Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great (oak) tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.

Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron. He built an altar to Jehovah there.

One day Moses was taking care of the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock across the desert to Sinai, the holy mountain.

If you make an altar of stone for me, do not build it out of cut stones. This is because when you use a chisel on stones, you make them unfit for my use.

If you make an altar of stone for me, do not build it out of cut stones. This is because when you use a chisel on stones, you make them unfit for my use.

Tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars. Burn their Asherah poles with fire. Cut down the carved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place. Do not worship Jehovah your God with such things.

Keep a spade among your tools. When you sit down outside use the spade to dig and cover up your excrement.

Micah had his own place of worship. He made some idols and an ephod, and appointed one of his sons as his priest.

They said: The yearly festival of Jehovah at Shiloh is coming soon. (Shiloh is north of Bethel, south of Lebonah, and east of the road between Bethel and Shechem.)

This man went to Shiloh every year to worship and to make offerings to Jehovah (YHWH) of Hosts. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas were the priests of Jehovah at Shiloh. The day came for Elkanah to make his offering. So he gave a part of the feast to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and daughters.

So after they finished eating and drinking in Shiloh Hannah got up. The priest Eli sat by the pillars near the door in the Temple of Jehovah.

She prayed silently. Her lips were moving, but she made no sound. So Eli thought that she was drunk.

The lamp of God went out in the Temple of Jehovah. Samuel was lying down where the Ark of God was.

As you go into the city, you can find him before he goes to the worship site to eat. The people will not eat until he comes. He blesses the sacrifice. Then those who are invited may eat. You should be able to find him now. Saul and his servant went to the city. Samuel was coming toward them as they entered. He was on his way to the worship site. read more. Jehovah revealed the following message to Samuel before Saul came: This time tomorrow I will send you a man from the territory of Benjamin. Anoint him to be ruler of my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines. I have seen my people suffering and their cry has reached me. Samuel noticed Saul. Jehovah told him: There is the man I told you about. This man will govern my people. Saul approached Samuel inside the gateway. He said: Please tell me where the seer's house is. Samuel replied: I'm the seer. Go ahead of me to the worship site. You will eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go after I tell you all that is on your mind. Do not trouble yourself about the donkeys that were lost three days ago. They have been found. Who will have all that is desirable in Israel? Will it be you and your father's family? Saul replied: I am a man from the tribe of Benjamin. It is the smallest tribe of Israel. My family is the most insignificant of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Why are you saying such things to me? Samuel brought Saul and his servant to the banquet hall. They sat down at the head of thirty guests.

Samuel brought Saul and his servant to the banquet hall. They sat down at the head of thirty guests. Samuel said to the cook: Bring me the portion of the sacrificial meat that I gave you and told you to set aside. read more. The cook picked up the leg and thigh and laid it in front of Saul. Samuel said: This was set apart for you. Eat it. When I invited people to the feast, I set it aside for you. So Saul ate with Samuel that day. They left the worship site for the city. They spread blankets and Saul slept on the roof.

If your father notices that I am not at the table, tell him that I begged your permission to hurry home to Bethlehem. It is after all the time for the annual sacrifice there for my whole family.

David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech was afraid when he met David. Why are you alone? He asked David. Why is no one with you?

David answered the priest: Women have been kept away from us as usual when we go on a mission. The young men's bodies are kept holy even on ordinary campaigns. How much more then are their bodies holy today?

The high priest answered: The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Elah Valley, is here. It is wrapped in a cloth behind the priestly ephod. Take it if you want. There is no other weapon here. David said: There is none like it. Let me have the sword.

When the angel stretched out his arm to destroy Jerusalem, Jehovah changed his mind about the disaster. Enough! He said to the angel who was destroying the people. Put down your weapon. The angel of Jehovah was at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

A Temple had not yet been built for Jehovah. The people were still offering sacrifices at many different altars.

One time he went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices because that was where the most used altar was. He offered hundreds of burnt offerings there in the past.

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

The high places were not taken away. Nevertheless Asa's heart was true to Jehovah all his life.

I will leave seven thousand people alive in Israel; all those who are loyal to me and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol.

He got rid of the pagan priests. The kings of Judah appointed them to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship in the cities of Judah and all around Jerusalem. They had been sacrificing to Baal, the sun god, the moon god, the constellations of the zodiac (Mazzalohth Constellation-Job 38:32), and the entire army of heaven.

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains from where my help comes.

These also stagger from wine and reel from beer. Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine. They reel from beer. They stagger when seeing visions. They stumble when rendering decisions.

Say this: 'You mountains of Israel listen to the word of the Lord Jehovah! This is what the Lord Jehovah says to the mountains and hills and to the ravines and valleys: I am going to attack you with a sword and destroy your worship sites.

Hear this, O you priests and pay attention, O house of Israel. Give ear (listen)! O house of the king the judgment is about you. You have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor.

The people of Israel were like a grapevine that used to produce grapes. The more prosperous they were, the more altars they built. The more productive their land was, the more beautiful they made the sacred stone pillars they worship.

They sin more and more. They make idols from silver for themselves. These idols are skillfully made. All of them are the work of craftsmen. People say this about the Israelites: They offer sacrifices and kiss calf-shaped idols.

They lie down beside every altar on clothes taken from indebtedness. In the house of their God they drink the wine they have confiscated.

The high places of Isaac will be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste. I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

Do not prophesy any more at Bethel for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a royal house.