah says: Dogs will eat her body in the city of Jezreel. read more.
Dogs will eat your relatives dying in the city. Vultures will eat your dead relatives in the country. No one else devoted himself so completely to doing wrong in Jehovah's sight as Ahab all at the urging of his wife Jezebel. He committed the most shameful sins by worshiping idols the way the Amorites had done. Jehovah drove the Amorites from the land as the people of Israel advanced.

Wishing to please the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. Then he handed over Jesus. He was flogged and impaled.

Jesus stood before the governor. He asked him: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: It is as you say. When the chief priests and those in authority made statements against him, he gave no answer. Pilate said to him: Do you give no attention to what their witnesses say against you? read more.
Jesus did not answer. Not even a word! The governor was greatly surprised. It was a custom for the governor to set one prisoner free at the time of the feast. The people were to help choose that prisoner. At that time they held an important prisoner named Barabbas. When they assembled, Pilate asked: What is your choice? Barabbas or Jesus, the one called the Christ? He knew it was because of envy they gave him up. While he was seated in judgment his wife sent a message to him. She said, Do not judge that righteous man. I have had much trouble this day in a dream because of him. The chief priests and elders got the people to request Barabbas, and for Jesus to be put to death. The governor responded to them. He asked: Which of the two do you want me to set free? They shouted: Barabbas! Pilate said to them: What am I to do with Jesus, the one called Christ? They all said: Put him to death. Impale him! What evil has he done? Pilate asked. But they shouted: Impale him! Pilate saw that he could do nothing. The people were ready to cause much trouble. He took water and washed his hands in front of the people. He said: The blood of this man is not on my hands. You are responsible. The people answered: Let his blood be on us, and on our children. He set Barabbas free. He had Jesus whipped. Then he commanded that he be put to death on the stake.

He followed the example of the kings of Israel. He even made metal idols for worshiping other gods such as the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the valley of Ben Hinnom. He sacrificed his son by burning him alive. This was one of the disgusting things done by the nations that Jehovah had driven out from the land Israel possessed. He offered sacrifices and burned incense as an offering at the illegal worship sites on hills and under every large tree.

He walked in ways of the kings of Israel. He even offered his son to walk through the fire. He copied the disgusting ways of the nations. Jehovah sent the people of the nations out of the land before the children of Israel.

Hanun seized David's men and shaved off half of each man's beard. He cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away.

David thought: I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. David's men came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him. The Ammonite nobles said to Hanun: Do you think David honors your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Or have his men come to you to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it? Therefore Hanun seized David's men, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. read more.
When David was told about the men he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said: Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown and then come back.

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and warned him: You must leave and go somewhere else for Herod wants to kill you. Jesus told them: Go tell that fox I cast out demons and heal people today and tomorrow. On the third day my work will be finished.

When Pilate heard it, he asked if the man was a Galilean. When he knew that he was from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod. He was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very happy to see Jesus. He had wanted to see him for a long time. He hoped to see him perform a miracle. read more.
He offered many questions but received no answers. The chief priests and the scribes vehemently accused him. And Herod with his soldiers despised him with contempt, and mocked him. They arrayed him in magnificent apparel. Then they sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that day. Before that time they were at enmity. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people. He said: You brought this man to me as one who perverted the people. I examined him before you and find no fault in this man. He has not done the things you accuse him of. Herod found no fault and sent him back to us. He has done nothing worthy of death.

His wife was Ahab's daughter. Like the family of Ahab he followed the evil ways of the kings of Israel. He sinned against Jehovah.

Instead, you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel. You, like Ahab's family, have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. You have killed your brothers, your father's family. Your brothers were better than you.

He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, as his father had done, not turning away from the sin which Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, did and made Israel do.

He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not keep himself from the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat. He causes Israel to sin too.

He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not turn from the sin Jeroboam son of Nebat committed and caused Israel to commit.

He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not turn from the sin Jeroboam son of Nebat committed and caused Israel to commit.

Your father Solomon treated us harshly and placed heavy burdens on us. If you make these burdens lighter and make life easier for us, we will be your loyal subjects.

Solomon appointed twelve men as district governors in Israel. They provided food from their districts for the king and his household, each man being responsible for one month out of the year. The following are the names of these twelve officers and the districts they were in charge of: Benhur: the mountains of Ephraim, Bendeker: the cities of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, Elon, and Beth Hanan, read more.
Benhesed: the cities of Arubboth and Socoh and all the territory of Hepher, Benabinadab, who was married to Solomon's daughter Taphath: the whole region of Dor. Baana son of Ahilud: the cities of Taanach, Megiddo, and all the region near Beth Shan, near the town of Zarethan, south of the town of Jezreel, as far as the city of Abel Meholah and the city of Jokmeam. Bengeber: the city of Ramoth in Gilead, and the villages in Gilead belonging to the clan of Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, and the region of Argob in Bashan, sixty large towns in all, fortified with walls and with bronze bars on the gates. Ahinadab son of Iddo: the district of Mahanaim. Ahimaaz, who was married to Basemath, another of Solomon's daughters: the territory of Naphtali. Baana son of Hushai: the region of Asher and the town of Bealoth. Jehoshaphat son of Paruah: the territory of Issachar. Shimei son of Ela: the territory of Benjamin. Geber son of Uri: the region of Gilead, which had been ruled by King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. Besides these twelve, there was one governor over all the land. The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. They ate and drank and were very happy. Solomon's kingdom included all the nations from the Euphrates River to Philistia and the Egyptian border. They paid him taxes and were subject to him all his life. The supplies Solomon needed each day were one hundred and fifty bushels of fine flour and three hundred bushels of meal. Also needed were ten stall-fed cattle, twenty pasture-fed cattle, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fowl (cuckoo).

The wrath (intense anger) of Jehovah came on Israel because they had done evil against Jehovah their God, who took them out of the land of Egypt from under the yoke of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods. They lived by the rules of the nations whom Jehovah sent out from before the children of Israel. The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right according to Jehovah their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the watchtower to the walled towns. read more.
They erected pillars of stone and wood on every high hill and under every green tree. They burned their offerings in all the high places, as those nations did whom Jehovah sent away from them. They did evil things, moving Jehovah to anger. They made themselves servants of disgusting things. Even though Jehovah said: You should not do this. Jehovah sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands. The commandments contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors. I handed them on to you through my servants the prophets. They would not obey. They were stubborn like their ancestors. They did not trust in Jehovah their God. They refused to obey his instructions. They did not keep the covenant he made with their ancestors. They disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying Jehovah's command not to imitate them. They broke all the laws of Jehovah their God. They made two metal bull-calves to worship. They also made an image of the goddess Asherah. Also they worshiped the stars and served the god Baal. They caused their sons and their daughters to go through the fire to be sacrificed. They made use of secret arts and unnatural powers, and gave themselves up to doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah, till they provoked him to anger. Jehovah was very angry with Israel. He removed them from his sight. Only the tribe of Judah kept its place.

Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria. This was in the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah. Hoshea ruled for nine years. He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. Though he was not like the kings of Israel before him.

Joash did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, as long as the priest Jehoiada lived.

After the death of Jehoiada the priest, the leaders of Judah went to Joash and talked him into doing what they wanted. The people of Judah stopped worshiping in the Temple of Jehovah God. They started worshiping idols and the symbols of the goddess Asherah. These sinful things made Jehovah God angry with the people of Judah and Jerusalem, However he still sent prophets who warned them to turn back to him. The people refused to listen. read more.
God's Spirit spoke to Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. Zechariah told everyone that God was saying: Why are you disobeying me and my Laws? This will only bring punishment! You have deserted me, so now I will desert you. They plotted against Zechariah. Then they followed the king's order and stoned him to death in the courtyard of Jehovah's Temple. King Joash forgot that Zechariah's father had always been a loyal friend. So when the people of Judah plotted to kill Zechariah, Joash joined them and gave orders for them to stone him to death in the courtyard of the Temple. As Zechariah was dying, he said: I pray that Jehovah will see this and punish all of you. The Aramean army attacked Joash at year's end. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the people's leaders. The Arameans sent all the loot they took from Judah and Jerusalem to the king of Damascus. The Aramean army came with a small number of men. Jehovah handed Joash's large army over to them because Joash's soldiers had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors. So the Arameans carried out Jehovah's judgment on Joash. The Arameans withdrew. They left him suffering from many wounds. His own officials plotted against him for murdering the son of the priest Jehoiada. They killed Joash in his bed and buried him in the City of David. But they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

In the third year of the reign of King Asa of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel. He ruled in Tirzah for twenty-four years. Like King Jeroboam before him, he sinned against Jehovah and led Israel into sin.

Omri did what Jehovah considered evil. He did more evil things than all the kings before him. He lived exactly like Jeroboam, Nebat's son. He sinned and led Israel to sin with worthless idols. The Israelites made Jehovah the God of Israel furious. Everything else about Omri is written in the official records of the kings of Israel. read more.
Omri rested with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria. Ahab his son became king in his place. In the thirty-eighth year that Asa was king of Judah, Ahab, the son of Omri, became king over Israel. Ahab was king in Samaria for twenty-two years.

In the thirty-seventh year of the rule of Jehoash king of Judah, Joash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled for sixteen years. He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, not turning away from the sin of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, which he did and made Israel do. He continued sinning.

Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria. He ruled for forty-one years. This was in the fifteenth year of the rule of Amaziah son of Joash the king of Judah. He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not turn away from the sin which Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, did and made Israel do.

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for two years. His mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah as Manasseh his father had done. He followed all the practices of his father. He was a servant and worshipper of the false gods to which his father had been a servant. read more.
Amon turned away from Jehovah the God of his fathers. He did not walk in his ways.

Solomon loved many women. They were of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites. Jehovah warned the children of Israel about these nations. He said: You are not to take wives from them and they are not to take wives from you. They will certainly turn your hearts to go after their gods. Solomon loved his wives anyway. He had seven hundred wives, daughters of kings, and three hundred other wives. His wives influenced his heart to turn away. read more.
When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been. Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom, the disgusting god of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not walk in Jehovah's ways with all his heart as David his father did. Then Solomon put up a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting god of Moab, in the mountain near Jerusalem. And for Molech, the disgusting god worshipped by the children of Ammon. He did likewise for all his strange wives, who made offerings with burning of perfumes to their gods. Jehovah was angry with Solomon. This is because his heart turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had twice come to him in a vision. Jehovah had given him orders about this very thing that he was not to go after other gods. But he did not obey the orders of Jehovah. So Jehovah said to Solomon: Because you have done this, and have not kept the agreement and laws I gave you, I will take the kingdom away from you by force and will give it to your servant. I will not do it in your lifetime, because of your father David, but I will take it from your son. Still I will not take the entire kingdom from him. I will give one tribe to your son, because of my servant David, and because of Jerusalem, the town of my selection.

He captured King Agag of Amalek alive and with the sword he killed all the people. Saul and his men spared Agag's life and did not kill the best sheep and cattle, the best calves and lambs, or anything else that was good. They destroyed only what was useless or worthless. Jehovah spoke to Samuel: read more.
I am sorry that I made Saul king. He has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands. Samuel was angry. All night long he pleaded with Jehovah. Early the following morning he went off to find Saul. He heard that Saul had gone to the town of Carmel. There in Carmel he built a monument to himself. Then he went to Gilgal. Samuel went up to Saul. Saul said: Jehovah bless you, Samuel! I have obeyed Jehovah's command. Samuel asked: Why do I hear the sound of cows and sheep? Saul answered: The army brought them from the Amalekites. They spared the best sheep and cows to sacrifice to Jehovah your God. But the rest they claimed for God and destroyed them. Be quiet, Samuel told Saul, Let me tell you what Jehovah told me last night. Speak, Saul replied. Samuel said to Saul: You are little in your own eyes. Even though you are a leader of all of the tribes of Israel that Jehovah anointed king over Israel. Jehovah sent you on a mission. He said: Go and destroy those sinners, the Amalekites. Fight against them until every one is dead. Why then did you not obey the voice of Jehovah? Why did you pounce on the plunder? Why did you do evil in the sight of Jehovah? Then Saul said to Samuel: I did obey the voice of Jehovah. I went on the mission Jehovah sent me. I brought back Agag the king of Amalek. I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. The people took from the plunder of the flock the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to Jehovah your God in Gilgal. Samuel said: What is more pleasing to Jehovah, burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obeying is better than sacrifice. To pay attention is better than the fat of rams. The sin of divination is rebellion. Wickedness and idolatry are arrogance. They are evil. Because you rejected the word of Jehovah, he rejects you as king. Then Saul told Samuel: I have sinned by not following Jehovah's command or your instructions. I was afraid of the people and listened to them. But now I beg you, forgive my sin and return with me, so that I can worship Jehovah. I will not return with you, Samuel answered. You rejected Jehovah's command. He has rejected you as king of Israel. Samuel turned to leave, but Saul caught hold of his cloak, and it tore. Samuel said to him: Jehovah has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He gave it to someone who is a better man than you. The Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind. He is not a mortal who changes his mind. Saul replied: I have sinned! Now please honor me in front of the elders of my people and in front of Israel. Come back with me. Let me worship Jehovah your God! Then Samuel turned and followed Saul. Saul worshiped Jehovah. Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites, Samuel said. Agag came to him trembling. Surely, the bitterness of death is past, Agag said. But Samuel said: As your sword made women childless, so your mother will be made childless among women. Samuel cut Agag in pieces in the presence of Jehovah at Gilgal. Samuel went to Ramah. Saul went up to his house in Gibeah, in the land of Saul. Samuel never saw Saul again until the day of his death. Samuel went into mourning for Saul. It was no longer Jehovah's pleasure for Saul to be king over Israel.

The sons of Eli were corrupt. They did not know Jehovah. The priests had a custom with the people. If any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came while the flesh was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand. He stuck it into the pan, kettle, caldron or pot. All that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites that came there. read more.
Before they burned the fat the priest's servant came and said to the man who sacrificed: Give flesh to roast for the priest. For he will not have boiled flesh from you, but raw! If any man said to him: Let them burn the fat first, you may take as much as you desire. Then he would answer him, No! But you will give it now! If not, I will take it by force. The sin of the young men was very great before Jehovah. For men despised the offering of Jehovah.

He said to his officials: Listen to me men of Benjamin! Will Jesse's son give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all officers over a regiment or a battalion of soldiers? All of you are plotting against me. No one informed me when my son entered into a loyalty pledge with Jesse's son. No one felt sorry for me. And no one informed me that my son has encouraged my servant David to ambush me, as he is doing now. Doeg from Edom, standing with Saul's officials, answered him: I saw Jesse's son when he came to Ahimelech, Ahitub's son, in Nob. read more.
Ahimelech prayed to Jehovah for David. He gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine. Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub's and his entire family who were the priests in Nob. All of them came to the king. Saul said: Listen here, son of Ahitub! He responded: Here I am lord. Saul asked him: Why did you and Jesse's son plot against me? You gave him bread and a sword. You even prayed to God that he could rise up against me and ambush me, as he is doing now. Ahimelech asked the king: But whom among all your officials can you trust like David? Your Majesty, he is your son-in-law, the commander of your bodyguard. He is honored in your own household. Is this the first time I have prayed to God for him? Not at all! You should not blame my family or me for this. I knew nothing at all about this. The king said: Ahimelech, you and your entire family are going to die. The king said to the guards who were attending him: Turn around and kill the priests of Jehovah! They are also with David. They knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me. But the servants of the king were not willing to lift a hand to attack the priests of Jehovah. The king said to Doeg: You turn around and attack the priests. Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also killed the people of Nob, the city of the priests. Using his sword, he killed men and women, children and infants, cows, donkeys, and sheep.

The people of Jerusalem made Jehoram's youngest son Ahaziah king in his place, because the raiders who came to the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Jehoram's son Ahaziah became king of Judah. Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to rule. He ruled for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. Ahaziah also followed the ways of Ahab's family, because his mother gave him advice that led him to sin. read more.
He did what Jehovah considered evil the same as Ahab's family had done. After his father died, they advised him to do what Ahab's family had done. They did this to destroy him. He followed their advice. He joined King Joram of Israel in a war against King Hazael of Syria. The armies clashed at Ramoth in Gilead, and Joram was wounded in battle. He returned to the city of Jezreel to recover from his wounds. Ahaziah went there to visit him. God used this visit to Joram to bring about Ahaziah's downfall. While Ahaziah was there, a man named Jehu confronted him and Joram. Jehu was the son of Nimshi, whom Jehovah chose to destroy the dynasty of Ahab. Jehu carried out God's sentence on the dynasty. He came across a group made up of Judean leaders and of Ahaziah's nephews that had accompanied Ahaziah on his visit. Jehu killed them all. A search was made for Ahaziah. He was found hiding in Samaria. They took him to Jehu and put him to death. But they did bury his body out of respect for his grandfather King Jehoshaphat, who had done all he could to serve Jehovah. No member of Ahaziah's family was left who could rule the kingdom.

Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled for seventeen years. It was the twenty-third year of Joash, son of Ahaziah, king of Judah. He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, copying the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, which he did and made Israel do. He did not keep himself from them.

At that time Herod the king mistreated those of the congregation. He killed James the brother of John with a sword. He saw that it pleased the Jews so he captured Peter also. This happened during the feast of unleavened bread. read more.
When he apprehended him, he put him in prison. He turned him over to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. After Passover he would be presented to the people. Peter was kept in prison. Prayer was made without ceasing by the congregation to God for him. It was the night before Herod was to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. He was bound with two chains. Sentries stood guard at the prison door. Suddenly God's angel came to him. A light shined in the prison. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up saying: Get up quickly. And his chains fell off of his hands. The angel said: Dress yourself and put on sandals. Put on your coat and follow me. So Peter did as he was told. Peter followed him out of the prison. He did not know what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he saw a vision. They went past the first and second guard to the Iron Gate that leads to the city. The gate opened and went out on the street. The angel then departed from him. Peter came to himself and he said: Now I know for sure that God sent his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jews. After he thought about what happened he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, surnamed Mark. Many were gathered there to pray. Peter knocked on the door and a young woman named Rhoda answered. When she recognized Peter's voice she was so overjoyed she ran back into the house to tell others he was there. She forgot to open the door for him. They said to her: You are mad. But she kept insisting that it was so. Then they said: It must be his angel. But Peter continued knocking. When they opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned for them to be quiet. Then he told them how God brought him out of the prison. He said: Tell James and the brothers. Then he went away to another place. When day came the soldiers were disturbed by what happened to Peter. Herod had a thorough search made for him and could not find him. He cross examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Herod went from Judea to Caesarea to stay for a while.

King Zedekiah answered: Very well, then, do what you want to with him. I cannot stop you. So they took me and let me down by ropes into Prince Malchiah's well, which was in the palace courtyard. There was no water in the well, only mud, and I sank down in it.

At that time Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard the news about Jesus. He told his servants: This is John the Baptist, raised from the dead. That explains the power working in him. Herod locked John in prison to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. read more.
For John had said to him: It is not lawful for you to have her. Herod wanted to put him to death but he feared the people since they believed John was a prophet. It was Herod's birthday. The daughter of Herodias danced for him and pleased him. So he promised with an oath to give her anything she wanted. Prompted by her mother, she said: Give me John the Baptist's head on a platter. The king was grieved. He gave his oath and many were watching so he commanded that it be done. He gave the order to behead John in prison. His head was brought on a platter to the young lady. She in turn gave it to her mother.

Herod saw that the astrologers tricked him and he was furious. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys two years old and younger in or near Bethlehem. This matched the time he learned from the astrologers. Jeremiah's prophecy came true: A sound was heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel is weeping for her children. She would not be comforted, because they were dead.

He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the evil ways of his father. He made Israel sin so much that they provoked Jehovah to anger with their idols.

This happened because of his sins against Jehovah. Like his predecessor Jeroboam, he displeased Jehovah by his own sins and by leading Israel into sin.

When Samuel was old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel. He named his second son Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. The sons did not follow their father's example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice. read more.
One day the nation's elders came to Samuel at Ramah. They said: You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons. But they have not followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader like all the other nations. Choose one for us!

Asa was so angry with the prophet that he had him put in chains. It was at this same time that Asa began treating some of the people cruelly.

After Amaziah came back from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down to them, and burned sacrifices to them.

However when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to Jehovah his God. He went into Jehovah's Temple to burn incense on the incense altar.

But Jehu did not keep himself from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and the evil he made Israel do. The gold calves were still worshiped in Bethel and in Dan.

Pekah son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him. He attacked him in the king's great house in Samaria. Fifty men of Gilead were with him. He killed the king and became king in his place.

Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him and killed him. He became king in his place. It was in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah.

He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, as his fathers had done.

He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah as his fathers had done.

Though he was not as bad as his father or his mother Jezebel; he sinned against Jehovah. He removed the image his father had made for the worship of Baal. Like King Jeroboam son of Nebat before him, he caused Israel to sin. He would not turn away from sin.

It was the second year of his reign. He was troubled and could not sleep. Nebuchadnezzar had dreams and was disturbed by them. The king summoned the magicians, enchanters (conjurers), sorcerers, and the Chaldeans and commanded them to tell the king about his dreams. They came in and stood before the king. The king said: I had a dream that troubles me and I want to understand what the dream means. read more.
The Chaldeans spoke in the Syrian language: O king, may you live for a very long time. Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it. The king answered: I have decided. If you do not make the dream known to me and it's interpretation you will be cut in pieces, and your houses will be made a dunghill (foul smelling pile of rubbish). But if you tell me the dream and what it means you will receive gifts and rewards and great honor from me. Therefore tell me the dream and the interpretation of it. They answered the second time. They said: Let the king tell his servants the dream. Then we will tell the interpretation. The king responded: I am certain that you bargain for time, because you see my command is firm. If you do not tell me my dream, the law will apply to you. You are stalling by speaking lies to me until I change my requirements. Tell me the dream, and I will know that you can show me the interpretation of it. The Chaldeans answered: There is no man on earth who can do what the king requires. No king, lord, or ruler, has asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean. It is a rare thing that the king requires. There is no other person who can show it to the king, except the gods, and they do not live with humans. This caused the king to be angry. In fact he became furious! He commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. So the decree was delivered. The wise men were to be executed. They searched for Daniel and his companions to execute them.

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold. He set it up in the plain of Dura, the province of Babylon. It was ninety feet tall and nine feet wide. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king gathered the satraps, deputies, governors, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces. They came to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up. The satraps, deputies, governors, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together at the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up. They stood before the image. read more.
Then the herald proclaimed: You are commanded to do this, O peoples, nations, and men of every language. When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, zither, pipes (bagpipe), and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace. When all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, zither, pipes, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up. Some Chaldean Astrologers brought accusation against the Jews. They said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, may you live for a very long time. You, O king, made a decree, that every man that hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, zither, pipes, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. Whoever does not fall down and worship, will be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace. The Jews whom you appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego have not listened to you. They do not serve your gods. They do not worship the golden image that you set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. They brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them: Is it true Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that you do not serve my god, nor worship the golden image that I set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, zither, pipes, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, good! But if you do not worship it you will be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace that same hour. What god will be able to rescue you from my hand? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king: O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it is so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing furnace. He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. If not you should know O king that we will not serve your gods. We will not worship the golden image that you set up! Nebuchadnezzar was furious. The expression on his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than its required heat. He commanded the mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to throw them into the blazing furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, caps and their other garments. They were thrown into the midst of the blazing furnace. Because of the urgency of the king's commandment and the exceeding hot furnace, the flame of the fire killed the men who delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the blazing furnace.

He was not completely loyal to Jehovah his God as his great-grandfather David had been. He committed the same sins as his father did.

Eli was very old. He heard everything his sons did to Israel. He heard how they slept with the women who served at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

Following the example of his father, Jehoiachin sinned against Jehovah.

It pleased Darius to appoint a hundred and twenty governors over the kingdom. They were to be located throughout the whole kingdom. Three commissioners were placed over them. Daniel was one of the commissioners. These governors were to give account to them so that the king would not suffer loss. Daniel was distinguished above the other commissioners and the governors because an excellent spirit (mind) was in him. Therefore the king thought to set him over the whole realm. read more.
Then the commissioners and the governors sought to find a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom. They could find no charge, nor error, nor fault, for he was faithful. These men said: We shall not find any charge against Daniel, unless we find it against him in the Law of his God. Then these commissioners and governors assembled before the king, and said: King Darius, may you live for a very long time. All the governors of the kingdom, the deputies and the governors, the counselors consulted together to establish a royal statute. They made a strong decree, that whoever prays to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree by signing the document. That it will not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered. King Darius signed the document for the decree.

All the governors of the kingdom, the deputies and the governors, the counselors consulted together to establish a royal statute. They made a strong decree, that whoever prays to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions.

King Darius signed the document for the decree.

Gideon's son Abimelech went to the town of Shechem. All his mother's relatives lived there. He told them: Ask the men of Shechem: 'Which is better for you. To have all seventy of Gideon's sons govern you or to have just one man? Remember that Abimelech is your own flesh and blood.' His mother's relatives talked to the men of Shechem about this for him. The men of Shechem decided to follow Abimelech because: He is our relative. read more.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to join him. He went to his father's house at Ophrah. There on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon's sons. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid and therefore was not killed.

The chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death.

The high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

You his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you know all this.

And Adoni-bezek said: Seventy kings with their big toes cut off have gathered food scrapes under my table. God has repaid me for what I have done. So they brought him to Jerusalem where he died.

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you know the Father.

By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you. It has consumed you. I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see you.

I find what was worse than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are chains. He who pleases God will escape from her. But she will capture the sinner.

The lips of an immoral woman drip as a honeycomb. Her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edged sword. Her feet go down to death. Her steps take hold of the grave. read more.
She does not ponder the path of life. Her unstable ways she does not know. Hear me now my son. Do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep far away from her. Do not go near the door of her house. You will give your honor (majesty) to others and your years to the cruel one. Strangers will be filled with your financial strength. Strangers will benefit from your hard work. You mourn at last, when your flesh and your body are consumed. You say: How I have hated instruction! My heart despised reproof. I did not obey the voice of my teachers. I did not listen to my instructors! I was very near total ruin in the midst of the congregation. Drink water from your own cistern. Drink running water from your own well. Should your waters overflow in the streets, like streams of water in public places? Let them be yours alone. Do not share with strangers. Let your fountain be blessed. Rejoice with the wife of your youth. She is like a loving deer and a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Always be delighted with her love. Why will you be intimate with an immoral woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

You will be able to resist any immoral woman who tries to seduce you with her smooth talk. She is unfaithful to her own husband and forgets her sacred vows to God. If you go to her house, you are traveling the road to death. To go there is to approach the dead. read more.
No one who visits her ever comes back. He cannot return to the road to life.

This will keep you from the evil woman and from the smooth tongue of an adulterous woman. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart. Do not let her attract you with her eyelids. A prostitute will cost you your last crust of bread. An adulteress will cost you your life. read more.
Can a man have fire in his lap and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be burned? He who has sex with another mans wife; anyone who embraces her will not be innocent.

He who commits adultery with a woman lacks judgment and destroys himself. He will get wounds and be dishonored. His shame will not be wiped away. Jealousy enrages a man. He will not be spared in the day of vengeance. read more.
He will not regard any ransom, nor will he be content when you give many gifts.

He tore down the houses of the male temple (cult) prostitutes who were in Jehovah's Temple. This is where women did weaving for Asherah.

For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.

Both you and your wives have made solemn promises to the Queen of Heaven. You promised that you would offer sacrifices to her and pour out wine offerings to her, and you have kept your promises. Very well, then! Keep your promises! Carry out your vows!

Then he brought me to the entrance of the gate of Jehovah's house toward the north; and I saw women sitting there weeping for Tammuz (the god).

Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window. As Jehu entered the town, she said: Have you come in peace, you Zimri, who killed his master? Then, looking up to the window, he said: Who is on my side, who? Two or three eunuchs look out at him. read more.
He said: Take her and throw her out the window. So they threw her down with force. Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. She was crushed under their feet. He came in and ate and drank. He said: Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter. They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands. So they came back and told him about it. He said: This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs. The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: This is Jezebel.'

He tore down the houses of the male temple (cult) prostitutes who were in Jehovah's Temple. This is where women did weaving for Asherah.

They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains! They burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars (storax) and the strong tree, because it has good shade. Your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery. I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery. The men go out with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes. The people that do not understand will fall (be overthrown).

So she sent a letter in Ahab's name, stamped with his stamp, to the elders and nobles who were in authority with Naboth.

Among them are those who creep into houses and lead captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away with various lusts.