91 Bible Verses about Kings

About this time to-morrow, will I send unto thee, a man out of the land of Benjamin, whom thou shalt anoint, to be leader over my people Israel, and he shall save my people, out of the hand of the Philistines, - for I have looked upon the oppression, because their outcry hath come in unto me.

The trees, went their way, to anoint over them, a king, - and they said unto the olive tree - Reign thou over us.

then shall Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, - and ye shall blow with the horn, and say - Long live King Solomon!

Then David responded to Rechab and Baanah his brother, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, - By the life of Yahweh, who hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, when he that brought tidings to me, saying, Lo! Saul is dead, though, he, was as one that bringeth good tidings, in his own eyes, yet I seized him, and slew him in Ziklag, - which was how I gave him reward for his tidings: how much more, when, lawless men, have slain a righteous person, in his own house, upon his bed? -- Now, therefore, must I not require his blood at your hands, and so consume you, out of the earth? read more.
David therefore commanded the young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands, and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool, in Hebron, - but, the head of Ish-bosheth, took they, and buried in the grave of Abner, in Hebron.

And the king said to him - Do as he hath spoken, fall, then, upon him, and bury him, - and so put away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from off me, and from off the house of my father;

Then swore King Solomon by Yahweh, saying, - So, let God do to me, and, so, let him add, if, at the cost of his life, Adonijah hath not spoken this word.

So King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, - and he fell upon him, that he died.

And the king said unto the runners that were stationed by him - Turn ye round and put to death the priests of Yahweh, because, their hand also, is with David, and because they knew that he was, in flight, and unveiled not mine ear. But the servants of the king were not willing to thrust forth their hand, to fall upon the priests of Yahweh. Then said the king to Doeg, Turn, thou, and fall upon the priests. So Doeg the Edomite turned, and, himself, fell upon the priests, and put to death, that day, four score and five men bearing an ephod of linen;

Barley also and crushed straw, for the horses and for the swift beasts, brought they in unto the place where it should be, every man according to his charge.

yea the king sat down on his seat, as at other times, by the seat against the wall, and, when Jonathan arose, Abner seated himself by the side of Saul, - but David's place was empty. Saul, however, spake nothing that day, - for he said to himself - It is, an accident, he is, not clean, because he hath not been cleansed. And it came to pass, on the morrow, the second of the month, that David's place was empty, - and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore hath not the son of Jesse come in, either yesterday or to-day, to meat?

And David said to him - Do not fear, for I will, indeed shew, thee lovingkindness, for the sake of Jonathan thy father, and will restore unto thee all the land of Saul thy father, - but, thou thyself, shall eat bread at my table, continually. And he did homage, and said - What is thy servant, - that thou hast turned towards such a dead dog as I? Then the king called for Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, - All that pertained unto Saul and unto all his house, have I given unto the son of thy lord: read more.
therefore shalt thou till for him the ground, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants, and shalt bring in, so that thy lord's son may have bread to eat, but, Mephibosheth, thy lord's son, shall continually eat bread at my table. Now, Ziba, had fifteen sons, and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king shall command his servant, so, will thy servant do, - but, Mephibosheth, is to eat at the table of David, as one of the sons of the king. Now, Mephibosheth, had a little son, whose name, was Micha. And, all that dwelt in the house of Ziba, were servants unto Mephibosheth. So, Mephibosheth, dwelt in Jerusalem, for, at the table of the king, continually, had he to eat, - he being lame, in both his feet.

So then the king said unto Barzillai, - Thou, come over with me, and I will sustain thee with me, in Jerusalem.

And it came to pass, that Solomon's provision for one day was, - thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal; ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, - besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fatted fowl.

And, they, did bring every man his present - vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses and mules, - a rate of a year in a year.

and, coming into the house, they saw the child, with Mary its mother, - and, falling down, prostrated themselves unto it, and, opening their treasures, offered unto it gifts - gold and frankincense and myrrh;

Yea she came to Jerusalem with a very heavily-laden train, of camels bearing spices, and gold in great abundance, and precious stones, - and, when she was come to Solomon, she spake unto him all that was near her heart;

And the king of Syria said - Go, get in, that I may send a letter unto the king of Israel. So he went, and took in his hand ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

And she gave unto the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones, - there came in no more, such spice for abundance, as that which the queen of Sheba gave unto King Solomon.

Saul chose him three thousand men out of Israel, of whom there were with Saul, two thousand in Michmash and in the hill-country of Bethel, and, a thousand, were with Jonathan, in Gibeah of Benjamin, - but, the rest of the people, he let go, every man to his own home.

and, Benaiah, son of Jehoiadah, was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, - and, the sons of David, became, chief rulers.

And King Rehoboam made, instead of them, bucklers of bronze, - and committed them unto the hand of the captains of the runners, who kept guard at the entrance of the house of the king.

Among the thirty, lo! honourable, was he, but, unto the first three, did he not attain, - howbeit David set him over his council.

And, from among the Philistines, were they bringing in unto Jehoshaphat a present, and silver as tribute, - even the Arabians, were bringing in unto him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.

And, Solomon, became ruler over all the kingdoms, from the River even unto the land of the Philistines, and as far as the boundary of Egypt, - and these were bringing presents, and serving Solomon, all the days of his life.

of their sons who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel had not utterly destroyed, Solomon enrolled them as tributary - unto this day.

For, he, had dominion over all on this side the River, from Tiphsah even as far as Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River, - and he had, peace, on all sides of him, round about. And Judah and Israel dwelt securely, every man under his own vine, and under his own fig-tree, from Dan even unto Beer-sheba, - all the days of Solomon.

And, Rehoboam, son of Solomon, reigned in Judah, - forty-one years old, was Rehoboam when he began to reign, and seventeen years, reigned he in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen to put his Name there, out of all the tribes of Israel, and, his mother's name, was Naamah, the Ammonitess. And Judah did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - and provoked him to jealousy, above all that their fathers had done, with their sins which they committed. And, they also, built for themselves high places and pillars, and Sacred Stems, - upon every high hill, and under every green tree. read more.
Moreover also, there were, male devotees, in the land, - they did according to all the abominable practices of the nations, which Yahweh dispossessed from before the sons of Israel. And it came to pass, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem; and took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the house of the king, yea, the whole, took he away, - and took away all the bucklers of gold, which, Solomon, had made. So King Rehoboam made, in their stead, bucklers of bronze, - and committed them unto the hand of the captains of the runners, who kept guard at the entrance of the house of the king. And so it was, whensoever the king went into the house of Yahweh, the runners bare them, and then brought them back into the chamber of the runners. Now, the rest of the story of Rehoboam, 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 Rehoboam and Jeroboam, continually. So then Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and, the name of his mother, was Naamah the Ammonitess, - and, Abijah his son, reigned, in his stead.

And, when Rehoboam entered Jerusalem, he called together all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin - a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, able to make war, - to fight against the house of Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam, son of Solomon. Then came the word of God unto Shemaiah, the man of God, saying: Speak unto Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah, and Benjamin, - and the remnant of the people, saying: read more.
Thus, saith Yahweh - Ye shall not go up, neither shall ye fight with your brethren the sons of Israel, - return ye every man to his own house, for, from me, hath this thing been brought about. So they hearkened unto the word of Yahweh, and turned back to depart, according to the word of Yahweh.

Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the tribute, and the sons of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. So, King Rehoboam, hasted to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. Thus Israel rebelled against the house of David - unto this day. And when Rehoboam had entered Jerusalem, he called together the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, warriors, - to fight against Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam. read more.
Then came the word of Yahweh, unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying: Speak unto Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, - and unto all Israel in Judah and in Benjamin, saying: Thus, saith Yahweh, Ye shall not go up neither shall ye fight against your brethren, return every man to his own house, for, from me, hath this thing been brought about. So they hearkened unto the words of Yahweh, and turned back from going against Jeroboam. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, - and built cities for defence, in Judah; yea he built Bethlehem and Etam, and Tekoa; and Beth-zur and Soco, and Adullam; and Gath and Mareshah, and Ziph; and Adoraim and Lachish, and Azekah; and Zorah, and Aijalon and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, - as fortified cities. And he strengthened the fortified places, - and put therein captains, and stores of food, and oil and wine; and, in every several city, shields and spears, and made them exceedingly strong, - thus Judah and Benjamin remained his. And, the priests and Levites that were in all Israel, took their stand with him, out of all their boundaries. For the Levites left their pasture lands, and their possessions, and came to Judah, and to Jerusalem, - for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, from ministering as priests unto Yahweh; and appointed for himself priests for the high places, and for the demons - and for the calves which he had made. And, after them - out of all the tribes of Israel, such as were setting their heart to seek Yahweh God of Israel, came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto Yahweh, God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and emboldened Rehoboam son of Solomon, for three years, - for they walked in the way of David and Solomon, for three years. And Rehoboam took him to wife, Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, - and Abihail, daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse; and she bare him sons, - Jeush and Shamariah and Zaham. And, after her, he took Maacah, daughter of Absolom, - and she bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. And Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absolom, above all his wives and his concubines, for, eighteen wives, took he, and sixty concubines, - and begat twenty-eight sons, and sixty daughters. So then Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as head, to be chief ruler among his brethren, - yea that he might make him king. So he took heed, and dispersed all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto all the fortified cities, and gave them food in abundance, - and asked a multitude of wives. And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of Yahweh, - and all Israel with him. And so it came to pass, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, - because they had dealt treacherously against Yahweh; - with twelve hundred chariots, and with sixty thousand horsemen,-and, without number, the people who came with him out of Egypt - Lybians, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. And he captured the cities of defence which belonged to Judah, - and came, as far as Jerusalem. And, Shemaiah the prophet, came unto Rehoboam, and the rulers of Judah, who had gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem because of Shishak, - and said unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh, Ye, have left, me, Therefore, I also, have left, you, in the hands of Shishak. Then the rulers of Israel and the king humbled themselves, - and said, Righteous, is Yahweh! And, when Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came unto Shemaiah, saying - They have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them, - but will grant them, in a little while, to escape, and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem, by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless they shall become his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the house of the king, the whole, he took, - and he took the bucklers of gold, which Solomon had made. And King Rehoboam made, instead of them, bucklers of bronze, - and committed them unto the hand of the captains of the runners, who kept guard at the entrance of the house of the king. And so it was, whensoever the king came into the house of Yahweh, the runners came and bare them, and then returned them into the chamber of the runners. But, when he humbled himself, then turned from him the anger of Yahweh, that he would not destroy, to make an end, - moreover also, in Judah, there were some good things. So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned, - because, forty-one years old, was Rehoboam when he began to reign, and, seventeen years, reigned he in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen, to set his Name there - from among all the tribes of Israel, and, the name of his mother, was Naamah, the Ammonitess. But he did evil, - in that he did not fix his heart to seek Yahweh. Now, the story of Rehoboam, first and last, is it not written in the story of Shemaiah the prophet and Iddo the seer, for enrolling,-also the wars of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, all the days? And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David, - and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

then shall Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, - and ye shall blow with the horn, and say - Long live King Solomon!

And Absolom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, - When ye hear the sound of the horn, then shall ye say, Absolom hath become king in Hebron!

and looked, and lo! the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was, and the captains and the trumpeters, by the king, and, all the people of the land, rejoicing, and blowing with trumpets, - so Athaliah rent her garments, and cried out - Conspiracy! conspiracy!

Then hasted they, and took, every man his garment, and put it under him, upon the very steps, - and blew with a horn, and said, Jehu, is king!

And he did homage, and said - What is thy servant, - that thou hast turned towards such a dead dog as I?

So they told the king, saying, Lo! Nathan the prophet! And, when he had come in before the king, he bowed himself down to the king with his face to the ground.

Then David rose up, afterwards, and went forth out of the cave, and cried out after Saul, saying - My lord, O king! And, when Saul looked about behind him, David inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down.

So Joab fell with his face to the earth, and did homage, and blessed the king, - and Joab said - To-day, doth thy servant know, that I have found favour in thine eyes, my lord O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of thy servant.

Then took Jesse an ass laden with bread, and a skin of wine, and one kid, - and sent by the hand of David his son, unto Saul.

But, abandoned men, said - How can this one save us? So they treated him with contempt, and brought him no present, - but he was as one that was deaf.

So they were there, with David, three days, eating and drinking, - for their brethren had made preparation for them. Moreover also, they who were near of kin unto them, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, were bringing bread, on asses and on camels and on mules and on oxen, meal-food, cakes of figs and cakes of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep - in abundance, - for there was joy Israel.

In the twelfth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel, did Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah, begin to reign. Two and twenty years old, was Ahaziah when he began to reign, - and, one year, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, his mother's name, was Athaliah, daughter of Omri, king of Israel; And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, like the house of Ahab, - for, son-in-law of the house of Ahab, was, he. read more.
And he went with Joram son of Ahab, to make war against Hazael king of Syria, in Ramoth-gilead, - and the Syrians wounded Joram. So Joram the king returned to get healed in Jezreel, from the wounds wherewith the Syrians had wounded him in Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria, - and, Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he, was sick.

So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went towards Jezreel, for, Joram, was lying there, - and, Ahaziah king of Judah, had come down to see Joram. Now, the watchman, was standing upon the tower, in Jezreel, so he saw the great company of Jehu, when he came, and said - A great company, can I see! Then said Jehoram - Take a horseman and send to meet them, that he may say - Is it peace? So the horseman went to meet him, and said - Thus, saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said - What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came up to them, but hath not turned back. read more.
Then sent he a second horseman, and he came up to them and said, Thus, saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said - What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, He came up to them, but hath not turned back, - and, the driving, is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for, with mad haste, doth he drive. Then said Jehoram, Harness! So one harnessed his chariot, - and Jehoram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went forth, each man in his chariot, yea they went forth to meet Jehu, and came upon him in the heritage of Naboth the Jezreelite. And it came to pass, when Jehoram saw Jehu, that he said - Is it peace, Jehu? And he said - What can be the peace, while thy mother Jezebel's harlotries and her incantations do so abound? Then Jehoram turned his hands, and fled, - and said unto Ahaziah - Treachery! O Ahaziah! And, Jehu, bent his bow, and smote Jehoram, between his arms, - and the arrow came out at his heart, - and he sank down in his chariot. Then said he unto Bidkar his officer, Take him up, and cast him forth, into the field-portion of Naboth the Jezreelite, - for remember, when I and thou were riding as a couple together after Ahab his father, that, Yahweh, laid upon him this doom: Surely, the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, have I lately seen, declareth Yahweh, therefore will I requite thee in this portion, declareth Yahweh. Now, therefore, take him up, and cast him forth into the portion, according to the word of Yahweh. And, Ahaziah king of Judah, saw it, and fled by the way of the garden house, - and Jehu pursued him, and said - Him also! smite him in the chariot! It was in the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Mepidgo, and died there. And his servants conveyed him in a chariot and brought him into Jerusalem, - and buried him in his sepulchre, with his fathers, in the city of David. Now it was, in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, that Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.

And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king, in his stead, for, all the elder sons, had the band of men slain who came in with the Arabians into the camp, - so Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. Forty-two years old, was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and, one year, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, the name of his mother, was Athaliah, daughter of Omri. He too, walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, - for, his mother, became his counselor, to work lawlessness. read more.
Wherefore he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, like the house of Ahab, - for, they, became his counselors, after the death of his father, to his destruction. Even in their counsel, he walked, and went with Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel, to war against Hazael king of Syria, in Ramoth-gilead, - and the Syrians smote Joram. And he returned to be healed in Jezreel, because of the wounds wherewith they smote him in Ramah, when he fought with Hazael, king of Syria, - and, Azariah son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because, sick, was he! But, from God, came the downfall of Azariah, through his coming to Joram, - and because, through his coming, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. And so it came to pass, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, - and found the rulers of Judah and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah ministering to Ahaziah, that he slew them. And he sought Ahaziah, and they captured him, he, having hid himself in Samaria, and they brought him unto Jehu, and he put him to death, and they buried him, because, said they, he is, the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart, - and, no one of the house of Ahaziah, had ability for the kingdom.

And Samuel said unto Saul - Thou hast shewn thyself foolish, - thou hast not kept the commandment of Yahweh thy God, which he commanded thee, for, now, would Yahweh have established thy kingdom unto Israel until times age-abiding;

that his heart may not be lifted up above his brethren, and he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, - that he may prolong his days over his kingdom - he and his sons, in the midst of Israel.

And Samuel said unto him, Yahweh hath rent the kingdom of Israel from off thee, to-day, - and will give it unto a neighbour of thine, who is better than thou. Moreover also, the Eminence of Israel, will not lie, neither will he repent, - For no, iron of earth, is, he, to repent!

About this time to-morrow, will I send unto thee, a man out of the land of Benjamin, whom thou shalt anoint, to be leader over my people Israel, and he shall save my people, out of the hand of the Philistines, - for I have looked upon the oppression, because their outcry hath come in unto me.

So he sent, and brought him in. Now, he, was ruddy, a stripling with handsome eyes, and noble mien. Then said Yahweh - Rise - anoint him, for, this, is, he.

When thou shalt enter into the land which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee, and shalt possess it and dwell therein, - and shalt say - I will set over me a king, like all the nations that are round about me, thou shalt, set, over thee as king, him whom Yahweh thy God shall choose, - out of the midst of thy brethren, shalt thou set over thee a king, thou mayest not appoint over thee a man that is a foreigner, who is not thy brother.

Then came the men of Judah, and anointed David there, to be king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, Men of Jabesh-gilead, were they who buried Saul.

Now, the days that David reigned over Israel, were forty years, - in Hebron, reigned he seven years, and, in Jerusalem, reigned he thirty and three years.

Now, the rest of the story of Zimri, and his conspiracy wherein he conspired, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, did Zimri reign, seven days in Tirzah, - but, the people, were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistine.

And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he smote all the house of Baasha, he left him not even the meanest, - neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, - according to the word of Yahweh which he spake unto Baasha, through Jehu the prophet;

And all the people of Judah took Azariah, he, being sixteen yearn old, - and made, him, king instead of his father Amaziah.

In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign. Sixteen years old, was he when he began to reign, and, fifty-two years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, the name of his mother, was Jecholiah, of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that, Amaziah his father, had done. read more.
And Yahweh smote the king, so that he became a leper, until the day of his death, and dwelt in a lazar-house, - and, Jotham, son of the king, was over the house, judging the people of the land. Now, the rest of the story of Azariah, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers, in the city of David, - and, Jotham his son, reigned, in his stead.

Then brought he forth the king's son, and set upon him the crown, and the testimony, and they made him king, and anointed him, - and clapped their hands, and said - May the king live!

And Samuel said unto all the people - Have ye seen him whom Yahweh hath chosen, that there is none like him, among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said - Let the king live!

And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, the friend of David, came in unto Absolom, that Hushai said unto Absolom: Long live the king! Long live the king!

Then brought he forth the king's son, and set upon him the crown, and the testimony, and they made him king, and anointed him, - and clapped their hands, and said - May the king live!

Then brought they forth the king's son, and set upon him the crown and the testimony, and made him king, - and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, May the king live!

For thou wilt come to meet him, with the blessings of goodness, Thou wilt set on his head, a crown of pure gold.

Then responded Abishai, son of Zeruiah, and said, For this, shall not Shimei be put to death, for that he cursed the Anointed of Yahweh?

And he said unto his men - Far be it from me, of Yahweh, that I should do this thing unto my lord, unto the Anointed of Yahweh, to thrust forth my hand against him, - for, the Anointed of Yahweh, is he!

And it came to pass, when they entered, that he looked upon Eliab, - and said to himself, Surely, before Yahweh, is his Anointed.

Then took Samuel a flask of oil, and poured out upon his head, and kissed him, - and said - Is it not, that Yahweh hath anointed thee over his inheritance, as leader?

And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren. And the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon David, from that day forward. Then arose Samuel, and went his way unto Ramah.

I have found David my servant, With mine own holy oil, have I anointed him;

Then shall ye come up after him, and he shall enter, and sit upon my throne, yea, he, shall become king in my stead; even, him, have I charged to become leader, over Israel, and over Judah.

Moreover also, Solomon hath taken his seat upon the throne of the kingdom.

And he took the captains of hundreds and the Carian bodyguard, and the runners, and all the people of the land, and they brought down the king out of the house of Yahweh, and they came, by way of the gate of the runners, into the house of the king, - and he took his seat on the throne of the kings;

Twenty-one years old, was Zedekiah when he began to reign, - and, eleven years, reigned he in Jerusalem. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh his God,-he humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet, from the mouth of Yahweh. Moreover also - against King Nebuchadnezzar, he rebelled, who had made him swear by God,-and he stiffened his neck, and emboldened his heart, from turning unto Yahweh, God of Israel. read more.
Also, all the rulers of the priests and of the people, abounded in committing treachery, according to all the abominable ways of the nations, - and polluted the house of Yahweh, which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. And, though Yahweh God of their fathers sent unto them through his messengers, zealously sending them, - because he had compassion upon his people and upon his habitation, yet became they mockers of the messengers of God, and despisers of his words, and mimics of his prophets, - until the mounting up of the wrath of Yahweh against his people, until there was no healing. So he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword, in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or virgin, elder or ancient,-all, delivered he into his hand. And, all the utensils of the house of God, both great and small, and the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king and of his rulers, the whole, carried he to Babylon; and they burned the house of God, and threw down the wall of Jerusalem, - and, all the palaces thereof, burned they with fire, and, all the precious vessels thereof, he destroyed; and he exiled the remnant left from the sword, into Babylon, - where they became his and his sons, as servants, until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: to fulfil the word of God, by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had paid off her sabbaths, - all the days of her lying desolate, she kept sabbath, to fulfil seventy years.

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his relative, king in his stead, - and changed his name to Zedekiah. Twenty-one years old, was Zedekiah when he began to reign, and, eleven years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, his mother's name, was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that, Jehoiakim, had done. read more.
For, it was because the anger of Yahweh had come against Jerusalem, and against Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled, against the king of Babylon. And it came to pass, in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came - he and all his force, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it, - and they built against it a siege wall, round about. And the city came into the siege, - until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. On the ninth of the month, when the famine had become severe in the city, - and there had come to be no bread for the people of the land, then was the city broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls, which is by the garden of the king, the Chaldeans being near the city round about, - and he went the way of the Waste Plain; and the force of the Chaldeans, pursued, the king, and overtook him in the Waste Plains of Jericho, - and, all his force, was scattered from him. So they seized the king, and brought him up unto the king of Babylon, at Riblah, - and they pronounced upon him sentence of judgment. And, the sons of Zedekiah, they slew before his eyes, - and, the eyes of Zedekiah, put they out, and then bound him with fetters of bronze, and brought him into Babylon.

So they told the king, saying, Lo! Nathan the prophet! And, when he had come in before the king, he bowed himself down to the king with his face to the ground.

Then David rose up, afterwards, and went forth out of the cave, and cried out after Saul, saying - My lord, O king! And, when Saul looked about behind him, David inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down.

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, then shall I and my son Solomon be counted, offenders.

Now, Jehoshaphat son of Asa, began to reign over Judah, - in the fourth year of Ahab, king of Israel. Jehoshaphat, was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and, twenty-five years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, the name of his mother, was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in all the way of Asa his father, he turned not aside therefrom, - doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh: nevertheless, the high places, were not taken away, - still were the people offering sacrifices and burning incense in the high places. read more.
And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. Now, the rest of the story of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? Moreover, the rest of the male devotees who remained in the days of Asa his father, he consumed out of the land. And, king, was there none in Edom, a prefect, was king. Jehoshaphat, made ships of Tarshish, to go to Ophir, for gold; but they went not, - for ships had been broken to pieces in Ezion-geber. Then, said Ahaziah son of Ahab, unto Jehoshaphat, Let, my servants, go with, thy servants, in the ships, - but Jehoshaphat did not consent. So Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers, in the city of David his father, - and, Jehoram his son, reigned, in his stead.

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, - and strengthened himself against Israel; and put forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, - and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had captured. And it came to pass, that, Yahweh, was with Jehoshaphat, - because he walked in the first ways of David his father, and sought not unto the Baalim; read more.
for, unto the God of his father, he sought, and, in his commandments, he walked, - and not according to the doing of Israel. Therefore did Yahweh establish the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah gave a present unto Jehoshaphat, - and he came to have riches and honour, in abundance. And his heart was encouraged, in the ways of Yahweh, - and he, yet further, took away the high places and the Sacred Stems, out of Judah. And, in the third year of his reign, he sent to his rulers, even to Ben-hail and to Obadiah and to Zechariah, and to Nethanel, and to Micaiah, - that they were to teach throughout the cities of Judah; and, with them, Levites, Shemaiah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan, and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tob-adonijah, Levites, - and, with them, Elishama and Jehoram, priests; and they taught throughout Judah, and, with them, was the book of the law of Yahweh, - so they went round throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And it came to pass, that, the dread of Yahweh, was upon all the kingdoms of the countries, that were round about Judah, - and they warred not against Jehoshaphat. And, from among the Philistines, were they bringing in unto Jehoshaphat a present, and silver as tribute, - even the Arabians, were bringing in unto him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats. And so it came to pass that, Jehoshaphat, went on waxing surpassingly great, - and he built, throughout Judah, fortresses and cities for store; and, much business, had he, throughout the cities of Judah, - but, the men of war, the heroes of valour, were in Jerusalem. And, these, are the numbers of them, by their ancestral house, - To Judah, pertained rulers of thousands, Adnah the chief, and, with him, mighty men of valour, three hundred thousand; and, under his direction, was Jehohanan the chief, - and, with him, two hundred and eighty thousand; and, under his direction, Amasiah son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto Yahweh, - and, with him, two hundred thousand heroes of valour. And, out of Benjamin, a hero of valour, Eliada, - and, with him, armed with bow and buckler, two hundred thousand; and, under his direction, Jehozabad, - and, with him, a hundred and eighty thousand, equipped for war. These, were they who were waiting upon the king, - besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities, throughout all Judah. And it came to pass, when Jehoshaphat had riches and honour, in abundance, that he contracted, by marriage, affinity with Ahab. So he went down, at the end of some years, unto Ahab, to Samaria, Ahab therefore sacrificed for him, sheep and oxen, in abundance, also for the people whom he had with him,-and then persuaded him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. For Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go up with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he said unto him - So am I, even as thou, and, like thy people, are my people, and, with thee, in the war. Then said Jehoshaphat, unto the king of Israel, - Seek, I pray thee, some time to-day, the word of Yahweh. So the king of Israel gathered together the prophets, four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go up against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said - Go up, and may God deliver it into the hand of the king! Then said the king of Israel unto Jehoshaphat - There is yet one man, by whom to seek Yahweh, but, I, hate him, for he is never prophesying, concerning me, anything good - but - all his days - evil, the same, is Micaiah, son of Imla. Then said Jehoshaphat, Let not the king say, so! And the king of Israel called for a certain officer, - and said, Haste, Micaiah son of Imla! Now, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, were sitting, each upon his throne, clothed in robes, and they were sitting in an open space, at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, - and, all the prophets, were prophesying before them. Then did Zedekiah son of Chenaanah make him horns of iron, - and said - Thus, saith Yahweh, With these, shalt thou push Syria, until they are consumed. And, all the prophets, were prophesying, so, saying,-Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper, and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king. And, the messenger who went to call Micaiah, spake unto him, saying, Lo! the words of the prophets, with one mouth, are good for the king, - be thy word then, I pray thee, like one of theirs, so wilt thou speak good. Then said Micaiah, - By the life of Yahweh, whatsoever my God shall say, that, must I speak. Now, when he came unto the king, the king said unto him, Micah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up and prosper, and may they be delivered into your hand. Then the king said unto him, How many times, must, I, be putting thee on oath, - that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh? So he said, I saw all Israel, scattered upon the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd,-and Yahweh said, No masters, have these! let them return every man unto his own house, in peace. Then said the king of Israel, unto Jehoshaphat, - Said I not unto thee, He wilt not prophesy concerning me anything good, but evil? Then said he, Therefore, hear ye the word of Yahweh, - I saw Yahweh, sitting upon his throne, and, all the host of the heavens, standing, on his right hand and his left. Then said Yahweh, Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall in Ramoth-gilead? And one spake, saying after this manner, and another, saying after that manner. Then came there forth a spirit and stood before Yahweh, and said, I, will persuade him. And Yahweh said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth and become a spirit of falsehood, in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said - Thou mayest persuade, moreover also, thou shalt prevail, go forth, and do, so. Now, therefore, lo! Yahweh hath suffered a spirit of falsehood to be put into the mouth of these thy prophets, - but, Yahweh, hath spoken concerning thee - evil. Then drew near Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, - and said, Which then is the way the spirit of Yahweh passed from me, to speak with thee? Then said Micaiah, Lo! thou shalt see, on that day when thou shalt enter into a chamber within a chamber, to hide thyself. Then said the king of Israel, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon ruler of the city, and unto Joash son of the king; and ye shall say, Thus, saith the king, Put ye this one into the prison, - and feed him with the bread of oppression, and with the water of oppression, until I return in peace. Then said Micaiah, If thou do, at all return, in peace, Yahweh hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear! ye peoples, all! Then went up the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, against Ramothgilead. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I am about to disguise myself, and enter into the battle, but, thou, put on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and entered into the battle. Now, the king of Syria, had commanded the captains of chariots which he had, saying, Ye shall not fight, with small or with great, - save with the king of Israel, alone. So it came to pass, when the chariot-captains saw Jehoshaphat, that, they, said, The king of Israel, it is. And they compassed him about, to fight, - but Jehoshaphat made outcry, and, Yahweh, helped him, yea God allured them away from him. And so it came to pass, when the chariot-captains saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned hack from pursuing him; but, a certain man, drawing a bow in his innocence, smote the king of Israel between the shoulder-joints and the coat of mail, - wherefore he said to the charioteer, Turn thy hand, and convey me out of the host, for I am sore wounded. But the battle increased on that day, and, the king of Israel, was propping himself up in the chariot before the Syrians, until evening,-and died at the time of the going in of the sun. And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned unto his own house in peace, to Jerusalem. And there came out to meet him, Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, who said unto King Jehoshaphat, Unto the lawless, was it right to give help? and, on them who hate Yahweh, to bestow thy love? For this cause, therefore, is there wrath against thee, from before Yahweh; howbeit, good things, are found with thee,-for that thou hast consumed the Sacred Stems out of the land, and hast fixed thy heart to seek God. So Jehoshaphat dwelt in Jerusalem, - and he again went forth among the people, from Beersheba as far as the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back unto Yahweh, the God of their fathers. And he stationed judges in the land, throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city; and said unto the judges, See what, ye, are doing, inasmuch as, not for man, must ye judge, but for Yahweh, - who will be with you, in the word of justice. Now, therefore, let the dread of Yahweh be upon you, - observe and do, for there is, with Yahweh our God, neither perversity nor respect of persons nor the taking of bribes. And, even in Jerusalem, did Jehoshaphat station some of the Levites and the priests, and of the ancestral chiefs of Israel, to pronounce the just sentence of Yahweh, and to settle disputes, - when they returned to Jerusalem. And he laid charge upon them, saying, - Thus, shall ye act, in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully and with an undivided heart. Any dispute that shall come in unto you from among your brethren who are dwelling in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment and statutes and regulations, then shall ye warn them, that they may not become guilty against Yahweh, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren, - Thus, shall ye act, and not incur guilt. And lo! Amariah the chief priest, is over you as to every matter of Yahweh, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael the chief ruler for the house of Judah, as to every matter of the king, and, as officers, the Levites are before you, - Be strong and act, and Yahweh be with the good! And it came to pass, after this, that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, and, with them, some of the Meunim, came against Jehoshaphat, to battle. And there came some and told Jehoshaphat, saying, There is coming against thee, a great multitude from beyond the sea, from Syria, - and lo! they are in Hazazon-tamar, the same, is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat was afraid, and set his face to seek unto Yahweh, - and proclaimed a fast for all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to enquire of Yahweh, - even, out of all the cities of Judah, came they in, to seek Yahweh. And Jehoshaphat stood, in the convocation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of Yahweh, - before the new court; and said, O Yahweh, God of our fathers, art not, thou, God in the heavens? and art, thou, not ruling throughout all the kingdoms of the nations? and, in thy hand, are there not strength and might? and is there any who, against thee, can stand? Art not, thou, our God, who didst dispossess the inhabitants of this land, from before thy people Israel, - and didst give it unto the seed of Abraham who loved thee, unto times age-abiding? and they have dwelt therein, - and have built for thee therein, a sanctuary for thy Name, saying: If there come upon us calamity, the sword of judgment or pestilence or famine, we will stand before this house and before thee, for, thy Name, is in this house, - that we may make outcry unto thee out of our distress, that thou mayest hear and save. Now, therefore, lo! the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom thou didst not suffer Israel to invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, - but they turned away from them and destroyed them not, yea lo! they, are requiting us, - by coming to drive us out, from thy possession, which thou didst cause us to possess. O our God, wilt thou not bring judgment upon them, seeing that there is, in us, no strength, before this great multitude, that is coming against us, - we, therefore, know not what we shall do, but, unto thee, are our eyes. And, all Judah, were standing before Yahweh, - also their little ones, their wives and their children. Now, as for Jahaziel son of Zechariah son of Benaiah son of Jeiel son of Mattaniah a Levite, of the sons of Asaph, there came upon him the spirit of Yahweh, in the midst of the convocation: and he said, Give ye heed, all Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! Thus, saith Yahweh unto you. As for you, do not fear nor be dismayed, by reason of this great multitude, for, not yours, is the battle, but, God's. To-morrow, go ye down against them, for lo! there they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz, - and ye shall find them at the end of the ravine, facing the wilderness of Jeruel. It is not, for you, to fight in this matter, - take your station, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem, do not fear, nor be dismayed, to-morrow, go ye out to meet them, and, Yahweh, will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head, with his face to the ground, - and, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell down before Yahweh, prostrating themselves unto Yahweh. And Levites - of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to offer praise unto Yahweh, God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice. So they rose early in the morning, and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa, - and, as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, Trust ye in Yahweh your God, and ye shall be trusted, Trust ye in his prophets, and ye shall prosper. And, when he had given counsel unto the people, he appointed such as should sing unto Yahweh, and offer praise with holy adorning, - as they should be going forth before the armed men, that they should be saying, O give thanks unto Yahweh, For, age-abiding, is his lovingkindness. And, when they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh had set liers-in-wait against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who were coming against Judah, and they were smitten. Then rose up the sons of Ammon and Moab against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, to devote and to destroy, - and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to cut off, every man his neighbour. So when, Judah, came near the watch-tower of the wilderness, - they turned towards the multitude, and lo! there they were, dead bodies fallen to the earth, with none to escape. And, when Jehoshaphat and his people came near to plunder the spoil of them, they found among them, in abundance, both riches and dead bodies and precious jewels, and they stripped off for themselves, beyond what they could carry away, - and they were three days plundering the spoil, for great it was. And, on the fourth day, they assembled themselves in the vale of Beracah, for there they blessed Yahweh, - on this account, was the name of that place called The Vale of Beracah - unto this day. Then turned every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with, Jehoshaphat, at their head, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, - for Yahweh had caused them to rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with harps and with lyres, and with trumpets, - unto the house of Yahweh. And it came to pass that, the dread of God, was upon all the kingdoms of the countries,-when they heard, that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel. So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, - for his God, gave him rest, round about. Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, - thirty-five years old, was he when he began to reign, and, twenty-five years, reigned he in Jerusalem, and the, name of his mother, was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and turned not from it, - doing that which was right, in the eyes of Yahweh. Howbeit, the high places, were not taken away, - for as yet, the people, had not fixed their heart unto the God of their fathers. But, the rest of the story of Jehoshaphat, first and last, lo! there it is written in the story of Jehu son of Hanani, which hath been added to the book of the Kings of Israel. Yet, after this, did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, - he, was lawless in his doings; and he joined with him, to make ships to go unto Tarshish, - and they made ships in Ezion-geber, Then prophesied, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah, against Jehoshaphat, saying, - Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, Yahweh hath broken in pieces thy works. So the ships were wrecked, and were not able to go unto Tarshish. And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers, in the city of David, - and Jehoram his son reigned in his steed.

And Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim son of Josiah king, instead of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, - and, Jehoahaz, took he away, so he entered Egypt, and died there. And, the silver and the gold, did Jehoiakim give unto Pharaoh, howbeit he assessed the land, that he might give the silver at the bidding of Pharaoh, - every man, according to his assessment, exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, that he might give it to Pharaoh-necoh. Twenty-five years old, was Jehoiakim when he began to reign, and, eleven years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, his mother's name, was Zebudah daughter of Pedaiah, of Rumah. read more.
And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that, his fathers, had done. In his days, came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, - and Jehoiakim became his servant three years, then turned he and rebelled against him. And Yahweh sent against him troops of Chaldeans, and troops of Syrians, and troops of Moabites, and troops of the sons of Ammon, yea he sent them against Judah, to destroy him, - according to the word of Yahweh, which he spake through his servants the prophets. Surely, it was, because of the anger of Yahweh, that this came upon Judah, to remove them from his presence, - for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done: moreover also, for the innocent blood that he had shed, so that he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, - which Yahweh was not willing to pardon. Now, the rest of the story of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, - and, Jehoiachin his son, reigned, in his stead.

Twenty-five years old, was Jehoiakim when he began to reign, and, eleven years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh his God. Against him, came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, - and bound him in fetters of bronze, to carry him to Babylon. And, some of the utensils of the house of Yahweh, did Nebuchadnezzar carry to Babylon, - and put them in his own temple in Babylon. read more.
But, the rest of the story of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he made, and that which was found upon him, there they are, written in the book of the Kings of Israel and Judah, - and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

Twenty-two years old, was Amon when he began to reign, - and, two years, reigned he in Jerusalem. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had done, - and, unto all the images which Manasseh his father had made, Amon offered sacrifice, and did serve them. But he did not humble himself before Yahweh as Manasseh his father humbled himself, - for, he, Amon, made guilt abound. read more.
And his servants conspired against him, and put him to death, in his own house. But the people of the land smote all the conspirators against King Amon, - and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

Twenty-two years old, was Amon when he began to reign, and, two years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, his mother's name, was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz, of Jotbah. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - as did Manasseh his father; yea he walked in all the way wherein, his father, had walked, - and served the manufactured gods that, his father, had served, and bowed down to them; read more.
and forsook Yahweh the God of his fathers, - and walked not in the way of Yahweh. And the servants of Amon, conspired against him, - and slew the king in his own house. Then the people of the land smote all who had conspired against King Amon, - and the people of the land made, Josiah his son, king, in his stead. Now, the rest of the story of Amon, what he did, is, it, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And he was buried in his grave, in the garden of Uzza, - and, Josiah his son, reigned, in his stead.

And so they did eat and drink before Yahweh on that day, with great joy, - and they, the second time, made Solomon son of David king, and anointed him unto Yahweh to be chief ruler, and Zadok to be priest.

All these, being men of war, expert in setting in battle-array, with a perfect heart, came to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel, - moreover also, all the rest of Israel, were of one heart to make David king.

Then said the king unto them - Take ye with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon the mule which pertaineth unto myself, - and bring him down unto Gihon; then shall Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, - and ye shall blow with the horn, and say - Long live King Solomon!

So then Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as head, to be chief ruler among his brethren, - yea that he might make him king. So he took heed, and dispersed all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto all the fortified cities, and gave them food in abundance, - and asked a multitude of wives.

But, in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent and took the captains over hundreds, of the Carian body-guard, and of the runners, and brought them unto him, in the house of Yahweh, - and, when he had solemnised a Covenant with them, and put them on oath, in the house of Yahweh, then shewed he them the king's son; and commanded them, saying - This, is the thing which ye must do, - A third part of you, will be coming in on the sabbath, and keeping the watch of the house of the king; and, a third, in the side-gate; and, a third, in the gate behind the runners, - so shall ye keep the watch of the house, by turns. read more.
And, two parts of you, are all that are going out on the sabbath, - so shall ye keep the watch of the house of Yahweh, as touching the king. Thus shall ye encompass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand, and, he that cometh within the ranks, let him be slain, - so be ye with the king, when he cometh out and when he goeth in. And the captains of hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they took every man his men who were coming in on the sabbath, with them who were going out on the sabbath, - and came unto Jehoiada the priest. And the priest gave unto the captains of hundreds the spears and the shields which belonged to King David, - which were in the house of Yahweh. And the runners stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right corner of the house, as far as the left corner of the house, by the altar and the house, - near the king, round about. Then brought he forth the king's son, and set upon him the crown, and the testimony, and they made him king, and anointed him, - and clapped their hands, and said - May the king live! And, when Athaliah heard the noise of the runners, the people, then came she in unto the people, in the house of Yahweh, and looked, and lo! the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was, and the captains and the trumpeters, by the king, and, all the people of the land, rejoicing, and blowing with trumpets, - so Athaliah rent her garments, and cried out - Conspiracy! conspiracy! And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds - officers of the force, and said unto them - Take her forth into the inside of the ranks, and, he that cometh in after her, ye are to slay with the sword. For the priest said, Let her not be slain, in the house of Yahweh. So they made way for her, and she entered the road by which the horses approached the house of the king, and was slain there. And Jehoiada solemnised a covenant between Yahweh, and the king, and the people, that they should become a people unto Yahweh, - also between the king and the people. And all the people of the land entered the house of Baal, and brake it down, his altars and his images, brake they in pieces, utterly, and, Mattan the priest of Baal, they slew before the altars, - and the priest appointed officers over the house of Yahweh. And he took the captains of hundreds and the Carian bodyguard, and the runners, and all the people of the land, and they brought down the king out of the house of Yahweh, and they came, by way of the gate of the runners, into the house of the king, - and he took his seat on the throne of the kings; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and, the city, had rest, - when they had put, Athaliah, to death with the sword, in the house of the king. Seven years old, was Jehoash, when he began to reign. In the seventh year of Jehu, began Jehoash to reign, and, forty years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, the name of his mother, was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. And Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh all his days, - whereunto, Jehoiada the priest, instructed him: save only, that, the high places, took they not away, - still were the people sacrificing and burning incense in the high places. And Jehoash said unto the priests, - All the silver of the hallowed things, that is brought into the house of Yahweh - the silver of one who transgresseth, the silver of their persons by the estimate of, each one, - all the silver which it cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of Yahweh, let the priests take to them, every one from his acquaintance, - and let, them, repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever there may be found a breach. But it came to pass, that, in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house. So King Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests, and said unto them - Why are ye not repairing the breaches of the house? Now, therefore, do not take silver from your acquaintances, for, to repair the breaches of the house, ought ye to have given it? The priests therefore consented, not to take silver from the people, and not to repair the breaches of the house. Then took Jehoiada a certain chest, and bored a hole in the door thereof, - and set it beside the altar, on the right as one entereth into the house of Yahweh, and the priests that kept the entrance-hall, used to put therein - all the silver that was brought into the house of Yahweh. And it came to pass, when they saw that there was much silver in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and brought together and counted the silver that was found in the house of Yahweh; then used they to give the silver that had been weighed out, into the hands of the doers of the work, who had oversight of the house of Yahweh, - and they brought it forth, to the carpenters, and to the builders, who were working upon the house of Yahweh; and to the masons, and to the hewers of stone, and to buy timber, and hewn stone, for repairing the breaches of the house of Yahweh, - and to every one that went out upon the house, to repair it. Howbeit there were not made for the house of Yahweh, bowls of silver, snuffers, dashing basins, trumpets, any vessel of gold, or any vessel of silver, - out of the silver that was brought into the house of Yahweh; for, to the doers of the work, used they to give it; and so they repaired, therewith, the house of Yahweh. And they used not to reckon with the men into whose hands they gave the silver, to give it to the doers of the work, because, with faithfulness, were, they, dealing. Silver for guilt-offerings and silver for sin-offerings, was not brought into the house of Yahweh, - to the priests, they belonged. Then, came up Hazael, king of Syria, and fought against Gath, and captured it, - so Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem. Therefore did Jehoash, king of Judah, take all the hallowed things which Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had hallowed, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of Yahweh and the house of the king, - and sent to Hazael king of Syria, so he went up from against Jerusalem. Now, the rest of the story of Joash, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And his servants arose and made a conspiracy, and smote Joash, in the house of Millo which teeth down to Silla. Yea, Jozabar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, that he died, and he was buried with his fathers, in the city of David, - and, Amaziah his son, reigned in his stead.

Eight years old, was Josiah when he began to reign, and, thirty-one years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, this mother's name, was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah, of Bozkath. And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside, to the right hand or to the left. And it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying - read more.
Go up unto Hilkiah, the high priest, that he pour out the silver that hath been brought into the house of Yahweh, - which the keepers of the entrance-hall have gathered from the people, that they may give it into the hand of the doers of the work, who have oversight of the house of Yahweh, that they may give it to the doers of the work, who are in the house of Yahweh, to repair the breaches of the house; to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, - and to buy timber, and hewn stones, for repairing the house. Howbeit there used to be no reckoning made with them, as to the silver that was given into their hand, - because, with faithfulness, were they dealing. Then said Hilkiah the high priest, unto Shaphan the scribe - The book of the law, have I found, in the house of Yahweh. So Hilkiah delivered the book unto Shaphan, and he read it. Then came Shaphan the scribe unto the king, and brought the king word again, - and said - Thy servants have poured out the silver that was found in the house, and have delivered it unto the hand of the doers of the work, who have oversight of the house of Yahweh. Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying - A book, hath Hilkiah the priest delivered unto me. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam son of Shaphan, and Achbor son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying: Go ye - enquire of Yahweh, for me and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book which hath been found, - for, great, is the wrath of Yahweh, in that it hath fired up against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according to all which is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas keeper of the vestments, she having her dwelling in Jerusalem, in the new city, - and they spake unto her. And she said unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, Say ye unto the man who hath sent you unto me: Thus, saith Yahweh, Behold me! about to bring calamity upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, - all the words of the book, which, the king of Judah, hath read: Because they have forsaken me, and burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger, with all the workmanship of their hands; and so my wrath shall fire up against this place, and shall not be quenched: But, unto the king of Judah, who hath sent you to enquire of Yahweh, thus, shall ye say unto him, - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard: Because, tender, was thy heart, and thou didst humble thyself before Yahweh when thou heardest what I had spoken against this place and against the inhabitants thereof - that they should become a desolation and a curse, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me, therefore also, I, have hearkened - declareth Yahweh. For this cause, behold me! about to gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy graves, in peace, and so thine eyes shall not look upon all the misfortune which I am about to bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again. Then the king sent, - and there were gathered unto him, all the elders of Judah, and Jerusalem; and the king went up to the house of Yahweh, 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, which had been found in the house of Yahweh. And the king took his stand by the pillar, and solemnised a covenant before Yahweh - to follow Yahweh, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all their heart and with all their soul, to confirm the words of this covenant, written in this book. And all the people took their stand in the covenant. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the entrance-hall, to bring forth, out of the temple of Yahweh, all the vessels that had been made for Baal and for the Sacred Stem, and for all the army of the heavens, - and he burned them up outside Jerusalem, in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them to Bethel; and he put down the idol-priests, whom the kings of Judah had appointed, so that incense might be burned in the high places, in the cities of Judah, and round about Jerusalem, - them also that burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the constellations, and to all the army of the heavens; and he brought forth the Sacred Stem out of the house of Yahweh, outside Jerusalem, into the Kidron ravine, and burned it in the Kidron ravine, and crushed it to powder, - and cast the powder upon the graves of the sons of the people; and he brake down the houses of the male devotees, which were in the house of Yahweh, - where the women did weave houses to the Sacred Stem; and be brought in all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where, the priests, had burned incense, from Geba unto Beer-sheba, - and brake down the high places of the gates, that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua, the governor of the city, which were on one's left hand, in the gate of the city; howbeit, the priests of the high places came not up unto the altar of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, save only that they did eat unleavened bread in the midst of their brethren; and he defiled Topheth, which was in the valley of the son of Hinnom, - so that no man might cause his son or his daughter to pass through the fire unto Molech; and he did away with the horses, which the kings of Judah had devoted to the sun, at the entrance of the house of Yahweh, near the chamber of Nathan-melech the courtier, which was in the suburbs, also, the chariots of the sun, burned he with fire; and, the altars which were on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, also the altars which Manasseh had made, in the two courts of the house of Yahweh, did the king break down, - and hurried away from thence, and cast out the powder of them into the Kidron ravine; and, the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of destruction, which Solomon king of Israel had built unto Ashtoreth - the abomination of the Zidonians, and unto Chemosh - the abomination of the Moabites, and unto Milcom - the disgusting thing of the sons of Ammon, did the king defile; and he brake in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Sacred Stems, - and filled their place with human bones: moreover also, the altar that was in Bethel, the high place which Jeroboam son of Nebat made, wherewith he caused, Israel, to sin, - even that altar, and the high place, brake he down, - and burned the high place, crushing it to powder, and burned a Sacred Stem. And, when Josiah turned, and saw the graves which were there, in the mount, he sent and took the bones out of the graves, and burned upon the altar, and defiled it, - according to the word of Yahweh, which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. Then said he - What is yonder erection, which I do see? And the men of the city said unto him - The grave of the man of God, who came in out of Judah, and proclaimed these things, which thou hast done, concerning the altar of Bethel. And he said - Let him rest, let, no man, disturb his bones. So they let his bones rest, with the bones of the prophet who came in out of Samaria. Moreover also, all the houses of the high places which were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made, so as to provoke Yahweh to anger, did Josiah remove, - and he did to them according to all the doings which he had done in Bethel; and he sacrificed all the priests of the high places, who were there, by the altars, and burned human bones thereupon, - and returned to Jerusalem. Then did the king command all the people, saying, Keep ye a passover unto Yahweh, your God, - such as is written in this book of the covenant. Surely there had not been held such a passover as this, from the days of the Judges who judged Israel, - nor all the days of the kings of Israel, and the kings of Judah; save only, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, when this passover was held unto Yahweh, in Jerusalem. Moreover also, them who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the household gods, and the manufactured gods, and the abominations which were to be seen in the land of Judah, and in Jerusalem, did Josiah consume, - that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of Yahweh. And, like him, was no king, before him, who turned unto Yahweh with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, - neither, after him, arose one, like him. Howbeit, Yahweh turned not away from the glow of his great anger, wherewith his anger glowed against Judah - because of all the provocations wherewith, Manasseh, had provoked him. So Yahweh said: Even Judah, will I remove from my presence, as I have removed Israel, - and will reject this city, which I had chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house as to which I had said, My Name, shall be, there. Now, the rest of the story of Josiah, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? In his days, came up Pharaoh-necoh king of Egypt, against the king of Assyria, unto the river Euphrates, - and, when King Josiah went against him, he slew him at Megiddo, as soon as he saw him. And his servants conveyed him in a chariot, dead, from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre, - and the people of the land took Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made, him, king, in his father's stead.

Let, every soul, unto protecting authorities be in subjection; for there is no authority save by God, and, they that are in being, have by God been arranged, -

Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, - not only because of the anger, but also because of the conscience;

Submit yourselves unto every human creation, for the Lord's sake, - whether unto a king, as one that protecteth,

thou shalt, set, over thee as king, him whom Yahweh thy God shall choose, - out of the midst of thy brethren, shalt thou set over thee a king, thou mayest not appoint over thee a man that is a foreigner, who is not thy brother.

Howbeit Yahweh, God of Israel, made choice of me, out of all of the house of my father, to become king over Israel unto times age-abiding, for, of Judah, had he made choice to be chief ruler, and, in the house of Judah, the house of my father, - and, among the sons of my father, with me, was he well-pleased, to make me king over all Israel; and, from among all my sons, - for, many sons, hath Yahweh given me, - he hath made choice of Solomon my son, to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh, over Israel. And he said unto am, Solomon thy son - he, shall build my house, and my courts, - for I have made choice of him that he may be my son, and that, I, may be his father.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, - for, to Shechem, had all Israel come to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it - he being yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the face of Solomon the king, that Jeroboam returned from Egypt; yes they sent, and called him, and Jeroboam and all the convocation of Israel came, - and spake unto Rehoboam, saying: read more.
Thy father, made our yoke, grievous, - now, therefore do, thou, lighten the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, that we may serve thee. And he said unto them - Depart ye for yet three days, and then come again unto me. And the people departed. Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who used to stand before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, - How do, ye, advise, that I answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying - If, to-day, thou wilt be servant unto this people, and wilt serve them, - and answer them kindly, and speak unto them good words, then will they be, thy, servants, always. But he declined the counsel of the elders which they gave him, and consulted with the young men, who had grown up with him, who were standing before himself; and said unto them - What counsel do, ye, give as to how we shall answer this people who have spoken unto me, saying - Make a lightening of the yoke which thy father put upon us? Then spake unto him the young men who had grown up with him, saying, Thus, shalt thou say to this people that have spoken unto thee, saying - Thy father, made our yoke heavy, thou, therefore lighten it upon us, Thus, shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger, is thicker than my father's loins; Now, therefore, whereas, my father, laid upon you a heavy yoke, I, will add to your yoke, - My father, did chastise you with whips, but, I, will chastise you with scorpions. So Jeroboam and all the people came in unto Rehoboam, on the third day, - as the king had bidden, saying - Come again unto me, on the third day. And the king answered the people, harshly, - and declined the counsel of the elders wherewith they had counselled him; and spake unto them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father, made your yoke heavy, but, I, will add unto your yoke, - My father, chastised you, with whips, but, I, will chastise you, with scorpions. Thus the king hearkened not unto the people, - for there had come about a turn from Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite, unto Jeroboam, son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying - What portion have, we, in, David. Or inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your homes O Israel! Now, see to thine own house, O David! And Israel departed to their homes. But, as for the sons of Israel who were dwelling in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram who was over the tribute, but all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died, - King Rehoboam, therefore, hastily mounted his chariot, to flee unto Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David, - unto this day. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him into the assembly, and made him king over all Israel, - there were none that followed the house of David, saving the tribe of Judah only.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, - for, to Shechem, had all Israel come, to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam son of Nebat, who was in Egypt-whither he had fled from the face of Solomon the king - heard of it, then returned Jeroboam out of Egypt. And they sent, and called him, so Jeroboam and all Israel came, - and spake unto Rehoboam, saying: read more.
Thy father, made our yoke oppressive, - now, therefore, lighten thou somewhat the oppressive servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve thee. And he said unto them, Yet three days, and then return unto me, - and the people departed. Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had been standing before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, - How do, ye, counsel to return answer unto this people? And they spake unto him saying, If thou wilt be kind to this people, and please them, and speak unto them kind words, then will they be thy servants, all the days. But he declined the counsel of the old men, which they gave him, - and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who were standing before him. And he said unto them, What do, ye, counsel that we should return as answer, unto this people, - who have spoken unto me saying, Lighten thou somewhat the yoke, which thy father put upon us? Then spake with him the young men who had grown up with him, saying, Thus, shalt thou speak unto the people who have spoken unto thee saying, Thy father, made our yoke heavy, Thou, therefore, lighten somewhat our yoke, - Thus, shalt thou say unto them, My little finger, is thicker than my father's loins; Now, therefore, my father, laid upon you a heavy yoke, but, I, will add to your yoke, - My father, chastised you with whips, but, I, with scorpions, So Jeroboam and all the people came unto Rehoboam, on the third day, - as the king spake, saying, Return unto me on the third day. And the king answered them harshly, - and King Rehoboam declined the counsel of the old men; and spake unto them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father, made your yoke heavy, but, I, will add thereunto, - My father, chastised you with whips, But, I, with scorpions. So the king hearkened not unto the people, - for there had come to be a turn from God, to the end Yahweh might establish his word which he had spoken by means of Ahijah the Shilonite, unto Jeroboam, son of Nebat. And, when, all Israel, saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying - What portion have, we, in David, or inheritance in the son of Jesse? Every man, to your homes, O Israel! Now, see to thine own house, O David! And all Israel departed to their homes.

So all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul king there, before Yahweh, in Gilgal, and offered there sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh, - and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there, exceedingly. And Samuel said unto all Israel, Lo! I have hearkened unto your voice, in all that ye said to me, - and have set over you a king. Now, therefore, lo! the king going to and fro before you, But, I, am old and grey-headed, and, my sons, lo! they are with you, - But, I, have gone to and fro before you from my youth until this day. read more.
Behold me! testify against me, before Yahweh, and before his Anointed - Whose, ox, have I taken? or whose, ass, have I taken? or whom have I oppressed? Whom have I crushed? or at whose, hands, have I taken a bribe, to cover up mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it unto you. And they said, Thou hast not oppressed us, neither hast thou crushed us, - neither hast thou taken, at the hand of any man, any thing. And he said unto them - Witness, is Yahweh against you, and, witness, is his Anointed, this day, that ye have not found in my hand, any thing! And they said: Witness! And Samuel said unto the people: Witness, is Yahweh, who wrought with Moses and with Aaron, and who brought up your fathers out of the land of Egypt. Now, therefore, take your stand and let me plead with you, before Yahweh, - and tell you all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he wrought with you, and with your fathers: How that, when Jacob had come into Egypt, - and your fathers had made outcry unto Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, and they brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and he caused them to dwell in this place; And, when they forgat Yahweh their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, prince of the host of Jabin, king of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them; But, when they made outcry unto Yahweh and said - We have sinned, in that we have forsaken Yahweh, and have served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, - now, therefore, deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve thee, then Yahweh sent Jerubbaal and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, - and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies, on every side, and ye dwelt in safety. But, when ye saw that, Nahash king of the sons of Ammon, came upon you, then said ye unto me, Nay! but, a king, shall reign over us, when, Yahweh your God, was your king! Now, therefore, lo! the king whom ye have chosen, for whom ye have asked, - lo! therefore, Yahweh hath set over you a king. If ye will revere Yahweh, and serve him, and hearken unto his voice, and not rebel against the bidding of Yahweh, then shall, both ye and your king that reigneth over you, continue to follow after Yahweh your God. But, if ye hearken not unto the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the bidding of Yahweh, then will the hand of Yahweh continue to be against you, and against your fathers. Even now, stand still and see this great thing, - which Yahweh is about to do before your eyes: Is it not wheat harvest, to-day? I will cry unto Yahweh, that he may give forth thunderings and rain, - know ye then and see, that, your wrong, is great which ye have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking for yourselves, a king. So Samuel cried unto Yahweh, and Yahweh gave forth thunderings and rain, on that day, - and all the people greatly feared Yahweh, and Samuel. And all the people said unto Samuel - Pray for thy servants, unto Yahweh thy God, and let it not be that we die, - For we have added, to all our sins, a wrong, in asking for ourselves a king. Then said Samuel unto the people - Do not fear, ye, have done all this wrong, - nevertheless, do not turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh, with all your heart; and turn not aside after vanities, that can neither profit nor deliver, because, vanities, they are. For Yahweh will not give up his people, because of his great name, for Yahweh was minded to make you his people. As for me also, far be it from me, that I should sin against Yahweh, by ceasing to pray for you, - but I will direct you, in the good and right way. Only, revere Yahweh, and serve him in truth, with all your heart, - for see, what great things he hath done with you. But, if ye, will do wrong, both ye and your king shall be swept away. Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign; and, when he had reigned two years over Israel, Saul chose him three thousand men out of Israel, of whom there were with Saul, two thousand in Michmash and in the hill-country of Bethel, and, a thousand, were with Jonathan, in Gibeah of Benjamin, - but, the rest of the people, he let go, every man to his own home. Then did Jonathan smite the garrison of Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it, - and, Saul, blew with a horn throughout all the land saying, Let the Hebrews hear! And, all Israel, heard say - Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines, Moreover, also, Israel have made themselves odious among the Philistines, - so the people were called together to follow Saul, to Gilgal. And, the Philistines, gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, a people also like the sand that is on the sea-shore for multitude, - and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven. So, the men of Israel, saw they were in a strait, for the people had been harassed, - and the people had hidden themselves in caves, and in thickets, and among cliffs, and in holes, and in pits. And, Hebrews, had passed over the Jordan, to the land of Gad, and Gilead, - but, Saul, was yet in Gilgal, and all the people, trembled after him. And he waited seven days, by the set time that Samuel had named, but Samuel came not to Gilgal, - and the people were scattered from him. Then said Saul, Bring near unto me, the ascending-sacrifice and the peace-offerings. And he offered up the ascending-sacrifice. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of offering up the ascending-sacrifice, lo! Samuel, had come, - and Saul went out to meet him, that he might bless him. Then said Samuel - What hast thou done? And Saul said - Because I saw that the people had been scattered from me, and, thou, hadst not come within the appointed days, and, the Philistines, had gathered themselves together to Michmash, therefore I said - Now, will the Philistines come down against me, at Gilgal, but, the face of Yahweh, have I not appeased: So I forced myself, and offered up the ascending-sacrifice. And Samuel said unto Saul - Thou hast shewn thyself foolish, - thou hast not kept the commandment of Yahweh thy God, which he commanded thee, for, now, would Yahweh have established thy kingdom unto Israel until times age-abiding; Whereas, now, shall thy kingdom not be established, - Yahweh hath sought out for him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh hath commanded him to be leader over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Yahweh commanded thee. And Samuel arose, and ascended from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were found with him, about six hundred men. Now, Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were found with him, were abiding in Geba of Benjamin, - but, the Philistines, had encamped in Michmash. And the spoilers came forth out of the camp of the Philistines, in three companies, the first company, turned unto the way of Ophrah, unto the land of Shual; and, the second company, turned unto the way of Beth-horon, - and, the third company, turned unto the way of the boundary that overlooketh the valley of Zeboim, towards the wilderness. Now, a smith, could not be found, throughout all the land of Israel - for the Philistines had said, Lest the Hebrews make sword or spear. So all Israel went down to the Philistines, - to sharpen every man his share, and his mattock, and his axe, and his sickle. Howbeit they had a file for the sickles, and the mattocks, and the three-pronged forks, and the axes, - and for setting the goads. Thus would it come to pass, in the day of battle, that there was found - neither sword nor spear, in the hand of any of the people, that were with Saul and Jonathan, but such were found belonging to Saul and to Jonathan his son. Now the garrison of the Philistines had come out to the pass of Michmash. And it came about, on a certain day, that Jonathan son of Saul said unto the young man bearing his armour: Come! and let us pass over unto the garrison of the Philistines, that is on the other side, yonder! but, to his father, he told it not. Now, Saul, was tarrying in the uttermost part of Gibeah, under the pomegranate tree that is in Migron, - and, the people that were with him, were about six hundred men; and, Ahijah, son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, was priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, wearing an ephod, - and, the people, knew not that Jonathan had departed. And, between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over up to the garrison of the Philistines, there was a crag of rock on the one side, and a crag of rock on the other side; and, the name of the one, was Bozez, and the name of the other, Seneh. The one crag, was a pillar on the north, over against Michmash, - and, the other, on the south, over against Geba. So Jonathan said unto the young man bearing his armour - Come! and let us cross over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised, peradventure, Yahweh may work by us, - for there is no restraint with Yahweh, to save by many, or by few. And his armour-bearer said to him, Do all that is in thy heart, - decide for thyself (lo! I am with thee!), according to thine own heart. Then said Jonathan, Lo! we, are crossing over unto the men, - and will discover ourselves unto them. If, thus, they say unto us, Keep quiet until we get to you, then will we stand still where we are, and will not go up unto them; but, if thus, they say, Come up unto us, then will we go up; for Yahweh hath delivered them into our hand, - This, then, is our sign. So they two discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines, - and the Philistines said - Lo! Hebrews, coming forth out of the holes, wherein they had hidden themselves. And the men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and said - Come up unto us, and we will let you know a thing. Then said Jonathan unto his armour-bearer - Come up after me, for Yahweh hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. So Jonathan went up on his hands and on his feet, and, his armour-bearer, followed him, - and they fell before Jonathan, and, his armour-bearer, was slaying after him. And the first smiting wherewith Jonathan and his armour-bearer smote, was about twenty men, - within, as it were, half a furrow's length of a yoke of land. And there came to be a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people, the outposts and the spoilers, they too, trembled, - and the earth quaked, so it became a preternatural trembling. And the scouts of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and lo! the camp, melted away, hither and thither. Then said Saul unto the people who were with him: Number, I pray you, and see who hath departed from us. So they numbered; and lo! Jonathan and his armour-bearer were missing. Then said Saul unto Ahijah, Bring near the ark of God; for the ark of God was, on that day, in the midst of the sons of Israel. And it came to pass, as soon as Saul had spoken unto the priest, that, the tumultuous noise that was in the camp of the Philistines, went on and on, increasing. Then said Saul unto the priest, - Withdraw thy hand. And Saul and all the people that were with him gathered themselves together, and came as far as the host, - and lo! the sword of every man was against his fellow, an exceeding great confusion. And, the Hebrews who had aforetime belonged to the Philistines, who had come up with them in the host, even they, turned round so as to be with Israel who were with Saul and Jonathan. And, all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves throughout the hill country of Ephraim, heard that the Philistines had fled, and, they also, followed hard after them in the battle. Thus did Yahweh, on that day, save Israel, - and, the battle, passed over by Beth-aven. Now, the men of Israel, were tired out on that day, - yet had Saul bound the people by an oath, saying - Cursed, be the man that eateth food until the evening, and I be avenged upon mine enemies. So none of the people had tasted food. And, all the land, had entered into the forest, - and there was honey upon the face of the ground. So the people came into the forest, and lo! there were streams of honey, - but no man reached his hand to his mouth, because the people revered the oath. But, Jonathan, heard not his father putting the people on oath, so he reached forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honey-copse, - and brought back his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were brightened. Then responded one from among the people, and said - With an oath, did thy father charge the people, saying - Cursed, be the man that eateth food to-day! And so the people were faint. Then said Jonathan: My father hath afflicted the land, - See, I pray you, how my own eyes have been brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more if haply the people had, eaten freely, to-day of the spoil of their enemies, which they found? for, now, would not the smiting of the Philistines have been, mighty? Howbeit they smote the Philistines on that day from Michmash to Aijalon, - but the people became exceeding faint. And the people darted greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and felled them to the ground, - and the people did eat, with the blood. And they told Saul, saying, Lo! the people, are sinning against Yahweh, by eating with the blood. And he said - Ye have dealt treacherously, roll unto me, here, a great stone. And Saul said - Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them - Bring near unto me every man his ox,, and every man his lamb, and slay them here, and then eat, so shall ye not sin against Yahweh, by eating with the blood. And all the people brought near - every man that which was in his hand, that night, and they slew them there. And Saul built an altar unto Yahweh, - the same, was the first altar that he built unto Yahweh. Then said Saul - Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and make of them a prey until the morning light, and let us not leave of them, a man. And they said, All that is good in thine eyes, do! Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. So Saul asked of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not, that day. Then said Saul, Come near hither, all ye chiefs of the people, - and get to know and see, wherein, hath been this sin, to-day. For, by the life of Yahweh, who saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, yet shall he, die. But there was none ready to answer him, of all the people. Then said he unto all Israel - Ye, shall be on one side, and, I and Jonathan my son, will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, What is good in thine eyes, do! And Saul said unto Yahweh - O God of Israel! now set forth the truth. Then were, Jonathan and Saul, taken, and, the people, escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me, and Jonathan my son. Then was, Jonathan, taken. And Saul said unto Jonathan, Come tell me, what thou hast done. So Jonathan told him, and said, I, just tasted, with the end of the staff that was in my hand, a little honey, here I am - I must die! Then said Saul: So, may God do, and, so, may he add, surely thou must, die, Jonathan! But the people said unto Saul - Shall, Jonathan, die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far be it! By the life of Yahweh, there shall not fall a hair of his head to the ground, for, with God, hath he wrought this day. So the people delivered Jonathan, that he died not. Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, - and, the Philistines, departed unto their own place. And, Saul, took possession of the kingdom over Israel, - and made war round about against all his enemies - against Moab, and against the sons of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines, and, whomsoever he turned against, he was victorious. Then made he ready a force, and smote the Amalekites, - and delivered Israel out of the hand of such as plundered them. And the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchishua, - and, the names of his two daughters, were, the name of the firstborn, Merab, and, the name of the younger, Michal, - and, the name of Saul's wife, was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz, - and the name of the prince of his host, Abner, son of Ner, Saul's uncle. And, Kish, was Saul's father, and, Ner, Abner's father, was son of Abiel. And the war was severe against the Philistines all the days of Saul, - and, whensoever Saul saw any mighty man, or any son of valour, he drew him unto himself. And Samuel said unto Saul, It was, me, Yahweh sent to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel, - now, therefore, hearken thou to the voice of Yahweh's words. Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, I have well considered what Amalek did unto Israel - how he lay in wait for him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt. Now, go and smite Amalek, and devote ye to destruction all that he hath, and spare him not, - but thou shalt slay both man and woman, both child and suckling, both ox and sheep, both camel and ass. So then Saul called together the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, - and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came as far as the city of Amalek, - and stirred up strife in the ravine. Then said Saul unto the Kenites - Go, depart, get you down out of the midst of the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them, yet, ye, dealt in lovingkindness, with all the sons of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed out of the midst of the Amalekites. And Saul smote Amalek, - from Havilah, till thou enterest Shur, which is over against Egypt. And he took Agag, king of Amalek, alive, - but, all the people, devoted he to destruction at the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and the oxen and the lambs, also the fatlings, and all that was good, and would not devote them to destruction, - but, all the cattle that was contemptible and diseased, that, devoted they to destruction. Then came the word of Yahweh unto Samuel, saying - I am grieved that I made Saul to be king, for he hath turned back from following me, and, my words, hath he not established. And it was vexing to Samuel, so that he made outcry unto Yahweh, all the night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul, in the morning, and it was told Samuel, saying - Saul having come to Carmel, and lo! having set him up a sign, hath gone round, and passed over, and descended to Gilgal. And Samuel came unto Saul, - and Saul said unto him - Blessed, be thou by Yahweh: I have established the word of Yahweh. And Samuel said, What then is this bleating of sheep, in mine ears, - and the lowing of oxen, which I can hear? Then said Saul - From the Amalekites, have they brought them in; in that the people spared the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto Yahweh thy God, - but, the rest, have we devoted to destruction. Then said Samuel unto Saul, Stay, and let me tell thee, that which Yahweh hath spoken unto me, this night. And he said to him - Speak. And Samuel said, Was it not, when, little, thou wast in thine own eyes, that thou wast made, head of the tribes of Israel, - and that Yahweh anointed thee to be king over Israel? So then Yahweh sent thee on a journey, - and said - Go, and devastate to destruction, the sinners - the Amalekites, and make war against them, until they have consumed them. Wherefore, then, didst thou not hearken unto the voice of Yahweh, - but didst rush upon the spoil, and do that which was wrong in the sight of Yahweh? And Saul said unto Samuel - As indeed I have hearkened unto the voice of Yahweh, and have been on the journey on which Yahweh sent me, - and have brought in Agag, king of Amalek, and, the Amalekites, have I devoted to destruction. And the people took, of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things so devoted, - to sacrifice unto Yahweh thy God, in Gilgal. Then said Samuel - Doth that which is pleasing unto Yahweh consist in ascending-offerings and sacrifices, So much as in hearkening unto the voice of Yahweh? Lo! to hearken, is, better, than, sacrifice. And, to give heed, than, the fat of rams; For, as the sin of divination, is, rebelliousness, - and, as transgression with household gods, is, stubbornness, - Because thou hast rejected the word of Yahweh, therefore hath he rejected thee from being king. Then said Saul unto Samuel - I have sinned; for I have transgressed the bidding of Yahweh, and thy words, - for I feared the people, and hearkened unto their voice. Now, therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, - and turn again with me, that I may bow down unto Yahweh. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not turn again with thee, - Because thou hast rejected the word of Yahweh, therefore hath Yahweh rejected thee from being king over Israel. And, when Samuel turned about to go away, then laid he hold of the skirt of his robe, and it was rent. And Samuel said unto him, Yahweh hath rent the kingdom of Israel from off thee, to-day, - and will give it unto a neighbour of thine, who is better than thou. Moreover also, the Eminence of Israel, will not lie, neither will he repent, - For no, iron of earth, is, he, to repent! Then he said: I have sinned, Now, honour me, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, - and turn again with me, then will I bow down unto Yahweh thy God. So then Samuel turned again, after Saul - and Saul bowed down unto Yahweh. Then said Samuel - Bring ye near unto me - Agag, king of Amalek, And Agag came unto him, in fetters. Then said Agag, Surely, terrible, is the bitterness of death! And Samuel said, As women have been made childless by thy sword, So, childless among women, shall be, thine own mother. And Samuel cut Agag asunder before Yahweh, in Gilgal. Then Samuel departed unto Ramah, - but, Saul, went up unto his own house, at Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel did no more see Saul, until the day of his death, for Samuel pined for Saul, - but, Yahweh, was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel. And Yahweh said unto Samuel - How long, art thou going to pine for Saul, seeing that, I, have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill thy horn with oil, and come! let me send thee unto Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided me, among his sons, a king. And Samuel said, How can I go? As soon as Saul heareth, he will slay me. Then said Yahweh, A heifer, take thou with thee, and say, To sacrifice unto Yahweh, am I come. Then shall thou bid Jesse to the sacrifice, - when, I, will let thee know what thou must do, so shalt thou anoint for me him whom I shall name unto thee. And Samuel did that which Yahweh had spoken, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him, and one said - Peaceably, comest thou? And he said - Peaceably: to sacrifice unto Yahweh, am I come. Hallow yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he hallowed Jesse and his sons, and bade them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they entered, that he looked upon Eliab, - and said to himself, Surely, before Yahweh, is his Anointed. But Yahweh said unto Samuel - Do not regard his countenance, or the height of his stature, for I have rejected him, - for it is not what man looketh to but what God looketh to. For, man, looketh to the outward appearance, but, Yahweh, looketh to the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel, - and he said, Neither of this one, hath Yahweh made choice. Then Jesse made Shammah pass by, - and he said - Nor of this one, hath Yahweh made choice. So Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, - and Samuel said unto Jesse, Yahweh hath not made choice of these. Then said Samuel unto Jesse - Are these all the young men? And he said - There yet remaineth, the youngest, but lo! he is tending the sheep. Then said Samuel unto Jesse - Do, send, and summon him, for we cannot sit round, until he cometh in hither. So he sent, and brought him in. Now, he, was ruddy, a stripling with handsome eyes, and noble mien. Then said Yahweh - Rise - anoint him, for, this, is, he. And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren. And the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon David, from that day forward. Then arose Samuel, and went his way unto Ramah. But, the spirit of Yahweh, departed from Saul, - and there terrified him a sad spirit, from Yahweh. Then said the servants of Saul unto him, - Lo! we pray thee, a sad superhuman spirit, doth terrify thee: Pray let our lord bid thy servants before thee, seek out a man, skilled in playing on the lyre, - so shall it be, when a sad superhuman spirit cometh on thee, then shall he play with his hand, and thou shalt be joyful. And Saul said unto his servants, - I pray you, look out for me a man that excelleth in playing, and bring him in unto me. Then responded one of the young men and said - Lo! I have seen - a son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, skilled in playing, and a mighty man of valour, and a man of war, and of intelligent speech, and a handsome man, and, Yahweh, is with him. So Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, - and said, Send, unto me - David thy son, who is with the sheep. Then took Jesse an ass laden with bread, and a skin of wine, and one kid, - and sent by the hand of David his son, unto Saul. And David came in unto Saul, - and stood before him, - and he loved him greatly, and he became his armour-bearer. And Saul sent unto Jesse, saying, - I pray thee, let David stand before me, for he hath found favour in mine eyes. And so it used to be, when a superhuman spirit came unto Saul, then would David take the lyre, and play with his hand, - and Saul would be refreshed, and be joyful, and, the sad spirit, would depart from him. And the Philistines gathered together their hosts, unto battle, and they were gathered together unto Socoh, which belongeth unto Judah, - and they encamped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim; and, Saul and the men of Israel, gathered themselves together, and encamped in the vale of Elah, and set the army in array against the Philistines. And, the Philistines, were standing near the hill on one side, and, the Israelites, were standing near the hill on the other side, - while, the valley, was between them. And there came forth a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, Goliath, his name, from Gath, - his height, six cubits and a span; with a helmet of bronze on his head, and, with a scaly coat of mail, was he clad, - the weight of the coat, being five thousand shekels of bronze; and, greaves of bronze, on his feet, - and, a javelin of bronze, between his shoulders; and, the shaft of his spear, was like a weaver's beam, and, the flashing head of his spear, was six hundred shekels of iron, - and, his shield-bearer, was coming on before him. And he took his stand, and cried unto the ranks of Israel, and said unto them, Wherefore should ye come out, to set in array for battle? Am not, I, a Philistine, while, ye, are servants unto Saul? Choose you a man, and let him come down unto me: If he prevail in fighting with me, and smite me, then will we become your servants, - but, if, I, prevail over him, and smite him, then shall ye become our servants, and serve, us. And the Philistine said - I, reproach the ranks of Israel, this day, - give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and feared exceedingly. Now, David, was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem-judah, whose, name, was Jesse, and, who, had eight sons, - and, the man, in the days of Saul was old, advanced in years. And the three eldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle, - and, the names of his three sons who went into the battle, were Eliab the firstborn, and, the next to him, Abinadab, and, the third, Shammah. But, as for David, he, was the youngest, - and, the three eldest, followed Saul; whereas, David, kept going and returning from Saul, - to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem. And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, - and presented himself forty days. And Jesse said unto David his son, Take, I pray thee, unto thy brethren - this ephah of parched corn, and these ten loaves, - and run to the camp unto thy brethren; also these ten slices of soft cheese, shalt thou take to the captain of their thousand, - and, as for thy brethren, give good heed to their welfare, their pledge, also shalt thou receive. Now, Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the vale of Elah, ready to fight with the Philistines. So then David rose up early in the morning, and entrusted the sheep to a keeper, and took up the provisions and went his way, as Jesse had commanded him, - and came into the circular rampart, as, the force, was going forth into the ranks, and shouted for the fight. So Israel and the Philistines set in array for battle, army against army. Then David entrusted the provisions that were upon him to the care of the keeper of the stores, and ran unto the ranks, - and came and asked for the welfare of his brethren. Now, as he was speaking with them, lo! the champion coming up, Goliath the Philistine, by name, of Gath, coming up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and he spake according to these words, - and David heard them . Now, all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from before him, and feared exceedingly. And the men of Israel said - Have ye seen this man that is coming up? For, to reproach Israel, is he coming. So then it shall be, that, the man that shall smite him, the same, will the king enrich with great riches, and, his own daughter, will give him, and, his father's house, will he make free in Israel. Then spake David unto the men that were standing by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that shall smite yonder Philistine, and so shall take away reproach from off Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he hath reproached the ranks of a Living God? And the people answered him, according to this word saying, - So, shall it be done to the man that shall smite him. Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men, - then was kindled the anger of Eliab against David, and he said - Wherefore is it that thou hast come down? and to whom hast thou entrusted those few sheep in the wilderness? I, know thy pride, and the foolishness of thy heart, for, to see the battle, hast thou come down. And David said, What have I done, now? Was there not, a cause? Then turned he from him unto another, and said - according to this word, - and the people returned him an answer, like the first. And the words which David spake were overheard, - and, when they told them before Saul, he summoned him. And David said unto Saul, Let not the heart of my lord fail, because of him, - thy servant, will go, and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said unto David - Thou art not able to go against this Philistine, to fight with him, - for, a youth, art, thou, but, he, a man of war, from his youth. Then said David unto Saul, Thy servant used to tend his father's sheep, - and there would come a lion, or a bear, and carry off a lamb out of the flock; and I would go out after him, and smite him, and rescue it out of his mouth, - and, if he rose against me, I would catch him by his beard, and smite him, and slay him. Thy servant could slay, either a lion or a bear, - and, this uncircumcised Philistine, shall become, as one of them, for he hath reproached the ranks of a Living God. And David said, Yahweh, who hath rescued me out of the power of the lion, and out of the power of the bear, he, will rescue us out of the hand of this Philistine. Then said Saul unto David - Go! and, Yahweh, will be with thee. And Saul clad David with his own military coat, and set a helmet of bronze upon his head, - and clad him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword above his military coat, but was reluctant to go, for he had not proved them, - so David said unto Saul - I cannot go in these, for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. Then took he his stick in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the torrent-bed, and put them in the shepherd's-pouch which he had - even in the wallet, and had his sling in his hand, - and so drew near unto the Philistine. And the Philistine came on and on, and drew near unto David, - and the man carrying the shield was before him. And, when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him, - for he was a youth, and ruddy, a stripling of fair countenance. Then said the Philistine unto David, A dog, am, I, that thou art coming unto me, with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David, by his god. And the Philistine said unto David, - Come, unto me, that I may give thy flesh to the birds of heaven, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David unto the Philistine - Thou, art coming unto me with sword, and with spear, and with javelin, - but, I, am coming unto thee in the name of Yahweh of hosts, God of the ranks of Israel which thou hast reproached. This day, will Yahweh deliver thee into my hand, and I will smite thee, and take thy head from off thee, and will give thy dead body and the dead bodies of the host of Philistines, this day, unto the birds of heaven, and unto the wild beasts of the earth, - that all the earth may know that Israel hath a God; and that all this gathered host may know that, not with sword and with spear, doth Yahweh save, - for, unto Yahweh, belongeth the battle, and he will deliver you into our hand. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew near to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the ranks to meet the Philistine. And David thrust his hand into his pouch, and took from thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine, in his forehead, - that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face, to the earth. Thus David prevailed over the Philistine, with the sling and with the stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him, - but, sword, was there none in the hand of David. So David ran, and stood by the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off, therewith, his head, - and, when the Philistines saw that their hero was slain, they fled. Then arose the men of Israel and Judah, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, as far as the entrance into Gath, and as far as the gates of Ekron, - and the slain of the Philistines fell in the way to the two gates, even as far as Gath and as far as Ekron. And the sons of Israel returned from hotly pursuing the Philistines, - and plundered their camps. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it into Jerusalem, - but, his armour, put he into his tent. And, when Saul saw David going forth to meet the Philistine, he said unto Abner, prince of the host, Whose son is the young man, Abner? And Abner said, By the life of thy soul, O king! I know not. Then said the king, - Ask, thou, whose son the stripling is? And, when David returned from smiting the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul, - with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said unto him, Whose son art, thou, O young man? And David said, Son of thy servant Jesse, the Bethlehemite. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that, the soul of Jonathan, was knit with, the soul of David, so that Jonathan loved him, as his own soul. And Saul took him, that day, - and suffered him not to return unto the house of his father. And Jonathan and David solemnised a covenant, - because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe which was upon him, and gave it to David, - and his equipments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. And David went forth - whithersoever Saul sent him, he behaved himself prudently, so Saul set him over the men of war, - and he became a favourite in the eyes of all the people, yea even in the eyes of the servants of Saul. But so it was, when they came in on the return of David from the smiting of the Philistine, that the women went forth out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet Saul the king, - with timbrels, with rejoicing, and with instruments of three strings. And the women that made merry responded to each other in song, and said, - Saul, hath smitten, his thousands, but, David, his, tens of thousands. Then was Saul exceeding angry, and this saying was offensive in his eyes, and he said, - They have ascribed, to David, ten thousands, but, to me, have they ascribed thousands, - What, more, then, can he have but, the kingdom? And Saul was eyeing David from that day forward. And, when it came to pass, on the morrow, that a superhuman spirit of sadness came suddenly upon Saul, and he was moved to raving in the midst of the house, - and, David, began playing with his hand, as he had done day by day, that a spear being in Saul's hand, Saul hurled the spear, and said to himself - I will smite David, even to the wall! But David moved round from before him, twice. And Saul feared because of David, - for Yahweh was with him, whereas, from Saul, he had departed. So Saul removed him from him, and appointed him to be for him the captain of a thousand, - and he went out and came in before the people. And it came to pass that David, in all his ways, acted prudently, - and, Yahweh, was with him. And, when Saul saw that, he, was acting very prudently, he was afraid of him. But, all Israel and Judah, were in love with David, - for he was going out and coming in before them. So then Saul said unto David - Lo! my elder daughter Merab, her, will I give thee to wife, only, approve thyself unto me as a son of valour and fight the battles of Yahweh. Saul, however, had said to himself - Let not, my own hand, be upon him, but let, the hand of the Philistines, be upon him. And David said unto Saul - Who am, I, or who are my kinsfolk, the family of my father, in Israel, - that I should become son-in-law, to the king? But it came to pass, within the time for giving Merab daughter of Saul to David, that, she, was given to Adriel the Meholathite, to wife. Then did Michal, Saul's daughter, love David, - and it was told Saul, and the thing was right in his eyes. And Saul said to himself - I will give her unto him, that she may prove to him a snare, and that, the hand of the Philistines, may be upon him. So then Saul said unto David, A second time, mayest thou become my son-in-law to-day. And Saul commanded his servants - Speak ye unto David quietly saying, Lo! the king delighteth in thee, and, all his servants, love thee, - now, therefore, become thou son-in-law to the king. And the servants of Saul spake, in the ears of David, these words. And David said - Seemeth it a light thing, in your eyes, to become son-in-law to the king, seeing that, I, am a poor man and lightly esteemed? So the servants of Saul told him, saying, - According to these words, spake David, Then said Saul - Thus, shall ye say unto David - The king hath no delight in purchase-price, but rather in a hundred foreskins of Philistines, by avenging himself on the enemies of the king. But, Saul, thought to let David fall by the hand of the Philistines. So, when his servants told David these words, the thing was right in the eyes of David, to become son-in-law unto the king, - and the days had not expired. Wherefore David arose, and went - he and his men, and smote among the Philistines two hundred men, and David brought in their foreskins, and gave them in full tale unto the king, that he might become son-in-law unto the king, and Saul gave him Michal his daughter, to wife. And Saul saw and knew that, Yahweh, was with David, and that, all Israel, loved him. So then Saul went on to fear because of David, yet more, - and it came to pass that Saul was hostile to David, all the days. And, when the princes of the Philistines came forth, so it was, that, as often as they came forth, David was more circumspect than any of the servants of Saul, so that his name was, precious exceedingly. Then spake Saul unto Jonathan his son, and unto all his servants, that they should put David to death; but, Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted in David, exceedingly, - so Jonathan told David, saying, Saul, my father, is seeking to put thee to death, - now, therefore, take heed to thyself I pray thee, in the morning, and abide thou in concealment, and hide thyself; and, I, will come out and stand beside my father, in the field where, thou, art, and, I, will speak of thee unto my father, - and, if I see aught, I will tell thee. So then Jonathan spake of David things that were good, unto Saul his father, - and said unto him - May the king not sin against his servant - against David; for he hath not sinned against, thee, nay, indeed, his doings have been good to theeward exceedingly. And, when he put his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and Yahweh wrought a great victory for all Israel, thou sawest, and didst rejoice. Wherefore, then, shouldst thou sin against innocent blood by putting David to death, without cause? And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan, - and Saul sware, By the life of Yahweh, he shall not be put to death! And Jonathan called for David, and Jonathan told him all these things, - and Jonathan brought in David unto Saul, and so he was in his presence, as aforetime. But, when the war again brake out, - and David went forth and fought with the Philistines, and smote them with a great smiting, and they fled before him, then came there a sad spirit of Yahweh unto Saul, he being in his house, seated, with his spear in his hand, - while, David, played with his hand, Saul sought to smite David with the spear, even to the wall, but he slipped away from before Saul, who smote the spear into the wall, - whereas, David, fled and escaped, that night. And Saul sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to put him to death, in the morning! And Michal his wife told David, saying, If thou do not deliver thyself to-night, to-morrow, art thou to be put to death. So Michal let down David, through the window, and he departed and fled, and escaped. And Michal took the household god, and put it in the bed, and, a fly-net of goats-hair, put she at its head, - and covered it with the clothes. And, when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said - He is, sick. So Saul sent messengers to see David, saying, - Bring him up in the bed unto me, that I may put him to death. And, when the messengers entered, lo! the household god in the bed, - with a fly-net of goats-hair at its head. And Saul said unto Michal - Wherefore, in this way, hast thou deceived me, and let go mine enemy, that he hath escaped? Then said Michal unto Saul, He, himself, said unto me - Let me go, wherefore should I put thee to death? So, David, fled, and escaped, and came in unto Samuel in Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him, - and he and Samuel departed, and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told Saul, saying, - Lo! David, is in Naioth, in Ramah. So Saul sent messengers to take David, but, when they saw the assembly of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, then came the Spirit of God upon the messengers of Saul, and, they also, were, moved to prophesy. And, when they told Saul, and he sent other messengers, then were, they also, moved to prophesy. And, when Saul again sent messengers a third time, then were, they also, moved to prophesy. Then went, he also himself, to Ramah, and came in as far as the well of the threshing-floor which is in Sephi, and asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said - Lo! in Naioth, in Ramah. And, when he departed from thence towards Naioth in Ramah, then came upon, him also, the Spirit of God, and he went on and on, and was moved to prophesy, until he entered Naioth in Ramah. And, even he, stripped off his upper garments, and, even he, was moved to prophesy before Samuel, and lay prostrate, disrobed, all that day, and all the night. For this cause, do they say, Is, even Saul, among the prophets? And David fled from Naioth, in Ramah, - and came in, and said before Jonathan - What have I done? What is my transgression, and what my sin, before thy father, that he seeketh my life? And he said unto him - Far be it! thou shalt not die. Lo! my father doeth nothing, great or small, without unveiling mine ear, - wherefore, then, should my father hide from me, this thing? There is, nothing, in this. But David sware yet further, and said - Thy father, doth know, that I have found favour in thine eyes, therefore saith he, - Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he grieve; but, indeed, by the life of Yahweh, and by the life of thine own soul, surely there is but as it were a step betwixt me and death! And Jonathan said unto David, - Whatsoever thy soul shall desire, I will do for thee. And David said unto Jonathan - Lo! the new moon, is to-morrow, and, I, must not sit with the king, to eat, - let me go then, and hide myself in the field, until the evening. If thy father, enquire, for me, then shalt thou say - David, did ask leave, of me, to run to Bethlehem, his own city, for, a yearly sacrifice, is to be held there for all the family. If, thus, he say - It is well, - thy servant shall have, peace, - but, if it, anger, him, know that harm hath been determined by him. Thus shalt thou do a lovingkindness for thy servant, for, into a covenant of Yahweh, hast thou brought thy servant, with thee, - But, if there is in me transgression, put me to death, thyself, for, unto thy father, wherefore shouldst thou bring me in? And Jonathan said - Far be it from thee! but, if I, get to know, that harm is determined by my father, to bring it upon thee, is not, that, the thing that I will tell thee? Then said David unto Jonathan, Who shall tell me, - if thy father answer thee aught that is, harsh? And Jonathan said unto David, Come! and let us go out into the field. And they two went out into the field. Then said Jonathan unto David - Witness be Yahweh God of Israel, that I will sound my father about this time to-morrow or the third day, and lo! if there he good towards David, will I not, then, send unto thee, and unveil thine ear? So, let Yahweh do unto Jonathan, and, so, let him add - when harm against thee seemeth good unto my father, then will I unveil thine ear, and let thee go, and thou shall depart in peace, - then Yahweh be with thee, as he hath been with my father. And, not only while I yet live, shalt thou deal with me in the lovingkindness of Yahweh, that I die not: but thou shalt not cut off thy lovingkindness from my house, unto times age-abiding, - no! not when Yahweh hath cut off the enemies of David, every one from off the face of the ground. Thus Jonathan solemnised a covenant with the house of David saying , - So let Yahweh require it, at the hand of the enemies of David. And again Jonathan sware unto David, by his love to him, - for, as he loved his own soul, so loved he him. Then said Jonathan unto him - To-morrow, is the new moon, and thou wilt be missed, for thy seat will be empty; and, when thou hast tarried three days, thou shalt come down quickly and enter the place, where thou didst hide thyself on the day of the deed, and shall remain by the side of this mound. And, as for me - three arrows to the side, will I shoot, - as though I shot at a mark. And lo! I will send the boy saying , Go, find the arrow! If I, say, to the boy - Lo! the arrows, are on this side of thee - take them, then come, for there is peace for thee, and no cause for fear , by the life of Yahweh. But, if, thus, I say to the youth, Lo! the arrows are beyond thee, depart, for Yahweh hath sent thee away. But, as touching the matter whereof we spake - I and thou, lo! Yahweh, be betwixt me and thee, unto times age-abiding. So David hid himself in the field - and, when the new moon had come, the king sat down to eat, food, yea the king sat down on his seat, as at other times, by the seat against the wall, and, when Jonathan arose, Abner seated himself by the side of Saul, - but David's place was empty. Saul, however, spake nothing that day, - for he said to himself - It is, an accident, he is, not clean, because he hath not been cleansed. And it came to pass, on the morrow, the second of the month, that David's place was empty, - and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore hath not the son of Jesse come in, either yesterday or to-day, to meat? And Jonathan answered Saul, - David, asked leave, of me, to go as far as Bethlehem; and said - Let me go, I pray thee, for, a family sacrifice, have we in the city, and my brethren have commanded me, now, therefore, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me slip away, I pray thee, that I may see my brethren. For this cause, hath he not come in unto the table of the king. Then was Saul's anger kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of rebellious perversity! do I not know that thou art, confederate, with the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and to the confusion of the shame of thy mother? For, as long as, the son of Jesse, liveth on the ground, thou wilt not be established, thou nor thy kingdom, Now, therefore, send and fetch him unto me, for, doomed to death, is he! And Jonathan responded to Saul his father, - and said unto him - Wherefore must he be put to death, What hath he done? And Saul hurled his spear at him, to smite him. So Jonathan knew that it was, determined, of his father, to put David to death. Jonathan therefore rose up from the table, in a glow of anger, - and did eat no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had reviled him. And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went forth into the field, to the place appointed with David, - a little lad, being with him. And he said to his lad - Run, find, I pray thee, the arrows which I am about to shoot. The boy, ran, but, he, shot the arrow beyond him. And, when the lad came as far as the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow, beyond, thee? And Jonathan cried after the lad, Haste thee - be quick, do not stay! so Jonathan's lad picked up the arrows and brought them unto his master. But, the lad, knew, nothing, only Jonathan and David, knew the matter. So Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said to him, Go carry them into the city. As soon as, the lad, was gone, David, arose from beside the South, and fell on his face to the earth, and bowed himself down three times, - and they kissed each other, and wept over each other, until, David, exceeded. Then said Jonathan unto David - Go in peace, - remembering that, we, have both sworn in the name of Yahweh, saying, Yahweh shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed, unto times age-abiding. And he arose, and departed, - and, Jonathan, entered the city. Then came David to Nob, unto Ahimelech, the priest, - and Ahimelech trembled when he met David, and said unto him - Why art thou, alone, and, no man, with thee? And David said unto Ahimelech the priest - The king, hath charged me with a matter, and hath said unto me - Let, no man, know aught of the business on which I am sending thee, and with which I have charged thee, - But, unto the young men, have I appointed, such and such a place. Now, therefore, what is there under thy hand? Five loaves, give thou into my hand, - or, whatever can be found. And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, - but, hallowed bread, there is, if the young men have kept themselves, at least from women. And David answered the priest and said to him - Of a truth, women, have been withheld from us, of late, through my coming out, and the wallets of the young men have become hallowed, - while the bread , itself, is in a manner common, and the more so since, to-day, there are other loaves to be hallowed, in the vessel. So the priest gave him hallowed bread , - because there was there no bread, save the Presence-Bread, which had to be removed from before Yahweh, to put hot bread, on the day when it should be taken away. Now, in that very place, was a man of the servants of Saul, on that day, detained before Yahweh, whose name, was Doeg the Edomite, - chief of the shepherds that belonged unto Saul. Then said David to Ahimelech, See whether there is here, under thy hand, a spear or a sword? for, neither my sword, nor my other weapons, did I take in my hand, for, the king's business, was, urgent. And the priest said: The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou didst smite in the vale of Elah, lo! that, is wrapped up in a cloth, behind the ephod, if, that, thou wilt take to thee, take it, for there is no other, save that, here. And David said - There is none, like it, give it me. Then arose David, and fled, that day, from the face of Saul, - and came in unto Achish, king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not, this, David, king of the land? Was it not, of this man, that they kept responding in the dances, saying, Saul, hath smitten his, thousands, but, David, his, tens of thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, - and feared greatly, because of Achish king of Gath. So he feigned himself mad, in their sight, and raged in their hand, - and struck against the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, - Lo! ye can see, a madman playing his pranks, wherefore should ye bring him in, unto me? Lacking of madmen, am I that ye should bring in this one to play his mad pranks, unto me? Shall, this, one enter my household? David therefore departed thence, and escaped, into the cave of Adullam, - and, when his brethren and all the household of his father heard it, they went down unto him, thither. And there gathered themselves unto him - every one that was in distress, and every one that had a creditor, and every one embittered in soul, and he came to be over them as a prince, - and there were with him, about four hundred men. And David departed thence, to Mizpah of Moab, - and said unto the king of Moab, I pray thee, let my father and my mother dwell with you, until that I know what God will do for me. So he set them before the king of Moab, - and they dwelt with him, all the days that David was in the fortress. Then said Gad the prophet unto David - Thou must not abide in the fortress, go and get thee into the land of Judah. So David departed, and entered the forest of Hereth. And, when Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him - Saul, being seated in Gibeah under the tamarisk-tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants stationed by him, - then said Saul unto his servants who were stationed by him - Hear, I pray you, ye Benjamites! What! even to all of you, will the son of Jesse give fields and vineyards? All of you, will he appoint to be princes of thousands, and princes of hundreds? That ye have conspired, all of you, against me, and there is none to uncover mine ear as to the covenanting of my son with the son of Jesse? And none from among you that taketh pity upon me, and that uncovereth mine ear to this , - that, mine own son, hath stirred up, my servants, against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? Then answered Doeg the Edomite - he, being stationed near the servants of Saul - and said, - I saw the son of Jesse coming into Nob, unto Ahimelech son of Ahitub; Then enquired he for him of Yahweh, Provisions also, gave he unto him, - and, the sword of Goliath the Philistine, gave he unto him. Then the king sent to call Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, the priest, and all the house of his father - the priests, who were in Nob, - and they came, all of them, unto the king. And Saul said, Hear, I pray thee, thou son of Ahitub! And he said - Behold me! my lord. And Saul said unto him, Wherefore have ye conspired against me, thou, and the son of Jesse, - in that thou gavest him bread and a sword, and didst enquire for him of God, that he might rise up against me, that he might lie in wait, as at this day? Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, - But who, among all thy servants, like David, is, faithful, being son-in-law to the king, and, cometh near to have audience with thee, and is, honoured in thy household? Did I, that day, begin to enquire for him of God? Far from me! Let not the king impute to his servant such a thing, nor to any of the household of my father, for thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, less or more. And the king said: Thou shalt, die, Ahimelech, - thou and all the household of thy father. And the king said unto the runners that were stationed by him - Turn ye round and put to death the priests of Yahweh, because, their hand also, is with David, and because they knew that he was, in flight, and unveiled not mine ear. But the servants of the king were not willing to thrust forth their hand, to fall upon the priests of Yahweh. Then said the king to Doeg, Turn, thou, and fall upon the priests. So Doeg the Edomite turned, and, himself, fell upon the priests, and put to death, that day, four score and five men bearing an ephod of linen; Nob also, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, - and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword. But there escaped one son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, whose, name, was Abiathar, - and he fled after David. So Abiathar told David, - that Saul had slain the priests of Yahweh. Then said David to Abiathar - I knew, that day, when Doeg the Edomite was, there, that he would, surely tell, Saul. I, am chargeable with all the lives of the house of thy father. Abide with me! do not fear, for, whoso seeketh my life, seeketh thy life, - for, in safeguard, shall thou be, with me. Then told they David, saying, - Lo! the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are plundering the threshing-floors. So David enquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And Yahweh said unto David - Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. But the men of David said unto him, Lo! we, here, in Judah, are afraid, - how much more, then, if we go to Keilah, against the ranks of the Philistines? So David yet again enquired if Yahweh, and Yahweh answered him, - and said - Arise, go down to Keilah, for I am about to deliver the Philistines into thy hand. David therefore went, with his men, to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and drave forth their cattle, and smote them, with a great smiting, so David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. Now it came to pass, when Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, fled unto David to Keilah, that he came down with, an ephod, in his hand. And, when it was told Saul that David had entered Keilah, Saul said - God hath given him over into my hand, for he hath shut himself in by entering into a city with folding doors and bar. So Saul summoned all the people to war, - to go down to Keilah, to besiege David, and his men. And David ascertained that, against him, Saul was contriving mischief, - so he said unto Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. Then said David: O Yahweh, God of Israel, thy servant, hath heard, that Saul is seeking to come unto Keilah, - to destroy the city, for my sake: Will the owners of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Yahweh, God of Israel, I pray thee, tell thy servant. And Yahweh said - He will come down. Then said David, Will the owners of Keilah surrender me and my men, into the hand of Saul? And Yahweh said - They will surrender. Then arose David and his men, about six hundred, and went forth out of Keilah, and went to and fro, whithersoever they could, - and, unto Saul, it was told that David had escaped out of Keilah, so he forbare to go forth. Then David abode in the wilderness, in the fortresses, and he abode in the hill country, in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him continually, but God delivered him not into his hand. Then David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life, David, being in the wilderness of Ziph, in the thicket. So Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went unto David in the thicket, - and strengthened his hand in God; and said unto him, - Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee, but, thou, shalt become king over Israel, and, I, shall be, next, unto thee, yea and, Saul my father, knoweth this. And they two solemnised a covenant before Yahweh, - and David remained in the thicket, but, Jonathan, departed to his own house. Then came up the Ziphites unto Saul in Gibeah, saying, - Is not David hiding himself with us, in the strongholds in the thicket, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the right of Jeshimon? Now, therefore, according to all the desire of thy soul O king, to come down, come! and, ours, will it be to surrender him into the hand of the king. Then said Saul, Blessed, be ye, of Yahweh, - because ye have taken pity upon me. Go, I pray you, make ready yet further, and get to know and see his place, where may be his track, who hath seen him there, - for it hath been said unto me, Cunning indeed, is, he! See, then, and get to know - of all the hiding places, where he hideth himself, and return unto me, for certainty, then will I go with you, - and it shall be, if he is in the land, that I will search him out, through all the thousands of Judah. So they arose and departed to Ziph, before Saul, - but, David and his men, were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah, to the right of Jeshimon. Then Saul and his men departed, to seek him ; but it had been told David, and he had gone down the cliff, and taken up his abode in the wilderness of Maon, - and when Saul had, heard it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and, David and his men, on that side of the mountain, - wherefore David became hurried, to get away from the presence of Saul, but, Saul and his men, were surrounding David and his men, to capture then: when, a messenger, came unto Saul, saying, - Haste thee and come! for the Philistines have spread over the land. Then returned Saul from pursuing David, and departed to meet the Philistines, - for which cause, they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth "the Cliff of Separation". And David went up from thence, - and abode in the strongholds of En-gedi. And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying: Lo! David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men, out of all Israel, - and went to seek David and his men, over the face of the rocks of the mountain-goats. And he came into the sheep-folds by the way, there, being a cave, which Saul entered, to cover his feet, - David and his men, in the hinder part of the cave, having taken up their abode. So David's men said unto him - Lo! the day of which Yahweh said unto thee - Lo! I am about to deliver up thine enemy, into thy hand: therefore shall thou do unto him, as shall be good in thine eyes. And David arose, and cut off the corner of the robe which belonged to Saul, by stealth. And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him, - because he had cut off the corner of the robe which belonged to Saul. And he said unto his men - Far be it from me, of Yahweh, that I should do this thing unto my lord, unto the Anointed of Yahweh, to thrust forth my hand against him, - for, the Anointed of Yahweh, is he! So David did chide his men with the words, and did not suffer them to rise up against Saul. And, Saul, rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. Then David rose up, afterwards, and went forth out of the cave, and cried out after Saul, saying - My lord, O king! And, when Saul looked about behind him, David inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down. Then said David to Saul, Wherefore shouldst thou hearken unto the words of the sons of earth, saying, - Lo! David is seeking thy hurt? Lo! this day, have thine own eyes seen, how Yahweh had delivered thee up, to-day, into my hand in the cave, and, when one bade me slay thee, I looked with compassion upon thee, - and I said - I will not thrust forth my hand against my lord, for, the Anointed of Yahweh, is he! But, my father, see, yea, see, the corner of thy robe in my hand, - for, in that I cut off the corner of thy robe, and yet did not slay thee, know thou, and see, that there is not in my hand either wrong or transgression, neither have I sinned against thee, yet art thou hunting my life, to take it. Let Yahweh do justice betwixt me and thee, and let Yahweh avenge me of thee, - but, mine own hand, shall not be upon thee. As saith the proverb of the ancients, From the lawless, proceedeth lawlessness, - mine own hand, therefore shall not be upon thee. After whom, hath the king of Israel come forth? After whom, art thou in pursuit? After a dead dog! after a single flea! Therefore shall, Yahweh, become, judge, and do justice betwixt me and thee, - that he may see, and plead my cause, and justly deliver me out of thy hand. And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Thy voice, is this, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said unto David, More righteous, art thou than I, for, thou, hast requited me, good, but, I, have requited thee, evil. Thou, then, hast told to-day, how thou hast dealt with me, for good, - how, when Yahweh had surrendered me into thy hand, thou didst not slay me. Yet, when a man findeth his enemy, will he let him get easily away? Yahweh, then, give thee, good, reward for what, this day, thou hast done unto me. Now, therefore, lo! I know that thou, shalt indeed become king, - and that the kingdom of Israel, shall be established in thy hand. Now, therefore, swear unto me by Yahweh, that thou wilt not eat off my seed, after me, - and wilt not destroy my name out of the house my father. So David sware unto Saul, - and Saul departed unto his own house, but, David and his men, went up on the stronghold. And Samuel died, and all Israel were gathered together, and made lamentation for him, and buried him within his own house, in Ramah, - and David arose and went down into the wilderness of Maon. Now there was, a man, in Maon, whose cattle were in Carmel, and, the man, was exceeding great, and, he, had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats, - and so it was, that he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now, the name of the man, was Nabal, and, the name of his wife, Abigail, - and, the woman, was of good understanding, and of beautiful figure, - but, the man, was unfeeling and of evil practices, and he was a Calebite. So then David heard in the wilderness, - that Nabal was shearing his sheep. David, therefore, sent ten young men, - and David said unto the young men, - Go up to Carmel, and enter in unto Nabal, and ye shall ask him, in my name, of his welfare; and say thus - Long life to thee! Mayest, thou, prosper, And, thy household, prosper, And, all that thou hast, prosper! Now, therefore, have I heard that thou hast shearers, - Well, the shepherds that thou hast, have been with us, we reproached them not, neither missed they, anything, all the days they were in Carmel. Ask thy young men, that they may tell thee, that so my young men may find favour in thine eyes, for, on a good day, have we come! Give, I pray thee, what thy hand findeth, to thy servants, and to thy son, to David! So David's young men came, and spake unto Nabal, according to all these words, in the name of David, - and waited. Then Nabal answered the servants of David, and said, Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? Nowadays, many are the servants that have broken away, every one from the presence of his lord: Shall I, then, take my bread, and my wine, and my slain beasts, that I have slaughtered for my shearers, - and give unto men of whom I know not whence they are? So the young men of David turned away for their journey, - and came back, and drew near, and told him, according to all these words. Then said David unto his men - Gird on you every man his sword. And they girded on them, every man his sword, and, David also, girded on his sword, - and there went up after David - about four hundred men, and, two hundred, abode by the stores. But a certain one of her young men told, Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, - Lo! David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our lord, and he treated them with contempt. But, the men, were exceeding good to us, - and we were not harmed, neither missed we, anything, all the days we went to and fro with them, while we were in the fields: A wall, became they unto us, both by night and by day, all the days we were with them, tending the flock. Now, therefore, know thou, and see, what thou canst do, for mischief is determined against our lord, and against all his household, - but, he, is such an abandoned man, that one cannot speak unto him. Then Abigail hastened - and took two hundred loaves, and two skins of wine, and five sheep made ready, and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred cakes of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, - and put them on the asses. And she said to her young men - Pass on before me, behold me coming after you; but, to her husband, Nabal, told she nothing. And so it was, as she was riding on her ass, and descending within the covert of the hill, lo! David and his men, descending over against her, - so she met them. Now, David, had said - Surely, in vain, did I guard all that pertained to this man in the wilderness, so that there was, nothing, missed of all that he had, - seeing he hath returned to me evil for good. So may God do to David and so may he add, if I leave remaining, of all that he hath, until the morning, - so much as a little boy. And, when Abigail saw David, she hastened, and alighted from off her ass, - and fell down before David upon her face, and prostrated herself on the ground; yea she fell at his feet, and said - On me, even me, my lord, be the transgression, - But, I pray thee, let thy handmaid speak in thine ears, and hear thou the words of thy handmaid. Let it not be, I pray thee, that my lord regard this abandoned man - Nabal; For, as his name is, so, is he. Nabal, is his name, and, baseness, is with him, - But, I, thy handmaid, saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. Now, therefore, my lord - By the life of Yahweh, and by the life of thine own soul, - seeing Yahweh hath withholden thee from coming in with bloodshed, and from saving thyself, with thine own hand, now, therefore, like Nabal, be thine enemies, and they who are making search for my lord, wrongfully. Now, therefore, this blessing which thy maid-servant hath brought to my lord, let it even be given unto the young men who are going to and fro at the feet of my lord. Forgive, I pray thee, the trespass of thy handmaid, - for Yahweh, will certainly make, for my lord an assured house, for, the battles of Yahweh, is my lord fighting, and, wrong, shall not be found in thee, all thy days; yea, though there hath arisen a sun of earth to pursue thee, and to seek thy life, yet shall the life of my lord be bound up in the bundle of the living, with Yahweh thy God, but, as for the life of thine enemies, he shall sling it out with the middle of the hollow of the sling. And it shall be, when Yahweh shall do for my lord, according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, - and shall put thee in charge as leader over Israel, then shall this not become to thee a staggering and stumbling of heart, unto my lord - that thou didst either shed blood without need, or that the hand of my lord saved himself. And, when Yahweh hath dealt well with my lord, then remember thou thy handmaid. Then said David unto Abigail, - Blessed, be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who hath sent thee this day, to meet me; and, blessed, be thy discreet judgment, and, blessed, be thou thyself, - who hast kept me, this day, from coming in with bloodshed, and from saving myself, with mine own hand. Nevertheless, by the life of Yahweh, God of Israel, who hath restrained me from harming, thee, surely, except thou hadst hastened and come to meet me, there had not been left unto Nabal, by the light of the morning, so much as a little boy. So David received at her hand, that which she had brought him, - and, unto herself, he said - Go up, in peace, unto thy house, see! I have hearkened unto thy voice, and accepted thy person. And, when Abigail came unto Nabal, lo! he, had a banquet in his house, like the banquet of a king, and, the heart of Nabal, was glad accordingly, he having drunk deeply, - so she told him nothing - less or more, until the light of the morning. And it came to pass, in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, and his wife told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. And it came to pass, in about ten days, that Yahweh smote Nabal, that he died. And, when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said - Blessed, be Yahweh, who hath maintained the plea of my reproach, at the hand of Nabal, and hath restrained, his servant, from wrong, yea, the wrong of Nabal, hath Yahweh turned back on his own head. Then sent David, and spake with Abigail, to take her to himself wife. And the servants of David came unto Abigail the Carmelitess, - and spake unto her, saying, David, hath sent us unto thee, to take thee to himself to wife. And she arose, and bowed herself down with her face to the earth, - and said - Lo! thy handmaid, as serving-woman to bathe the feet of the servants of my lord. And Abigail hastened, and mounted, and rode upon her ass, with her five damsels that used to journey at her feet, - and she went her way after the messengers of David, and became his wife. David took, Ahinoam also, out of Jezreel, - and, they two, became his wives. Saul, indeed, had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, - to Palti, sun of Laish, who was of Gallim. And the Ziphites came unto Saul in Gibeah, saying, - Is not David hiding himself in the hill of Hachilah, overlooking Jeshimon? Then Saul arose, and went down into the wilderness of Ziph, and, with him, three thousand chosen men of Israel, - to seek David in the wilderness of Zip. And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which overlooketh Jeshimon, by the way, - but, David, was staying in the wilderness, so he saw that Saul was coming after him into the wilderness. David therefore sent runners, - and took knowledge that Saul had come, for a certainty. So then David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped, and David saw the place where Saul was lying, with Abner, son of Ner, prince of his host, - and, Saul, was lying within the circular trench, with, the people, encamped round about him. And David responded, and said unto Ahimelech the Hittite, and unto Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, Who will go down with me unto Saul, within the camp? And Abishai said, I, will go down with thee. So David came, with Abishai, unto the people by night, and lo! Saul lying asleep, within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground, at his head, - and Abner and the people lying round about him. Then said Abishai unto David, God hath surrendered, to-day, thine enemy, into thy hand: Now, therefore, let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth, at one stroke, I, will not do it twice. But David said unto Abishai, Do not destroy him, - for who that hath thrust forth his hand against the Anointed of Yahweh, shall be guiltless? And David said - By the life of Yahweh, surely, Yahweh himself, must smite him, - or, his day, must come that he die, or, into battle, must he go down, and be swept away. Far be it from me, of Yahweh, that I should thrust forth my hand against the anointed of Yahweh! Now, therefore, take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go our way. So David took the spear, and the cruse of water, from near the head of Saul, and they went their way, - and no man saw, and no man knew, and no man awoke, for all of them were sleeping, for, a deep sleep from Yahweh, had fallen upon them. Then David crossed over to the other side, and took his stand on the top of the mountain, afar off, - a great space, being between them. And David cried aloud unto the people, and unto Abner son of Ner, saying, Wilt thou not answer, Abner? Then answered Abner, and said, Who art thou, that hast cried aloud unto the king? And David said unto Abner - Art not thou, a man? Who indeed is like thee, in Israel? Wherefore, then, hast thou not kept watch over thy lord, the king? For one of the people hath entered, to destroy the king - thy lord. Not good, is this thing which thou hast done, by the life of Yahweh, verily, worthy of death, ye are, in that ye have not kept watch over your lord, over, the Anointed of Yahweh. Now, therefore, see where the spear of the king is, and the cruse of water, that was at his head? And Saul knew the voice of David, and said - Thy voice, is this, my son David? And David said, My voice, my lord O king! And he said, Wherefore is it, that my lord is in pursuit of his servant? For what have I done? or what is in my hand that is wrong? Now, therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant, - If, Yahweh, have goaded thee on against me, let him accept the sweet smell of a gift, but, if the sons of men, accursed, they are before Yahweh, for they have driven me out, to-day, from joining myself with the inheritance of Yahweh, saying - Go, serve other gods! Now, therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth, away from the presence of Yahweh, - for the king of Israel hath come out to hunt for a single flea, as when one pursueth a partridge among the mountains. Then said Saul - I have sinned, Return, my son David, for I will harm thee no more, because my life was precious in thine eyes, this day, - lo! I have acted foolishly and, greatly, erred. And David responded, and said, Lo! the spear of the king! Let, therefore, one of the young men come over, and fetch it. And let, Yahweh, give back to each man, his righteousness, and his faithfulness, - in that Yahweh delivered thee, to-day, into my hand, but I would not thrust forth my hand against the Anointed of Yahweh. Lo! then, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so, let my life be much set by in the eyes of Yahweh, and let him rescue me out of all tribulation. Then said Saul unto David - Blessed, be thou, my son David, thou shalt both, do, and shalt, prevail. And David went on his way, but, Saul, returned unto his own place. And David said, unto his own heart, Now, shall I be swept off, in a single day, by the hand of Saul, - there is nothing for me better than that I, escape, into the land of the Philistines, so shall Saul give up seeking for me any more, in any of the bounds of Israel, so shall I escape out of his hand. And David arose, and he and the six hundred men that were with him passed over, unto Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David abode with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, - David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal, the Carmelite. And, when it was told Saul, that David had fled to Gath, he added no more, to seek him. Then said David unto Achish - If, I pray thee, I have found favour in thine eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there, - for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city, with thee? So Achish gave him, on that day, Ziklag, - wherefore Ziklag hath pertained unto the kings of Judah, unto this day. And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines became a year and four months. And David and his men went up, and made a raid against the Geshurites and the Gizrites and the Amalekites, - for, they, were the inhabitants of the land who had been from age-past times, as thou enterest Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt. Now, when David would smite a land, he used to save alive neither man nor woman, - but took sheep and oxen, and asses and camels, and apparel, and returned, and came in unto Achish. Then said Achish, Whither have ye made a raid, to-day? And David said - Against the South of Judah, or against the South of the Jerahmeelites, or as far as the South of the Kenites. But, neither man nor woman, used David to save alive, to bring into Gath, for he said, Lest they tell of us, saying, - So, hath David done, and, such, his manner, all the days that he hath dwelt in the country of the Philistines. And Achish believed in David, saying, - He hath made himself, odious, unto his own people, unto Israel, therefore shall he be my servant all his life long. And it came to pass, in those days, when the Philistines gathered together their hosts for war, to fight with Israel, that Achish said unto David, Thou must, know, that, with me, shalt thou go forth in the host, thou and thy men. And David said unto Achish, Therefore, now, shalt thou know what thy servant can do. And Achish said unto David, Therefore, keeper of my head, will I appoint thee, all the days. Now, Samuel, was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city, - Saul, moreover had put away them who had familiar spirits and them who were oracles, out of the land. So then the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came in, and encamped in Shunem, - and Saul gathered together all Israel, and they encamped in Gilboa. And, when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled exceedingly. Then Saul enquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh answered him not, - neither by Dreams, nor by the Lights, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants - Seek me out a woman that owneth a familiar spirit, that I may even go unto her, and enquire of her. And his servants said unto him, Lo! there is a woman that owneth a familiar spirit in En-dor. Saul therefore disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and departed - he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night, - and he said - Divine for me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me - whomsoever I shall name unto thee. And the woman said unto him - Lo! thou, knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off them who have familiar spirits and him who is an oracle, out of the land, - wherefore, then, art thou striking at my life, to put me to death? So then Saul sware unto her by Yahweh, saying, - By the life of Yahweh, there shall no punishment befall thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me. And, when the woman saw Samuel, she made outcry with a loud voice, - and the woman spake unto Saul, saying - Wherefore hast thou deceived me, thou thyself being Saul? And the king said unto her - Be not afraid, but what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, A god, saw I, coming up out of the earth. And he said to her - What was his form? And she said - An old man, coming up, he being wrapped about with a robe. Then Saul knew, that it was, Samuel, so he inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down. And Samuel said unto Saul, Wherefore hast thou disquieted me, by bringing me up? And Saul said - I am in sore distress, for, the Philistines, are making war against me, and, God, hath turned away from me, and answereth me no more - either by means of the prophets, or by dreams, therefore have I even called for thee, to let me know, what I am to do. Then said Samuel, Wherefore, then, shouldst thou ask me, - when, Yahweh, hath turned away from thee, and hath come to be with thy neighbour? Therefore hath Yahweh done for him, as he spake by me, - yea Yahweh hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand, and given it to a neighbour of thine - to David. As thou didst not hearken unto the voice of Yahweh, neither didst execute the glow of his anger upon Amalek, therefore, this thing, hath Yahweh done unto thee this day; that Yahweh may deliver, Israel also, with thee, into the hand of the Philistines, and, to-morrow, thou and thy sons with thee are about to fall, - the host of Israel also, will Yahweh deliver, into the hand of the Philistines. Then Saul hastened, and fell prostrate - the whole length of him - to the earth, and was sore afraid, at the words of Samuel, and indeed, no, strength, was left in him, for he had not eaten food all the day and all the night. And the woman came unto Saul, and, when she saw that he was greatly terrified, she said unto him - Lo! thy handmaid hearkened unto thy voice, and I put my life into my hand, and heard thy words which thou didst speak unto me. Now, therefore, I pray thee, hearken, thou also, unto the voice of thy handmaid, and let me set before thee a morsel of food, and eat thou, - that there may be in thee strength, when thou goest on thy journey. But he refused, and said - I will not eat. But, when his servants, and the woman also, strongly urged him, then hearkened he unto their voice, - and rose up from the earth, and sat on the bed. Now, the woman, had a calf fattening, in the shed. So she hastened, and sacrificed it, - and took meal, and kneaded, and baked thereof, unleavened cakes; and brought near before Saul and before his servants, and they did eat. Then rose they up and departed, the same night. Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts, towards Aphek, - and, the Israelites, were encamping by the fountain, that is in Jezreel. And, the lords of the Philistines, were passing on by hundreds, and by thousands, - but, David and his men, were passing on in the rear, with Achish. Then said the princes of the Philistines, What are these Hebrews doing ? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines - Is not this David, servant of Saul king of Israel, who hath been with me this year, or two, and I have found in him nothing, from the day of his coming over unto me unto this day? But the princes of the Philistines raged against him, and the princes of the Philistines said unto him - Let the man go back, that he may return unto the place which thou didst appoint him, and let him not go down with us, into battle, so shall he not become to us a traitor, in the battle, - for, wherewith, should this fellow gain favour with his lord? Would it not be with the heads of those men? Is not this David, of whom they made responses in the dances, saying, - Saul, hath smitten, his thousands, But, David, his, tens of thousands? So Achish called for David, and said unto him - By the life of Yahweh, surely, upright, thou art, and, pleasing in mine eyes, have been thy going out and thy coming in with me, in the host, for I have found in thee no wrong, from the day of thy coming in unto me, until this day, - but, in the eyes of the lords, displeasing, thou art. Now, therefore, return, and go in peace, - so shalt thou not do wrong in the eyes of the lords of the Philistines. Then said David unto Achish - But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant, from the day that I came before thee, unto this day, - that I may not go in and fight, with the enemies of my lord the king. Then answered Achish, and said unto David, I acknowledge that, pleasing, thou art in mine eyes, as a messenger of God, - notwithstanding, the princes of the Philistines, have said, He shall not go up with us, into the battle. Now, therefore, rise up early in the morning, thou and the servants of thy lord who have come with thee, - yea, as soon as ye have risen early in the morning, and have light, then depart. So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines, - but, the Philistines, went up to Jezreel. And it came to pass, when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that, the Amalekites, had made a raid into the South, and into Ziklag, and had smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; and had taken captive the women and all who were therein, from small even unto great, they had not put one to death, - but had driven them forth, and gone their way. So, when David and his men came to the city, lo! it was burnt with fire, - and, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, had been taken captive. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice, and wept, - until they had no more strength to weep. And, the two wives of David, had been taken captive, - Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was in sore distress, for the people had spoken of stoning him, because the souls of all the people were embittered, every man for his own sons and for his own daughters, - but David emboldened himself in Yahweh his God. Then said David to Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, Do bring near me, I pray thee, the ephod. So Abiathar brought near the ephod, unto David. And David enquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? shall I overtake it? And he said unto him: Pursue, for thou shalt, overtake, and thou shalt, rescue. So David went, he, and the six hundred men, who were with him, and they came in as far as the ravine of Besor, - where, they who had to be left behind, stayed. But David pursued, he. and four hundred men, - but the two hundred men stayed, because they were too wearied to cross over the ravine of Besor. And they found an Egyptian in the field, and took him unto David, - and gave him food, and he did eat, and they gave him water to drink; and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two cakes of raisins, and, when he had eaten, his spirit came back unto him, - for he had neither eaten food, nor drunk water, three days and three nights. Then David said to him - Whose art thou? and whence art thou? And he said, A young man of Egypt, am I, servant to an Amalekite, and my lord left me behind, because I fell sick, three days ago. As for us, we invaded the South of the Cherithites, and against that which pertaineth unto Judah, and against the South of Caleb, - and, Ziklag, burned we with fire. And David said unto him, Wilt thou bring me down unto this troop? And he said - Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt not put me to death, neither wilt thou surrender me into the hand of my lord, and I will bring thee down unto this troop. So he brought him down, and lo! they were left to themselves over the face of all the land, - eating, and drinking, and dancing around, for all the great spoil which they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. And David smote them, from the closing twilight even unto the evening of the next day, - and there escaped not of them a man, save four hundred young men who rode upon camels, and fled. And David rescued all whom the Amalekites had taken, - his two wives also, did David rescue; and there was nothing missing to them - whether small or great, whether spoil, or sons or daughters, or, any thing which they had taken unto themselves, - the whole, did David recover. And David took all the flocks and the herds, - they drave them before those other cattle, and they said, This, is David's spoil. And David came unto the two hundred men, who had been too wearied to follow David, and whom they had suffered to remain at the ravine of Besor, - and they came forth to meet David, and to meet the people who were with him, and when David came near unto the people, they enquired of his success. Then responded every man who was bad and abandoned, from among the men who had been with David, and said - Because they went not with me there shall not be given them of the spoil that we have rescued, - save, to every man, his wife and his children, let them put them forth, then, and go. Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, - with that which Yahweh hath given to us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand. Who indeed, could hearken unto you, in this mutter? Surely, like the share of him that went down into the battle, even, so, shall be the share of him that remained by the stores - alike, shall they share. And so it came to pass, from that day forward, that he appointed it, for a statute and for a custom unto Israel, until this day. And, when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil, unto the elders of Judah, unto his friends, saying, - Lo! for you, a blessing, out of the spoil of the enemies of Yahweh: to them who were in Bethel, and to them who were in Ramoth of the South, and to them who were in Jattir, and to them who were in Aroer, and to them who were in Siphmoth, and to them who were in Eshtemoa, and to them who were in Racal, and to them who were in the cities of the Jerameelites, and to them who were in the cities of the Kenites, and to them who were in Hormah, and to them who were in Cor-ashan, and to them who were in Athach, and to them who were in Hebron, - and to all the places where David had been to and fro, he and his men. Now, as, the Philistines, were fighting against Israel, the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain, in Mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons, - and the Philistines smote Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, sons of Saul. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers discovered him, - and he was terrified at the archers. Then said Saul to his armour-bearer - Draw thy sword and pierce me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come, and pierce me through, and abuse me. But his armour-bearer was not willing, for he was sore afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell thereon. And, when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also, fell upon his sword, and died with him. Thus died Saul, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, yea all his men, on that day, together. And, when the men of Israel who were across the vale, and who were across the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled, and the Philistines entered, and took up their abode therein. And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul, and his three sons, lying prostrate in Mount Gilboa. So they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, - and sent throughout the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and unto the people. And they put his armour in a house of Ashtoreths, - and, his dead body, fastened they on the wall of Beth-shan. And, when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him, what the Philistines had done unto Saul, then arose all the men of valour, and journeyed all the night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of Beth-shan, - and came to Jabesh, and burned them there; and took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, - and fasted seven days.

But, when, Athaliah mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she rose up and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, daughter of the king, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the sons of the king who were being slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber, - so Jehoshabeath daughter of King Jehoram - wife of Jehoiada the priest, for, she, was the sister of Ahaziah - hid him from the face of Athaliah so that she slew him not. And it came to pass that he was with them, in the house of God, hidden six years,-while, Athaliah, was reigning over the land.

Now, when, Athaliah, mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were being slain - him and his nurse, into the bedchamber, - so she hid him from the face of Athaliah, that he was not slain. And he was with her, in the house of Yahweh, hiding himself, six years, - while, Athaliah, was reigning over the land.

Eighteen years old, was Jehoiachin when he began to reign, and, three months, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, his mother's name, was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan, of Jerusalem. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that, his father, had done. At that time, came up the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem, - and the city came into the siege. read more.
And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants were about to besiege it. Then came out Jehoiachin king of Judah, unto the king of Babylon, he and his mother, and his servants, and his generals, and his courtiers, - and the king of Babylon took him, in the eighth year of his reign. And he carried forth from thence, all the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the house of the king, - and he cut off all the fittings of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of Yahweh, according to all that, Yahweh, had spoken. And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the generals, and all the mighty men of valour, ten thousand becoming captives, and all the artificers and the smiths, - none remained save the poorest of the people of the land. And he carried away captive Jehoiachin, to Babylon, - and, the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his courtiers, and the nobles of the land, took he away captive, from Jerusalem to Babylon. And, all the men of might - seven thousand, and artificers and smiths - a thousand, all who were valiant and ready to make war, the king of Babylon brought them captive to Babylon.

Eight years old, was Jehoiachin when he began to reign, and, three months and ten days, reigned he in Jerusalem, and he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh; and, when the year came round, King Nebuchadnezzar sent, and carried him to Babylon, with the precious utensils of the house of Yahweh, - and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Twelve years old, was Manasseh when he began to reign, - and, fifty-five years, reigned he in Jerusalem. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh,-according to the abominable ways of the nations, whom Yahweh dispossessed from before the sons of Israel. And he again built the high places, which Hezekiah his father had thrown down, - and set up altars to the Baalim, and made Sacred Stems, and bowed in prostration unto all the army of the heavens, and served them; read more.
and built altars in the house of Yahweh, - as to which Yahweh had said, In Jerusalem, shall be my Name, unto times age-abiding. Yea he built altars unto all the army of the heavens, - in the two courts of the house of Yahweh. And, he, caused his sons to pass through the fire, in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and practised hidden arts and used divination, and practised sorcery, and appointed a necromancer, and a wizard, - he exceeded in doing the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger; and he set a resemblance-image which he had made, - in the house of God, as to which God had said unto David, and unto Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my Name, unto times age-abiding. So will I not again remove the foot of Israel away from the soil which I appointed for their fathers. Only they must observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the regulations, by the hand of Moses. And so Manasseh led astray Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, - to commit wickedness beyond the nations which Yahweh had destroyed from before the sons of Israel. And Yahweh spake unto Manasseh and unto his people, but they did not give ear. So Yahweh brought in upon them, the captains of the army that belonged to the king of Assyria, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, - and bound him captive with a pair of bronze fetters, and took him away to Babylon. But, in his distress, he appeased the face of Yahweh his God, - and humbled himself greatly, before the God of his fathers; and, when he prayed unto him, then was he entreated of him, and hearkened unto his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem, unto his own kingdom, and so Manasseh came to know, that, Yahweh, is God. And, after this, he built an outer wall to the city of David on the west of the Gihon in the ravine, even to the entering in through the fish-gate, and went round to Ophel, and carried it up very high, - and put captains of valour in all the fortified cities, throughout Judah. And he removed the gods of the foreigner and the image, out of the house of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the house of Yahweh, and in Jerusalem, - and he cast them forth outside the city. And he built the altar of Yahweh, and sacrificed thereon peace-offerings, and thanksgiving sacrifices,-and gave word to Judah to serve Yahweh, God of Israel. Howbeit, still were, the people, sacrificing in the high places, - only unto Yahweh their God. But, the rest of the story of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the story of the seers who spake unto him in the name of Yahweh God of Israel, there they are, in the story of the kings of Israel: both his prayer and how God was entreated of him - and all his sin and his treacherous act, and the sites whereon he built high places, and set up the Sacred Stems and the images, before he humbled himself, there they are, written in the story of the seers. And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the garden off his own house, - and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

Twelve years old, was Manasseh when he began to reign, and, fifty-five years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and the name of his mother was Hephzibah. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - after the abominable practices of the nations, whom Yahweh had dispossessed from before the sons of Israel. He again built the high places, which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, - and reared altars to Baal, and made a Sacred Stem, as did Ahab, king of Israel, and bowed down to all the army of the heavens, and served them. read more.
And he used to build altars in the house of Yahweh, - concerning which Yahweh had said, - In Jerusalem, will I put my Name. And he built altars to all the army of the heavens, - in the two courts of the house of Yahweh; and caused his son to pass through the fire, and practiced hidden arts and used divination, and dealt with a familiar spirit and wizards, - he exceeded in doing the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, provoking him to anger; and he set the image of the Sacred Stem which he had made, - in the house, of which Yahweh had said unto David, and unto Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my Name, unto times age-abiding; and I will not again let the foot of Israel wander away from the soil which I gave unto their fathers. Only if they take heed to do according to all that I have commanded them, even to the extent of all the law which, my servant Moses, commanded them. But they hearkened not, - and Manasseh led them astray to do the thing that was wicked, more than the nations which Yahweh destroyed from before the sons of Israel. Yahweh therefore spake through his servants the prophets saying - Because Manasseh king of Judah hath made these abominations - hath done that which is wicked, more than all which the Amorites did who were before him, and hath caused, even Judah, to sin with his manufactured gods, therefore - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, Behold me! bringing in calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, - that, whosoever heareth thereof, both his ears, will tingle; And I will stretch over Jerusalem, the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab, - and will wipe out Jerusalem, as one wipeth out a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down; And will abandon the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, - and they shall become a prey and a plunder, to all their enemies: Because they have done the thing that is wicked in mine eyes, and have become such as to provoke me to anger, - from the day when their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even until this day. Moreover also, innocent blood, did Manasseh shed in great abundance, till he had filled Jerusalem, from one end to the other, besides his committing the sins which he caused, Judah, to commit, in doing the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh. Now, the rest of the story of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he committed, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza, - and, Amon his son, reigned, in his stead.

Twenty-three years old, was Jehoahaz when he began to reign, and, three months, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, his mother's name, was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah, of Libnah. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his, fathers, had done. And Pharaoh-necoh put him in bonds at Riblah, in the hind of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem, - and he laid a fine upon the land, a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

And the people of the land took Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, - and made him king instead of his father, in Jerusalem. Twenty-three years old, was Joahaz when he began to reign, - and, three months, reigned he in Jerusalem. And the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem, - and condemned the land, in a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. read more.
And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim, - but Neco took, Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.

And lo! Amariah the chief priest, is over you as to every matter of Yahweh, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael the chief ruler for the house of Judah, as to every matter of the king, and, as officers, the Levites are before you, - Be strong and act, and Yahweh be with the good!

And Zichri a hero of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah son of the king, and Azrikam, chief ruler of the house, - and Elkanah, that was next unto the king.

The declaration of Yahweh to my Lord - Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

So Bath-sheba went in unto King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah, - and the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself down to her, and sat down upon his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the mother of the king, and she sat on his right hand.

Daughters of kings, are among thine honourable women, Stationed is the bride at thy right hand, in gold of Ophir.

Then took Zadok the priest, the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon, - and they blew with a ram's horn, and all the people said, Long live King Solomon! And all the people came up after him, the people themselves also, playing with flutes, and rejoicing with great joy, - so that the earth rent with the sound of them. And Adonijah, and all the guests who were with him, heard it, just as, they, had made an end of eating, - and, when Joab heard the sound of a horn, he said - Wherefore the noise of the city, in tumult? read more.
While yet he was speaking, lo! Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest, came in, - and Adonijah said - Come in, for, a worthy man, thou art, and, good tidings, dost thou bring. But Jonathan responded and said to Adonijah, - Of a truth, our lord, King David, hath made, Solomon, king. And the king hath sent with him - Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, with the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, - and they have caused him to ride upon the mule of the king; and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king, in Gihon, and they went up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again, - That, is the noise ye have heard. Moreover also, Solomon hath taken his seat upon the throne of the kingdom. Moreover also, the servants of the king have been in, to bless our lord King David, saying - Thy God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne, - And the king bowed himself upon his bed. Moreover also, thus and thus, hath said the king, - Blessed be Yahweh, God of Israel, who hath given, to-day, one to sit upon my throne, mine own eyes also beholding it. Then trembled and rose up, all Adonijah's guests, - and departed, every man his own way. Adonijah also, feared because of Solomon, - and rose and went, and caught hold of the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, Lo! Adonijah, feareth King Solomon, - lo! therefore, he hath laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon swear unto me at once that he will not put his servant to death with the sword. Then said Solomon, If he will be a man of worth, there shall not one hair of him fall to the earth, - but, if mischief be found in him, then shall he die. So King Solomon sent, and brought him down from the altar, and he came in, and bowed himself down to King Solomon, - and Solomon said unto him - Go to thine own house. And, when the days of David drew near that he must die, he charged Solomon his son, saying: - I, am going the way of all the earth, - thou must be strong, therefore, and show thyself a man; and keep the observances of Yahweh thy God, by walking in his ways, by keeping his statutes, his commandments, and his regulations and his testimonies, as written in the law of Moses, - to the end thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself; to the end that Yahweh may establish his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy sons will take heed to their way, by walking before me, in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, (then, said he) there shall not be cut off to thee a man, from off the throne of Israel. Moreover also, thou, knowest what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with two generals of the armies of Israel - with Abner son of Ner, and with Amasa son of Jether - both of whom he slew, shedding the blood of war in peace, - and putting the blood of war upon his girdle that was on his loins, and upon his sandals, that were on his feet. Thou, therefore, must do according to thy wisdom, - but will not let his grey hair go down in peace, to hades. But, with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, thou wilt deal in lovingkindness, and they will be among them who eat at thy table, - for, so, drew they near unto me, when I fled from Absolom thy brother. Lo! also, there is with thee - Shimei son of Gera a Benjamite, of Behurim, well, he, it was who cursed me with a grievous curse; on the day I journeyed to Mahanaim, - but he, came down to meet me, at the Jordan, and so I sware to him by Yahweh, saying - I will not put thee to death, with the sword. Now, therefore do not hold him guiltless, for, a wise man, thou art, and wilt know how thou oughtest to deal with him, and wilt suffer his grey hairs to go down with blood, to hades. So then David slept with his fathers, - and was buried in the city of David. Now, the days that David reigned over Israel, were forty years, - in Hebron, reigned he seven years, and, in Jerusalem, reigned he thirty and three years. But, when, Solomon, took his seat upon the throne of David his father, then was the kingdom firmly established. And Adonijah son of Haggith came in unto Bath-sheba, mother of Solomon: And she said - Peaceably, comest thou? And he said - Peaceably. Then said he - I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said - Say on. And he said - Thou, knowest that, mine, was the kingdom, and, on me, had all Israel set their faces, that I should become king, - howbeit the kingdom, hath turned about, and become my brother's, for, from Yahweh, became it, his. Now, therefore, one request, have I to ask of thee, do not turn away my face. And she said unto him - Say on. And he said - Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, for he will not turn away thy face, - that he give me Abishag the Shunammite, to wife. And Bath-sheba said: Good! I myself, will speak for thee, unto the king. So Bath-sheba went in unto King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah, - and the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself down to her, and sat down upon his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the mother of the king, and she sat on his right hand. Then said she - One small request, am I asking of thee, do not turn away my face. And the king said to her - Ask on, my mother, for I will not turn away thy face. And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother, to wife. Then answered King Solomon, and said to his mother - Wherefore, then, art thou asking Abishag the Shunammite, for Adonijah? ask, then, for him the kingdom, because he is mine elder brother, - even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab, son of Zeruiah. Then swore King Solomon by Yahweh, saying, - So, let God do to me, and, so, let him add, if, at the cost of his life, Adonijah hath not spoken this word. Now, therefore, by the life of Yahweh, who hath established me, and seated me upon the throne of David my father, and who hath made for me a household, as he had spoken, surely, to-day, shall Adonijah be put to death! So King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, - and he fell upon him, that he died. Also, unto Abiathar the priest, said the king - To Anathoth, get thee unto thine own fields, for, death-doomed, thou art, - but, this day, will I not put thee to death, because thou didst bear the ark of My Lord, Yahweh, before David my father, and because thou wast afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto Yahweh, - to fulfil the word of Yahweh which he spake concerning the household of Eli, in Shiloh. And, the report, came unto Joab, for, Joab, had inclined after Adonijah, although, after Solomon, he had not inclined, - so then Joab fled into the Tent of Yahweh, and laid hold of the horns of the altar. And it was told King Solomon - Joab hath fled into the Tent of Yahweh, and, there he is, beside the altar. So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying - Go fall upon him! And Benaiah came into the Tent of Yahweh, and said unto him - Thus, saith the king, Come forth! And he said - Nay! but, here, will I die! So Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus, spake Joab, and, thus, he answered me. And the king said to him - Do as he hath spoken, fall, then, upon him, and bury him, - and so put away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from off me, and from off the house of my father; thus will Yahweh bring back his blood upon his own head, in that he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing it, - even Abner son of Ner, general of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, general of the army of Judah; thus shall their blood come back upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed unto times age-abiding, - but, David and his seed, and his house, and his throne, shall have peace, unto times age-abiding, from Yahweh. So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and put him to death, - and he was buried in his own house, in the wilderness. And the king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada, in his stead, over the army, - and, Zadok the priest, did the king put in the stead of Abiathar. And the king sent, and called for Shimei, and said to him - Build thee a house, in Jerusalem, so shalt thou dwell there, - and shalt not go forth from thence, hither or thither; but it shall be that, on the day thou goest forth, and passest over the Kidron ravine, know, that thou shalt, die, - thy blood, shall be, upon thine own head. And Shimei said to the king - Good, is the word, as my lord the king hath spoken, so, will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. But it came to pass, at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei fled unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath, - and they told Shimei, saying - Lo! thy servants are in Gath. So Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath, unto Achish, to seek his servants - and Shimei went and brought in his servants, from Gath. And it was told Solomon - Shimei hath been out of Jerusalem to Gath, and returned. Then sent the king and called for Shimei, and said unto him - Did I not put thee on oath by Yahweh, and adjure thee, saying - On the day thou goest forth and takest thy journey hither or thither, know, that thou shalt, die. Then saidst thou unto me - Good, is the word I have heard. Why then, hast thou not kept the oath of Yahweh, - and the charge which I laid upon thee? Then said the king unto Shimei - Thou, knowest all the wickedness which thy heart is privy to, which thou didst unto David my father, - therefore shall Yahweh bring back thy wickedness, upon thine own head. But, King Solomon, shall be blessed, - and, the throne of David, shall be established before Yahweh, unto times age-abiding. So the king charged Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and fell upon him, that he died, - and, the kingdom, was established in the hand of Solomon. And Solomon contracted an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, - and took the daughter of Pharaoh, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Yahweh, and the wall of Jerusalem, round about. Save only, that the people were sacrificing in the high places, - because there had not been built a house unto the Name of Yahweh, until those days, Solomon loved Yahweh, by walking in the statutes of David his father, - save only, that, in the high places, he himself, was sacrificing and offering incense. So then the king went to Gibeon, to sacrifice there, for, that, was the great high place, - a thousand ascending-sacrifices, did Solomon offer up on that altar. In Gibeon, Yahweh appeared unto Solomon, in a dream by night, - and God said, Ask, what I shall give thee. Then said Solomon - Thou, didst deal, with thy servant David my father, in great lovingkindness, according as he walked before thee, in truth and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart, with thee, - and thou hast kept, for him, this great lovingkindness, that thou hast given unto him a son, to sit upon his throne, as it is this day. Now, therefore, O Yahweh my God, thou, hast made thy servant king, instead of David my father, - and, I, am but a little child, I know not how to go out and come in. And, thy servant, is in the midst of thy people, whom thou hast chosen, - a numerous people, that cannot be numbered or summed up, for multitude. Wilt thou, then, give unto thy servant, a heart that hearkeneth, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad, - for who is able to judge this thine honoured people? And the thing was good in the eyes of the Lord, - that Solomon had asked this thing; And God said unto him - Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself many days, nor asked for thyself riches, nor asked the lives of thine enemies, - but hast asked for thyself discernment, in hearing a cause, lo! I have done according to thy word, - lo! I have given unto thee a wise and discerning heart, so that, like thee, hath been none, before thee, and, after thee, shall rise up none, like thee. Moreover also, what thou hast not asked, have I given unto thee, both riches and honour, - so that there hath been none, like thee, among the kings, all thy days. And, if thou wilt walk in my ways, by keeping my statutes, and my commandments, as, David thy father, walked, then will I lengthen out thy days. And Solomon awoke, and lo! it was a dream. So he entered into Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and caused to go up ascending-sacrifices and offered peace-offerings, and made a banquet for all his servants. Then, came there in two unchaste women, unto the king, - and stood before him. And the one woman said - Pardon, my lord! I and this woman, dwell in one house, - and I gave birth to a child near her, in the house. And it came to pass, the third day after I bare, that, this woman also, gave birth to a child, - we two, being together, there was no stranger with us in the house, none but we two in the house. And this woman's son died in the night, - because she overlaid it. Then arose she, in the middle of the night, and took my son from beside me, while thy handmaid was sleeping, and laid it in her own besom, - but, her dead son, laid she in, my, bosom. And, when I arose in the morning, to give suck unto my child, lo! it was dead! but, when I looked at it narrowly in the morning, lo! it was not, my son that I had borne. Then said the other woman - Nay! but, my son, is the, living, and, thy son, the, dead. But, this, one kept on saying - Nay, verily! but, thy son, is the, dead, and, my son, the, living. Thus spake they before the king. Then said the king, The one woman, is saying, This, is, my son, the one that liveth, and, thy son, is, the one that is dead, - and, the other, is saying, Nay! but, thy son, is, the dead one, and, my son, the, living. And the king said - Bring me a sword! So they brought a sword before the king. Then said the king, Divide the living child, in twain, - and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman, whose was the living child, unto the king - for tender became her compassions over her son - so she said - Pardon, my lord! Give, her, the living child, and do not, kill, it. But the other kept on saying - Neither mine, nor thine, shall it be, divide it. Then responded the king, and said - Give, her, the living child, ye shall not, kill, it, - she, is its mother. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had delivered, and they stood in awe before the king, - for they saw, that, the wisdom of God, was in him, to execute justice. And so it came to pass, that, King Solomon, was king, over all Israel. Now, these, were his chief officers of state, - Azariah son of Zadok, the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha, scribes, - Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud, the recorder; And Benaiah son of Jehoiada, over the army, - and Zadok and Abiathar priests; And Azariah son of Nathan, over the governors, - and Zabud son of Nathan, minister, king's friend; And Ahishar, over the household, - and Adoniram son of Abda, over the tribute. And, Solomon, had twelve governors over all Israel, who used to sustain the king and his household, - for a month in the year, was it appointed unto each one, to find sustenance. And, these, are their names, Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-deker, in Makaz and in Shaalbim and Beth-shemesh, - and Elon-beth-hanan; Ben-hesed, in Arubboth, - to him, pertaineth Socoh, and all the land of Hepher; Ben-abinadab, all the height of Dor, - Taphath daughter of Solomon, had he to wife; Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach, and Megiddo, - and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean as far as Abel-meholah, as far as over against Jokmeam; Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead, - to him, belonged the towns of Jair, son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, his, was the region of Argob which is in Bashan, sixty great cities, with walls and with bars of bronze; Ahinadab son of Iddo, towards Mahanaim; Ahimaaz, in Naphtali, - moreover, he, took Basemath daughter of Solomon, to wife; Banna son of Hushai, in Asher and in Aloth; Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar; Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin; Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, - the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, being, the one governor, that was in the land. Judah and Israel, were many, as the sand that is by the sea, for multitude, - eating and drinking, and rejoicing. And, Solomon, became ruler over all the kingdoms, from the River even unto the land of the Philistines, and as far as the boundary of Egypt, - and these were bringing presents, and serving Solomon, all the days of his life. And it came to pass, that Solomon's provision for one day was, - thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal; ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, - besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fatted fowl. For, he, had dominion over all on this side the River, from Tiphsah even as far as Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River, - and he had, peace, on all sides of him, round about. And Judah and Israel dwelt securely, every man under his own vine, and under his own fig-tree, from Dan even unto Beer-sheba, - all the days of Solomon. And it came to pass that, Solomon, had forty thousand stalls of horses, for his chariots, - and twelve thousand horsemen. And these governors provided sustenance for King Solomon, and for all that drew near unto the table of King Solomon, every man in his month, - they let, nought, be lacking. Barley also and crushed straw, for the horses and for the swift beasts, brought they in unto the place where it should be, every man according to his charge. And God gave wisdom unto Solomon, and discernment, and very great largeness of heart, - like the sand that is on the shore of the sea: so that, the wisdom of Solomon, excelled, the wisdom of all the sons of the East, - and all the wisdom of the Egyptians, so that he was wiser than any man - than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman and Calcol and Darda, sons of Mahol, - and it came to pass that, his name, was throughout all the nations round about. And he spake three thousand proverbs, - and it came to pass that, his songs, were a thousand and five. And he discoursed of trees - from the cedar that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop, that springeth out in the wall, - and he discoursed of beasts and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came in, of all the peoples, to hear the wisdom of Solomon - of all the kings of the earth, who heard his wisdom. And Hiram King of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon, for he had heard that, him, had they anointed king, in the room of his father, - for, Hiram, was, a lover, of, David continually. So Solomon sent unto Hiram, saying: - Thou, knewest David my father, how that he could not build a house unto the Name of Yahweh his God, because of the wars that were about him on every side, - until Yahweh should put them under the soles of his feet; but, now, Yahweh my God hath given me rest on every side, - there is neither adversary nor incident of evil. Behold me! then, purposing to build a house for the Name of Yahweh my God - even as Yahweh spake unto David my father, saying - Thy son, whom I will set in thy stead, upon thy throne, he, shall build the house for my Name. Now, therefore, command thou that they fell me cedars, out of Lebanon, and, my servants, shall be, with thy servants, and, the hire of thy servants, will I give thee, according to all that thou shalt say, - for, thou, knowest, that, none amongst us, hath skill to fell timber, like the Zidonians. And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, - and said: Blessed, be Yahweh, to-day, who hath given unto David a wise son, over this great people! And Hiram sent unto Solomon, saying, I have heard that which thou hast sent unto me, - I, will do all thy desire, as to timber of cedar, and timber of fir. My servants, shall bring them down out of Lebanon unto the sea, and, I, will put them in rafts on the sea, unto the place of which thou shalt send me word, and will cause them to be discharged there, and, thou, shalt receive them, and, thou, shalt do my desire, by giving food for my household. So then Hiram began giving unto Solomon timber of cedar, and timber of fir, even all his desire, and, Solomon, gave unto Hiram, twenty thousand measures of wheat, as food for his household, and twenty measures of beaten oil, - thus, used Solomon on to give unto Hiram, year by year. And, Yahweh, gave wisdom unto Solomon, as he promised him, - and it came to pass that there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and, they two, solemnised a covenant. And King Solomon raised a labour-band, out of all Israel, - and it came to pass that, the labour-band, was thirty thousand men. And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month, by courses, a month, were they in Lebanon, two months, at home, - and, Adoniram, was over the levy. And it came to pass that, Solomon, had seventy thousand bearers of burdens, - and eighty thousand hewers in the mountain; besides the chiefs of Solomon's officers, who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, - who ruled over the people that wrought in the work. And the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to found the house with hewn stones. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders with the Gebalites wrought them, - thus made they ready the timber and the stones, for building the house. And so it came to pass, in the four hundred and eightieth year, by the coming forth of the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year (in the month of Zif, the same, being the second month) of the reign of Solomon over Israel, that he began to build the house unto Yahweh. Now, the house which King Solomon built unto Yahweh, was sixty cubits in length, and twenty in breadth, - and thirty cubits in height. And, the porch in front of the temple of the house, was twenty cubits in length, according to the breadth of the house, - ten cubits in breadth, in front of the house. And he made to the house windows, with closed bars. And he built - by the wall of the house - a gallery, round about, against the walls of the house, round about, both to the temple, and to the shrine, - and he made side chambers round about. The, lowest gallery, was five cubits broad, and, the middle, six cubits broad, and, the third, seven cubits broad, - for he put, ledges, against the house round about, on the outer side, so as not to make fastenings in the walls of the house. Now, the house, when it was in building, with whole quarry-stones, was built, - neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tools of iron, was heard in the house, when it was in building. The entrance of the lowest story, was on the right side of the house, - and, by winding stairs, went they up unto the middle story , and, out of the middle, into, the third. So he built the house, and finished it, - and ceiled the house with planks and beams of cedar; and built the gallery against all the house, five cubits in height, - and so fastened the house, with timber of cedar. Then came the word of Yahweh unto Solomon, saying: Concerning this house, which thou art building, If thou wilt walk in my statutes, and, my regulations, wilt practise, and so observe all my commandments, by walking in them, Then will I establish my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father; and will make my habitation in the midst of the sons of Israel, - and will not forsake my people Israel. Thus Solomon built the house, and finished it; and he built the walls of the house on the inside, with boards of cedar, from the floor of the house, unto the cross-beams of the ceiling, he overlaid it with wood, on the inside, - and he overlaid the floor of the house with boards of fir. And he built twenty cubits, at the hinder part of the house, with boards of cedar, from the floor as far as the cross-beams, - and he built it within, for a shrine, even for the holy of holies; but, forty cubits, was the house itself, - the same, was the temple, before the oracle. And, the cedar for the house within, was carved with colocynths, and with festoons of flowers, - the whole, was cedar, there was no stone to be seen. And, the shrine in the midst of the house within, made he ready, - for placing there, the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. And, the interior of the shrine, was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in height, and he overlaid it, with pure gold, - and overlaid the altar with cedar. Thus then did Solomon overlay the house within, with pure gold, - and he drew chains of gold across the front of the shrine, and overlaid it with gold; yea, all the house, overlaid he with gold, until he had made all the house into one whole, - even all the altar that was by the shrine, overlaid he with gold. And he made, within the shrine, two cherubim of wild olive wood, - ten cubits in height; and, five cubits, was the one wing of the cherub, and, five cubits, the second wing of the cherub, - ten cubits, from the one end of his wings unto the other end of his wings. Ten cubits, also was the second cherub, - of one size and one shape, were the two cherubim. The height of the one cherub, was ten cubits, - and, so, of the second cherub. And he placed the cherubim in the midst of the inner house, and the cherubim stretched forth their wings, - so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub, was touching the other wall, - and, their wings in the midst of the house, were touching, wing to wing. And he overlaid the cherubim with gold. And, all the walls of the house round about, carved he with figures of cherubim, and palm-trees, and festoons of flowers, - within and without. Even the floor of the house, overlaid he with gold, - within and without. And, the entrance of the shrine, made he with doors, of wild olive-wood, the pillars and posts being a fifth. The two doors, also were of olive-wood, and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim, and palm-trees, and festoons of flowers, and overlaid them with gold, - yea he spread out, over the cherubim and over the palm-trees, the gold. So, also, made he for the entrance of the temple, with posts of wild olive-wood, - a fourth part. And, the two doors, were of fir wood, - the two leaves of the one door, were folding, and, the two leaves of the other door, were folding. And he carved cherubim, and palm-trees, and festoons of flowers, and overlaid them with gold, smoothed out on the carved work. And he built the inner court, with three rows of hewn stone, - and a row of beams of cedar. In the fourth year, was laid the foundation of the house of Yahweh, - in the month Zif; and, in the eleventh year, in the month Bul - the same, is the eighth month, was the house finished, as to all the particulars thereof, and as to all the appointments thereof, - so then he built it in seven years. But, his own house, was Solomon thirteen years in building, - so he finished all his house. Yea he built the house of the forest of Lebanon, a hundred cubits, the length thereof, and, fifty cubits, the breadth thereof, and, thirty cubits, the height thereof, - upon four rows of pillars of cedar, with beams of cedar, upon the pillars; and it was covered with cedar above upon the joists, that were on forty-five pillars, - fifteen in a row. And there were, window spaces, in three rows, - and light over against light, three times. And, all the openings and the posts, were square in their frame, - and light was over against light, three times. And, a porch of pillars, made he, fifty cubits, in length, and, thirty cubits, in breadth, - and, a porch, was on the one front of them, and pillars and threshold, were on the other front of them. And, a porch for the throne, where he should judge, even the porch of judgment, made he, and it was wainscotted with cedar, from floor to ceiling. And, his own house where he should dwell, in the other court within the porch, was, of like workmanship unto this, - a house also, made he, for the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Solomon had taken to wife , in a similar porch. All these, were of costly stones, after the dimensions of hewn stones, sawn with saws, within and without, - even from the foundation, unto the coping, and without as far as the great court. And, the foundation, was of costly stones, large stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits. And, above, were costly stones, after the dimensions of hewn stone, and cedar. And, the great court round about, was of three rows of hewn stone, and a row of beams of cedar, - both to the inner court of the house of Yahweh, and to the porch of the house. And King Solomon sent and fetched Hiram, out of Tyre: son of a widow woman, was he of the tribe of Naphtali, but, his father, was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze, and he was filled with wisdom, and discernment, and knowledge, for executing all manner of work in bronze, - so he came unto King Solomon, and executed all his work. And he cast two pillars of bronze, - eighteen cubits, the height of each pillar, and, a line of twelve cubits, would surround the second pillar. And, two capitals, made he, to set upon the tops of the pillars, of molten bronze, - five cubits, was the height of the one capital, and, five cubits, the height of the other capital; with a frame of checker work, wreaths of chain work, for the capitals which were upon the top of the pillars, - seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital. So he made the pillars, - and, two rows round about, upon the one frame of checker work, covering the capitals which were upon the top with pomegranates, thus also, did he for the other capital. And, the capitals which were upon the top of the pillars, were of lily work, in span, four cubits. And there were capitals upon the two pillars, above also, close by the belly, which was beside the checker work, - and there were two hundred pomegranates, in rows round about, upon either capital. So he reared the pillars for the porch of the temple, - yea he reared the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin, and reared the left pillar, and called the name thereof, Boaz. And, upon the top of the pillars, was lily work, - which gave finish to the work of the pillars. And he made a molten sea, - ten cubits from the one brim to the other, it was round all about, and, five cubits, was the height thereof, and, a line of thirty cubits, would encompass it round about. And, colocynths, were under the brim thereof round about, encompassing it, ten in a cubit, encircling the sea, round about, - two rows of colocynths, made in the casting thereof: standing upon twelve oxen, three looking northward, and three looking westward, and three looking southward, and three looking eastward, the sea, being upon them above, - all their hinder parts, being, inward. And, the thickness thereof, was a hand breadth, and, the brim thereof, was like the brim-work of a cup, of lily-blossoms, - two thousand baths, did it contain. And he made ten stands of bronze, - four cubits, the length of each stand, and, four cubits, the breadth thereof, and, three cubits, the height thereof. And, this, was the work of the stand, there were, side walls, to them, - and, the side-walls, were between joining ledges; and, upon the side-walls which were between the ledges, were lions, oxen, and cherubim, and, upon the ledges, was a pedestal above, and, beneath the lions and oxen, a wreath of hanging work. And, four wheels of bronze, had each stand, with axles of bronze, and, the four steps thereof, had shoulder pieces, - under the laver, were the molten shoulder-pieces, over against each wreath. And, the mouth thereof, within the capital and upwards, was a cubit, and, the mouth thereof, was round, of pedestal work, a cubit and a half, - moreover also, upon the mouth thereof, were gravings, with their side-walls four-square, not round. And, four wheels, were beneath the side-walls, the axletrees of the wheels, being in the stands, - and, the height of each wheel, was a cubit and a half: and, the work of the wheels, was like the work of a chariot-wheel; and, their axletrees, and their felloes, and their spokes, and their naves, the whole, were molten. And there were, four shoulder-pieces, at the four corners of each stand, of the stand itself, were the shoulder-pieces thereof. And, in the top of the stand, half a cubit in height, was a circular piece round about, - and, on the top of the stand, the tenons thereof, and, the side-walls thereof, were of the same. Then carved he, upon the plates of the tenons thereof, and upon the side-walls thereof, cherubim, lions, and palm-trees, - according to the open space of each with a wreath round about. Thus, made he the ten stands, - one mould, one measure, one shape, had they, all. Then made he ten lavers of bronze, - forty baths, would each laver contain, four cubits, was each laver, one laver, was on each of, the ten stands. And he set the stands, five on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house, - but, the sea, he set on the right side of the house eastward, over against the south. And Hiram made lavers, and shovels, and bowls, - and Hiram ended the doing of all the work which he wrought for King Solomon, for the house of Yahweh: two pillars, - and the bowls of the capitals which were upon the top of the two pillars, - and the two frames of checker-work, covering the two bowls of the capitals, which were upon the top of the pillars; and the four hundred pomegranates, for the two frames of checker-work, - two rows of pomegranates to each frame, for covering the two bowls of the capitals, which were on the face of the pillars; and the ten stands, - with the ten lavers upon the stands; and the one sea, - with the twelve oxen under the sea; and the pans, and the shovels, and the tossing bowls, and, all these vessels which Hiram made King Solomon, for the house of Yahweh, were of burnished bronze. In the circuit of the Jordan, did the king cast them, in the clay ground, - between Succoth and Zarethan. And Solomon let all the vessels be, because of their exceeding great multitude, - the weight of the bronze was not found out. And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Yahweh, - the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereon was the presence-bread; and the lamp-holders - five on the right and five on the left, before the shrine, of pure gold, - with the blossoms, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; and the bowls, and the snuffers, and the tossing bowls, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold, - and the hinge-holes, for the doors of the inner house, the holy of holies, and for the doors of the house itself, the temple, of, gold. So was completed all the work which King Solomon made for the house of Yahweh, and Solomon brought in the hallowed things of David his father - the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put in the treasuries of the house of Yahweh. Then, did Solomon call together the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, chiefs of the fathers of the sons of Israel, unto King Solomon in Jerusalem, - that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, out of the city of David, the same is Zion. So all the men of Israel came together unto King Solomon, in the month of steady flowings, at the festival, - the same is the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came in, - and the priests took up the ark; and they brought up the ark of Yahweh, and the Tent of Meeting, and all the hallowed vessels that were in the tent, - yea, the priests and the Levites, did bring them up. And, King Solomon, and all the assembly of Israel who had assembled themselves unto him, were with him, before the ark, - sacrificing sheep and oxen, which could neither be recorded nor counted, for multitude. So the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh into its place, into the shrine of the house, into the holy of holies, - under the wings of the cherubim. For, the cherubim, were spreading forth their two wings, over the place of the ark, - and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and over the staves thereof, above. And they drew out the staves, and the heads of the staves were seen from the holy place, in front of the shrine, although they were not seen on the outside, - and they have remained there until this day. There was nothing in the ark, save the two tables of stone, which Moses deposited there in Horeb, - the tables of the covenant which Yahweh solemnised with the sons of Israel, when they came forth out of the land of Egypt. And so it was, when the priests came forth out of the holy place, that, a cloud, filled the house of Yahweh; so that the priests could not stand to minister, because of the cloud, - for, the glory of Yahweh, filled, the house of Yahweh. Then, said Solomon, - Yahweh, said, that he would make his habitation in thick gloom: I have, built, a house as a high abode for thee, - A settled place for thee to abide in, for ages. And the king turned about his face, and blessed all the convocation of Israel, - while all the convocation of Israel was standing; and he said - Blessed, be Yahweh, God of Israel, who spake with his mouth, unto David my father, - that which with his hand he hath fulfilled, saying: - Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel, out of Egypt, I had chosen no city, out of all the tribes of Israel, for building a house, where my Name might be, - but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my Name should be there, and I have chosen David, to be over my people Israel: And so it came to pass, that it was near the heart of David my father, - to build a house for the Name of Yahweh, God of Israel. Then said Yahweh unto David my father, Because it was near thy heart to build a house for my Name, thou didst well that it was near thy heart; Only, thou thyself, must not build the house, - but, thine own son who hath proceeded out of thy loins, he, shall build the house, for my Name. So then Yahweh hath established his word which he spake, - and I have been raised up in the room of David my father, and have taken my seat upon the throne of Israel, as spake Yahweh, and have built the house for the Name of Yahweh, God of Israel; and have appointed there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of Yahweh, - which he solemnised with our fathers, when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt. And Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh, in the presence of all the convocation of Israel, - and spread forth his hands towards the heavens; and said - O Yahweh, God of Israel! Not like thee, is there a God, in the heavens above, or upon the earth beneath, - keeping Covenant and Lovingkindness for thy servants who are walking before thee, with all their heart; who hast kept for thy servant David my father, that which thou didst promise him, - in that thou didst promise with thy mouth, and, with thy hand, hast fulfilled, as it is this day. Now, therefore, O Yahweh, God of Israel, keep thou for thy servant David my father, that which thou didst promise him, saying, There shall not be cut off to thee a man from before me, to sit upon the throne of Israel, - if only, thy sons take heed to their way, by walking before me, as thou hast walked before me. Now, therefore, O God of Israel, - verified be thy word, I pray thee, which thou didst speak to thy servant, David my father. But, in very deed, will God dwell, upon the earth? Lo! the heaven, yea the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built? Yet wilt thou turn unto the prayer of thy servant, and unto his supplication, O Yahweh my God, - to hearken unto the cry, and unto the prayer, wherewith thy servant doth pray before thee to-day; that thine eye may be opened toward this house, night and day, toward the place of which thou hast said, My Name shall be, there; hearkening unto the prayer which thy servant shall offer toward this place. Wilt, thou, therefore, hearken unto the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, whensoever they shall pray toward this place, - yea wilt, thou thyself, hear, in thine own dwelling-place, in the heavens, and, when thou hearest, then wilt thou forgive? When a man shall sin against his neighbour, and there shall be taken up against him an oath, to put him on oath, - and he shall come in and swear before thine altar, in this house, then wilt, thou thyself, hear in the heavens, and act, and judge thy servants, condemning the lawless, by setting his way upon his own head, - and justifying the righteous, by giving to him, according to his righteousness? When thy people Israel are smitten before an enemy, because they have been sinning against thee, - and they turn again unto thee, and confess thy Name, and pray and make supplication unto thee, in this house, then wilt, thou thyself, hear in the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them back unto the soil, which thou gavest unto their fathers? When the heavens are shut up, and there is no rain, because they have been sinning against thee, - and they shall pray toward this place, and confess thy Name, and, from their sin, shall return, because thou hast been afflicting them, then wilt, thou thyself, hear in the heavens and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou mayest teach them the good way, wherein they should walk, - and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people, for an inheritance? When there shall be, famine, in the land, when there shall be, pestilence, when there shall be, blasting, mildew locust, caterpillar, when their enemy shall besiege them in one of their own gates, - whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness; any prayer, any supplication which, any son of earth, may have, of all thy people Israel, - who will certainly know every man the plague of his own heart, and so he shall spread abroad his hands towards this house, then wilt, thou thyself, hear in the heavens, in the settled place of thine abode, and forgive and act, and give unto every man according to all his ways, whose heart thou wilt know, - for, thou thyself alone, knowest the heart of all the sons of men; to the end they may revere thee, all the days which they do live, upon the face of the soil, - which thou gavest unto our fathers? Moreover also, unto the stranger, who is, not of thy people Israel, - but hath come in out of a far country, for the sake of thy Name, - (for they will certainly hear of thy great Name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched-out arm, - and so will come in and pray towards this house), wilt, thou thyself, hear in the heavens, the settled place of thine abode, and act, according to all for which, the stranger, shall cry unto thee, - to the end that all the peoples of the earth may truly know thy Name, so as to revere thee, like thy people Israel, and to know that, thine own Name, hath been given unto this house, which I have built? When thy people go forth to war against their enemy, whithersoever thou mayest send them, - and shall pray unto Yahweh, in the direction of the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy Name, then wilt thou hear, in the heavens, their prayer and their supplication, - and maintain their cause? When they sin against thee - for there is, no son of earth, that sinneth not, and thou shalt be angry with them, and deliver them up before an enemy, - who shall carry them away as their captives, into the land of the enemy, far or near; and they come back to their right mind, in the land whither they have been taken captive, - and so turn and make supplication unto thee, in the land of their captors, saying, We have sinned and done perversely, we have been lawless; and so they turn unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, who have carried them away captive, - and pray unto thee in the direction of their own land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy Name, then wilt thou hearken in the heavens, the settled place of thine abode, unto their prayer, and unto their supplication, - and maintain their cause; and grant forgiveness to thy people, who have sinned against thee, even as to all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, - and grant them compassion before their captors, so that they may have compassion upon them; because, thy people and thine inheritance, they are, - whom thou didst bring forth out of Egypt, out of the midst of the smelting-pot of iron; that thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, - to hearken unto them, in all their crying unto thee; because, thou thyself, didst separate them unto thee, for an inheritance, out of all the peoples of the earth, - as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest forth our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord Yahweh. And it came to pass, when Solomon had made an end of praying unto Yahweh all this prayer and supplication, that he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees, with his hands outspread to the heavens; and stood and blessed all the convocation of Israel, - with a loud voice, saying: Blessed, be Yahweh, who hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised, - there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our fathers, - let him not leave us, nor forsake us; but bow our heart unto himself, - to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his regulations, which he commanded our fathers. And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before Yahweh, be near unto Yahweh our God, day and night, - that he may maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as any need ariseth: To the end that all the peoples of the earth may know, that, Yahweh, is God, - there is none else. So shall your heart be sound with Yahweh our God, - to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day. And, the king, and all Israel with him, were offering sacrifice before Yahweh. So Solomon offered as a sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he offered unto Yahweh - Oxen, two and twenty thousand, and Sheep, a hundred and twenty thousand, - Thus did, the king and all the sons of Israel, dedicate the house of Yahweh. On that day, did the king hallow the middle of the court, that was before the house of Yahweh, - for he offered there the ascending-sacrifice, and the meal-offering, and the fat portions of the peace-offerings, because, the altar of bronze that was before Yahweh, was too small to receive the ascending-sacrifice and the meal-offering, and the fat portions of the peace-offerings. And Solomon made, at that time, a festival - and all Israel with him - a great convocation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the ravine of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days, and seven days, - fourteen days. And on the eighth day, he sent the people away, and they blessed the king, - and departed to their homes, rejoicing and glad of heart, over all the goodness which Yahweh had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people. And it came to pass, when Solomon had made an end of building the house of Yahweh, and the house of the king, and everything that Solomon desired, which he was pleased to make, then appeared Yahweh unto Solomon, a second time, - as he appeared unto him, in Gibeon. And Yahweh said unto him - I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, wherewith thou hast made supplication before me, I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my Name there unto times age-abiding, - and mine eyes and my heart shall be there, continually: As for thee, therefore, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, with a whole heart and with uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, - and, my statutes and my regulations, wilt keep, then will I establish the throne of thy kingdom over Israel, unto times age-abiding, - as I promised unto David thy father, saying, There shall not be cut off to thee a man, from off the throne of Israel. If ye, turn back, ye or your sons, from following me, and keep not my commandments, my statutes, which I have set before you, - but depart and serve other gods, and bow yourselves down to them, then will I cut off Israel, from the face of the soil, which I have given unto them, and, the house which I have hallowed for my Name, will I suffer to be carried away from before me, - and Israel shall become a byword and a mockery, among all the peoples; and, this house which had been renowned, shall be desolate, every one that passeth by it, shall be astonished and shall whistle, - and men shall say - For what cause, hath Yahweh done, thus, unto this land, and unto this house? And men will answer - Because they forsook Yahweh their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold of other gods, and bowed themselves down to them, and served them, for this cause, hath Yahweh brought in upon them all this ruin. And it came to pass, at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, - the house of Yahweh, and the house of the king; Hiram king of Tyre having supplied Solomon with timber of cedar, and with timber of fir, and with gold, according to all his desire, that, then, King Solomon gave unto Hiram twenty cities, in the land of Galilee. And Hiram came out from Tyre to view the cities which, Solomon, had given him, - and they were not pleasing in his eyes. So he said - What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them, Unfruitful Land, as they are called unto this day. Now Hiram had sent to the king, - a hundred and twenty talents of gold. Now, the following, is an account of the tax which King Solomon raised, for building the house of Yahweh and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, - and Hazor and Megiddo, and Gezer. Pharaoh king of Egypt, had gone up and captured Gezer, and burned it with fire, the Canaanites also who were dwelling in the city, had he slain, - and had given it as a dowry, to his daughter, wife of Solomon. So then Solomon built Gezer, and Beth-horon, the nether, and Baalath and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land; also all the store cities, which Solomon had, and the cities for chariots, and the cities for horsemen, - and the desire of Solomon that he was pleased to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land that he ruled over. All the people that were left, of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, who were, not of the sons of Israel; their sons, who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel were not able to devote to destruction, Solomon levied them for a toiling labour-band which remaineth unto this day. But, of the sons of Israel, Solomon devoted none to bond-service, - but, they, were men of war, and his servants, and his generals, and his heroes, and captains of his chariots, and his horsemen. These, were the chiefs of the officers, who were over the work, for Solomon, five hundred and fifty, - who ruled over the people that wrought in the work. Scarcely had Pharaoh's daughter come up out of the city of David, into her own house, which he had built for her, when he built Millo. And Solomon used to offer, three times a year, ascending-sacrifices and peace-offerings, upon the altar which he had built unto Yahweh, and to offer incense at the altar which was before Yahweh, - thus Solomon gave completeness unto the house. A fleet also, did King Solomon build in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent in the fleet his servants, seamen, having knowledge of the sea, - with the servants of Solomon; and they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence, gold, four hundred and twenty talents, - and brought it to King Solomon. And, when, the queen of Sheba, heard the report of Solomon, as pertaining to the Name of Yahweh, she came to prove him, with abstruse questions. Yea she came to Jerusalem with a very heavily-laden train, of camels bearing spices, and gold in great abundance, and precious stones, - and, when she was come to Solomon, she spake unto him all that was near her heart; and Solomon answered her all her questions, - there was nothing hidden from the king, which he told her not. And, when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, - and the house which he had built; and the food of his table, and the seated assembly of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers with their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he ascended unto the house of Yahweh, there was in her no more spirit. And she said unto the king, True, was the word which I heard in mine own land, - concerning thine affairs, and concerning thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until that I had come and mine own eyes had seen, and lo! there had not been told me, the half, - thou dost exceed, in wisdom and prosperity, even the report which I heard! How happy, are thy wives, how happy, are these thy servants, - who do stand before thee continually, who hear thy wisdom! Yahweh thy God be blessed, who delighted in thee, to set thee upon the throne of Israel, - because Yahweh loveth Israel unto times age-abiding, therefore hath he appointed thee to be king, to execute justice and righteousness. And she gave unto the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones, - there came in no more, such spice for abundance, as that which the queen of Sheba gave unto King Solomon. Moreover also, the fleet of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought in, from Ophir sandal-wood in great abundance, and precious stones. So the king made of the sandal-wood a footpath to the house of Yahweh, and to the house of the king, lyres also and harps, for the singers, - there hath neither come in such sandal-wood, nor been seen, unto this day. And, when, King Solomon, had given unto the queen of Sheba, all her desire, which she asked, besides that which he gave her as the bounty of King Solomon, she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants. And it came to pass that, the weight of the gold which came in unto Solomon in one year, was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold; besides the tribute of the subjugated, and of the travelling merchants, - and of all the kings of Arabia, and the pashas of the land. And King Solomon made two hundred shields, of beaten gold, six hundred shekels of gold, laid he upon one shield; and three hundred bucklers, of beaten gold, one hundred and fifty shekels of gold, laid he upon one buckler, - and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. And the king made a great throne of ivory, - and overlaid it with gold from Uphaz. There were, six steps, to the throne, and there was, a circular top, to the throne, behind it, and there were supports on this side and on that, unto the place of the seat, - with two lions standing beside the supports; and, twelve lions, were standing there, upon the six steps, on this side and on that, - there had never been made the like, for any of the kingdoms. And, all the drinking vessels of King Solomon, were of gold, and, all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon, were of pure gold, - none was of silver, it was accounted in the days of Solomon, as nothing. For, a fleet of Tarshish, had the king, at sea, with the fleet of Hiram, - once in three years, came in the fleet of Tarshish, bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes, and peacocks. So King Solomon became greater than any of the kings of the earth, - for riches and for wisdom. And, all the earth, did seek the face of Solomon, - to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And, they, did bring every man his present - vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses and mules, - a rate of a year in a year. And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen, and so it was that he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, - for whom he found place in the chariot cities, and near the king, in Jerusalem. And the king caused silver in Jerusalem to be as stones, - cedars also, caused he to be as the sycamores that are in the lowlands, for abundance. And the horses that Solomon had were, an export, out of Egypt, - and, a company of the merchants of the king, used to fetch, a drove, at a price, And a chariot came up and forth out of Egypt, for six hundred shekels of silver and a horse for a hundred and fifty, - and, so, for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means, came they forth. But, King Solomon, loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, - women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, Hittites: out of the nations concerning whom Yahweh had said unto the sons of Israel - Ye shall not go in unto them, and, they, shall not come in unto you, surely they will turn aside your heart after their gods. Unto these, did Solomon cleave in love. So it came to pass that he had seven hundred wives who were princesses, and three hundred concubines, - and, his wives, turned aside, his heart. Yea it came to pass, in the old age of Solomon, that, his wives, turned aside his heart after other gods, - his heart therefore was not sound with Yahweh his God, as was the heart of David his father. And Solomon went after Ashtoreth, goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. Thus Solomon did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - and went not fully after Yahweh, as did David his father. Then, did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, - and for Molech, the abomination of the sons of Ammon; and, thus, did he for all his foreign wives, - who burned incense and offered sacrifices unto their gods. Therefore did Yahweh shew himself angry with Solomon, - because his heart had turned aside from Yahweh God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice; and had been giving command to him concerning this thing, that he should not go away after other gods, - but he had not taken heed unto that which Yahweh had commanded. Wherefore Yahweh said unto Solomon - Forasmuch as this hath come to pass with thee, and thou hast not heeded my covenant and my statutes, which I charged upon thee, I will, rend, the kingdom away from thee, and will give it unto a servant of thine. Notwithstanding, in thine own days, will I not do it, for the sake of David thy father, - out of the hand of thy son, will I rend it. Howbeit, all the kingdom, will I not rend away, one tribe, will I give unto thy son, - for the sake of David my servant, and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen. And Yahweh raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite, - of the seed of the king, was he, in Edom. And it came to pass, when David was dealing with Edom, and Joab general of the army went up to bury the slain, - and had smitten every male in Edom, - for, six months, did Joab remain there, with all Israel, - until he had cut off every male in Edom, that Hadad fled, he and certain men of Edom of the servants of his father, with him, to go into Egypt, - Hadad being a little boy. So they arose out of Midian, and came into Paran, - and took certain men with them out of Paran, and came into Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and, food, appointed him, and, land, did give unto him. And Hadad found great favour in the eyes of Pharaoh, - so that he gave him to wife, the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. And the sister of Tahpenes bare to him Genubath his son, and Tahpenes weaned him, in the house of Pharaoh, - and so it came about, that Genubath was of the household of Pharaoh, among the sons of Pharaoh. And, when, Hadad, heard in Egypt, that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab general of the army was dead, Hadad said unto Pharaoh, Let me go, that I may take my journey unto mine own land. Then said Pharaoh unto him - But what hast thou been lacking with me, that lo! thou art seeking to take thy journey unto thine own land? And he said - Nothing, howbeit, let me go. And God raised up against him an adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, - who had fled from Hadadezer king of Zobah, his lord; and he gathered unto him men, and became captain of a band when David slew them of Zobah , - then went they to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. Thus became he an adversary unto Israel, all the days of Solomon, this, is the mischief which Hadad did, - so then, he abhorred Israel, when he reigned over Syria. Jeroboam also, son of Nebat, an Ephrathite from Zeredah, whose, mother's name, was Zeruah, a widow woman, he being servant to Solomon, lifted up a hand against the king. And, this, was the cause that he lifted up a hand against the king, - Solomon, built Millo, he closed up of the of David his father. the breach city Now, the man Jeroboam, being an able Solomon observed his servant, that he man, was, one to execute a work, so he gave him oversight of all the charge of the house of Joseph. And it came to pass, at that time, when, Jeroboam, went forth out of Jerusalem, that there met him Ahijah the Shilonite, the prophet, in the way, he having wrapped himself about with a new mantle; and, they two, were by themselves, in the field. Then Ahijah laid hold of the new mantle, that was upon him, - and rent it into twelve pieces; and said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten places, - for Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel - Behold me! about to rend the kingdom, out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give unto thee ten tribes: Howbeit, one tribe, shall he retain, - for the sake of my servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen, out of all the tribes of Israel: Because they have forsaken me, and bowed themselves down to Ashtoreth, goddess of the Zidonians, to Chemosh, god of the Moabites, and to Milcom, god of the sons of Ammon, - and have not walked in my ways, by doing what is right in mine eyes, even my statutes and my regulations, like David his father. Yet will I not take all the kingdom out of his hand, - but will suffer him to be, leader, all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose, - who kept my commandments and my statutes. But I will take the kingdom out of the hand of his son, and will give it to thee, even the ten tribes. Nevertheless, go his son, will I give one tribe, - to the end there may remain a lamp unto David my servant always before me, in Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen for myself, to put my Name there. But, thee, will I take, and thou shalt reign over all that thy soul could desire, - and thou shalt be king over Israel. So shall it be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I shall command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that which is right in mine eyes, by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as did David my servant, then will I be with thee, and will build thee an assured house, as I have built for David, and will give unto thee, Israel. Thus will I humiliate the seed of David, because of this; yet not for ever. When therefore Solomon sought to put, Jeroboam, to death, Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, - and remained in Egypt, until the death of Solomon. Now, the rest of the story of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are, they, not written in the book of the records of Solomon? Now, the days which Solomon reigned in Jerusalem, over all Israel, were forty years. So then Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father, - and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

Now, in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, began Asa to reign as king of Judah; and, forty-one years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, the name of his mother, was Maachah, daughter of Abishalom. And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - like David his father; read more.
and he put away the male devotees out of the land, - and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. Moreover also, even Maachah his mother, he removed from being queen, because she had made a monstrous thing to the Sacred Stem, - and Asa cut down her monstrous thing and burned it in the Kidron ravine. But, the high places, removed he not, - nevertheless, the heart of Asa, was blameless with Yahweh, all his days. And he brought in the hallowed things of his father, and his own hallowed things, into the house of Yahweh, - silver and gold, and vessels. And there was, war, between Asa and Baasha king of Israel, all their days. And Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, - so as not to suffer any one to come out or go in unto Asa king of Judah. So Asa took all the silver and the gold, that were left in the treasuries of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the house of the king, and delivered them into the hand of his servants, - and King Asa sent them unto Ben-hadad, son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying: Let there be a covenant between me and thee, as between my father and thy father: Lo! I have sent thee a gift, silver and gold, Come break thy covenant with Baasha, king of Israel, that he may go up from against me. So Ben-hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the generals of the forces which he had, against the cities of Israel, and smote Iyyohn Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maacah, - and all Chinneroth, against all the land of Naphtali. And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, he left off building Ramah, - and returned to Tirzah. And, King Asa, published it unto all Judah, none was exempted, so they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the beams thereof, wherewith Baasha had built, - and King Asa built therewith Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. Now, the rest of all the story of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did and the cities which he built, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? Howbeit, in the time of his old age, he was diseased in his feet. So then Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers, in the city of David his father, - and, Jehoshaphat his son, reigned, in his stead.

Then said Nathan unto David: Thou, art the man! Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel - I, anointed thee to be king over Israel, and, I, delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and gave unto thee the household of thy lord, and the wives of thy lord, into thy bosom, and gave unto thee the house of Israel and Judah. And, if this had been too little, I could have further given thee more and more of such things. Wherefore, hast thou despised the word of Yahweh, by doing that which is wicked in mine eyes? Uriah the Hittite, hast thou smitten with the sword, and, his wife, hast thou taken to thyself to wife, yea, him, hast thou slain with the sword of the sons of Ammon! read more.
Now, therefore, the sword shall not depart from thy house, unto age-abiding times, - because thou hast despised me, and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus, saith Yahweh, - Behold me! raising up over thee calamity out of thine own household, and I will take thy wives, before thine eyes, and give unto thy neighbour, and he will lie with thy wives, in the eyes of this sun. For, thou, didst it, in secret, - but, I, will do this thing, before all Israel, and before the sun.

Arise! go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria, - lo! he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he hath gone down, to take possession thereof. Then shalt thou speak unto him, saying - Thus, saith Yahweh, Hast thou committed murder, and also taken possession? Then shalt thou speak unto him, saying: Thus, saith Yahweh, In the place where the dogs have lapped up the blood of Naboth, shall the dogs lap up thy blood, even thine. Then said Ahab unto Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he said: I have found thee ! Because thou hast sold thyself to do the thing that is wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, read more.
Behold me! saith he bringing in upon thee, calamity, and I will consume after thee, - and cut off of Ahab, even the meanest, whether shut up or left at large in Israel; and will deliver up thy house - Like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, - for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked, and caused, Israel, to sin. Moreover also, concerning Jezebel, hath Yahweh spoken, saying, - The dogs, shall eat Jezebel, in the town-land of Jezreel: Him that dieth, of Ahab, in the city, shall, the dogs, eat, - and, him that dieth in the field, shall, the birds of heaven, eat.

And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him into the assembly, and made him king over all Israel, - there were none that followed the house of David, saving the tribe of Judah only.

Then Jeroboam built Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein, - and went forth from thence, and built Penuel. And Jeroboam said in his heart, - Now, shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people return unto their lord, unto Rehoboam, king of Judah, - and they will slay me, and return unto Rehoboam, king of Judah. read more.
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, - and said unto them - It is, too much for you, to go up to Jerusalem, Lo! thy gods, O Israel, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; And he set the one in Bethel, - and, the other, put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin, - and the people went before the one, as far as Dan. And he made a house of high-places, - and made priests from the whole compass of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam made a festival in the eight month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival which was held in Judah, and offered up on the altar, likewise, did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made, - and he kept in attendance in Bethel, the priests of the high-places which he had made. And he offered up on the altar which he had made in Bethel, on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month which he had devised out of his own heart, - thus made he a festival for the sons of Israel, and offered up on the altar, to make a perfume. And lo! a man of God, came in out of Judah, by the word of Yahweh, unto Bethel, - as Jeroboam was standing by the altar, to make a perfume. And he made proclamation against the altar, by the word of Yahweh, and said, O altar! altar! Thus, saith Yahweh, - Lo! a son to be born unto the house of David, Josiah his name, who shall sacrifice upon thee the priests of the high-places, who are making a perfume upon thee, and, human bones, shall be burned upon thee; and he shall give, on that day, a sign, saying, This, is the sign of which Yahweh hath spoken, - Lo! the altar, is to be rent, and the ashes that are upon thee shall be, poured out! And it came to pass, when the king heard the word of the man of God which he proclaimed against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam thrust forth his hand, from off the altar, saying - Lay hold of him! and his hand which he had thrust forth against him was dried up, that he could not draw it back to him. Moreover, the altar, was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, - according to the sign which the man of God had given, by the word of Yahweh. Then responded the king and said unto the man of God - Appease, I pray thee, the face of Yahweh thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored unto me. So the man of God appeased the face of Yahweh, and the hand of the king was restored unto him, and became as aforetime. Then spake the king unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, - and let me give thee a present. But the man of God said unto the king - If thou wouldst give me the half of thy house, I would not go in with thee, - neither would I eat bread or drink water, in this place; for, so, he charged me, by the word of Yahweh, saying, Thou shalt not eat bread, nor shalt thou drink water, - neither shalt thou come back by the way thou wentest. So he departed another way, - and went not back by the way by which he came unto Bethel. But, a certain aged prophet, was dwelling in Bethel, - whose sons came in and related to him all the deeds which the man of God had done that day in Bethel - and the words which he had spoken unto the king, and they related them to their father. And their father said unto them, Which way then went he? Now his sons had seen the way which the man of God went who had come in out of Judah. So he said unto his sons, Saddle for me, the ass. And they saddled for him the ass, and he rode thereon; and went after the man of God, and found him, sitting under an oak. And he said unto him - Art, thou, the man of God who came in out of Judah? And he said - I am. Then said he unto him, Come home with me, - and eat bread. And he said - I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee, - neither will I eat bread or drink water with thee, in this place; for there came a message unto me by the word of Yahweh, Thou shalt neither eat bread, nor drink water there, - thou shalt not turn back to come by the way by which thou wentest. And he said to him-I also, am a prophet, like unto thee, and, a messenger, hath spoken unto me, by the word of Yahweh, saying - Bring him back with thee, into thy house, that he may eat bread, and drink water. He deceived him. So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. And so it was, as, they, were sitting at the table, yea, so it was, that the word of Yahweh came unto the prophet who had brought him back; and he cried out unto the man of God who had come in out of Judah, saying, Thus, saith Yahweh, - Forasmuch as thou hast rebelled against the bidding of Yahweh, and hast not kept the commandment which Yahweh thy God commanded thee; but hast returned, and eaten bread and drunk water, in the place of which he said unto thee, Thou mayest neither eat bread nor drink water: thy dead body shall not enter the burying-place of thy fathers. And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, for the prophet whom he had brought back. And, when he had gone, there met him a lion by the way, and slew him, - and his dead body was cast out in the way, and, the ass, was standing near it, and, the lion, was standing near the dead body. And lo! certain men, passing by, saw the dead body, cast out in the way, and the lion standing near the dead body, - so they came in, and spake of it in the city, wherein, the aged prophet, dwelt. And, when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of it, he said - The man of God, it is, who rebelled against the bidding of Yahweh, - therefore did Yahweh deliver him unto the lion, and it hath torn him and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh which he spake unto him. And he spake unto his sons, saying, Saddle for me the ass. And they saddled it. So he went and found his dead body, cast out in the way, with, the ass and the lion, standing near the dead body, - the lion had neither eaten the dead body, nor had it torn the ass. And the prophet took up the dead body of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back, - and the aged prophet came into the city, to make lamentation, and to bury him. And he laid his dead body in his own grave, - and they lamented over him, saying - Alas, my brother! And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake unto his sons, saying, When I die, then shall ye bury me in the grave wherein the man of God is buried; beside his bones, lay my bones; For the message which he proclaimed, by the ward of Yahweh, against the altar which is in Bethel, - and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass. After this thing, Jeroboam turned not from his wicked way, - but again made, from the whole compass of the people, priests of high places, whomsoever he would, he installed, and he became priest of high places. And so this thing became the sin of the house of Jeroboam, - that it should be both taken away and destroyed, from off the face of the ground. At that time, fell sick, Abijah son of Jeroboam. Then said Jeroboam to his wife - Arise, I pray thee, and feign thyself another, that it be not known, that, thou, art the wife of Jeroboam, - and thou shalt go thy way to Shiloh, lo! there, is Ahijah the prophet, who promised I should be king over this people; and thou shall take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a bottle of honey, and shalt go unto him, - he, will tell thee what shall befall the young man. And the wife of Jeroboam, did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and entered the house of Ahijah, - now, Ahijah, could not see, for his eyes were fixed, by reason of his old age. But, Yahweh, had said unto Ahijah - Lo! the wife of Jeroboam, coming to enquire something of thee, concerning her son, for he is sick, thus and so, shalt thou speak unto her, - though, when she cometh in, she feign to be a stranger-woman. So it came to pass, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she entered the doorway, that he said - Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam, - wherefore, is it that thou art feigning to be a stranger-woman, seeing that, I, am sent unto thee, with something hard to bear? Go, say to Jeroboam - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the midst of the people, - and gave thee to be leader over my people Israel; and rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it to thee, - and yet thou hast 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 mine eyes; but hast made wicked thy doings beyond any who were before thee, - and hast gone and made thee ether gods, even molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast, me, behind thy back, therefore, behold me! bringing misfortune against the house of Jeroboam, and I will cut off the meanest pertaining to Jeroboam, whether shut up or left at large, in Israel, - and will consume after the house of Jeroboam, as one consumeth dung, till it be all gone: Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city, shall, the dogs, eat, and, him that dieth in the field, shall, the birds of heaven, eat, - For, Yahweh, hath spoken. Thou, therefore, arise, go to thine own house, - as thy feet are entering the city, the young man shall die. Then shall all Israel lament for him, and bury him, for, this one, pertaining to Jeroboam, shall reach a burying-place, - because there hath been found in him something good toward Yahweh, God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. Therefore will Yahweh raise up for himself a king over Israel, who will cut off the house of Jeroboam, this day, but why, even now? Therefore will Yahweh smite Israel, as a reed shaketh in water, and will root out Israel, from off this goodly soil, which he gave unto their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River (Euphrates), - because they have made their Sacred Stems, provoking Yahweh to anger: That he may deliver up Israel, - on account of the sin of Jeroboam, which he committed, and which he caused, Israel, to commit. Then arose the wife of Jeroboam, and went her way and entered Tirzah, - as, she, was coming into the entrance hall, the young man died. And, when they buried him, all Israel lamented him, - according to the word of Yahweh, which he spake through his servant Ahijah the prophet. Now, the rest of the story of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold them! written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And, the days which Jeroboam reigned, were twenty-two years, - and he slept with his fathers, and, Nadab his son, reigned, in his stead.

Then brought he forth the king's son, and set upon him the crown, and the testimony, and they made him king, and anointed him, - and clapped their hands, and said - May the king live!

Then brought they forth the king's son, and set upon him the crown and the testimony, and made him king, - and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, May the king live!

Then took Samuel a flask of oil, and poured out upon his head, and kissed him, - and said - Is it not, that Yahweh hath anointed thee over his inheritance, as leader?

And, all the rulers, and the heroes, yea moreover all the sons of King David, gave a hand, under Solomon the king.

In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, began Jehoash son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel, in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. And he did that which was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - he turned not away from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit, therein, he walked. Now, the rest of the story of Joash, and all that he did, and his might, wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? read more.
So then Joash slept with his fathers, and, Jeroboam, took his seat on his throne, - and Joash was buried in Samaria, with the kings of Israel. Now, Elisha, had fallen sick of his sickness whereof he was about to die, - so then Joash king of Israel came down unto him, and wept upon his face, and said, My father! my father! The chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. So he took unto him bow and arrows. Then said he unto the king of Israel, Let thy hand rest upon the bow. So he let his hand rest thereon. Then Elisha put his own hands upon the hands of the king; and said - Open the lattice eastward. And he opened it. Then said Elisha - Shoot! And he shot. Then he said, - The arrow of victory by Yahweh, yea the arrow of victory over Syria, therefore shalt thou smite Syria in Aphek, till it be consumed. And he said - Take the arrows. So he took them. Then said he unto the king of Israel - Smite unto the ground. So he smote three times, and then stayed. Then was the man of God wroth against him, and said - Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times, then, hadst thou smitten Syria, until it had been consumed; But, now, three times, shalt thou smite Syria. And Elisha died, and they buried him, - now, troops of Moabites, used to enter the land, at the coming in of the year; and it came to pass, as, they, were burying a man, that, lo! they saw a troop, so they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha, - and, as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he came to life again, and rose up on his feet. And, Hazael king of Syria, had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. Then was Yahweh gracious unto them, and had compassion upon them, and turned unto them, for the sake of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, - and was not willing to destroy them, nor to cast them off from his presence, as yet. So then Hazael king of Syria died; and, Ben-hadad his son, reigned, in his stead. And Jehoash son of Jehoahaz again took the cities out of the hand of Ben-hadad son of Hazael, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father, in war, - three times, did Joash smite him, and recover the cities of Israel.

Then, sent Amaziah messengers unto Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, - Come now, let us look one another in the face. And Jehoash king of Israel sent unto Amaziah king of Judah, saying, A thistle that was in Lebanon, sent unto a cedar that was in Lebanon, saying - Give thy daughter to my son to wife, - and there passed by a beast of the field that was in Lebanon, and trampled down the thistle: Thou hast, smitten, Edom, and, thy heart, would lift thee up, - Glory, and stay at home! Wherefore, then, shouldest thou contend with misfortune, and fall, thou, and Judah with thee? read more.
But Amaziah hearkened not. So then Jehoash king of Israel came up, and they looked one another in the face, he and Amaziah king of Judah, - in Beth-shemesh, which belongeth unto Judah. Then was Judah defeated before Israel, - and they fled, every man to his own home; and, upon Amaziah, king of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, did Jehoash king of Israel, seize, in Beth-shemesh, - and entered Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, at the gate of Ephraim, as far as the corner gate, four hundred cubits; and took all the gold and the silver and all the vessels that were found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasuries of the house of the king, and hostages, - and returned to Samaria. Now, the rest of the story of Jehoash, what 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? And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, with the kings of Israel, - and, Jeroboam his son, reigned, in his stead.

In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, began Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign. Twenty-five years old, was he, when he began to reign, and, sixteen years, reigned he, in Jerusalem, - and, the name of his mother, was Jerusha, daughter of Zadok. And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that Uzziah his father had done. read more.
Only, the high places, took they not away, still were the people offering sacrifice and burning incense in the high places, - he, built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh. Now, the rest of the story of Jotham, what he did, is, it, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? In those days, began Yahweh to send against Judah, Rezin, king of Syria, - and Pekah son of Remaliah. And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers, in the city of David his father, - and, Ahaz his son, reigned, in his stead.

And, over the herds that pastured in Sharon, was Shitrai, the Sharonite. And, over the herds in the vales, Shaphat, son of Adlai.

Now, in that very place, was a man of the servants of Saul, on that day, detained before Yahweh, whose name, was Doeg the Edomite, - chief of the shepherds that belonged unto Saul.

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas keeper of the vestments, she having her dwelling in Jerusalem, in the new city, - and they spake unto her.

So Hilkiah and they whom the king had named went into Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah keeper of the wardrobe, she, having her dwelling in Jerusalem, in the new city, - and they spake unto her accordingly.

Now, in the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, having been king of Judah, Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, began to reign. Thirty-two years old, was he when he began to reign, and, eight years, reigned, he in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as did the house of Ahab, for, a daughter of Ahab, became his wife, - and he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh. read more.
Yet was not Yahweh willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, - even as he promised him to give him a lamp for his sons all the days. In his days, did Edom revolt from under the hand of Judah, - and they set over them a king. So Joram passed over to Zair, and all the chariots with him, - and it came to pass that, he, arising by night, smote the Edomites that were round about unto him, and the captains of the chariots, and the people fled to their homes, Yet did Edom revolt from under the hand of Judah, unto this day, - then, revolted Libnah, at the same time. Now, the rest of the story of Joram, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers, in the city of David, - and, Ahaziah his son, reigned, in his stead.

In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel, began Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah to reign. Twenty-five years old, was he when he began to reign, and twenty-nine years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, his mother's name, was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, only, not like David his father: according to all that Joash his father did, so he did; read more.
only, the high places, took they not away, - still were the people sacrificing and burning incense in the high places. And it came to pass that, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, he smote his servants who smote the king his father; but, the sons of them that smote him, slew he not, - as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh commanded, saying - Fathers, shall not be put to death, for sons, nor shall, sons, be put to death, for fathers, but every man, for his own sin, shall be put to death. He, smote Edom, in the valley of salt, ten thousand, and seized Sela, in the war, - and called the name thereof Joktheel, as it is until this day. Then, sent Amaziah messengers unto Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, - Come now, let us look one another in the face. And Jehoash king of Israel sent unto Amaziah king of Judah, saying, A thistle that was in Lebanon, sent unto a cedar that was in Lebanon, saying - Give thy daughter to my son to wife, - and there passed by a beast of the field that was in Lebanon, and trampled down the thistle: Thou hast, smitten, Edom, and, thy heart, would lift thee up, - Glory, and stay at home! Wherefore, then, shouldest thou contend with misfortune, and fall, thou, and Judah with thee? But Amaziah hearkened not. So then Jehoash king of Israel came up, and they looked one another in the face, he and Amaziah king of Judah, - in Beth-shemesh, which belongeth unto Judah. Then was Judah defeated before Israel, - and they fled, every man to his own home; and, upon Amaziah, king of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, did Jehoash king of Israel, seize, in Beth-shemesh, - and entered Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, at the gate of Ephraim, as far as the corner gate, four hundred cubits; and took all the gold and the silver and all the vessels that were found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasuries of the house of the king, and hostages, - and returned to Samaria. Now, the rest of the story of Jehoash, what 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? And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, with the kings of Israel, - and, Jeroboam his son, reigned, in his stead. And Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, lived, after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, fifteen years. Now, the rest of the story of Amaziah, is, it, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And, when they made against him a conspiracy in Jerusalem, he fled to Lachish, - but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him, there. And they bare him on horses, - and he was buried in Jerusalem, with his fathers, in the city of David.

And it shall be that, when thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, then will I raise up thy seed after thee, which proceedeth from thine own body, - and I will establish his kingdom. He, shall build a house for my name, - and I will establish his kingly throne unto times age-abiding: I, will become his father, And, he, shall become my son: If he commit iniquity, then will I correct him, with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of men; read more.
But, my lovingkindness, shall not depart from him, - as I caused it to depart from Saul, whom I caused to depart from before thee. So shall thy house and thy kingdom be made steadfast unto times age-abiding, before thee, - thy throne, shall be established unto times age-abiding.

One thing, have I sworn by my holiness, Verily, to David, will I not lie; His seed, age-abidingly, shall remain, And, his throne, be like the sun before me; Like the moon, shall it be established unto times age-abiding, And, a witness, in the skies, hath been made sure. Selah.

God, shalt thou not revile, - and a prince among thy people, shalt thou not curse.

Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, - for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.

Now, Nadab son of Jeroboam, began to reign over Israel, in the second year of Asa king of Judah, - and he reigned over Israel, two years. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin, wherewith he caused, Israel, to sin. And Baasha son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him, and Baasha smote him in Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, - Nadab and all Israel being in siege against Gibbethon.

Now, the rest of the story of Nadab, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Now, in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, began Abijah to reign over Judah. Three years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, the name of his mother, was Maachah, daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins of his father which he had done before him, - and his heart was not blameless with Yahweh his God, like the heart of David his father. read more.
But, for the sake of David, did Yahweh his God give him a lamp, in Jerusalem, - by raising up a son of his after him, and by suffering Jerusalem to stand; because David did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him, all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. And there was, war, between Rehoboam and Jeroboam, all the days of his life. Now, the rest of the story of Abijah and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was, war, between Abijah and Jeroboam. So then Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, - and, Asa his son, reigned, in his stead.

And, Ahitophel, was counsellor to the king. And, Hushai the Archite, was the companion of the king.

And Azariah son of Nathan, over the governors, - and Zabud son of Nathan, minister, king's friend;

The kings of earth take their station, and, grave men, have met by appointment together, - against Yahweh, and against his Anointed One saying :

Then, will he speak unto them in his anger, and, in his wrath, confound them:

Thou shalt shepherd them with a sceptre of iron, - as a potter's vessel, shalt thou dash them in pieces.

then, came up Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to make war, - and they laid siege against Ahaz, but could not overcome him .

In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, began Pekah son of Remaliah to reign over Israel, in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. In the days of Pekah king of Israel, came Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali - and carried them away captive to Assyria. And Hoshea son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah, son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, - in the twentieth year of Jotham, son of Uzziah. read more.
Now, the rest of the story of Pekah, and all that he did, behold them! written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel!

Ahaziah son of Ahab, began to reign over Israel, in Samaria, in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, - and reigned over Israel, two years. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - and went in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused, Israel, to sin. Yea he served Baal, and bowed down to him, - and provoked to anger Yahweh, God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

Now, the rest of the story of Ahaziah, the things that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

And Ahishar, over the household, - and Adoniram son of Abda, over the tribute.

And Zichri a hero of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah son of the king, and Azrikam, chief ruler of the house, - and Elkanah, that was next unto the king.

and the food of his table, and the seated assembly of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers with their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he ascended unto the house of Yahweh, there was in her no more spirit.

And she said unto the king, True was the word, which I heard in my own land, - concerning thine affairs, and concerning thy wisdom.

By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.

The wrath of a king, meaneth messengers of death, but, a man who is wise, will appease it.

But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, - and they said - Nay! but, a king, shall be over us: so shall, even we, become like all the nations, - and our king shall judge us, and go forth before us, and fight our battles.

and said unto him - Lo! thou, art old, and, thy sons, walk not in thy ways: Now, appoint for us a king to judge us, like all the nations.

When a king judgeth faithfully the poor, his throne, to futurity, shall be established.

The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.

And the king made of the sandal-wood, stairs unto the house of Yahweh, and unto the house of the king, also lyres and harps, for the singers, - and there were none seen like them before, in the land of Judah.

They shall be brought, with rejoicings and exultation, - They shall enter into the palace of the king!

And, Joab, was restored unto all the army of Israel, - And, Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,

and, Benaiah, son of Jehoiadah, was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, - and, the sons of David, became, chief rulers.

The growl as of a young lion, is the rage of a king, but, like dew upon the grass, is his good pleasure.

The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.

Then said Nathan unto David: Thou, art the man! Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel - I, anointed thee to be king over Israel, and, I, delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

So he sent, and brought him in. Now, he, was ruddy, a stripling with handsome eyes, and noble mien. Then said Yahweh - Rise - anoint him, for, this, is, he.

So Jeroboam and all the people came in unto Rehoboam, on the third day, - as the king had bidden, saying - Come again unto me, on the third day.

So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying - What portion have, we, in, David. Or inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your homes O Israel! Now, see to thine own house, O David! And Israel departed to their homes.

But David said unto Abishai, Do not destroy him, - for who that hath thrust forth his hand against the Anointed of Yahweh, shall be guiltless?

And David said unto him, - How wast thou not afraid to thrust forth thy hand, to destroy the Anointed of Yahweh?

And Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people, in all that they shall say unto thee, - for, not thee, have they rejected, but, me, have they rejected, from being king over them.

Yet, ye, to-day, have rejected your God, who, himself, hath been giving you salvation from all your calamities and your distresses, and ye have said to him: A king, shalt thou set over us, - Now, therefore, present yourselves before Yahweh, by your tribes, and by your thousands.

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his relative, king in his stead, - and changed his name to Zedekiah.

And Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim son of Josiah king, instead of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, - and, Jehoahaz, took he away, so he entered Egypt, and died there.

They say - Caesar's. Then, saith he unto them - Render, therefore, the things of Caesar, unto Caesar, - and, the things of God, unto God.

For, because of this, are ye paying tribute also, - for, God's ministers of state, they are, unto this very thing, giving constant attendance. Render unto all their dues, - unto whom tribute, tribute, unto whom tax, tax, unto whom fear, fear, unto whom honour, honour.

and, out of the city, took he one courtier who himself was set over the men of war, and five men of them who were wont to see the face of the king, who were found in the city, and the scribe - general of the army, who used to muster the people of the land, - and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city;

How happy, are thy wives, how happy, are these thy servants, - who do stand before thee continually, who hear thy wisdom!

And yet, I say unto you, not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed like, one of these!

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat - I am about to disguise myself, and enter into the battle, thou, therefore, put on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and entered into the battle.

And, he, changeth times and seasons, removeth kings, and setteth up kings, - giving wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them who are skilled in understanding:

Now, therefore, lo! the king whom ye have chosen, for whom ye have asked, - lo! therefore, Yahweh hath set over you a king.

And Ahishar, over the household, - and Adoniram son of Abda, over the tribute.

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram who was over the tribute, but all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died, - King Rehoboam, therefore, hastily mounted his chariot, to flee unto Jerusalem.

And, Zadok, son of Ahitub, and Abimelech, son of Abiathar, were priests, - and, Seraiah, was scribe;

Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha, scribes, - Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud, the recorder;

Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha, scribes, - Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud, the recorder;

and, Joab, son of Zeruiah, was over the army, - and, Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was remembrancer.

And Benaiah son of Jehoiada, over the army, - and Zadok and Abiathar priests;

and, Joab, son of Zeruiah, was over the army, - and, Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was remembrancer.

And, he, changeth times and seasons, removeth kings, and setteth up kings, - giving wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them who are skilled in understanding:

Wherefore Yahweh said unto Solomon - Forasmuch as this hath come to pass with thee, and thou hast not heeded my covenant and my statutes, which I charged upon thee, I will, rend, the kingdom away from thee, and will give it unto a servant of thine.

Unto all men, give honour, unto the brotherhood, shew love, unto God, give reverence, the king, hold in honour.

Render unto all their dues, - unto whom tribute, tribute, unto whom tax, tax, unto whom fear, fear, unto whom honour, honour.

But the Lord said unto him - Be going thy way; for, a choice vessel unto me, is this man, to bear my name before both thenations and kings, and the sons of Israel;

Believest thou, King Agrippa, in the prophets? I know that thou believest! And, Agrippa, said unto Paul - Almost, art thou persuading, me, to become a, Christian!

Thus, saith Cyrus, king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth, hath Yahweh God of the heavens, given to me, - and, he himself, hath laid charge upon me, to build for him a house, in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, - and build the house of Yahweh God of Israel, (he, is God!) which is in Jerusalem; And, whosoever is left, of all the places where he doth sojourn, let the men of his place uphold him, with silver and with gold, and with goods and with beasts, - along with a voluntary offering for the house of God, which is in Jerusalem.

Then, Darius the king, issued an edict, - and they made search in the house of the books, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. And there was found in Achmetha, in the fortress which is in the province of Media, a roll, - and, thus, was it written therein, as a record: - In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king, issued an edict, as to the house of God in Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they used to offer sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be reared, - the height thereof, sixty cubits, the breadth thereof, sixty cubits; read more.
layers of large stones, three, and one layer of new timber, - and, as for the expenses, out of the house of the king, let them be given. Moreover also, the utensils of the house of God, of gold and silver, which, Nebuchadnezzar, took forth out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, let them again be taken to the temple which is in Jerusalem every one to its place, and lay them up in the house of God. Now, therefore, Tattenai pasha Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates, the Apharsachites, who are Beyond the River, - be ye far from thence: let alone the work of this house of God, - the pasha of Judah, and the elders of Judah, this house of God, shall build upon its place; And, from me, is issued an edict, as to that which ye shall do, with these elders of Judah, for the building of this house of God, - That, of the resources of the king, even the tribute Beyond the River, forthwith, the expenses be given unto these men, for they must not be hindered. And, whatever may be the need - whether young bullocks or rams or lambs for ascending-sacrifices unto the God of the heavens, wheat, salt, wine or oil, according to the command of the priests who are in Jerusalem, - that it he given to them day by day, without fail; that they may be offering sweet-smelling sacrifices unto the God of the heavens, - and be praying for the life of the king, and his sons. And, from me, is issued an edict, that, any man who shall alter this message, let timber be torn out of his house, and being lifted up let him be fastened thereunto, - and his house, a dunghill, be made for this; and, the God who hath caused his Name to dwell there, destroy any king or people, who shall put forth their hand to alter to destroy this house of God, which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued an edict, forthwith, let it be done.

Most of all, however, them who go their way, after the flesh, with a coveting of defilement, and who despise, lordship, - daring! willful! before dignitaries, they tremble not, defaming,

Doth one say to a king, Abandoned one! Or, Lawless one! unto nobles?

Most of all, however, them who go their way, after the flesh, with a coveting of defilement, and who despise, lordship, - daring! willful! before dignitaries, they tremble not, defaming,

In like manner, nevertheless, even these, in their dreamings, flesh indeed defile, while lordship they set aside, and dignities they defame.

But it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, then shall he write for himself a copy of this law upon a scroll, out of that which is before the priests the Levites: so shall it be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life, - that he may learn to revere Yahweh his God, to observe all the words of this law and these statutes to do them: that his heart may not be lifted up above his brethren, and he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, - that he may prolong his days over his kingdom - he and his sons, in the midst of Israel.

Now, Ahab son of Omri, began to reign over Israel, in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, - and Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel, in Samaria, twenty-two years. And Ahab son of Omri did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - and did more wickedly than all that were before him. And it come to pass, as though it had been too light a thing that he should walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and bowed down to him. read more.
And he reared an altar unto Baal, - in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made the Sacred Stem, - and Ahab did yet more to provoke to anger Yahweh God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him. In his days, did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho, - At the price of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and, at the price of Segub his youngest, he set up its doors, according to the word of Yahweh which he spake through Joshua son of Nun. Then said Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, unto Ahab, By the life of Yahweh, God of Israel, before whom I stand, there shall not, these two years, be either dew or rain, - save at the bidding of my word. Then came the word of Yahweh unto him, saying: Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, - and hide thyself in the ravine of Cherith, which faceth the Jordan; and it shall be that, of the torrent, shalt thou drink, - and, the ravens, have I commanded to sustain thee, there. So he went and did, according to the word of Yahweh, - yea he went and dwelt in the ravine of Cherith, which faceth the Jordan. And, the ravens, used to bring him bread and flesh, in the morning, and bread and flesh, in the evening, - and, of the torrent, used he to drink. But it came to pass, at the end of certain days, that the torrent dried up, - because there had been no rain in the land. Then came the word of Yahweh unto him, saying - Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there, - Lo! I have commanded, there, a widow woman, to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath, and, when he came to the entrance of the city, lo! there, a widow woman gathering sticks, - and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And, as she went to fetch it, he called to her and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread, in thy hand. And she said - By the life of Yahweh, thy God, verily I have not a cake, only a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse, - and lo! I have been gathering a couple of sticks, so I shall go in and make it ready for me and for my son, that we may eat it - and die! And Elijah said unto her - Do not fear, go in - make ready according to thy word, - howbeit, make me thereof a little cake, first, and bring it out to me, and, for thyself and thy son, make ready, afterwards. For, thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, The jar of meal, shall not waste, and, the cruse of oil, shall not fail, - until the day that Yahweh giveth rain upon the face of the ground. So she went and made ready, according to the word of Elijah, - and did eat, she, and he, and her house, certain days: The jar of meal, did not waste, - and, the cruse of oil, did not fail, - according to the word of Yahweh, which he spake through Elijah. And it came to pass, after these things, that the son of the woman, owner of the house, fell sick, - yea it came to pass that his sickness was very severe, until no, breath, was left in him. Then said she unto Elijah, What have I in common with thee, O man of God? Hast thou come unto me, to call to remembrance mine iniquity, and to cause the death of my son? And he said unto her - Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him unto the upper room, where, he, was staying, and laid him upon his own bed. Then cried he unto Yahweh, and said, - O Yahweh, my God! Even upon the widow with whom I am sojourning, hast thou brought misfortune by causing the death of her son? And he stretched himself out upon the boy, three times, and cried unto Yahweh, and said, - O Yahweh, my God! Let the life of this boy, I pray thee, come again within him. And Yahweh hearkened unto the voice of Elijah, - and the life of the boy came again within him, and he lived. Then Elijah took the boy, and carried him down out of the upper room, into the house, and gave him to his mother, - and Elijah said, See! thy son liveth. And the woman said unto Elijah, Now, then I know, that, a man of God, thou art, - and that, the word of Yahweh, is in thy mouth, of a truth. And it came to pass, after many days, that, the word of Yahweh, came unto Elijah, in the third year, saying, - Go, shew thyself unto Ahab, that I may send rain upon the face of the ground. And Elijah went, to show himself unto Ahab. Now, the famine, was severe in Samaria. And Ahab had called for Obadiah, who was over his house. Now, Obadiah, was one who revered Yahweh, exceedingly. And so it came to pass, when Jezebel was cutting off the prophets of Yahweh, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifties in caves, and sustained them, with bread and water. So then Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go, and let us pass throughout the land, unto all the fountains of water, and unto all the ravines, peradventure we may find grass, and save alive horse and mule, and not have more of the beasts cut off. So they divided to them the land, to pass through it, - Ahab, went one way, by himself, and, Obadiah, went another way, by himself. And so it was, as Obadiah was on the road, that lo! Elijah, met him, - and he recognised him, and fell upon his face, and said - Now art, thou, my lord Elijah? And he said to him - I, am! Go, say to thy lord: Here, is, Elijah! And he said - How have I sinned, - that, thou, art delivering thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to put me to death? By the life of Yahweh thy God, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee, and, when they have said - Nay! he hath taken an oath of the kingdom or the nation, that no one could find thee; and, now, thou, art saying, - Go say to thy lord, Here, is, Elijah; so shall it come to pass, as soon as, I, go from thee, that, the spirit of Yahweh, shall carry thee away - whither I know not, and so, when I go in to tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, then will he slay me, - and yet, thy servant, hath revered Yahweh, from my youth. Was it not told my lord, what I did when Jezebel was slaying the prophets of Yahweh, - how I hid, of the prophets of Yahweh, a hundred men - by fifties - in caves, and sustained them with bread and water? and yet, now, thou, art saying, Go, tell thy lord - Here, is, Elijah; and so he will slay me! Then said Elijah - By the life of Yahweh of hosts, before whom I stand, to-day, will I show myself unto him. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him, - and, Ahab, went to meet, Elijah. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Now, art, thou, troubling Israel? And he said - I have not troubled Israel, but, thou and the house of thy father, - in that ye have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and followed Baal. Now, therefore, send, gather unto me all Israel, unto Mount Carmel, - and the prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Sacred Stem, four hundred, who do eat at the table of Jezebel. So Ahab sent among all the sons of Israel, - and gathered the prophets unto Mount Carmel. And Elijah drew near unto all the people, and said - How long are ye limping on the two divided opinions? If, Yahweh, be GOD, follow, him, but, if, Baal, follow, him. But the people answered him, not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people - I, am left, Yahweh's, only, prophet, - but, the prophets of Baal, are four hundred and fifty men. Let there be given us, therefore, two bullocks, and let them choose for themselves one bullock, and cut it in pieces, and lay it upon the wood, but, fire, shall they not put, - then, I, will make ready the other bullock, and place upon the wood, but, fire, will I not put. Then shall ye call on the name of your god, and, I, will call on the name of Yahweh, and it shall be, the God that respondeth by fire, he, is GOD. And all the people responded - Well spoken! Then said Elijah to the prophets of Baal - Choose for yourselves one bullock, and make ye ready, first, for, ye, are many, - and call ye on the name of your god, but, fire, shall ye not put. So they took the bullock which was given them, and made ready, and called on the name of Baal - from the morning even until the noon, saying - O Baal! answer us. But them was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped about by the altar which had been made. And it came to pass, at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said - Cry with a loud voice, for, a god, he is, either he hath, a meditation, or an occasion to retire, or he hath, a journey, - peradventure, he, sleepeth, and must be awaked. And they cried, with a loud voice, and cut themselves, after their custom, with swords, and with lances, - until the blood gushed out upon them. And so it was, when noon was passed, that although they prophesied until the offering up of the evening gift, yet was there no voice nor any that answered, nor any that hearkened. Then said Elijah unto all the people: Draw near unto, me. And all the people drew near unto, him. Then repaired he the broken-down altar of Yahweh; yea Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, - unto whom the word of Yahweh came, saying - Israel, shall be thy name; and built, with the stones, an altar, in the name of Yahweh, - and he made a trench, as large as would contain two measures of seed, round about the altar; and he put in order the wood, - and cut in pieces the bullock, and laid upon the wood. Then said he - Fill four pitchers with water, and pour out upon the ascending-sacrifice, and upon the wood. And they did so. And he said - Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said - Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, - moreover also, the trench, filled he with water. And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the gift, that Elijah the prophet drew near, and said, O Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel! To-day, let it be known - That, thou, art God in Israel, and that, I, am thy servant, - and that, by thy word, have I done all these things. Answer me, O Yahweh! answer me, That this people may know, that, thou - Yahweh, art GOD, - so shalt, thou thyself, have turned their heart back again. Then fell fire from Yahweh, and consumed the ascending-sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, - even the water that was in the trench, it licked up. And, when all the people saw it, they fell upon their faces, - and said, Yahweh, he, is GOD, Yahweh, he, is GOD. And Elijah said unto them - Seize ye the prophets of Baal - let not, a man, of them escape. So they seized them. And Elijah took them down unto the ravine of Kishon, and slaughtered them there. Then said Elijah unto Ahab, Go up, eat and drink, - for there is a sound of a downpour of rain. So Ahab went up, to eat and to drink, - but, Elijah, went up to the top of Carmel, and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees. Then said he unto his young man - Go up, I pray thee, and look about in the direction of the sea. So he went up, and looked about, and said - There is, nothing whatever. Then said he - Go again, seven times. And it came to pass, at the seventh time, that he said, Lo! a little cloud, like a man's hand coming up from the sea. Then he said - Go up, say unto Ahab - Harness, and get thee down, lest the rain shut thee in. And it came to pass, meanwhile, that, the heavens, had enshrouded themselves with clouds and wind, and there came a great rain, and Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel; but, the hand of Yahweh, came upon Elijah, so he girded his loins, - and ran before Ahab, until thou enterest Jezreel. And Ahab told Jezebel, all that Elijah had done, - and withal, how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then sent Jezebel a messenger unto Elijah, saying, - So, let the gods do, and, so, let them add, if, by this time to-morrow, I make not thy life as the life of one of them. And, when he saw that , he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, - and left his servant there. But, he himself, went into the wilderness a day's journey, and came and sat down under a certain shrub, - and asked for his life, that he might die, and said - Enough, now, O Yahweh! take away my life, for, no better, am, I, than, my fathers. And, as he lay, and slept, under a certain shrub, lo! a messenger, touching him, who said to him - Rise, eat. So he looked about, and lo! at his head, a cake baked on hot stones, and a cruse of water, - and he did eat and drink, and then went back and lay down. And the messenger of Yahweh came again a second time, and touched him, and said - Rise, eat, - because, too much for thee, is the journey. So he arose, and did eat and drink, - and journeyed, in the strength of that eating, forty days and forty nights, as far as the mountain of God - Horeb. And he entered, there, into a cave, and lodged there, - and lo! the word of Yahweh came unto him, and said to him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said - Very jealous, have I been, for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the sons of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thine altars, have they thrown down, thy prophets, also have they slain with the sword, - and, I alone, am left, and they have sought my life, to take it. And he said - Go forth to-morrow, and stand in the mountain, before Yahweh. And lo! Yahweh, passing by, and a great and strong wind - rending the mountains, and breaking in pieces the crags, before Yahweh, Not, in the wind, was, Yahweh, - And, after the wind, an, earthquake, Not, in the earthquake, was, Yahweh; And, after the earthquake, a, fire, Not, in the fire, was, Yahweh, - And, after the fire, the voice of a gentle whisper. And it came to pass, when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went forth, and stood at the entrance of the cave, - and lo! unto him, a voice; and it said - What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said - Very jealous, have I been, for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the sons of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thine altars, have they thrown down, thy prophets also, have they slain with the sword, - and, I alone, am left, and they rove sought my life, to take it. And Yahweh said unto him, Go, return to thy way, towards the wilderness of Damascus, - and, when thou enterest, then shalt thou anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; And, Jehu son of Minshi, shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel, - and, Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy stead: Then shall it come to pass, that - him that escapeth the sword of Hazael, shall, Jehu, slay, - and, him that escapeth the sword of Jehu, shall, Elisha, slay; Yet will I leave remaining in Israel, seven thousand, - all knees which have not bowed to Baal, and all mouths which have not kissed to him. So he departed from thence, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, as he was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, he being with the twelfth, - so Elijah crossed over unto him, and cast his mantle towards him; and he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said - Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, that I may follow thee. And he said unto him, - Go, turn back, for what have I done to thee? So he turned back from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and sacrificed them, and, with the implements of the oxen, boiled their flesh, and gave unto the people, and they did eat, - then he arose, and followed Elijah, and ministered unto him. Now, Ben-hadad, king of Syria, had gathered together all his forces, and, thirty-two kings, were with him, and horses and chariots, - then came he up, and laid siege to Samaria, and made war against it. And he sent messengers unto Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, - Thus, saith Ben-hadad, Thy silver and thy gold, are, mine, and, thy wives and thy sons, the goodliest, are, mine. Then responded the king of Israel, and said, According to thy word, my lord O king! thine, am I, and all that I have. And the messengers came back again, and said, Thus, speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, - Because I sent unto thee, saying, Thy silver and thy gold and thy wives and thy sons, to me, shalt thou give, Therefore, about this time to-morrow, will I send my servants unto thee, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants, - and it shall be, that, all the delight of thine eyes, shall they put in their hand, and take away. Then called the king of Israel, for all the elders of the land, and said - Mark, I pray you, and see, how this man is seeking, mischief, - for he had sent unto me, for my wives, and for my sons, and for my silver, and for my gold, and I refused him not. And all the elders and all the people said unto him, - Do not thou hearken, neither do thou consent. So he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad - Say ye to my lord the king, - All that thou didst send for, to thy servant at the first, will I do, but, this thing, I cannot do. And the messengers departed, and took him back word. Then Ben-hadad sent unto him and said, - So, let the gods do to me, and, so, let them add, - if the dust of Samaria suffice by handfuls, for all the people who are at my feet. And the king of Israel responded and said: Tell him, - Let not, him that girdeth, boast himself like him, that looseneth. And it came to pass, when he heard this message, as, he, was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants - Make ready! So they made ready, against the city. And lo! a certain prophet, drew near unto Ahab king of Israel, and said, - Thus, saith Yahweh, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? Behold me! delivering it into thy hand, to-day, so shalt thou know that, I, am, Yahweh. And Ahab said - By whom? And he said - Thus, saith Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then said he - Who shall begin the war? And he said - Thou! Then numbered he the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were found to be, two hundred and thirty-two, - and, after them, he numbered all the people all the sons of Israel, seven thousand. And they went forth at noon. Now, Ben-hadad, was drinking himself drunk, in the pavilions, he and the thirty-two kings helping him. Then went forth the young men of the princes of the provinces, first, - and, when Ben-hadad sent, they told him, saying - Men, have come forth, out of Samaria. And he said - If, peaceably, they have come, take them alive, - or, if, fighting, they have come, alive, take ye them. Now, when, these, had come forth out of the city, even the young men of the princes of the provinces, - with the force which was following them, then smote they every one his man, and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, - but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on horse, with horsemen. And the king of Israel went forth, and took the horses and the chariots, - and he went on smiting the Syrians, with a great smiting. Then drew near the prophet, unto the king of Israel, and said unto him - Go strengthen thyself, and mark and see, what thou wilt do, - for, at the return of the year, is, the king of Syria, coming up against thee. And, the servants of the king of Syria, said unto him, - Gods of the mountains, are their gods, for this cause, prevailed they against us, - but, only let us fight with them in the plain, and verily we shall prevail against them. But, this thing, do, - set aside the kings, every man out of his place, and put governors in their stead; and, thou, must number thee a force, like the force which thou hast lost, both horse for horse and chariot for chariot, and, if we fight with them in the plain, verily we shall prevail against them. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so. And so it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, - and came up to Aphek, to fight with Israel; and, the sons of Israel, were numbered, and provisioned, and went to meet them, - and the sons of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, whereas, the Syrians, filled the land. Then approached the man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said - Thus, saith Yahweh - Because the Syrians have said - A god of the mountains, is Yahweh, but, not a god of the vales, is he, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude, into thy hand, so shalt thou know, that, I, am Yahweh. So they encamped, these, over against, those, seven days, - and it came to pass, on the seventh day, that the battle was joined, and the sons of Israel smote the Syrians, a hundred thousand footmen, in one day. And they who were left fled to Aphek, into the city, and the wall fell upon twenty-seven thousand men who were left, - and, Ben-hadad, fled, and came into the city, into a chamber within a chamber. And his servants said unto him, Lo! we pray thee, we have heard, of the kings of the house of Israel, that, kings known for lovingkindness, they are. Let us, we pray thee, put sackcloth upon our loins, and ropes about our head, and let us go forth unto the king of Israel, peradventure he will save alive thy soul. So they girded sackcloth upon their loins, and put ropes about their heads, and came in unto the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant, Ben-hadad, saith, - Let my soul live, I pray thee. And he said, - Is he yet alive? My brother, he is. Now, the men, could divine, so they hastened to let him confirm the word of his own accord, and they said, - Thy brother, is Ben-hadad! He said therefore, - Go fetch him. So Ben-hadad came forth unto him, and he made him come up unto him on his chariot. And he said unto him - The cities which my father took from thy father, will I restore, and, bazaars, shalt thou make thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. So then, I, with this covenant, will let thee go. So he solemnised with him a covenant, and let him go. And, a certain man of the sons of the prophets, said unto his neighbour, by the word of Yahweh - Smite me, I pray thee. But the man refused to smite him. So he said to him - Because thou hast not hearkened unto the voice of Yahweh, lo! when thou art departing from me, there shall smite thee a lion. And when he departed from beside him, a lion found him, and smote him. Then found he another man, and said, - Smite me, I pray thee. So the man smote him - kept on smiting and wounding. Then the prophet departed, and waited for the king, by the way, - and disguised himself with his turban over his eyes. And so it was, when, the king, was passing, he, cried out unto the king, - and said - Thy servant, went out in the midst of the battle, and lo! a man, turned aside and brought unto me a man, and said - Keep this man, if he be, missing, then shall, thy life, go for, his life, or, a talent of silver, shalt thou weigh out. And so it was, as thy servant was busy here and there, that, he, was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him - Such, is thy judgment, thou thyself, hast decided it. Then hastened he, and removed the turban from over his eyes, - and the king of Israel knew him, that, of the prophets, was, he. And he said unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh, Because thou hast let go the man whom I had devoted, out of thy hand, therefore shall, thy life, be instead of, his life, and, thy people, instead of, his people. And the king of Israel departed unto his house, sullen and disturbed, - and entered Samaria. And it came to pass, after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had, a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, - hard by the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. Ahab, therefore, spake unto Naboth, saying - Come! give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, for, the same, is near by my house, and let me give thee, instead thereof, a vineyard better than it, - if it be good in thine eyes, I will give thee silver to the value of this. And Naboth said unto Ahab, - Far be it from me, of Yahweh! that I should give up the inheritance of my fathers, unto thee! So Ahab came into his house, sullen and disturbed, because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken unto him, that he should have said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. So he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and did eat no food. Then came unto him Jezebel his wife, - and said unto him - Why is it, that thy spirit is sullen, that thou art, not eating food? And he said unto her - Because I spake unto Naboth, the Jezreelite, and said unto him - Come! give me thy vineyard for silver, or, if thou wouldst prefer, I will give thee a vineyard, in its stead; and he said - I will not give thee my vineyard. Then Jezebel his wife said unto him: Art, thou, still, going to carry on the kingdom over Israel? Rise! eat food, and let thy heart be merry, I, will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite! So she wrote letters, in the name of Ahab, and sealed them with his signet-ring, - and sent the letters unto the elders, and unto the nobles who were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. Now she wrote in the letters, saying, - Proclaim ye a fast, and cause Naboth to sit at the head of the people; then let two reckless men take their seats before him, that they may bear witness against him, saying, Thou hast reviled God and king! then shall ye carry him forth and stone him, that he die. So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did just as Jezebel had sent unto them, - as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them: they proclaimed a fast, - and caused Naboth to sit at the head of the people. Then came in the two reckless men, and sat before him, and the men bare witness against him, even against Naboth, before the people, saying, Naboth hath reviled God and king! So they carried him forth, outside the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. Then sent they unto Jezebel, saying, - Naboth is stoned and is dead. And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said unto Ahab - Rise! take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for silver, for Naboth is not alive, but dead! And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab arose, to go down unto the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession thereof. Then came the word of Yahweh unto Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Arise! go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria, - lo! he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he hath gone down, to take possession thereof. Then shalt thou speak unto him, saying - Thus, saith Yahweh, Hast thou committed murder, and also taken possession? Then shalt thou speak unto him, saying: Thus, saith Yahweh, In the place where the dogs have lapped up the blood of Naboth, shall the dogs lap up thy blood, even thine. Then said Ahab unto Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he said: I have found thee ! Because thou hast sold thyself to do the thing that is wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, Behold me! saith he bringing in upon thee, calamity, and I will consume after thee, - and cut off of Ahab, even the meanest, whether shut up or left at large in Israel; and will deliver up thy house - Like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, - for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked, and caused, Israel, to sin. Moreover also, concerning Jezebel, hath Yahweh spoken, saying, - The dogs, shall eat Jezebel, in the town-land of Jezreel: Him that dieth, of Ahab, in the city, shall, the dogs, eat, - and, him that dieth in the field, shall, the birds of heaven, eat. But indeed, there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to do the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - whom Jezebel his wife goaded on; so that he did very abominably, in going after the manufactured gods, - according to all which the Amorites had done, whom Yahweh dispossessed from before the sons of Israel. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, - and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. Hast thou seen that Allah hath humbled himself, before me? Because he hath humbled himself before me, I will not bring in the calamity in his days, In the days of his son, will I bring in the calamity upon his house. And there continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. But it came to pass, in the third year, that Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down unto the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that, ours, is Ramoth-gilead, - yet, we, are too idle to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria? And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to make war upon Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people are us thy people, my horses as thy horses. Then said Jehoshaphat unto the king of Israel, - Seek, I pray thee, at once, the word of Yahweh. So the king of Israel gathered together the prophets, about four hundred men, and said unto them - Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead, to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said - Go up, that the Lord may deliver it into the hand of the king. Then said Jehoshaphat, Is there not here a prophet of Yahweh, besides, - that we may seek, from him? And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Besides, is a certain man, by whom we might seek Yahweh, but, I, hate him, for he is never moved to prophesy concerning me anything good, only evil, Micaiah, son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. Then the king of Israel called a certain courtier, - and said, Hasten Micaiah son of Imlah. Now, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, were sitting - each man upon his throne, having put on robes, in a level place, at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, - and, all the prophets, were being moved to prophesy before them; when Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron, - and said - Thus, saith Yahweh, - With these, shalt thou push down the Syrians, until thou hast consumed them. And, all the prophets, were being moved to prophesy, in like manner, saying, - Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and thou shelf prosper, and Yahweh will deliver it, into the hand of the king. Now, the messenger who went to call Micaiah, spake unto him, saying, Behold, I pray thee, the words of the prophets, with one mouth, are good, as touching the king, let thy word, I pray thee, be as the word of one of them, so wilt thou speak that which is good. And Micaiah said, - By the life of Yahweh, what Yahweh saith unto me, that, will I, speak. So he came unto the king, and the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he said unto him - Go up and prosper, and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king. And the king said unto him, How many times must, I, adjure thee, - that thou speak unto me nothing but truth, in the name of Yahweh? And he said - I saw all Israel, scattered among the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd, - so Yahweh said, These have, no masters, let them return every man unto his own house, in peace. Then said the king of Israel, unto Jehoshaphat, - Did I not say unto thee, He will not be moved to prophesy concerning me anything good, only calamity. Then he said, Therefore, hear thou the word of Yahweh, - I saw Yahweh, sitting upon his throne, and all the host of the heavens, standing by him, on his right hand, and on his left. And Yahweh said, Who will persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall, at Ramoth-gilead? And, one, said in this manner, and, another, said in that manner. Then came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said - I, will persuade him. And Yahweh said unto him - Wherewith? And he said - I will go forth, and become a spirit of falsehood in the mouth of all his prophets, - So he said, - Thou mayest persuade, yea and prevail, go forth, and do so. Now, therefore, lo! Yahweh hath suffered a spirit of falsehood to be put into the mouth of all these thy prophets. But, Yahweh himself, hath spoken concerning thee, calamity. Then drew near Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, - and said - Where then passed the Spirit of Yahweh, from me, to speak unto thee? Then said Micaiah, Lo! thou art about to see, on that day, - when thou enterest a chamber within a chamber, to hide thyself. And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon captain of the city, - and unto Joash son of the king; and thou shalt say - Thus, saith the king, Put this man into the prison, - and let him eat the bread of oppression, with the water of oppression, until I enter in peace. Then said Micaiah, If thou, return, in peace, Yahweh hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you! So the king of Israel went up, with Jehoshaphat king of Judah, unto Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat - I am about to disguise myself, and enter into the battle, thou, therefore, put on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and entered into the battle. Now, the king of Syria, had commanded the captains of chariots which he had, thirty and two, saying, Ye shall not fight with small or great, - save with the king of Israel alone. And it came to pass, when the chariot-captains saw Jehoshaphat, that, they, said: Surely it is, the king of Israel! But, when they turned aside against him to fight, Jehoshaphat cried out. And it came to pass, when the chariot-captains saw that it was, not the king of Israel, that they turned back, from pursuing him. But, a certain man, drawing a bow in his innocence, smote the king of Israel, between the shoulder-joints and the coat of mail, - wherefore he said to his charioteer - Turn thy hand, and convey me out of the host, for I am sore wounded. But the battle increased that day, and, the king, was propped up in the chariot, before the Syrians, - and died in the evening, and so the blood of the wound ran out into the hollow of the chariot. And a loud cry went through the host, at the going in of the sun, saying - Every man to his own city! and every man to his own land! So the king died, and was brought into Samaria, - and they buried the king, in Samaria. And, when the chariot was washed out at the pool of Samaria, the dogs lapped up his blood, also, the harlots, bathed there , - according to the word of Yahweh which he had spoken. Now, the rest of the story of Ahab, and all that he did, and the house of ivory that he built, and all the cities that he built, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Ahab slept with his fathers, - and, Ahaziah his son, reigned, in his stead.

He too, walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, - for, his mother, became his counselor, to work lawlessness. Wherefore he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, like the house of Ahab, - for, they, became his counselors, after the death of his father, to his destruction.

And he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells, for, much cattle, had he, both in the lowland, and in the plain, - husbandmen and vinedressers, in the mountains and in the fruitful field, for, a lover of the soil, was he.

and, cities, made he for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds, in abundance, - for God had given him exceeding great wealth.

And Baasha slew him, in the third year of Asa king of Judah, - and reigned in his stead. And it came to pass, when he became king, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam, he left not remaining any breathing thing pertaining to Jeroboam, until he had destroyed him, - according to the word of Yahweh, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: for the sins of Jeroboam which he committed, and which he caused, Israel, to commit, - by his provocation wherewith he provoked to anger Yahweh God of Israel. read more.
Now, the rest of the story of Nadab, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? In the third year of Asa king of Judah, began Baasha, son of Ahijah, to reign over all Israel, in Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years. And he did that which was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he caused, Israel, to sin. Then came the word of Yahweh unto Jehu son of Hanani, against Baasha, saying: Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and gave thee to be leader over my people Israel, - and yet thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and caused, my people Israel, to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, Behold me! consuming after Baasha, and after his house, - and I will deliver up thy house, like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat: Him that dieth of Baasha in the city, shall, the dogs, eat, and, him that dieth of his in the field, shall, the birds of heaven, eat. Now, the rest of the story of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah, - and, Elah his son, reigned, in his stead. Moreover also, through Jehu son of Hanani the prophet, the word of Yahweh, came against Baasha and against his house, even because of all the wickedness that he had done in the eyes of Yahweh, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, becoming like the house of Jeroboam, - notwithstanding that he smote him.

And, over the olive-trees and the sycamore-trees that were in the lowland, was Baal-hanan the Gederite. And, over the treasuries of oil, was Joash.

And, over the vineyards, was Shimei, the Ramathite. And, over that which was in the vineyards, for the treasuries of wine, was Zabdi, the Shiphmite.

And, over the camels, was Obil, the Ishmaelite. And, over the asses, was Jehdeyahu the Meronothite.

And, over the flocks, was Jaziz, the Hagrite. All these, were rulers over the possessions that belonged to King David.

And, over the workers of the field, for the tillage of the ground, was Ezri, son of Chelub.

And, Ahitophel, was counsellor to the king. And, Hushai the Archite, was the companion of the king.

And, over the treasuries of the king, was Azmaveth, son of Adiel. And, over the treasuries in the fields, in the cities, in the villages and in the castles, was Jonathan, son of Uzziah;

And, over the treasuries of the king, was Azmaveth, son of Adiel. And, over the treasuries in the fields, in the cities, in the villages and in the castles, was Jonathan, son of Uzziah;

He suffered no man to oppress them, And reproved - for their sakes - kings!

then shalt thou take the flask of oil, and pour out upon his head, and say - Thus, saith Yahweh, I have anointed thee to be king unto Israel! Then shalt thou open the door and flee, and not tarry. So the young man went his way - the young man the prophet - unto Ramoth-gilead. And, when he came up, lo! the captains of the force, sitting, and he said - A word, have I, for thee, O captain! And Jehu said - For which, of us all? And he said, - For thee, O captain! read more.
Then rose he up and went inside, and poured out the oil upon his head, and said unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, I have anointed thee to be king unto the people of Yahweh, unto Israel; and thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy lord, - so will I avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Yahweh, at the hand of Jezebel; so shall perish all the house of Ahab, - and I will cut off to Ahab the meanest, both him that is shut up and him that is left at large, in Israel. Yea I will deliver up the house of Ahab, like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, - and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah: And, as for Jezebel, the dogs shall eat her , in the town-land of Jezreel, there being none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled. Then, Jehu, came forth unto the servants of his lord, and one said to him - Is all well? why came this madman unto thee? And he said unto them, Ye, know, the man and his message. And they said - False! pray tell, us. And he said, - Thus and thus, spake he unto me, saying, Thus, saith Yahweh, I have anointed thee to be king unto Israel. Then hasted they, and took, every man his garment, and put it under him, upon the very steps, - and blew with a horn, and said, Jehu, is king! Thus did Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspire against Joram, - when, Joram, was watching Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria. But Jehoram the king had returned to get himself healed in Jezreel, of the wounds wherewith the Syrians had wounded him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. Then said Jehu - If such is your mind, let no fugitive get forth out of the city, to go and tell it in Jezreel. So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went towards Jezreel, for, Joram, was lying there, - and, Ahaziah king of Judah, had come down to see Joram. Now, the watchman, was standing upon the tower, in Jezreel, so he saw the great company of Jehu, when he came, and said - A great company, can I see! Then said Jehoram - Take a horseman and send to meet them, that he may say - Is it peace? So the horseman went to meet him, and said - Thus, saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said - What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came up to them, but hath not turned back. Then sent he a second horseman, and he came up to them and said, Thus, saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said - What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, He came up to them, but hath not turned back, - and, the driving, is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for, with mad haste, doth he drive. Then said Jehoram, Harness! So one harnessed his chariot, - and Jehoram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went forth, each man in his chariot, yea they went forth to meet Jehu, and came upon him in the heritage of Naboth the Jezreelite. And it came to pass, when Jehoram saw Jehu, that he said - Is it peace, Jehu? And he said - What can be the peace, while thy mother Jezebel's harlotries and her incantations do so abound? Then Jehoram turned his hands, and fled, - and said unto Ahaziah - Treachery! O Ahaziah! And, Jehu, bent his bow, and smote Jehoram, between his arms, - and the arrow came out at his heart, - and he sank down in his chariot. Then said he unto Bidkar his officer, Take him up, and cast him forth, into the field-portion of Naboth the Jezreelite, - for remember, when I and thou were riding as a couple together after Ahab his father, that, Yahweh, laid upon him this doom: Surely, the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, have I lately seen, declareth Yahweh, therefore will I requite thee in this portion, declareth Yahweh. Now, therefore, take him up, and cast him forth into the portion, according to the word of Yahweh. And, Ahaziah king of Judah, saw it, and fled by the way of the garden house, - and Jehu pursued him, and said - Him also! smite him in the chariot! It was in the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Mepidgo, and died there. And his servants conveyed him in a chariot and brought him into Jerusalem, - and buried him in his sepulchre, with his fathers, in the city of David. Now it was, in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, that Ahaziah began to reign over Judah. Now, when Jehu entered Jezreel and, Jezebel, heard of it, she set her eyes in stibium, and ornamented her head, and looked forth through the lattice. So, when, Jehu, had entered in at the gate, she said, Was it peace, when Zimri slew his lord? And he lifted up his face unto the lattice, and said - Who, is with me? Who? And there looked out unto him, two or three eunuchs. And he said - Hurl her down. And they hurled her down, - and there was sprinkled of her blood - upon the wall, and upon the horses, and they trode upon her. And, when he had entered and eaten and drunk, he said - Look, I pray you, after this accursed woman, and bury her, for the daughter of a king, she is. So they went to bury her, - but found not of her - save the skull, and the feet, and the palms of the hands. Then came they back, and told him, and he said - The word of Yahweh, it is, which he spake by the hand of his servant, Elijah the Tishbite, saying - In the town-land of Jezreel, shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel! So shall the carcass of Jezebel become like heaps of dung on the face of the field, in the town-land of Jezreel: So that they cannot say, This, is Jezebel! Now, Ahab, had seventy sons in Samaria, - so Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel - the elders, and unto them who had been foster-parents for Ahab, saying: Now, therefore, when this letter cometh in unto you, there being, with you, the sons of your lord, - and, with you, the chariots and the homes, and a fortified city, and the armour, ye shall look out the goodliest and fittest of the sons of your lord, and set on the throne of his father, and ye shall do battle for the house of your lord. Then feared they very greatly, and said, Lo! two kings, stood not before him; how then, should, we, stand? So he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, and the elders, and the foster-parents sent unto Jehu, saying - Thy servants, we are! and, all that thou shalt say unto us, will we do, - we will make no man king, whatsoever is good in thine own eyes, do! Then wrote he unto them a second letter, saying - If, mine, ye are, and, unto my voice, ye intend to hearken, take ye the heads of the men who are sons of your lord, and come in unto me about this time to-morrow, in Jezreel. Now, the sons of the king, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who had been bringing them up. And it came to pass, when the letter reached them, that they took the sons of the king, and slew them, seventy persons, - and put their heads in baskets, and sent unto him to Jezreel. And there came in a messenger and told him, saying, They have brought in the heads of the sons of the king. And he said - Lay ye them in two heaps, at the entrance of the gate, until the morning. And it came to pass, in the morning, that he went out and took his stand, and said unto all the people, Righteous, are, ye! Lo! I, conspired against my lord, and slew him, but, who, smote, all these? Know ye, then, that there shall fall nought of the word of Yahweh, to the ground, which Yahweh spake concerning the house of Ahab, - but, Yahweh, hath done that which he spake through his servant Elijah. Then Jehu smote all that were left remaining unto the house of Ahab, in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his acquaintances and his priests, - until there was not left remaining to him, a survivor. Then arose he, and came in, and departed for Samaria, - the sheep-shearing house itself being on the road; so, Jehu, lighted upon the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are, ye? And they said - Brethren of Ahaziah, are, we; so we came down to salute the sons of the king, and the sons of the queen. Then said he, - Take them alive. So they took them alive, and slew them casting them into the pit of the shearing house, - forty-two men, neither left he remaining a man of them. Then departed he from thence, and lighted on Jehonadab son of Rechab coming to meet him, and he blessed him, and said unto him - Is thy heart, right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab said - It is. Then, if it is, give me thy hand. So he gave him his hand. And he took him up to him, into the chariot; and said - Do come with me, and see my jealousy for Yahweh. So he made him ride in his chariot. And, when he came into Samaria, he smote all that were left remaining unto Ahab, in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, - according to the word of Yahweh, which he had spoken unto Elijah. Then Jehu gathered together all the people, and said unto them, - Ahab, served Baal, a little, - Jehu, will serve him, much. Now, therefore, all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests, call ye for me; do not let, a man, be missing; for, a great sacrifice, have I, to Baal, no one that is missing, shall live. But, Jehu, acted, craftily, to the end he might destroy the servants of Baal. And Jehu said - Hallow ye a solemn festival unto Baal. And they made proclamation. And Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal came in, so that there was not left remaining a man, who had not come in, - and they entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled, from door to door. Then said he to him who was over the wardrobe chamber, Bring forth vestments for all the servants of Baal. And he brought forth for them the vestments. Then entered Jehu, with Jehonadab son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, - and he said unto the servants of Baal - Search ye and see, that there be not here, with you, any of the servants of Yahweh, none but the servants of Baal, alone. And, when they entered to offer sacrifices and ascending-offerings, Jehu, set him, outside, eighty men, and said - The man who shall escape, of the men whom I am bringing into your power, his own life, shall be for, his life. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the ascending-sacrifice, that Jehu said to the runners and to the officers - Enter, smite them, let not, a man, get out. So they smote them, with the edge of the sword, - and the runners and the officers cast them out, and then went as far as the city of the house of Baal, and brought forth the idolatrous pillars that were in the house of Baal, and then burned it; and they brake down the pillars of Baal, - and brake down the house of Baal, and appointed it for a sewer-house - until this day. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. Nevertheless, as for the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit, Jehu turned not away from following them, - the calves of gold, one being in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And Yahweh said unto Jehu: Because thou hast done well, by doing that which was right in mine eyes - according to all that was in my heart, hast done to the house of Ahab, sons, of thine, unto the fourth generation, shall sit upon the throne of Israel. But, Jehu, took not heed to walk in the law of Yahweh God of Israel, with all his heart, - he turned not away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he caused, Israel, to commit. In those days, began Yahweh to make inroads in Israel, - and Hazael smote them in all the boundaries of Israel; from the Jordan, towards sunrise, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, - from Aroer, which is by the torrent of Arnon, both Gilead and Bashan. Now, the rest of the story 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? And Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, - and, Jehoahaz his son, reigned, in his stead. Now, the days that Jehu reigned over Israel, were twenty-eight years, in Samaria.

Neither shall he multiply to himself wives, that his heart turn not aside, - nor silver and gold, shall he multiply to himself greatly.

Neither shall he multiply to himself wives, that his heart turn not aside, - nor silver and gold, shall he multiply to himself greatly.

Moreover he shall not multiply to himself horses, neither shall he cause the people to return to Egypt that he may multiply horses, - when, Yahweh, hath said unto you, Ye shall not again return this way any more.

so shall it be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life, - that he may learn to revere Yahweh his God, to observe all the words of this law and these statutes to do them:

so shall it be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life, - that he may learn to revere Yahweh his God, to observe all the words of this law and these statutes to do them:

thou shalt, set, over thee as king, him whom Yahweh thy God shall choose, - out of the midst of thy brethren, shalt thou set over thee a king, thou mayest not appoint over thee a man that is a foreigner, who is not thy brother.

Is it not wheat harvest, to-day? I will cry unto Yahweh, that he may give forth thunderings and rain, - know ye then and see, that, your wrong, is great which ye have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking for yourselves, a king. So Samuel cried unto Yahweh, and Yahweh gave forth thunderings and rain, on that day, - and all the people greatly feared Yahweh, and Samuel. And all the people said unto Samuel - Pray for thy servants, unto Yahweh thy God, and let it not be that we die, - For we have added, to all our sins, a wrong, in asking for ourselves a king. read more.
Then said Samuel unto the people - Do not fear, ye, have done all this wrong, - nevertheless, do not turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh, with all your heart;

In the fifteenth year of Amaziah, son of Joash, king of Judah, began Jeroboam, son of Joash, king of a Israel, to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - he turned not away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit. He, restored the boundary of Israel, from the entering in of Hamath, unto the sea of the waste plain, - according to the word of Yahweh, God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher. read more.
For Yahweh saw the humiliation of Israel, that it was bitter, indeed, - and that there was no one shut up, nor any one left at large, no one indeed to help Israel. Neither had Yahweh spoken, to wipe out the name of Israel from under the heavens, - so he saved them, by the hand of Jeroboam son of Joash. Now, the rest of the story of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might when he warred, and how he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, with the kings of Israel, - and, Zechariah his son, reigned, in his stead.

In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, began Pekahiah son of Menahem to reign over Israel, in Samaria, and he reigned two years. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - he turned not away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit. And there conspired against him - Pekah son of Remaliah, a hero of his, and smote him in Samaria, in the citadel of the house of a king, with Argob and with Arieh, and, with him, fifty men of the sons of the Gileadites, - and he slew him, and reigned in his stead. read more.
Now, the rest of the story of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold them! written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel!

Shallum the son of Jabesh, began to reign, in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah, king of Judah, - for the space of a month in Samaria. Then came up Menahem son of Gadi, from Tirzah, and entered Samaria, and smote Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, - and slew him, and reigned in his stead. Now, the rest of the story of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold them! written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel!

Then, Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the boundaries thereof, from Tirzah, because they opened not, therefore he smote them, - all the women therein that were with child, he ripped up. In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, began Menahem son of Gadi to reign over Israel, ten years reigned he , in Samaria. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - he turned not away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit, all his days. read more.
Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, so Menahem gave unto Pul, a thousand talents of silver, - that his hands might be with him, to confirm the kingdom, in his hand. And Menahem exacted the silver of Israel, of all the mighty men of wealth, to give to the king of Assyria, fifty shekels of silver, of each man, - so the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there, in the land. Now, the rest of the story of Menahem, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? And Menahem slept with his fathers, - and, Pekahiah his son, reigned in his stead.

In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, began Omri to reign over Israel and he reigned twelve years: in Tirzah, reigned he six years. And he bought the hill Samaria, of Shemer, for two talents of silver, - and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer lord of the hill - Samaria. And Omri did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - and did more wickedly than all who were before him; read more.
yea he walked in all the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he caused, Israel, to sin, - provoking to anger Yahweh, God of Israel, with their vanities. Now, the rest of the story of Omri, what he did, and his might that he shewed, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, - and, Ahab his son, reigned, in his stead.

Now, Jehoram son of Ahab, began to reign over Israel, in Samaria, in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, - and he reigned twelve years. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, only, not like his father, nor like his mother, - but he put away the pillars of Baal which, his father, had made; nevertheless, unto the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat which he caused Israel to commit, he did cleave, - he turned not away therefrom read more.
Now, Mesha king of Moab, was a sheep-master, - and used to render to the king of Israel, the wool of hundred thousand fat sheep, and of a hundred thousand rams. And it came to pass, when Ahab died, that the king of Moab revolted against the king of Israel. So King Jehoram went forth, on that day, out of Samaria, and numbered all Israel. And he departed, and sent unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying - The king of Moab, hath revolted against me, wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said - I will go up, I am as thou art, my people are as thy people, my horses as thy horses. And he said - Which way, then, shall we go up? And he said - The way of the wilderness of Edom. Then departed the king of Israel, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, and went round, a journey of seven days, - and there was no water for the host, nor for the cattle that went with them. Then said the king of Israel - Alas! for Yahweh hath called these three kings, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. So Jehoshaphat said - Is there not, here, a prophet of Yahweh, that we may enquire of Yahweh, from him? Then answered one of the servants of the king of Israel, and said, Here, is Elisha son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah. Then said Jehoshaphat, The word of Yahweh, is with him. So the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, went down unto him. And Elisha said unto the king of Israel - What have I and thou in common? get thee unto the prophets of thy father, and unto the prophets of thy mother. But the king of Israel said to him - Nay! for Yahweh hath called together these three kings, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. Then said Elisha - By the life of Yahweh of hosts, before whom I stand, were it not that, the countenance of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would lift up, I would neither look at thee, nor see thee. But, now, bring me one that can touch the strings. For it used to be, when the player touched the strings, then would, the hand of Yahweh, be upon him. Then said he, Thus, saith Yahweh, Make, in this torrent-bed, pits, pits! For, thus, saith Yahweh - Ye shall not see wind, and ye shall not see rain, yet, that torrent-bed, shall be filled with water, - And ye shall drink, ye, and your cattle, and your beasts; And, this being a small thing in the eyes of Yahweh, he will deliver Moab into your hand; And ye shall smite every strong city, and every choice city, and, every goodly tree, shall ye fell, and, all fountains water, shall ye close up, - and, every goodly heritage, shall ye mar with stones. And it came to pass, in the morning, when the offering ascended, that lo! waters, were coming in from the way of Edom, - and the land was filled with the water. Now, all Moab, had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, - so they came together, from all who could gird on a girdle and upwards, and took their stand at the border. And, when they rose early in the morning, the sun, shone forth upon the waters, - and so the Moabites beheld over against them, the waters, red as blood. They said therefore - Blood, - this! Destroyed! The kings have destroyed each other! Yea they have smitten every man his neighbour, - Now, then, to the spoil, O Moab! And, when they came into the camp of Israel, Israel arose and smote Moab, and they fled from before them, - so they entered thereinto, yea still farther entered Moab; And, the cities, they pulled down, and, on every goodly heritage, they cast every man his stone, and filled it, and, all fountains of waters, they closed up, and, every goodly tree, they felled, and, though they left the stones thereof in Kir-haraseth, yet the slingers surrounded and smote it. And, when the king of Moab saw that, the battle, prevailed against him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through against the king of Edom, but they could not. So he took his firstborn son who was to have reigned in his stead, and offered him up as an ascending-sacrifice upon the wall. And so it came to pass that there was great indignation against Israel. And they brake up from against him, and returned to their own land. Now, a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets, made outcry unto Elisha, saying - Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and, thou, knowest that, thy servant, was one who revered Yahweh, - now, the creditor, hath come to take my two boys to himself as bondmen. And Elisha said unto her - What shall I do for thee? tell me what thou, hast, in the house. And she said - Thy maid-servant hath, nothing at all, in the house, save a flask of oil. And he said - Go, ask thee vessels, from without, of all thy neighbours, - empty vessels, let them not be few. And, when thou hast come in, then shalt thou shut the door behind thee and behind thy sons, and shalt pour out into all these vessels, - and, that which is full, shalt thou set aside. So she went out from his presence, and shut the door behind her, and behind her sons, - they bringing near to her, and she pouring out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son - Bring me a vessel more. And he said unto her - There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then came she in, and told the man of God, and he said - Go, sell the oil, and pay thy creditor, - and, thou and thy sons, shall live of the rest. And so it was, on a day, that Elisha passed over unto Shunem, where was a woman of position, and she constrained him to eat bread, - and so it came about, whensoever he passed that way, that he turned aside thither, to eat bread. Then said she unto her husband, Lo! I pray thee - I perceive that, a holy man of God, he is, - passing our way continually. I pray thee, let us make a little upper chamber on the wall and set for him there - a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a lampstand, - so shall it be, when he cometh to us, that he can turn in thither. And it came to pass, on a day, that he came thither, - so he turned aside into the upper chamber, and slept there. Then said he unto Gehazi, his young man, Call this Shunammitess. And he called her, and she stood before him. And he said to him - I pray thee, say unto her - Lo! thou hast cared for us with all this anxious care, what can be done for thee? Is it, that we should speak for thee, unto the king, or unto the general of the army? But she said, In the midst of mine own people, do, I, dwell. So he said, What then can be done for thee? And Gehazi said, Verily, she hath no, son, and, her husband, is, old. And he said - Call her. So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. Then said he - At this season, about the time of spring, thou, shalt be embracing a son. And she said - Nay! my lord, thou man of God, do not delude thy maid-servant. And the woman conceived, and bare a son, at this season, about the time of spring, when Elisha, had spoken unto her. And, when the child was grown, it came to pass, on a certain day, that he went out unto his father, unto the reapers; and he said unto his father - My head! my head! So he said unto the young man, Carry him to his mother. And, when he had carried him, and brought him in unto his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, - and shut him in, and then went out. And she called unto her husband, and said - Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, - that I may run unto the man of God, and return! And he said - Wherefore art thou going unto him, to-day, neither new moon nor sabbath? And she said - Peace! Then saddled she the ass, and said unto her young man - Lead on, and go forward, - do not slacken, for my sake, the riding, except I have bidden thee. So she went her way, and came unto the man of God, unto Mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her, opposite, that he said unto Gehazi young man, Lo! this Shunammitess! Now, run, I pray thee, to meet her, and say to her - Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she said, Well! But, when she came unto the man of God, on the mount, she caught hold of his feet, - and Gehazi drew near to thrust her away, when the man of God said - Let her alone! for, her life, is embittered to her, howbeit, Yahweh, hath hidden it from me, and hath not told me. Then said she, Did I ask a son, of my lord? Said I not, Thou must not mislead me? And he said to Gehazi - Gird thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way, if thou meet with any man, thou must not bless him, and, if any man bless thee, thou must not respond to him, - then shalt thou lay my staff upon the face of the boy. But the mother of the boy said, By the life of Yahweh and by the life of thine own soul, I will not leave thee. So he arose and followed her. Now, Gehazi, had passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the boy, but there was neither voice, nor attention, - so he returned to meet him, and told him, saying - The boy hath not awaked. And, when Elisha had come into the house, lo! the boy, was dead, laid upon his bed. So he went in, and shut the door upon them two, - and prayed unto Yahweh. Then gat he up, and lay upon the child, and put his own mouth upon his mouth, and his own eyes upon his eyes, and his own hands upon his hands, and bowed himself upon him, - and the flesh of the child, waxed warm. Then retraced he, and walked in the house - once to and fro, and then went up and bowed himself upon him, - and the boy sneezed as many as seven times, and the boy opened his eyes. Then called he Gehazi, and said - Call this Shunammitess. So he called her, and, when she was come in unto him, he said - Take up thy son. So she came in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, - and took up her son, and went forth. Now, Elisha, returned to Gilgal, and there was, a famine, in the land, and, the sons of the prophets, being seated before him, he said to his young man - Put on the large pot, and boil a mess of food, for the sons of the prophets. And one went out into the field, to gather herbs, and found a vine in the field, and gathered thereof wild gourds, his lap full, and came in, and sliced them into the pot; for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat, - and it came so pass, as they were eating of the mess, that, they, made outcry and said - Death in the pot, O man of God! And they could not eat. And he said - Then fetch meal. And he cast it into the pot, - and then said - Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot. And, a man, came in from Baal-Shalisha, and brought for the man of God firstfruit bread, twenty barley loaves, and garden grain in the husk thereof. And he said - Give to the people, that they may eat. But his attendant said - How can I set this before a hundred men? And he said - Give to the people, that they may eat, for, Thus, saith Yahweh, They are about to eat and to leave remaining. So he set before them, and they did eat and left remaining, according to the word of Yahweh. Now, Naaman, general of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man in presence of his lord, and held in honour, because, by him, had Yahweh given deliverance to Syria, - and, the man, was a hero of valour - but , a leper. Now, the Syrians, had gone out in companies, and had brought back out of the land of Israel, a little maiden, - who became an attendant on the wife of Naaman. And she said unto her mistress, Ah! would that my lord were before the prophet, who is in Samaria! then, would he set him free from his leprosy. And he went in and told his lord, saying, - Thus and thus, hath spoken the maiden who is of the land of Israel! And the king of Syria said - Go, get in, that I may send a letter unto the king of Israel. So he went, and took in his hand ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. And he brought in the letter unto the king of Israel, saying, Now, therefore, when this letter cometh in unto thee, lo! I have sent unto thee, Naaman my servant, and thou shalt set him free from his leprosy. And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am, I, God, to kill and to make alive, that, this, man is sending unto me, to set one free from his leprosy, - but, of a truth, just mark, I pray you, and see, that he, is seeking an occasion, against me. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent unto the king, saying - Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come, I pray thee, unto me, that he may get to know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came, with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the entrance of the house of Elisha; and Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, - Go and bathe seven times in the Jordan, so shall thy flesh come back to thee, and be thou clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, - and said - Lo! I thought, Unto me, will he, come right out, and take his stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand towards the spot, and so set free the leper. Are not, Abanah and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not bathe, in them, and be clean? So he turned, and went away in a rage. Then drew near his servants, and spake unto him, and said - My father! if, some great thing, the prophet had commanded thee, wouldst thou not have done it? then, how much rather, when he hath said unto thee, Bathe and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself in the Jordan, seven times, according to the word of the man of God: and his flesh came back, as the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned unto the man of God, he and all his company; and came, and took his stand before him, and said - Lo! I pray thee - I know that there is no God in all the earth, save in Israel, - now, therefore, I pray thee, accept a blessing from thy servant. But he said - By the life of Yahweh, before whom I stand, I will not accept one. And, though he urged him to accept it, yet did he refuse. Then said Naaman, Shall there not, then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant, two mules' burden of earth? For thy servant will henceforth offer neither ascending-offering nor sacrifice to other gods, save only to Yahweh. In this thing, Yahweh grant forgiveness to thy servant, - When my lord entereth the house of Rimmon, to bow down therein, he leaning upon my hand, and so I bow down in the house of Rimmon, when he boweth down in the house of Rimmon, Yahweh, I pray, grant forgiveness to thy servant, in this thing. And he said unto him - Go and prosper! But, when he had gone from him some distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said - Lo! my lord, hath restrained, this Naaman the Syrian, by not taking at his hand that which he brought! By the life of Yahweh, verily, I will runs after him, and accept of him, something. So Gehazi hastened after Naaman. And, when Naaman saw one running after him, he alighted from his chariot to meet him, and said, - Is all well? And he said, All is well. My lord, hath sent me to say, Lo! just now, have come unto me, two young men out of the hill country of Ephraim, of the sons of the prophets, - give for them, I pray thee, a talent, of silver, and two changes of raiment. And Naaman said, Be content, accept two talents. So he urged him, and bound up two talents of silver in two bags, and two changes of raiment, and laid them upon two of his young men, and they bare them before him. And, when he came to the hill-tower, he took them from their hand, and put them in charge within, - and let the men go, and they departed. Now, when, he, came in and stood before his lord, Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, - Thy servant hath been neither hither nor thither. Then he said unto him - My heart, had not gone with thee, when someone turned again from off his chariot, to meet thee! Is it a time to accept silver, or to accept raiment, or oliveyards, or vineyards, or flocks or herds, or men-servants, or maid-servants? The leprosy of Naaman, therefore, shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed, to times age-abiding. And he went forth from before him - a leper - like snow. And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, - See, we pray thee, the place wherein we sit before thee, is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, as far as the Jordan, and fetch from thence every man a single beam, and let us make us a place wherein we may sit. And he said - Go ye. Then said one - Be content, we pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he said - I myself, will go. So he went with them, - and, when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. And it came to pass, as one was felling a branch, that, the axe-head, fell into the water, so he made outcry and said - Alas! my lord, for, it, was borrowed! And the man of God said - Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a piece of wood and cast it in thither, and the iron did swim. And he said - Take it up to thee. So he put forth his hand, and took it. Now, the king of Syria, was making war against Israel, - so he took counsel with his servants, saying - In such and such a place, shall be my encampment. The man of God, therefore, sent unto the king of Israel, saying - Beware of passing by this place, - for, thither, are the Syrians coming down. So the king of Israel sent unto the place whereof the man of God had spoken to him and warned him, and was on his guard there, - not once nor twice Then was the heart of the king of Syria disquieted concerning this thing, - and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not tell me, who of our men are for the king of Israel? Then said one of his servants, None, my lord O king, - but, Elisha, the prophet, who is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words which thou speakest in thy bed-chamber. And he said - Go, and see where he is, that I may send and take him. And it was told him, saying - Lo! in Dothan. Therefore sent he thither - horses and chariots, and a strong force, - and they came in by night, and encompassed the city. And, when the attendant of the man of God arose early and went forth, lo! a force surrounding the city, with horses and chariots. Then said his young man unto him - Alas! my lord, what shall we do? And he said - Do not fear, - for, more, are, they who are with us, than, they who are with them. Then prayed Elisha, and said, O Yahweh! open, I beseech thee, his eyes, that he may see. And Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and lo! the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire, round about Elisha. And, when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto Yahweh, and said - Smite, I beseech thee, this people, with sudden blindness. And he smote them with sudden blindness, according to the word of Elisha. Then Elisha said unto them - This, is not the way, neither is, this, the city, follow me, that I may lead you unto the man, whom ye would secure! So he led them to Samaria. And it came to pass, when they had entered Samaria, that Elisha said, O Yahweh! open the eyes of these men, that they may see! And Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw, and lo! they were in the midst of Samaria! Then said the king of Israel unto Elisha, when he saw them, - Shall I smite - shall I smite, my father? And he said - Thou shalt not smite. Them whom thou hadst taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow, wouldst, thou, have been smiting? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go their way unto their lord. And he made for them a great feast, and, when they had eaten and drunk, he let them go, and they went their way unto their lord. So then, troops of Syrians came again, no more, into the land of Israel. But it came to pass, after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered together all his host, - and came up and laid siege against Samaria. And there came to be, a great famine, in Samaria, and lo! they continued the siege against it, - until an ass's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and one pint of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. And so it was that, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman, made outcry unto him, saying - Save, my lord, O king! And he said - If Yahweh do not save thee, whence should I save thee? out of the threshing-floor or out of the wine-press? And the king said to her - What aileth thee? And she said - This woman, said unto me - Give thy son, that we may eat him, to-day, and, my son, will we eat to-morrow. So we cooked my son, and did eat him, - and I said unto her, on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him; But she had hid her son. And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes, while yet he was passing by upon the wall, - so the people looked, and lo! sackcloth upon his flesh, within. And he said - So, let God do to me, and, so, let him add, - if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remain on him, to-day! Now, Elisha, being seated in his house, and, the elders, seated with him, - when he had sent a man from before him, ere yet the messenger could come in unto him, he himself, said unto the elders - Do ye see how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away my head? See! when the messenger is coming in, close ye the door, and press him back with the door, is not the sound of his lord's feet behind him? While yet he was speaking with them, lo! the messenger, coming down unto him, - and he said, - Lo! this, is a calamity from Yahweh, why should I wait for Yahweh, any longer? Then said Elisha - Hear ye the word of Yahweh, - Thus, saith Yahweh - About this time to-morrow, a measure of fine meal for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then the officer on whose hand the king leaned responded to the man of God, and said, Even if Yahweh were making windows in the heavens, could this thing, come to pass? And he said - Lo! thou, art about to see it with thine own eyes, but, thereof, shalt thou not eat! Now there were, four men, lepers, at the entrance of the gate, - and they said one to another - Why are, we, sitting here until we are dead? If we say - Let us enter into the city, Then, the famine, is in the city, and we shall die there, and, if we remain here, then shall we die. Now, therefore, let us fall away unto the camp of the Syrians, if they save us alive, we shall live, and, if they put us to death, we shall die. So they rose up in the twilight, to enter into the camp of the Syrians, - and, when they entered the outskirts of the camp of the Syrians, lo! there was not there, a man. Now, the Lord, had caused the camp of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, noise of horses, a noise of a great host, - and they said one to another - Lo! the king of Israel hath hired against us - the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come against us. So they arose, and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, - the camp, just as it was, - and fled for their lives. When, therefore, these lepers came in as far as the outskirts of the camp, they entered into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried from thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went away and hid them, - and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried from thence - and went and hid them. Then said they one to another - Not a right thing, are, we, doing. This day, is, a day of good tidings, and, we, are holding our peace, if we tarry until the light of the morning, there will come upon us, some misfortune, - Now, therefore, come and let us go in, and tell the household of the king. So they came in and called unto the gate of the city, and told them, saying, We entered into the camp of the Syrians, and lo! there was not there, a man, nor sound of human being, - only horses tied, and asses tied, and their tents, just as they were! And the watchers of the gate called and told it to the household of the king, within. Then arose the king by night, and said unto his servants, Let me tell you, I pray you, what the Syrians have done to us, - they knew that we were, famished, so they have gone forth out of the camp, to hide in the field, saying, When they come forth out of the city, then shall we take them alive, and, into the city, will we enter. Then responded one of his servants, and said - Let there be taken, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which have been left therein, there they are, according to all the multitude of Israel who have been left therein, there they are, according to all the multitude of Israel, who have been consumed, - and let us send and see! So they took two chariots and horses, - and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see! And they followed them as far as the Jordan, and lo! all the way, was full of garments, and utensils, which the Syrians had cast away in their fright, - and the messengers returned, and told the king. Then went the people forth and spoiled the camp of the Syrians, - and so there came to be - a measure of fine meal for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of Yahweh. Now, the king, had set the officer on whose hand he leaned, in charge over the gate, and the people trode upon him in the gate, that he died, - as spake the man of God, who said it when the messenger came down to him. Yea it came to pass, as the man of God had spoken unto the messenger, saying, - Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine meal for a shekel, shall there be about this time to-morrow, in the gate of Samaria: And when the officer responded to the man of God, and said, Lo! then, if Yahweh were making windows in the heavens, could it be according to this word? And he said, - Lo! thou art about to see it with thine own eyes, but, thereof, shalt thou not eat. Yea it fell out to him, thus, - and the people trode upon him in the gate, that he died. Now, Elisha, had spoken unto the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying - Arise, and take thy journey, thou and thy household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn, for Yahweh hath called for a famine, moreover also, it is coming upon the land seven years. So the woman arose, and did according to the word of the man of God, - and took her journey, she and her household, and she sojourned in the land of the Philistines, seven years. And it came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines, - and she went forth to make outcry unto the king, concerning her house and concerning her field. Now, the king, was speaking unto Gehazi, servant of the man of God, saying, Do recount unto me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done. And so it was, just as he was recounting to the king how he had restored the dead to life, lo! the woman whose son he had restored to life, began making outcry unto the king, for her house and for her field. Then said Gehazi, My lord, O king! this, is the woman, and, this, her son, whom, Elisha, restored to life. So the king asked the woman, and she recounted it to him, - the king, therefore, appointed her a certain officer, saying - Restore all that was hers, and all the increase of the field, from the day she left the land, even until now. And Elisha came into Damascus, when Ben-hadad king of Syria, was sick, - and it was told him, saying, The man of God hath come as far as this place. So the king said unto Hazael - Take in thy hand a present, and go to meet the man of God, - so shalt thou enquire of Yahweh, from him, saying, Shall I recover from this sickness? So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present in his hand, even every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, - and came, and stood before him, and said - Thy son, Ben-hadad king of Syria, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Shall I recover from this sickness? And Elisha said unto him, Go, say to him, Thou shalt, recover; And yet Yahweh hath shown me, that he will, die. And he settled his countenance, and fixed it until he turned pale, - and the man of God, wept. Then said Hazael, Why, is my lord, weeping? And he said - Because I know what thou wilt do to the sons of Israel, by way of harm - Their fortresses, thou wilt set on fire, and, their choice young men, with the sword, thou wilt slay, and, their children, thou wilt dash in pieces, and, their women with child, thou wilt rip up. And Hazael said, But what is thy servant - the dog - that he should do this great thing? And Elisha said, Yahweh hath shown thee unto me, as king over Syria. So he departed from Elisha, and came in unto his lord, who said to him, What said, Elisha, unto thee? And he said. He told me thou wouldst, recover. But it came to pass on the morrow, that he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it over his face, that he died, - and, Hazael, reigned, in his stead. Now, in the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, having been king of Judah, Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, began to reign. Thirty-two years old, was he when he began to reign, and, eight years, reigned, he in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as did the house of Ahab, for, a daughter of Ahab, became his wife, - and he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh. Yet was not Yahweh willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, - even as he promised him to give him a lamp for his sons all the days. In his days, did Edom revolt from under the hand of Judah, - and they set over them a king. So Joram passed over to Zair, and all the chariots with him, - and it came to pass that, he, arising by night, smote the Edomites that were round about unto him, and the captains of the chariots, and the people fled to their homes, Yet did Edom revolt from under the hand of Judah, unto this day, - then, revolted Libnah, at the same time. Now, the rest of the story of Joram, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers, in the city of David, - and, Ahaziah his son, reigned, in his stead. In the twelfth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel, did Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah, begin to reign. Two and twenty years old, was Ahaziah when he began to reign, - and, one year, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and, his mother's name, was Athaliah, daughter of Omri, king of Israel; And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, like the house of Ahab, - for, son-in-law of the house of Ahab, was, he. And he went with Joram son of Ahab, to make war against Hazael king of Syria, in Ramoth-gilead, - and the Syrians wounded Joram. So Joram the king returned to get healed in Jezreel, from the wounds wherewith the Syrians had wounded him in Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria, - and, Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he, was sick. Now, Elisha the prophet, called one of the sons of the prophets, - and said to him - Gird up thy loins, and take this flask of oil in thy hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead; and, when thou art come in thither, then look thee out, there, Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi; and thou shalt enter and get him to rise up out of the midst of his brethren, and take him into an inner chamber; then shalt thou take the flask of oil, and pour out upon his head, and say - Thus, saith Yahweh, I have anointed thee to be king unto Israel! Then shalt thou open the door and flee, and not tarry. So the young man went his way - the young man the prophet - unto Ramoth-gilead. And, when he came up, lo! the captains of the force, sitting, and he said - A word, have I, for thee, O captain! And Jehu said - For which, of us all? And he said, - For thee, O captain! Then rose he up and went inside, and poured out the oil upon his head, and said unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, I have anointed thee to be king unto the people of Yahweh, unto Israel; and thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy lord, - so will I avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Yahweh, at the hand of Jezebel; so shall perish all the house of Ahab, - and I will cut off to Ahab the meanest, both him that is shut up and him that is left at large, in Israel. Yea I will deliver up the house of Ahab, like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, - and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah: And, as for Jezebel, the dogs shall eat her , in the town-land of Jezreel, there being none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled. Then, Jehu, came forth unto the servants of his lord, and one said to him - Is all well? why came this madman unto thee? And he said unto them, Ye, know, the man and his message. And they said - False! pray tell, us. And he said, - Thus and thus, spake he unto me, saying, Thus, saith Yahweh, I have anointed thee to be king unto Israel. Then hasted they, and took, every man his garment, and put it under him, upon the very steps, - and blew with a horn, and said, Jehu, is king! Thus did Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspire against Joram, - when, Joram, was watching Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria. But Jehoram the king had returned to get himself healed in Jezreel, of the wounds wherewith the Syrians had wounded him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. Then said Jehu - If such is your mind, let no fugitive get forth out of the city, to go and tell it in Jezreel. So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went towards Jezreel, for, Joram, was lying there, - and, Ahaziah king of Judah, had come down to see Joram. Now, the watchman, was standing upon the tower, in Jezreel, so he saw the great company of Jehu, when he came, and said - A great company, can I see! Then said Jehoram - Take a horseman and send to meet them, that he may say - Is it peace? So the horseman went to meet him, and said - Thus, saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said - What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came up to them, but hath not turned back. Then sent he a second horseman, and he came up to them and said, Thus, saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said - What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, He came up to them, but hath not turned back, - and, the driving, is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for, with mad haste, doth he drive. Then said Jehoram, Harness! So one harnessed his chariot, - and Jehoram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went forth, each man in his chariot, yea they went forth to meet Jehu, and came upon him in the heritage of Naboth the Jezreelite. And it came to pass, when Jehoram saw Jehu, that he said - Is it peace, Jehu? And he said - What can be the peace, while thy mother Jezebel's harlotries and her incantations do so abound? Then Jehoram turned his hands, and fled, - and said unto Ahaziah - Treachery! O Ahaziah! And, Jehu, bent his bow, and smote Jehoram, between his arms, - and the arrow came out at his heart, - and he sank down in his chariot. Then said he unto Bidkar his officer, Take him up, and cast him forth, into the field-portion of Naboth the Jezreelite, - for remember, when I and thou were riding as a couple together after Ahab his father, that, Yahweh, laid upon him this doom: Surely, the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, have I lately seen, declareth Yahweh, therefore will I requite thee in this portion, declareth Yahweh. Now, therefore, take him up, and cast him forth into the portion, according to the word of Yahweh.

Where the word of a king is, there is power, - who then may say to him, What wouldst thou do?

And, the profit of the earth, is, for all, - a king, by the field, is served.

These, with the Lamb, will make war; and, the Lamb, will overcome them, because he is, Lord of lords, and King of kings, - and, they who are with him, are called and chosen and faithful.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink, Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.

In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, began Zechariah son of Jeroboam to reign over Israel, in Samaria, and he reigned six months. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, as did his fathers, - he turned not away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit. Then conspired against him, Shallum son of Jabesh, and smote him before the people, and slew him, - and reigned in his stead. read more.
Now, the rest of the story of Zechariah, behold it! written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. That, was the word of Yahweh, which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons, to four generations, shall sit on the throne of Israel. And it was so!

In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, began Elah son of Baasha to reign over Israel, in Tirzah, and he reigned two years. Then conspired against him his servant Zimri, captain of half the chariots, - as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk, in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah. And Zimri went in, and smote him and slew him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, - and reigned in his stead. read more.
And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he smote all the house of Baasha, he left him not even the meanest, - neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, - according to the word of Yahweh which he spake unto Baasha, through Jehu the prophet; as to all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, - wherewith they sinned, and wherewith they caused, Israel, to sin, provoking to anger Yahweh God of Israel, with their vanities. Now, the rest of the story of Elah, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Then conspired against him his servant Zimri, captain of half the chariots, - as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk, in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah. And Zimri went in, and smote him and slew him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, - and reigned in his stead.

I exhort, therefore, first of all, that there be made - supplications, prayers, intercessions, thankgivings, in behalf of all men, In behalf of kings, and all them who are, in eminent station; in order that, an undisturbed, and quiet life, we may lead, in all godliness and gravity:

Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed. Open thy mouth - judge righteously, - and administer justice for the poor and the needy.

But lo! Saul, came in, following the oxen, out of the field, and Saul said, What aileth the people, that they should weep? Then were recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God came suddenly upon Saul, when he heard these words, - and his anger raged furiously. So he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent throughout all the bounds of Israel by the hand of messengers - saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul, and after Samuel, so, shall it be done unto his oxen. Then felt the dread of Yahweh, upon the people, and they came forth, as one man.

Now, therefore, hearken to their voice, - save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will reign over them. So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking of him, a king. And he said, This, will be the manner of the king who will reign over you, - Your sons, will he take and appoint for himself, as his charioteers and as his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots; read more.
and he will appoint for himself, princes of thousands, and princes of fifties, - and to plough his fields, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war, and the instruments of his chariots; And, your daughters, will he take, - as perfumers and as cooks, and as bakers; And, your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, will he take, and give to his servants; And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers and to his servants; And, your men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, - and put them to his work; Your flocks, will he tithe, - and, ye yourselves, shall become his servants. Then will ye make outcry, in that day, because of your king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, - and Yahweh will not answer you, in that day.

So all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul king there, before Yahweh, in Gilgal, and offered there sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh, - and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there, exceedingly.

And, Solomon, had twelve governors over all Israel, who used to sustain the king and his household, - for a month in the year, was it appointed unto each one, to find sustenance. And, these, are their names, Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-deker, in Makaz and in Shaalbim and Beth-shemesh, - and Elon-beth-hanan; read more.
Ben-hesed, in Arubboth, - to him, pertaineth Socoh, and all the land of Hepher; Ben-abinadab, all the height of Dor, - Taphath daughter of Solomon, had he to wife; Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach, and Megiddo, - and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean as far as Abel-meholah, as far as over against Jokmeam; Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead, - to him, belonged the towns of Jair, son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, his, was the region of Argob which is in Bashan, sixty great cities, with walls and with bars of bronze; Ahinadab son of Iddo, towards Mahanaim; Ahimaaz, in Naphtali, - moreover, he, took Basemath daughter of Solomon, to wife; Banna son of Hushai, in Asher and in Aloth; Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar; Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin; Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, - the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, being, the one governor, that was in the land.

When a ruler giveth heed to the word of falsehood, all his attendants, become lawless.

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, began Hosea son of Elah to reign in Samaria, over Israel, and he reigned nine years. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - only, not like the kings of Israel who were before him. Against him, came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria, - and Hoshea became his servant, and rendered him a present. read more.
Then found the king of Assyria, in Hosea, a conspiracy, in that he had sent messengers unto So king of Egypt, and had not brought up a 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. And the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, - yea he came up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, did the king of Assyria capture Samaria, and carried Israel away captive to Assyria, - and settled them in Halah, and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and the mountains of Media.

In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, began Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, to reign over Israel, in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - and went after the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat which he caused, Israel, to commit, he departed not therefrom. Then was kindled the anger of Yahweh against Israel - and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad son of Hazael, continually. read more.
And Jehoahaz appeased the face of Yahweh, - and Yahweh hearkened unto him, because he had seen the oppression of Israel, for that, the king of Syria, oppressed them. So Yahweh gave unto Israel a saviour, and they went forth from under the hand of Syria, - and the sons of Israel dwelt in their own homes, as aforetime. Howbeit they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam which he caused, Israel, to commit, therein, they walked, - moreover also, the Sacred Stem, still stood in Samaria. For he had not left remaining unto Jehoahaz a people, save only fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen, - for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like dust in threshing. Now, the rest of the story 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? So then Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, - and, Joash his son, reigned, in his stead.

And Absolom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, - When ye hear the sound of the horn, then shall ye say, Absolom hath become king in Hebron!

And, Solomon, had twelve governors over all Israel, who used to sustain the king and his household, - for a month in the year, was it appointed unto each one, to find sustenance. And, these, are their names, Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-deker, in Makaz and in Shaalbim and Beth-shemesh, - and Elon-beth-hanan; read more.
Ben-hesed, in Arubboth, - to him, pertaineth Socoh, and all the land of Hepher; Ben-abinadab, all the height of Dor, - Taphath daughter of Solomon, had he to wife; Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach, and Megiddo, - and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean as far as Abel-meholah, as far as over against Jokmeam; Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead, - to him, belonged the towns of Jair, son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, his, was the region of Argob which is in Bashan, sixty great cities, with walls and with bars of bronze; Ahinadab son of Iddo, towards Mahanaim; Ahimaaz, in Naphtali, - moreover, he, took Basemath daughter of Solomon, to wife; Banna son of Hushai, in Asher and in Aloth; Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar; Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin; Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, - the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, being, the one governor, that was in the land.

And David came in unto Saul, - and stood before him, - and he loved him greatly, and he became his armour-bearer.

The delight of kings, are lips of righteousness, - and, the words of uprightness, he loveth.

Seest thou a man prompt in his business? before kings, shall he stand, he shall not stand before men who are obscure.

An oracle, is on the lips of a king, in giving sentence, his mouth must not be unfaithful.

A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.

A deep chasm, is the mouth of strange women, he with whom Yahweh is indignant, falleth there.

The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.

The good-pleasure of a king, is due to a servant who is discreet, but, his indignation, shall be against him that bringeth shame.

Revere thou Yahweh, my son, and the king, and, with the fickle, have thou no fellowship;

Then Samuel declared unto the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a scroll, and laid it up before Yahweh. And Samuel sent away all the people, every man to his own house.

A leader, may lack intelligence, yet abound in oppressions, The hater of greed, shall lengthen out days.

A leader, may lack intelligence, yet abound in oppressions, The hater of greed, shall lengthen out days.

In the multitude of a people, is the majesty of the king, but, in the ceasing of population, is the ruin of the prince.

and from - Jesus Christ, - The Faithful Witness, The Firstborn of the Dead, and The Ruler of the Kings of the Earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us out of our sins with his blood, -

besides the tribute of the subjugated, and of the travelling merchants, - and of all the kings of Arabia, and the pashas of the land.

Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.

Unseemly in an unworthy man, is the lip of excellence, much more, in one of noble mind, the lip of falsehood.

Then conspired against him, Shallum son of Jabesh, and smote him before the people, and slew him, - and reigned in his stead.

And, Adonijah son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying - I, will be king. Therefore prepared he for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. Now his father had not displeased him all his days, by saying - Why, thus, hast thou done? Moreover also, he, was of exceeding handsome appearance, and, him, did his mother bear, after Absolom. So then he had speech with Joab, son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, - and they gave help, following Adonijah.

Then came up Menahem son of Gadi, from Tirzah, and entered Samaria, and smote Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, - and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

Now, Nadab son of Jeroboam, began to reign over Israel, in the second year of Asa king of Judah, - and he reigned over Israel, two years.

And Baasha son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him, and Baasha smote him in Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, - Nadab and all Israel being in siege against Gibbethon.

So Omri, and all Israel with him, went up from Gibbethon, - and laid siege against Tirzah.

And he walked in all the way of Asa his father, he turned not aside therefrom, - doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh: nevertheless, the high places, were not taken away, - still were the people offering sacrifices and burning incense in the high places.

And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that Uzziah his father had done.

And David reigned over all Israel, - and so it was that David used to execute justice and righteousness for all his people;

And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - like David his father;

A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.

The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.

Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.

Now, therefore, ye kings, show your prudence, Be admonished, ye judges of earth: Serve Yahweh with reverence, and exult with trembling: Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish by the way, for soon might be kindled his anger, - How happy are all who seek refuge in him!

Said the God of Israel, Unto me, spake the Rock of Israel: - One Ruling over Men, A Righteous One, ruling in the reverence of God,

By me, kings reign, and dignitaries decree righteousness;

Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;

So all the elders of Israel came unto the king, in Hebron, and King David solemnised to them a covenant in Hebron, before Yahweh, - and they anointed David to be king over Israel.

Thus did Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspire against Joram, - when, Joram, was watching Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.

And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that, David his father, did.

And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside, to the right hand or to the left.

And, kings, shall be, thy foster-fathers. And their queens, thy nursing mothers, With face to the ground, shall they bow down to thee, The dust of thy feet, shall they lick, - So shalt thou know that, I, am Yahweh, In that, they shall not be put to shame, Who were waiting for me.

and said unto him - Lo! thou, art old, and, thy sons, walk not in thy ways: Now, appoint for us a king to judge us, like all the nations.

and keep the observances of Yahweh thy God, by walking in his ways, by keeping his statutes, his commandments, and his regulations and his testimonies, as written in the law of Moses, - to the end thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself;

So that, he who rangeth himself against the authority, against the arrangement of God opposeth himself, and, they who oppose, shall unto themselves a sentence of judgment receive.

So that, he who rangeth himself against the authority, against the arrangement of God opposeth himself, and, they who oppose, shall unto themselves a sentence of judgment receive.

I might give thee a king in mine anger, and take him away in my wrath.

Not a king, can be saved by greatness of force, nor, hero, deliver himself by greatness of strength:

Let, every soul, unto protecting authorities be in subjection; for there is no authority save by God, and, they that are in being, have by God been arranged, -

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, -- Tis thine honour and thy majesty;

Yea, with the strength of a king - justice, he loveth, - Thou, hast established equity, Justice and righteousness in Jacob, thou, hast wrought.

If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.

Then, Nebuchadnezzar - with anger and wrath, gave word to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, then, these men, brought they before the king.

The growl as of a young lion, is the rage of a king, but, like dew upon the grass, is his good pleasure.

The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.

For this cause, the king, was provoked and exceedingly indignant, - and gave word to destroy all the wise men of Babylon;

Who then is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master hath appointed over his household, to give them food in season?

The growl as of a young lion, is the rage of a king, but, like dew upon the grass, is his good pleasure.

In the light of a king's countenance, is life, and, his good-pleasure, is like the cloud of harvest-rain.

Many, seek the face of a ruler, but, from Yahweh, is the sentence of each one.

In behalf of kings, and all them who are, in eminent station; in order that, an undisturbed, and quiet life, we may lead, in all godliness and gravity:

Now it came to pass, in those days, that there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, for all the inhabited earth to be enrolled:

The runners that rode on the swift steeds used in the king's service, went forth, being urged forward and pressed on, by the word of the king, - and, the edict, was given in Shusan the palace.

So it came to pass, when the king's command and decree was heard, and there had been gathered together many maidens unto Shusan the palace, unto the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the house of the king, unto the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women;

From before me, is appointed a decree that, throughout every dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and withdraw falteringly from before the God of Daniel, - for that, he, is the Living God, and abiding for ages, and, his kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed, and, his dominion, is unto the end:

Therefore do I make a decree, that, whosoever of any people, race, or tongue it be that shall charge any error upon the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and, his house, into a dunghill, shall be changed; because there is no other God, who is able to deliver, like this!

Then brought he forth the king's son, and set upon him the crown, and the testimony, and they made him king, and anointed him, - and clapped their hands, and said - May the king live!

So all the elders of Israel came unto the king, in Hebron, and King David solemnised to them a covenant in Hebron, before Yahweh, - and they anointed David to be king over Israel.

Then brought they forth the king's son, and set upon him the crown and the testimony, and made him king, - and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, May the king live!

So all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul king there, before Yahweh, in Gilgal, and offered there sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh, - and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there, exceedingly.

And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him into the assembly, and made him king over all Israel, - there were none that followed the house of David, saving the tribe of Judah only.

And the word reached unto the king of Nineveh, so he arose from his throne, and laid aside his robe from off him, - and covered him with sackcloth, and sat on ashes.

And, on an appointed day, Herod, putting on royal apparel, and seating himself upon the tribunal, proceeded to deliver an oration unto them.

Now, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, were sitting - each man upon his throne, having put on robes, in a level place, at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, - and, all the prophets, were being moved to prophesy before them;

And the king made a great throne of ivory, - and overlaid it with gold from Uphaz.

And he took the captains of hundreds and the Carian bodyguard, and the runners, and all the people of the land, and they brought down the king out of the house of Yahweh, and they came, by way of the gate of the runners, into the house of the king, - and he took his seat on the throne of the kings;

If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.

Then, Nebuchadnezzar - with anger and wrath, gave word to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, then, these men, brought they before the king.

The growl as of a young lion, is the rage of a king, but, like dew upon the grass, is his good pleasure.

The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.

For this cause, the king, was provoked and exceedingly indignant, - and gave word to destroy all the wise men of Babylon;

but, as to the Son, - Thy throne, O God, is unto times age-abiding, and - A sceptre of equity, is the sceptre of his kingdom,

I see One, who is not now, I observe One, who is not nigh, - There hath marched forth a Star out of Jacob. And arisen a Sceptre out of Israel, That hath dishonoured the beard of Mesh, Yea the crown of the head of all the tumultuous;

All the servants of the king, and the people of the provinces of the king, do know, that, whatsoever man or woman shall go in unto the king - into the inter court - who hath not been called, one, is his law, to put him to death, saving any to whom the king may hold out the golden sceptre, who then shall live, - but, I, have not been called to go in unto the king, these thirty days.

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the commanders staff a from between his feet, - Until that he come in as a Shiloh, And, his, be the obedience of the peoples:

Broke hath Yahweh the staff of the lawless, - The sceptre of despots;

Who then is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master hath appointed over his household, to give them food in season?

The growl as of a young lion, is the rage of a king, but, like dew upon the grass, is his good pleasure.

In the light of a king's countenance, is life, and, his good-pleasure, is like the cloud of harvest-rain.

Many, seek the face of a ruler, but, from Yahweh, is the sentence of each one.

when the daughter of this very Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those reclining together, and, the king, said unto the damsel - Ask me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee;

Then said the king unto Esther, during the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, that it may be granted thee? - and what is thy request - -unto the half of the kingdom - that it may be performed?

Then said the king unto Esther, on the second day also, during the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, Queen Esther, that it may be granted thee? and what is thy request - unto the half of the kingdom - that it may be performed?

even as I sware unto thee by Yahweh, God of Israel, saying, Assuredly, Solomon thy son, shall become king after me, yea, he, shall sit upon my throne, in my stead, even so, will I do this day.

Then said the king unto Esther the queen, In Shusan the palace, have the Jews slain and caused to perish five hundred men, and the ten sons of Haman, - in the rest of the provinces of the king, what have they done? What, then, is thy petition, that it may be granted thee? and what is thy request further, that it may he performed?

and Baalath, and all the store cities which pertained to Solomon, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, - and every delight of Solomon which he delighted to build in Jerusalem, and in the Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.

So they set over them chiefs of tribute, to the end they might humiliate them with their burdens, - and they built store-cities for Pharaoh, even Pithom and Raamses.

also all the store cities, which Solomon had, and the cities for chariots, and the cities for horsemen, - and the desire of Solomon that he was pleased to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land that he ruled over.

and he built Tadmor, in the wilderness, - and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath;

If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.

Then, Nebuchadnezzar - with anger and wrath, gave word to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, then, these men, brought they before the king.

The growl as of a young lion, is the rage of a king, but, like dew upon the grass, is his good pleasure.

The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.

For this cause, the king, was provoked and exceedingly indignant, - and gave word to destroy all the wise men of Babylon;