92 Bible Verses about Kings

"Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin: him shalt thou anoint to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked upon my people and their cry is come unto me."

The trees went to anoint a king over them, and said unto the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there, to be king over Israel. And then blow ye with a trumpet and say, 'God save king Solomon.'

And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, "As surely as the LORD liveth, which hath delivered my soul out of all adversities: him that told me how that Saul was dead, thinking to have brought me good tidings, I caught and slew in Ziklag, to give him a reward for his tidings-bringing. And how much more ought I to deal with wicked men that have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? Now therefore think ye that I will not require his blood of your hands and take you from the earth?" read more.
And David commanded his young men, and they slew them and cut off their hands and their feet and hanged them up by the pole in Hebron. And they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

And the king said, "Do even as he hath said: smite him and bury him, and take away the blood which Joab shed, causeless, from me and from the house of my father.

Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, "God do so to me and so thereto if Adonijah have not spoken this word against himself.

And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and smote him that he died.

Then said the king unto his footmen that stood about him, "Turn and slay the priests of the LORD, both because their hand is with David and because they knew when David fled and showed it not to me." But the servants of the king would not move their hands, to run upon the priests of the LORD. Then said the king to Doeg, "Turn thou and smite the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned and ran upon the priests, and slew that same day four score and five persons that did wear each man a linen ephod.

And as for barley and straw for the horses and beasts they brought unto the places where the officers were, every man in his office.

And the king sat him down after the old manner, in his seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. Nevertheless, yet Saul said nothing at all that day. For he thought, 'Something has chanced him that he is not clean.' But on the morrow which was the second day of the moon, when David's place appeared empty, Saul said unto Jonathan his son, "Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor today?"

And David said, "Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan's sake and will restore thee all the fields of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat meat on mine own table always." And the other bowed himself and said, "What is thy servant that thou shouldst vouchsafe to look upon such a dead dog as I am?" Then the king called unto Ziba, Saul's young man, saying unto him, "I give unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his kin. read more.
See therefore that thou and thy sons and thy servants till the land for him, and bring in, that thy master's son may have food to eat. For Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat meat always upon my table." For this Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, "All that my lord hath said unto his servant, thy servant shall do." "For," said the king, "Mephibosheth must eat upon my table, as one of the king's sons." This Mephibosheth had a son that was young named Mica, and all that dwelled in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate ever at the king's table, and was thereto halt on both legs.

And the king said unto Barzillai, "Come thou with me, that I may feed thee with me in Jerusalem."

And Solomon's food was in one day thirty quarters of manchet flour and three score quarters of meal; ten stalled oxen, and twenty out of the pastures and a hundred sheep and goats, besides harts, bucks and buballs and fat poultry.

And brought him every man his present, vessels of silver and of gold, and of raiment, harness, sweet odours, horses and mules, year by year.

and went into the house, and found the child with Mary his mother, and knelt down, and worshipped him: and opened their treasures, and offered unto him gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh.

And she came to Jerusalem with a mighty great multitude of Camels that bare sweet odours and gold exceeding much, and precious stones. And when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

And the king of Syria said, "Go thy way, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel." And he went and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiments.

And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of sweet odours exceeding much, and precious stones. There came never after such abundance of sweet odors as the Queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

he chose him three thousand men out of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and Mount Bethel, and a thousand with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the people he sent, every man to his own house.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

Instead of which, king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and put them in the keeping of the captains of his guard which waited in the gate of the king's house.

was the gloriousest of thirty: but attained not unto the three. And David made him of his secret counsel.

And the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute silver. And thereto the Arabians brought him of sheep, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river throughout all the land of the Philistines unto the borders of Egypt, and they brought presents and served Solomon all days of his life.

even the children of them, which were left after them in the land, and were not consumed of the children of Israel - them did Solomon make tributaries unto this day.

For he ruled in all the regions on the other side Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza and also over all the kings on the other side the said Euphrates. And he had peace with all his servants on every side. And Judah and Israel dwelt without fear, every man under his vine and under his fig tree from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah and was forty one years old when he began to reign, and reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah an Ammonite. And Judah wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD and angered him above all that their fathers did, with their sin which they sinned. For they also made them hill altars and images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree. read more.
And thereto there was a stews of male children in the land, and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. And the fifth year of king Rehoboam came Shishak king of Egypt up to Jerusalem, and took away the treasure of the house of the LORD, and the treasure of the king's house and all that was to be had. And he took away the shields of gold which Solomon made. In whose stead, king Rehoboam made brazen shields and put them in the keeping of the captains of the guard which waited at the door of the king's house. And as oft as the king went in to the house of the LORD, they of his guard bare them, and ever brought them again into the guard chamber. The rest of the acts of king Rehoboam and all he did, are written in the book of Acts of the kings of Judah. And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their lives. And Rehoboam laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonite. And Abijam his son reigned in his room.

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and four score thousands of chosen men and good warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, and to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. Then came the word of God unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, "Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the remnant of the people and say, read more.
'Thus sayeth the LORD: Go not, nor yet fight against your brethren the children of Israel, but return every man to his house, for this doing is of the LORD.'" And they obeyed the word of the LORD and returned and departed according to the word of the LORD.

so that Rehoboam reigned over no more of the children of Israel than dwelt in the cities of Judah. Then king Rehoboam sent to them Hadoram that was over the tribute, and the children of Israel stoned him with stones that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed and gat him up in his chariot to fly to Jerusalem. And so Israel departed from the house of David unto this day. read more.
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin to the number of nine score thousand choice men of war to fight with Israel, for to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, "Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel that are in Judah, and to Benjamin, and say, 'Thus sayeth the LORD. Go not nor fight with your brethren: But return every man to his house, for this thing is done of me.'" And they obeyed the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built strong cities in Judah: as Bethlehem, Etam and Tekoa; Bethzur, Socoh and Adullam; Gath, Mareshah and Ziph; Adoraim, Lachish and Azekah; Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron: Which were the strong cities of Judah and Benjamin. And when he had repaired such strong cities, he put captains in them and store of victuals, and of oil and wine. And he ordained in all cities shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And so Judah and Benjamin were under him. And the priests and Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him, out of all their coasts. Insomuch that the Levites left their suburbs and possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from ministering unto the LORD. And he ordained him priests of hill altars - both to field devils and also to the calves which he had made. And after them came there men out of all the tribes of Israel, which gave over their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel, and came to Jerusalem to offer unto the LORD God of their fathers. And so they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon mighty three years long - for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, which bare him children: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. And after her, he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom which bare him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. But Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines for he took eighteen wives and three score concubines, and begat three score daughters and twenty eight sons. And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maacah the chief ruler among his brethren, for to make him king. And he played wisely and scattered of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin in every strong city. And he gave them abundance of victuals, and asked many wives. And when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and made it strong, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him; wherefore, the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak the king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD, with twelve hundred chariots and three score thousand horsemen. And the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, with them of Libya, and the Sukkiims and the black Moors. And they took the strong cities that were in Judah and came to Jerusalem. Then came Shemaiah the Prophet to Rehoboam and to the lords of Judah that were gathered to Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Ye have left me, and therefore will I leave you also in the hands of Shishak.'" Whereupon the lords of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The LORD is righteous." And when the LORD saw that they submitted themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah saying, "They have humbled themselves, and therefore I will not destroy them. But I will deliver them somewhat, and my wrath shall not fall upon Jerusalem. Neverthelater, they shall be his servants, to know what the difference is between my service and the service of the kingdoms of other lands." And Shishak king of Egypt came to Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and shortly he took all. And he took also the shields of gold which Solomon made. Instead of which, king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and put them in the keeping of the captains of his guard which waited in the gate of the king's house. And as oft as the king went to the house of the LORD, the guard went and fetched them, and brought them again unto the guard chamber. And so because he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, and destroyed not all together. And thereto there were many good things yet in Judah. And king Rehoboam waxed mighty in Jerusalem and reigned. And Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he was made king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonite. And he did evil: for he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are written in the sayings of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer of visions - so much as his genealogy, and the perpetual war that was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam during their life. And Rehoboam laid him to sleep with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there, to be king over Israel. And then blow ye with a trumpet and say, 'God save king Solomon.'

Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as ye hear the voice of the trumpet blow, say, 'Absalom reigneth king in Hebron.'"

And when she saw the king stand by a pillar - as the manner was - and the singers and the trumpets by the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing, and the blowing of the trumpets, she rent her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!"

And they hasted and took every man his mantle and put under him, on a high bench at the top of the steps, and blew a trumpet and said, "Jehu is king."

And the other bowed himself and said, "What is thy servant that thou shouldst vouchsafe to look upon such a dead dog as I am?"

And they told the king, saying, "Here cometh Nathan the prophet." And when he was come before the king, he made obeisance unto the king upon his face unto the ground,

And when Saul was up out of the cave and gone away, David arose and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, "My lord king!" And Saul looked behind him. And David stooped to the earth and bowed himself,

And Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself and blessed the king and said, "Now thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in the sight of my lord the king in that he hath fulfilled the request of his servant."

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a flacket of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

But the children of Belial said, "How shall he save us?" And despised him and brought him not presents. And he made as though he had not heard it.

And there they were with David three days eating and drinking: for their brethren prepared for them. Moreover, they that were nigh to them, as Issachar, Zebulun and, Naphtali, brought bread on asses, camels, mules and oxen, and meat: flour, figs, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep abundantly. For there was mirth in Israel.

The twelfth year of Jehoram son of Ahab, king of Israel, did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and reigned one year in Jerusalem; 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 that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: for he was a son-in-law to the house of Ahab. read more.
And Jehoram the son of Ahab went to war with Hazael king of Syria, at Ramoth in Gilead, and the Syrians wounded him. Wherefore king Jehoram went back again, to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramoth, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram of son of Ahab in Jezreel because he was sick.

And Jehu rode and went to Jezreel: for Jehoram lay there, and Ahaziah king of Judah was come to Jehoram. And the watchmen that stood on the tower in Jezreel spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company." And Jehoram said, "Take a horseman and send against them, and let him ask whether it be peace." And there went one on horseback against him and said, "Thus sayeth the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What hast thou to do with peace? Turn, and come after me." And the watchman told, saying, "The messenger came to them but he cometh not again." read more.
Then he sent out another on horseback, which came to them and said, "Thus sayeth the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What hast thou to do with peace? Turn, and come after me." And the watchman told, saying, "He came to them, but he cometh not again, and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he driveth as he were mad." Then said Jehoram, "Make ready." And they made ready his chariot. And Jehoram king of Israel, and Ahaziah king of Judah, went out either in his chariot against Jehu, and met him in the furlong of Naboth the Jezreelite. And when Jehoram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace Jehu?" And he said, "What peace should there be, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so great?" And Jehoram turned his hand and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "There is treason, Ahaziah!" And Jehu took a bow in his hand and smote Jehoram between the shoulders, that the arrow came out at his breast. And he fell down three fold in his chariot. Then he said to Bidkar, a lord of his, "Take and cast him in the plot of ground of Naboth the Jezreelite. For I remember as I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, how the LORD spake these words against him: 'I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and of his sons,' said the LORD, 'and I will quite him in this ground,' sayeth the LORD. Now therefore take him and cast him in the plot of ground according to the word of the LORD." And when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw that, he fled the way to the garden house. And Jehu followed after him and said, "Smite him also." And they smote him in his chariot at the going up to Gur by Ibleam; and he fled to Megiddo, and there died. And his servants carried him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David. Ahaziah reigned over Judah in the eleventh year of Jehoram son of Ahab.

And the inhabiters of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: For the men of war that came with the Arabians in the host had slain all his elder sons. And so Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah, was made king. Two and forty years old was he when he began to reign, and reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. And he walked also in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor for to do evil. read more.
Wherefore he did that displeased the LORD like to the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction. And he also walked after their counsel. And Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel went to fight with Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth in Gilead: and they of Ramoth wounded him. Wherefore he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which were given him at Ramoth, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was diseased. For it was thrust into Ahaziah of God to go to Joram, and that when he was come, he should go out with Joram against Jehu the son of Nimshi whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. And as Jehu was executing justice upon the house of Ahab. He found the lords of Judah and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah that waited on Ahaziah, and he slew them. And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him where he was hid in Samaria, and brought him to Jehu. And when they had slain him they buried him: "Because," said they, "he was the son of Jehoshaphat which sought the LORD with all his heart." And there was none of the house of Ahaziah that could obtain to be king.

Then said Samuel to Saul, "Thou hast done foolishly and hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God which he commanded thee. For at this time would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever.

that his heart arise not above his brethren and that he turn not from the commandment: either to the righthand or to the left: that both he and his children may prolong their days in his kingdom in Israel.

Then Samuel said, "The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou. And thereto he that giveth victory to Israel, will not beguile nor repent: for he is not a man, that can repent."

"Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin: him shalt thou anoint to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked upon my people and their cry is come unto me."

And he sent and brought him in. And he was brown with goodly eyes, and well favoured in sight. And then the LORD said, "Up and anoint him: for this is he."

When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee and enjoyest it and dwellest therein: If thou shalt say, 'I will set a king over me, like unto all the nations that are about me': Then thou shalt make him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose. One of thy brethren must thou make king over thee, and mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not of thy brethren.

And the men of Judah came, and there anointed David king over the house of Judah. When it was told David, how the men of Jabesh in Gilead had buried Saul,

And the days which David reigned upon Israel were forty years: seven years in Hebron, and thirty and three years in Jerusalem.

The rest of the Acts of Zimri and the treason that he wrought, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

The twenty seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah, the people besieging Gibbethon a city of the Philistines.

And as soon as he was king and sat his seat, he slew all the house of Baasha and left not a pisser against a wall. And thereto he slew all his kin and friends, and so Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD which he spake to Baasha through Jehu the Prophet;

And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king for his father Amaziah.

The twenty seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Uzziah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. Sixteen years old was he when he was made king, and he reigned forty two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah, and was of Jerusalem. And he did that pleased the LORD in all things, as did his father Amaziah, read more.
save that they put not the hill altars away: for the people offered and burned fat still in the hill altars. And the LORD smote the king, that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a house at liberty, and Jotham the king's son governed the house and judged the people of the land. The rest of the deeds of Uzziah and all he did, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And Uzziah laid him to sleep with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

And he brought out the son of the king and put the crown upon him, and delivered him the witness, and made him king and anointed him. And they clapped their hands and said, "God save the king."

And Samuel said to all the people, "There! See ye whom the LORD hath chosen, and how there is none like him among all the company?" And all the people shouted and said, "God save the king!"

And as soon as he was come, Hushai the Archite went unto Absalom and said unto him, "God save the king, God save the king."

And he brought out the son of the king and put the crown upon him, and delivered him the witness, and made him king and anointed him. And they clapped their hands and said, "God save the king."

And they brought out the king's son and put upon him the crown and the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, "God save the king."

For thou shalt prevent him with the blessings of goodness, and shalt set a crown of pure gold upon his head.

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Shall Shimei not die for that cause: which cursed the LORD's anointed?"

And he said unto his men, "The LORD keep me from doing that thing unto my master that is the LORD's anointed, to lay mine hand upon him: seeing he is the LORD's anointed."

And when they were come, he looked on Eliab and said, "The LORD's anointed is before him."

And then Samuel took a box of oil and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, "The LORD hath anointed thee to be a captain over his inheritance.

And Samuel took the horn with the ointment and anointed him in the presence of his brethren. And the spirit of the LORD came upon David, from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him.

And then come up after him, and let him come and sit upon my seat. For he shall be king in my stead. And him I have commanded to be captain over Israel and Judah."

And thereto Solomon sitteth on the seat of the kingdom.

and took the rulers over hundreds and the captains and the guard and all the people of the land. And they brought the king from the house of the LORD and went the way of the gate of the guard of the king's house. And he sat him down on the seat of the kings.

And Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did that displeased the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet at the mouth of the LORD. And thereto he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar which had received an oath of him by God, and was too stiff necked and too hard hearted to turn unto the LORD God of Israel. read more.
Thereto, all the rulers of the priests with the people trespassed apace after all manner of abominations of the heathen, and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, sending them betimes: for he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God and despised their words and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD so arose against his people that it was past remedy. And so he brought upon them the king of Chaldeans and slew their young men with the sword in their holy temple, and neither spared young man nor maiden, neither old man, neither so much as him that stooped for age: But gave all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God both great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king and his lords he carried to Babylon, every whit. And they burnt the house of God and brake down the walls of Jerusalem and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire with all the goodly stuff thereof, and marred it. And he carried away them that had escaped the sword to Babylon, where they were servants to him and his children, until the kingdom of Persia began to rule; to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had her pleasure of her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate, she kept Sabbath until she had fulfilled seventy years.

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father's brother, king in his stead, and changed his name and called him Zedekiah. Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to reign and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, in all points like to Jehoiakim. read more.
For through the wrath of the LORD it so chanced to Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out of his sight. And the said Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. Therefore, in the ninth year of his reign, the tenth day of the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon with all his power to Jerusalem: and pitched against the town and made engines against it on every side. And the city continued besieged until the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And the ninth day of the fourth month of that year, there was so great hunger in the city, that there was no sustenance for the people of the land. And thereto the city was broken up: wherefore all the men of arms fled by night, by a way through a gate, between two walls hard on the king's garden: the Chaldeans lying about the city. And the king went straight toward the desert. And the host of the Chaldeans followed after him, and took him in the desert of Jericho, all his army being scattered away from him. And when they had taken him, they brought him to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon to Riblah, where they reasoned with him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and fettered him, and carried him to Babylon.

And they told the king, saying, "Here cometh Nathan the prophet." And when he was come before the king, he made obeisance unto the king upon his face unto the ground,

And when Saul was up out of the cave and gone away, David arose and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, "My lord king!" And Saul looked behind him. And David stooped to the earth and bowed himself,

For else when my lord the king is laid to rest with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall be sinners."

Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign upon Judah, the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel, and was thirty five years old when he began to reign and reigned twenty five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father and bowed not therefrom. But did that was right in the eyes of the LORD. Only he did not put the hill altars out of the way: for the people offered and burnt their sacrifices yet in the hill altars. read more.
And he had peace with the king of Israel. And the rest of the deeds of Jehoshaphat, and the might that he used, and how he warred, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah. And the remnant of the stews of the males, which remained in the days of his father, he put clean out of the land. There was then no king in Edom; the king was but a deputy. And Jehoshaphat made ships in the sea to go to Ophir for gold, but they went not: for the ships brake at Eziongeber. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with thine in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not. And Jehoshaphat laid him to sleep with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son reigned in his room.

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead and was mightier than Israel. And he put soldiers in all the strong cities of Judah, and set rulers both in the land of Judah and also in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had won. And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the old ways of his father David, and sought not Baals: read more.
But sought the LORD God of his father and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand and all Judah brought him presents, that he became exceeding rich and glorious. And his heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD, and he put down yet more of the hill altars and groves out of Judah. And the third year of his reign he sent, of his lords: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah: and with them, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah, Levites: and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people. And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, that they durst not war with Jehoshaphat. And the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute silver. And thereto the Arabians brought him of sheep, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. And so Jehoshaphat prospered and grew up on high. And he built, in Judah, castles and store cities. And he had great substance in the cities of Judah, and fighting men and men of might in Jerusalem. And this is the order in the houses of their fathers, of the captains over thousands in Judah: Adnah the captain, and with him of fighting men three hundred thousand. And next to him, Jehohanan a captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand. And by his side, Amasiah the son of Zichri, willing unto the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men. And of the children of Benjamin, Eliada was a man of might, and had with him, armed with bows and shields, two hundred thousand. And by his side Jehozabad, with whom were a hundred and eighty thousand trimmed for war. These waited on the king, besides those which the king had put in strong cities throughout all Judah. And Jehoshaphat became very rich and glorious, and joined affinity with Ahab. And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab slew sheep and oxen plenteously for him and for the people that came with him, and entreated him to go up unto Ramoth in Gilead. And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth in Gilead?" And he answered him, "I will be as thou, and my people shall be as thine and we will be with thee in the war." But Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "Ask, I pray thee, the word of the LORD." And the king of Israel gathered together of the Prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, "Shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to fight, or shall I cease?" And they said, "Go: God shall deliver it into the king's hand." And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there yet here never a Prophet more of the LORD's, that we might ask of him?" And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one, to ask the LORD by him: But I hate him, for he never prophesieth me good, but always evil, one Micaiah the son of Imlah." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so." Then the king of Israel called one of his chamberlains and said, "Fetch hither quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah." And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his seat in their apparel, in a threshing floor beside the gate of Samaria, and all the Prophets prophesying before them. And one Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron and said, "Thus sayeth the LORD: with these thou shalt winnow Syria until thou hast brought them to naught." And all the Prophets prophesied even so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth in Gilead and prosper, for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king." And the messenger that went to call Micaiah, spake to him saying, "Behold, the words of the Prophets are pleasant to the king with one assent, let thy words, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak that which is pleasant." And Micaiah said, "As truly as the LORD liveth, even what my God sayeth, that will I speak." And when he was come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to fight, or shall I be in rest?" And he answered, "Go ye and prosper, for God shall deliver it into your hands." But the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but truth to me, in the name of the LORD?" Then he said, "I see all Israel scattered in the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master, let them return every man to his house in peace.'" Then said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee, that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?" And Micaiah answered, "Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sit upon his seat, and all the company of heaven standing on his righthand and on his left. And the LORD said, 'Who shall deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go and be overthrown at Ramoth in Gilead?' And while one said thus and another that, there came out a spirit and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will deceive him.' And the LORD said to him, 'How?' And he said, 'I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'Thou shalt deceive him and shalt prevail, go out and do even so.' And now behold the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these thy prophets, and yet the LORD hath spoken evil against thee." And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah, went to and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, "By what way went the spirit of the LORD from me, to speak in thee?" And Micaiah said, "Thou shalt see the day when thou shalt run from chamber to chamber, for to hide thyself." Then said the king of Israel, take ye Micaiah and deliver him to Amon the governor of city, and to Joash the king's son, and say, "Thus sayeth the king: 'Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread and water of tribulation, until I come again in peace.'" And Micaiah said, "If thou come again in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken in me." And Micaiah said moreover, "Hearken to, ye people, every one of you." And so the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth in Gilead. Then said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, "Change thee and get thee to battle, but see thou have thine own apparel upon thee." And the king of Israel changed himself, and they went to battle. But the king of Syria commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "See that ye fight not against small or great, save against the king of Israel only." And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, "It is the king of Israel!" - And therefore compassed about him, to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God tysed them away from him. For when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from him. And a certain man drew his bow ignorantly and smote the king of Israel between the Joints of his habergeon. And he said to the chariot man, turn thine hand and carry me out of the host, for I am hurt. And the battle arose that day. Howbeit the king of Israel continued standing in his chariot against the Syrians until evening. And about the sun going down, he died. And Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his house, safe and sound, to Jerusalem. And Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer, went out against him and said to king Jehoshaphat, "Oughtest thou to help the wicked, and to love them that hate the LORD? In this verily is the wrath of the LORD upon thee. Neverthelater, there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast put away groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God." And as Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem, he went to again and went among the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them again unto the LORD God of their fathers. And he set judges in the land, throughout all the strong cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, "Take heed what ye do: for ye be not judges in the law of man, but of the LORD - which is with you in the words of the law. Wherefore, let the fear of the LORD be with you, and take heed and do it. For there is no unrighteousness in the LORD our God nor regarding of persons, nor taking of rewards." Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and of the priests and of the ancient heads of Israel, over the customs of the LORD and causes of strife. And then they returned again to Jerusalem. And he charged them, saying, "Do even so in the fear of the LORD with truth and pure heart. And whatsoever come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, law, commandment, ordinances and customs: see that ye warn them, that they trespass not against the LORD; lest wrath come upon you and on your brethren. Thus do and ye shall not offend. And see here, Amariah the priest which is head over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, a ruler in the house of Judah, he is over all causes concerning the king, with officers of the Levites before you. Take courage to you and go upon it, and the LORD shall be with the good." After that came the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them the Amanim, against Jehoshaphat to battle. And there came that told Jehoshaphat, saying, "There cometh a great multitude against thee from the other side the sea out of Syria. And see, they be in Hazazontamar," which is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed fasting throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together to ask counsel of the LORD. And thereto there came out of all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD before the new court and said, "LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven, and reignest not thou on all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is power and might, that no man can stand before thee. Art not thou our God which didst cast out the inhabiters of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy lover forever? And they dwelt therein and have built thee a temple therein unto thy name, and said, 'When evil cometh upon us, as the sword of judgment, pestilence or hunger: then if we stand before this house and before thee - for thy name is in this house - and shall cry unto thee in our tribulation, thou shalt hear and help.' And now behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, by which thou wouldest not let Israel go, when they came out of Egypt: but they departed from them and destroyed them not. And see, how they reward us, to come for to cast us out of thy possession which thou hast possessed us with all. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us. Neither know we what to do: but our eyes be unto thee." And as all Judah stood before the LORD with their young ones, their wives and their children: the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah the son of Benaiah the son of Jeiel the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, even as he was in the midst of the congregation. And he said, "Hearken all Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem, and also king Jehoshaphat! Thus sayeth the LORD unto you: 'Be not afeard or faint hearted by reason of this great multitude. For the war is not yours, but God's. "And tomorrow ye shall go down to them: see, they come up at Ziz, and ye shall meet them in the flags of the brook before the wilderness of Jeruel. Moreover, it belongeth not to you for to fight this quarrel: but step forth and stand and behold the help of the LORD which is with you: fear not, nor let your heart fail you, O ye of Judah and of Jerusalem. Tomorrow go out to them: for the LORD is with you." And Jehoshaphat bowed himself with his face to the city, and all Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, to bow themselves unto the LORD. And the Levites and the children of the Kohathites and of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And so they arose early in the morning and gat them out unto the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and so shall ye continue: and believe his prophets and so shall ye prosper." And he gave the people counsel, and set the singers of the LORD and them that praised in holy apparel, to go out before the army and to say, "Praise the LORD for his mercy lasteth ever." And what time they began to laud and praise, then the LORD set layers await against the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, to destroy them utterly and to wipe them out. And when they had made an end of the inhabiters of Seir, then they helped to destroy each other. And when Judah came to Mizphah in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude. And behold, they were dead carcasses fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And Jehoshaphat and his people went to rob away the spoil of them and found among them abundance of goods and raiment and of pleasant Jewels, and caught from them more than they could carry away: so that they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. And the fourth day they assembled in the valley of blessing, for there they blessed the LORD. And therefore they called the name of the said place the valley of blessing unto this day. And so all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned and Jehoshaphat among the thickest of them, for to go again to Jerusalem with gladness: for the LORD had made them to rejoice of their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets, even unto the house of the LORD. And the fear of God fell in the kingdoms of all lands, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. And so the realm of Jehoshaphat was in tranquility: for his God had given him rest on every side. And Jehoshaphat reigned upon Judah, and was thirty five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of Asa his father and bowed not therefrom, to do that was pleasant in the sight of the LORD. Howbeit, they put not down the hill altars, neither did the people yet prepare their hearts unto the God of their fathers. The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, are written in the works of Jehu the son of Hanani, which noted them in the book of the kings of Israel. After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, which was a wicked doer. And he coupled himself with him, to make ships to go to Tarshish. And they made the ships in Eziongeber. And Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works." And the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish. Jehoshaphat laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigned in his room:

And Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away - which, when he came to Egypt, died there. And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh: howbeit, he taxed the land, to give the money at the commandment of Pharaoh and as every man was set at, so he required the silver and the gold of the people of the land, to give Pharaoh Neco. Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned an eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. read more.
And he did that was evil-favored in the sight of the LORD, like in all things as did his fathers. In his days came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years, and then turned and rebelled against him. And the LORD sent upon him men of war out of Chaldea, out of Syria, out of the Moabites, and from the children of Ammon: and sent them into Judah to destroy it, according to the saying of the LORD which he spake by his servants the Prophets. Only at the bidding of the LORD happened it so to Judah, to put them out of his sight, for the sin of Manasseh according to all he did: and for the innocent blood that he shed and filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not forgive. The rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim and all he did, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And Jehoiakim laid him to sleep with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

And Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that displeased the LORD his God. Against him came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon. Thereto the king Nebuchadnezzar carried off the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his temple at Babylon. read more.
The rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his Abominations, and that was laid to his charge, are written in the book of the kings of Israel: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

Amon was twenty two years old, when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. And he did that displeased the LORD like unto Manasseh his father, for Amon sacrificed to all the carved Images which Manasseh his father made, and served them, and meekened not himself before the LORD as Manasseh his father had meekened himself: But Amon trespassed greatly. read more.
Wherefore his own servants conspired against him and slew him in his own house. And the people of the land slew all that had conspired against king Amon. And thereto the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his room.

Amon was twenty two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. And he did that displeased the LORD as his father Manasseh did. And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the Idols that his father served, and bowed himself to them. read more.
And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers and walked not in the way of the LORD. And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. But the people of the land slew all that conspired against king Amon, and made Josiah his son king in his room. The rest of the acts of Amon which he did are written in the Chronicle of the Kings of Judah. And they buried him in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

And they slew plenteously throughout all Israel, and did eat and drink before the LORD the same day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king of Israel the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD, to be ruler, and Zadok to be the priest.

All these, being men of war able to order the array, came to Hebron with pure heart, to make David king upon all Israel. And thereto all the rest of Israel was of one accord to make David king.

the king said unto them, "Take with you the servants of your lord, and set Solomon my son upon mine own mule and carry him down to Gihon. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there, to be king over Israel. And then blow ye with a trumpet and say, 'God save king Solomon.'

And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maacah the chief ruler among his brethren, for to make him king. And he played wisely and scattered of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin in every strong city. And he gave them abundance of victuals, and asked many wives.

And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds with the captains and them of the guard, and took them into him into the house of the LORD, and made a bond with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king's son. And he commanded them, saying, "This is that ye must do: one third part of you shall come on the Sabbath day and keep the watch of the king's house; and another third part shall be at the gate Sur; and another third part shall be at the gate behind the guard chamber, and so shall ye keep the watch of the house of Massah; read more.
and two portions of you - that is, all that go out the Sabbath day - shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king, and shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapon in his hand. And whosoever cometh within the ranges shall die for it. And see that ye be with the king as he goeth out and in." And the captains over the hundreds did all the things as Jehoiada the priest commanded: and took every man his men, that is, them that came in the Sabbath day with them that went out the Sabbath day, and went to Jehoiada the priest. And the priest gave to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that were king David's and had remained in the temple. And the guard stood every man with his weapon in his hand round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left along by the altar and the temple. And he brought out the son of the king and put the crown upon him, and delivered him the witness, and made him king and anointed him. And they clapped their hands and said, "God save the king." And when Athaliah heard the noise of the running of the people, she came to the people into the house of the LORD. And when she saw the king stand by a pillar - as the manner was - and the singers and the trumpets by the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing, and the blowing of the trumpets, she rent her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!" And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds that had the rule of the host, and said to them, "Bring her without the wall. And if any follow her, let him die with the sword. For the priest said, "She may not be slain in the house of the LORD." And they laid hands on her, and she went the way that the horses of the kings went out and was slain there. And Jehoiada made a covenant both between the LORD and the king, and between the people and the LORD, that they should be the LORD's people: and also between the king and the people. Then all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and destroyed his altars, and brake down his images lustily, and slew Nathan, the priest of Baal, before the altar. And the priest set watchmen in the house of the LORD, and took the rulers over hundreds and the captains and the guard and all the people of the land. And they brought the king from the house of the LORD and went the way of the gate of the guard of the king's house. And he sat him down on the seat of the kings. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet. And they slew Athaliah with the sword in the house of the king. Jehoash was seven years old when he was made king. And he began to reign the seventh year of Jehu, and reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. And he did that pleased the LORD, as long as Jehoiada the Priest informed him. But they took not away the hill altars, for the people slew and offered still in the hill altars. And Jehoash said to the priest, "All the silver that is dedicated and brought to the house of the LORD in current money - that is to say, the money that every man is set at, with all the money that every man's heart giveth him to bring into the house of the LORD - let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance, and let them repair the broken places of the temple in all the places where ought is found decayed." Neverthelater, the priests had not mended unto the twenty third year of Jehoash, that was decayed in the temple. Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest and for the other priests also, and said to them, "Why repair ye not the broken places of the temple? Now therefore see ye receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it to repair the temple withal." And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people: But that it should go to the mending of the temple. Then Jehoiada the priest took a coffer and bored a hole in the lid of it, and put it beside the altar on the right side as a man cometh in to the house of the LORD. And into that did the priests that kept the doors, put all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. And when they saw that there was much money in the coffer, the king's scribe and the high priest came, and knit up the money that was found in the house of the LORD, after they had told it. And they gave the money by sums into the hands of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they brought it out to the carpenters and builders that wrought upon the house of the LORD, and to masons and hewers of stone, to buy timber and free stone, to repair the decay in the house of the LORD; and all that, that needeth repairing in the house. Howbeit there was not made in the house of the LORD, bowls of silver, shredding knives, basins, trumpets or any other instruments of gold or silver, of the money that was brought for the house of the LORD. For they gave that to the workmen, to repair therewith the house of the LORD. Moreover, they reckoned not with the men, into whose hands they delivered that money to be bestowed on workmen: But they did it even of fidelity. Howbeit, trespass money and sin money might not be brought into the house of the LORD, for it was the priests'. Then came Hazael king of Syria, and fought against Gath and took it, and appointed himself to go up to Jerusalem. But Jehoash king of Judah took all the dedicated things that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, and all the gold that could be found in the treasure of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and so he departed from Jerusalem. The remnant of the acts of Jehoash and all he did, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And his own servants arose and wrought treason, and slew Jehoash in the house Millo, in the way down to Silla. Jozacar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him that he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did that seemed right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of David his father, and bowed neither to the righthand nor to the left. And the eighteenth year of his reign king Josiah sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam the scribe to the house of the LORD, saying, read more.
"Go to Hilkiah the high priest, and let him sum the silver that is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the doors have gathered of the people; and let them deliver it into the hands of the workmen that have the oversight of the house of the LORD, which shall give it to them that work upon the house of the LORD, to repair the decayed places thereof - even unto carpenters and masons, and for to buy timber and free stone to repair the house. Howbeit, let no reckoning be made with them of the money that is delivered into their hands, but let them do it of their conscience." And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the temple of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And then Shaphan the scribe went to the king and brought him word again, and said, "Thy servants poured out the silver that was found in the temple, and have delivered it unto the workmen that have the oversight of the house of the LORD." Furthermore Shaphan the scribe showed the king saying, "Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me here a book." And Shaphan read it before the king. And the king, as soon as he had heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his clothes and commanded Hilkiah the priest and Ahikam the son of Shaphan and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, "Go ye and seek of the LORD for me, and the people, and for all Judah; concerning the words of this book that is found. For it is a great wrath of the LORD that is kindled upon us, that our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do in all points as it is written therein." And Hilkiah the high priest and Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went unto Huldah the Prophetess, wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah the son of Harahas keeper of the robes - which Prophetess dwelt in Jerusalem in the second ward - and communed with her. And she said to them, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: 'Tell the man that sent you to me, thus sayeth the LORD: behold I will bring evil upon this place and on the dwellers therein - even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read - because they have forsaken me and have burnt offerings unto other gods, to anger me with all the works of their hands. Therefore is my wrath kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say: thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, as touching the words which thou heardest. Because thine heart did melt and thou meekedest thyself before me, the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place and the inhabiters of the same, how that it should be destroyed and made accursed: and tearest thy clothes and weepest before me: of that also I have heard sayeth the LORD. And therefore, see, I will receive ye unto thy fathers and will fetch thee unto thy grave in peace, thine eyes shall see none of the evil which I will bring upon this place." And they brought the king word again. And then the king sent and gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabiters of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the Prophets and all the people both small and great. And he read in the ears of them all the words of the book of the covenant, which was found in the house of the LORD. And the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD that they should walk after the LORD, and keep his commandments and his witnesses and his ordinances with all their hearts and all their souls, and make good the words of the said covenant that were written in the foresaid book. And all the people consented to the covenant. And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the inferior priests and the keepers of the door, to bring out of the temple of the LORD, all the vessels that were made for Baal and for the grove and for all the host of heaven. And he burnt them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried the ashes of them into Bethel. And he put down the Chemarims which the kings of Judah had set to burn offerings in the hill altars in the cities of Judah round about Jerusalem and also them that burnt sacrifices unto Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. And he brought out the grove from the temple of the LORD without Jerusalem unto the brook Kidron, and stamped it to powder, and cast the dust thereof upon the graves of people of the country. And he brake down the cells of the male whores that were in the house of the LORD, where the women wove little houses for the grove. And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the hill altars where the priests did burn sacrifice, even from Geba to Beersheba. And he brake down the hill altars of the Gates, that were in the entering of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on the left hand of the gate of the city. Nevertheless, the priests of the hill altars came not up at the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, save only they did eat of the sweet bread among their brethren. And he defiled Tophet also, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, because no man should offer his son or his daughter in fire to Moloch. He put down the horses that the kings of Israel had given to the son at the entering of the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Nathanmelech the chamberlain which was the ruler of the suburbs, and burnt the chariots of the sun with fire. And the altars that were on the top of the parlour of Ahaz which the king of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, the king brake down, and ran thence and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron. And the hill altars that were before Jerusalem on the righthand of the mount Nashith, which Solomon king of Israel built to Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians and to Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and to Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, the king defiled: and brake the images and cut down the groves and filled the places with the bones of men. Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, the hill altar made by Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin - both the altar and also the hill - he brake down and burnt the hill and stamped it to powder, and burnt the grove. And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the graves that were in the mount and sent and fetched the bones out of the graves and burnt them upon the altar and polluted it according to the word of the LORD that the man of God had proclaimed, which openly had denounced the same things. Then the king said, "What meaneth yonder grave stone that I see?" And the men of the city told him, "It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah and openly denounced the selfsame things that thou hast done to the altar of Bethel." And he said, "Let him be: see that no man move his bones." And so his bones escaped with the bones of a Prophet that came out of Samaria. And thereto all the houses of the hill altars of the cities of Samaria which the kings of Israel had made, to anger withal, Josiah put out of the way and did to them in all points as he did in Bethel. And he sacrificed all the priests of the hill altars that were there, even upon the altars, and burnt men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem. And the king commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the feast of passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant." For there was no passover held like that from the days of the judges that judged Israel, and throughout all the days of the kings of Israel and of Judah. And in the eighteenth year of king Josiah was this passover holden to the LORD in Jerusalem. And thereto workers with spirits, soothsayers, Images of witchcraft, idols and all other abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, Josiah put out of the way to make good the words of the law, which were written in the book that Helkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. Like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any such. Notwithstanding, the LORD turned not from his fierce and great wrath wherewith he was angry against Judah upon all the provocations that Manasseh provoked him. But the LORD said, "I will put Judah, too, out of my sight, as I have done Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I have said, 'My name shall be there.'" The rest of the deeds of Josiah and all he did are written in the book of the Stories of the Kings of Judah. In his days, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went against the king of Assyria to the river of Euphrates. And king Josiah went against him, and was slain of him at Megiddo when he had seen him. And his servants carried him dead from Megiddo and brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in his father's room.

Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power, but of God. The powers that be, are ordained of God.

Wherefore ye must needs obey, not for fear of vengeance only: but also because of conscience.

Submit yourselves unto all manner ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be unto the King as unto the chief head;

Then thou shalt make him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose. One of thy brethren must thou make king over thee, and mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not of thy brethren.

Moreover, the LORD God of Israel chose me of all the house of my father, to be king over Israel forever, for he chose Judah to be a captain: and in the house of Judah the house of my father, and of the sons of my father he had a lust to me, to make me king over all Israel. And of all my sons - for the LORD hath given me many sons - he hath chosen Solomon my son, to sit on the seat of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. And he said unto me, 'Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father,

And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. And when Rehoboam the son of Nebat heard of it, being yet in Egypt - for he fled to Egypt for fear of Solomon - he came again out of Egypt. And they sent and called him: and so Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, read more.
"Thy father made our yoke grievous, but now make thou the grievous service of thy father and his sore yoke which he put upon us, lighter; and so we will serve thee." And he said unto them, "Depart yet for the space of three days, and then come again to me." And the people departed. And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that stood before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, and said, "What counsel give ye to answer this people withal?" And they said unto him, "If thou shalt be a servant unto this people this day and serve them and answer them and speak kind words to them: they will be thy servants forever." But he forsook the counsel that the old men had given him, and counselled with the young men that were nourished up with him and had waited on him. And he said unto them, "What counsel give ye, to answer this people withal which have communed with me saying, 'Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us, lighter?'" And the young men that were brought up with him, answered him, saying, "This people that have said unto thee, 'Thy father made our yoke heavy, make thou it us lighter' - thus answer them: 'My little finger shall be weightier than my father's loins! And now, where my father put a grievous yoke upon you, I will make it heavier. For where my father corrected you with scourges, I will chastise you with scorpions." And when Jeroboam and all the people were come to Rehoboam the third day - as the king appointed them, saying, "Come to me again this day three days" - the king answered the people churlishly and left the advice that old men gave him: and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke grievous, but I will make it grievouser. For where my father chastised you with whips, I will chastise you with scorpions." And so the king hearkened not unto the people: for the turning away was of the LORD, to perform his saying, which the LORD said by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. And when all Israel saw that the king regarded them not, the people answered the king again saying, "We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents therefore Israel, and now see to thine own house David." And so Israel departed unto their tents. Howbeit, over the children of Israel which dwelt in the city of Judah, did Rehoboam reign still. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, the receiver of the tribute. And all Israel stoned him to death with stones. But king Rehoboam made speed and gat him up to his chariot and fled to Jerusalem. And so Israel departed from the house of David unto this day. And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, they sent and called him unto the congregation and made him king over Israel: and no man followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. And when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, being in Egypt heard it - for he was fled for fear of Solomon the king - he returned out of Egypt. And they sent and called him. And so Jeroboam and all Israel came and communed with Rehoboam, and said, read more.
"Thy father made us a grievous yoke: but remit thou somewhat of the grievous service of thy father and of his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee." And he said to them, "Come again after three days to me." And the people departed. And king Rehoboam counseled with elders that stood before Solomon his father, while he lived, and said, "What counsel give ye me, to answer this people again?" And they told him saying, "If thou shalt be kind to this people and please them and shalt speak loving words to them, they will be thy servants forever." But he left the counsel which the elders gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were nursed up with him and had stand in his presence, and said to them, "What advice give ye that I may answer this people which have communed with me, saying, 'Abate somewhat of the yoke which thy father did put upon us?'" And the young men that were nursed up with him talked with him, saying, "Thus answer the people that spake to thee, saying, 'Thy father made our yoke heavy: But make thou our yoke somewhat lighter.' Thus wise answer them: 'My little finger shall be heavier than thy father's loins. For where my father put a heavy yoke upon you I will put more thereto, and where my father chastised you with whips I will chastise you with scorpions.'" And when Jeroboam and all Israel were come the third day, as the king bade, saying, "Come again to me the third day," the king answered them cruelly: for king Rehoboam left the counsel of the aged men, and answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, "If my father made your yoke grievous, I will add thereto, and where my father chastised you with whips, I will chastise you with scorpions." And so the king hearkened not unto the people, for the turning away was of God, that the LORD might make good his saying which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. And when all Israel saw that the king would not hear them, the people answered the king, saying, "What part have we with David or inheritance with the son of Jesse? Let every man of Israel go to his tent. And now, David, see to thine own house!" And thereupon all Israel gat them to their tents,

And the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king there, before the LORD in Gilgal. And there they offered peace offerings before the LORD. And there Saul and all the people rejoiced exceedingly. Then said Samuel unto all Israel, "Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made you a king. And see, your king walketh before you. But I am old and grayheaded: and behold my sons are with you and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. read more.
Behold, here I am. Answer me before the LORD and before his anointed, whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Whom have I done wrong to? Or whom have I oppressed? And of whose hand have I received any bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith? And I will restore it you again." And they said, "Thou hast done us no wrong, nor oppressed us; neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand." Then said he to them, "The LORD is witness unto you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have found nought in my hands." And they answered, "We are witnesses." Then said Samuel unto the people, "It is the LORD that made Moses and Aaron, and which brought your fathers out of Egypt. Now therefore stand still, and let me reason with you before the LORD, of all the righteousnesses of the LORD which he showed both you and your fathers. After that Jacob was come into Egypt, your fathers cried unto the LORD, and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron: which brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. Neverthelater, they forgot the LORD their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera chief captain of Jabin king of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the king of Moab, which fought against them. Then they cried unto the LORD and said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hands of our enemies and we will serve thee.' And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hands of your enemies on every side, so that ye dwelled without fear. And for all that, when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, 'Not so, a king shall reign over us' - when yet the LORD your God was your king. Now therefore behold the king, whom ye have chosen and whom ye have desired. See, the LORD hath given you a king! Oh that ye would fear the LORD and serve him and hear his voice and not disobey the mouth of the LORD: and that both ye and the king that reigneth over you would follow the LORD your God. For if ye shall not hearken unto the voice of the LORD, but shall disobey the LORD's mouth: then shall the hand of the LORD be upon you and on your fathers. Now also stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes: Is it not now wheat harvest? And yet for all that, I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain. Wherefore, perceive and understand how that your wickedness is great which ye have done in the sight of the LORD in asking you a king." And when Samuel called unto the LORD, the LORD sent thunder and rain the same day. And all the people feared the LORD and Samuel exceedingly. Then said all the people unto Samuel, "Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have sinned in asking us a king, beside all the sins that ever we did." Then said Samuel unto the people, "Fear not. And though ye have done all this wickedness, yet depart not from the LORD in any case. But serve him with all your hearts. Neither turn ye after vain things which can not deliver you, for they are but vanities. But the LORD will not forsake his people, because of his great name's sake: because the LORD hath begun to make you his people. Moreover, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in leaving praying for you and to show you the good and right way. Only fear you the LORD and serve him truly with all your hearts: for he hath done great things for you. But and if ye shall do wickedly: then shall both ye and your king thereto perish." Saul was as a child of a year old, when he began to reign. And when he had reigned two years over Israel, he chose him three thousand men out of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and Mount Bethel, and a thousand with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the people he sent, every man to his own house. And Jonathan slew the Philistines in a hold they had in Gibeah, and it came to the Philistines' ears. And Saul caused the trumpet to be blown throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear." And all Israel heard say, how that Saul had destroyed a hold of the Philistines, and how that Israel stank unto the Philistines. And all the people cried after Saul to Gilgal. Then the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen with other people like the sand by the seaside in multitude and came up and pitched in Michmash eastward from Bethaven. And when the men of Israel saw themselves in a strait, and that the people were encumbered, they hid themselves in caves, in privy holes, in rocks, dens and pits. And the Hebrews went over Jordan unto the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul was yet in Gilgal, and all the people that followed him were astonished. And he tarried seven days, as Samuel had appointed. But Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people scattered from him. Wherefore Saul said, "Bring burnt sacrifice to me and peace offerings." And he offered burnt sacrifice. And as soon as he had made an end of offering burnt offerings behold, Samuel came. And Saul went against him, to salute him. Then said Samuel to Saul, "What hast thou done?" And Saul said, "Because I saw that the people scattered from me, and yet thou camest not within the days appointed - and that the Philistines gathered themselves together to Michmash - then said I, 'The Philistines shall come down upon me to Gilgal, before I have made supplication unto the LORD.' And therefore I took a courage with me and offered burnt offerings." Then said Samuel to Saul, "Thou hast done foolishly and hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God which he commanded thee. For at this time would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue. The LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and hath commanded him to be a captain over his people: because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee." And Samuel arose and gat him from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were found with him, about a six hundred men. And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people that were found with them, had their abiding in Gibeah of Benjamin. But the Philistines had pitched in Michmash. And there came out of the host of the Philistines three companies, to destroy: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah unto the land of Shual; and another company turned the way to Bethhoron; and the third company turned to the way of the coast that turneth to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. But there was no smith throughout the land of Israel. For the Philistines thought that then the Hebrews might make them swords or spears. And therefore must all Israel go down to the Philistines, to mend every man his share, his mattock, his axe or his sickle: as oft as the edges of the sickles, mattocks, dung forks, and axes were blunt, and also to mend their goods. And so in time of battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hands of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: save for Saul and Jonathan his son was there somewhat found. And the Garrison of the Philistines came out and stood on the other side before Michmash. And it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto his young man that bare his harness, "Come, and let us go over to the watchmen of the Philistines that are yonder on the other side" - and told not his father. But Saul tarried in the utmost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree, that was in Migron, and the people that were with him were upon a six hundred men. And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the LORD's priest in Shiloh and bare an ephod. But the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. And in the way over by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the garrison of the Philistines, were there two sharp rocks, even one on the one side, and the other one the other side: the one called Bozez, and the other Seneh. And the one leaneth northward toward Michmash, and the other southward toward Gibeah. Then said Jonathan to the young man that bare his harness, "Come, and let us go over unto the standing of these uncircumcised, peradventure the LORD will work with us: for the LORD is free to save with many or with few." And his harness bearer said unto him, "Do all that is in thine heart. Set thee forward; and see, I am with thee, as thine heart lusteth." Then said Jonathan, "Behold, when we go over unto the men, and show ourselves unto them, if they say on this wise to us, 'Tarry until we come to you,' then we will stand still where we be and not go up unto them. But and if they so say unto us, 'Come up unto us,' then we will go up, for the LORD hath delivered them into our hands. And this shall be a sign unto us." And when they had both showed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, "See, the Hebrews come out of the holes where they had hid themselves in." And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his harness bearer and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." Then said Jonathan unto his harness bearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD hath delivered them into the hands of Israel." And Jonathan clame upon hands and feet, and his harness bearer after him. Then they fell before Jonathan: and his harness bearer slew them after him. And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his harness bearer made was upon a twenty men, within the compass as it were about a half acre of land. And there was a fear in the host that was in the field, and among all the people: insomuch that they that kept the hold, and they that were gone to rob, were afraid also: and the earth trembled and there was a fear sent of God. And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw. And behold, the people scattered and ran hither and thither. Then said Saul unto the people that was with him, "Number, and see who is gone away from us." And when they had told: behold, Jonathan and his harness bearer were not there. And then Saul said unto Ahijah, "Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of God was at the time with the children of Israel. And while Saul talked unto the priest, the people that were in the host of the Philistines ran more and more. And Saul said unto the priest, "Withdraw thine hand." And Saul cried, and all the people that were with him, and went to battle. And behold every man's sword was against his fellow, with a mighty great slaughter. Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, and were come with them in all parts of the host, joined themselves unto Israel which were with Saul and Jonathan. And they also which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, as soon as they heard how that the Philistines were fled, they followed after them in battle. And so God helped Israel that day. And the battle continued until they came unto Bethaven. And the men of Israel joined themselves together that day: and Saul adjured the people, saying, "Cursed be he that eateth any food until night, that I may be avenged of mine enemies." And so there was none of the people that tasted any sustenance. And all the land came to a wood where honey lay upon the ground. And when the people were come into the wood: Behold, the honey dropped. Howbeit, there was no man that moved his hand to his mouth, because that the people feared the curse. But Jonathan heard not when his father adjured the people, wherefore he put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in a honey comb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes received sight. Then spake one of the people, and said, "Thy father adjured the people, saying, 'Cursed be the man that eateth any sustenance this day.'" And yet the people were fainty. Then said Jonathan, "My father hath troubled the land: for see, mine eyes hath received sight, because I tasted a little of this honey. How then, if all the people had eaten of the spoil of their enemies which they found, had there not been then a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?" And they laid on the Philistines that day, from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were exceeding fainty. Then the people gat them to the spoil and took sheep oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground and did eat with the blood. Then men told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood." And he said, "Ye have trespassed. But roll a great stone unto me now, and go abroad among the people and bid them bring every man his ox and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood." And the people brought every man his ox in his hand by night and slew them there. And Saul made an altar unto the LORD. And that was the first altar that he made unto the LORD. And Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and let us make havoc among them until it be day in the morning, and let us not leave one of them." And the people answered, "Do whatsoever thou thinkest best." Then said the priest, "Let us come hither unto God." And Saul asked of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into mine hands?" But he answered him not at that time. Then said Saul, "Let the people come hither out of all quarters, and know and see, in whom this sin is chanced this day: for as truly as the LORD liveth, which hath saved Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall die for it." But no man answered him of all the people. Then he said unto all Israel, "Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on another." And the people said unto Saul, "What thou thinkest best, that do." And Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, "Give perfect knowledge." And Saul and Jonathan were caught, and the people escaped free. Then said Saul, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was caught. Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what thou hast done." And Jonathan told him and said, "I tasted a little honey upon the end of my staff that was in mine hand, and see, I must die." Then said Saul, "God do so and so to me, except that thou die Jonathan." But the people said unto Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, which hath so mightily helped Israel? God forbid. As truly as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground: for he hath wrought with God this day." And so the people delivered Jonathan, that he died not. And then Saul departed from following the Philistines. And the Philistines went to their own place. And so Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side: against the Moabites; against the children of Ammon; against the Edomites; against the kings of Zobah; and against the Philistines. And whithersoever he turned himself, there he won, and played the man and slew the Amalekites, and rid Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them. The sons of Saul were, Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. And his two daughters were thus named: the elder was called Merab, and the younger Michal. And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of his chief captain was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. And Kish was Saul's father. And Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel. And there was sore war with the Philistines, all the days of Saul. For wheresoever Saul saw a strong man, and an active, he took him unto him. Then said Samuel unto Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint thee king over his people Israel. Now therefore obey thou the voice of the words of the LORD. Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts: 'I have called to remembrance that which Amalek did to Israel; how they lay in wait for them in the way, as they came out of Egypt. Now therefore go and smite the Amalekites, and only destroy ye all that pertaineth unto them, and see thou have no compassion on them. But slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, and ox, sheep, camel and ass.'" And Saul told it the people, and numbered them in Telaim two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came unto a city of the Amalekites, and fought in a valley. But Saul said unto the Kenites, "Go and depart and get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them, for ye showed mercy with Israel when they came out of Egypt." And the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul slew the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur that lieth before Egypt, and took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and they left of the sheep and of the oxen and fat things and the lambs and all that was good, and would not destroy them. But all that was nought worth and flaggy, that they destroyed utterly. Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, "It repenteth me that I have made Saul king. For he is turned from me and hath not performed my commandments." Wherefore Samuel was evil apaid and cried unto the LORD all night. And Samuel rose early, to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel that Saul was come to Carmel, and had set him up a pillar of triumph, and was turned and departed and gone to Gilgal. And when Samuel was come to Saul, Saul said unto him, "Blessed be thou in the LORD. I have done the commandment of the LORD." And Samuel answered, "What meaneth then the bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the noise of the oxen which I hear?" And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites. For the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God. And the remnant we have destroyed." But Samuel said to Saul, "Cease, and let me tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night." And he said unto him, "Say on." And Samuel said, "When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed thee king over Israel. And then the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said unto thee, 'See that thou utterly destroy those sinners, the Amalekites and fight against them until ye have utterly destroyed them.' And wherefore hast thou now not obeyed the voice of the LORD: But didst turn to the prey and hast wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD?" And Saul said unto Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and went the way which the LORD sent me; and have brought Agag the king of the Amalekites, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. And the people took of the spoil, sheep, oxen, and the chiefest of the things which should have been destroyed, to offer unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal." Then said Samuel, "Hath the LORD as great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerings, as he hath that thou shouldest obey his voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to give heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebelliousness is as the sin of witchcraft; and stubbornness is wickedness and idolatry. Because therefore thou hast cast away the word of the LORD, therefore hath the LORD cast away thee also, from being king." Then said Saul to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the mouth of the LORD, and thy words; because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. But now take away my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD." Then said Samuel unto Saul, "I will not return with thee: for thou hast cast away the bidding of God, and therefore the LORD hath cast away thee also, that thou shalt not be king over Israel." And as Samuel turned to go away, he caught the lap of his coat, and it rent. Then Samuel said, "The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou. And thereto he that giveth victory to Israel, will not beguile nor repent: for he is not a man, that can repent." Then he said, "I have sinned. But yet honour me before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may pray unto the LORD thy God." And Samuel turned again and followed Saul. And Saul prayed unto the LORD. Then said Samuel, "Bring ye hither to me, Agag the king of the Amalekites." And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, "Truly the bitterness of death cometh on." And Samuel said, "As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among other women." And so Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. And then Samuel departed to Ramah. And Saul went home to his house, to Gibeah of Saul. But Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, because the LORD repented that he had made him king over Israel. And then the LORD said unto Samuel, "How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have cast him away from reigning over Israel? Fill a horn with ointment, and come: I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have spied me a king among his sons." But Samuel answered, "How shall I go? For Saul shall hear it and will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with thee, and say thou goest to offer to the LORD. And call Jesse to the offering, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: And thou shalt anoint him whom I say unto thee." And Samuel did as the LORD bade him. And when he came to Bethlehem, the elders of the town were astonished at his coming, and said, "Betokeneth thy coming peace?" And he said "Yea, for I am come to offer unto the LORD. Cleanse yourselves and come with me to the offering." And he purified Jesse and his sons, and bade them to the offering. And when they were come, he looked on Eliab and said, "The LORD's anointed is before him." But the LORD said unto Samuel, "Look not on his fashion nor on the height of his stature, for I have refused him. Because it is not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance: but the LORD beholdeth the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him come before Samuel. And he said, "Neither hath the LORD chosen this." Then Jesse made Shammah come, and he said, "Neither hath the LORD chosen him." Then made Jesse seven of his sons come before Samuel. And Samuel said, "The LORD hath chosen none of these." Then said Samuel to Jesse, "Are here all thy children?" And he said, "The youngest is yet behind. Behold, he keepeth the sheep." Then Samuel said unto Jesse, "Send and fetch him for we will not sit down, till he be come hither." And he sent and brought him in. And he was brown with goodly eyes, and well favoured in sight. And then the LORD said, "Up and anoint him: for this is he." And Samuel took the horn with the ointment and anointed him in the presence of his brethren. And the spirit of the LORD came upon David, from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul; and an evil spirit, sent of the LORD, vexed him. Then said his servants unto him, "Behold, an evil spirit sent of God vexeth thee. Let our lord therefore command his servants to seek a man that is a cunning player with a harp. And then when the evil spirit sent of God cometh upon thee, that he may play with his hand and thou shalt be eased." And Saul said unto his servants, "Seek me a man that can well play, and bring him to me." Then answered one of his servants and said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that can play upon instruments, and is an active fellow and a man of war and prudent and well made, and the LORD is with him." Whereupon Saul sent messengers unto Jesse and said, "Send me David thy son which is with the sheep." And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a flacket of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David went to Saul and came before him, and he loved him very well; so that he was made his harness bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse saying, "Let David remain with me, for he hath found favour in my sight." And when the spirit of God came upon Saul, David took a harp and played with his hand, and so Saul was refreshed, and did amend; and the evil spirit departed from him. The Philistines gathered their host to battle, and came together to Socoh in Judah, and pitched between Socoh and Azekah, in the end of Dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel came and pitched in Oakdale and put themselves in array, to fight against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a hill on the one side, and Israel stood on a hill on the other side; and a valley between them. And then came a man and stood in the midst, out of the tents of the Philistines, named Goliath of Gath: six cubits and a handbreadth long, and had a helmet of brass upon his head, and a coat of mail about him. And the weight of his coat of mail was five thousand sicles of brass. And he had a harness of brass upon his legs, and a shield of brass upon his shoulders. And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam. And his spearhead weighed six hundred sicles of iron. And one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and called unto the host of Israel, and said unto them, "What needeth that ye should come out in array to battle? Am not I a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? Choose you a man, and let him come down to me: if he be able to fight with me and to beat me, then we will be your servants. But if I can overcome him and beat him, then ye shall be our servants and serve us." And the Philistine said, "I have defied the host of Israel this day; give me a man and let us fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were discouraged and greatly afraid. And this David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, named Jesse; which Jesse had eight sons, and was an old man in the days of Saul among the people. And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to battle. And the names of his three sons that went to battle were: Eliab the eldest, and the next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And David was the youngest. And when the three eldest were gone after Saul, David went and departed from Saul, to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. And the Philistine came forth every morning and evening, and continued forty days. And Jesse said unto David his son, "Take for thy brethren this ephah of parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the host, to thy brethren. And carry these ten fresh cheeses unto the captain, and look how thy brethren fare, and set out their pledges." And Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in Oakdale fighting with the Philistines. And David rose up early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and took and went, as Jesse had commanded him, and came where the host lay. And the host was going out in array, and shouted in the battle: for Israel and the Philistines had put themselves in array, the one against the other. Then David put the pannier from him, unto the hands of the keeper of the vessels, and ran into the host and came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with them, behold, there stood a man in the midst: Goliath the Philistine by name, of Gath, which came out of the array of the Philistines, and spake of the manner above rehearsed, that David heard it. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, ran away from him, and were sore afraid. And every man of Israel said, "See ye this man that is come forth; even to revile Israel is he come. And to him that beateth him will the king give great riches, and will give him his daughter thereto: yea and make his father's house free in Israel." Then spake David to the men that stood by and said, "What shall be done to the man that beateth this Philistine and taketh away the shame from Israel? For what is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should revile the host of the living God?" And the people answered as it is rehearsed, saying, "So shall it be done to the man that beateth him." And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the man and was angry with David and said, "Why camest thou away, and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the malice of thine heart, that thou art come to see the battle." And David answered, "What have I now done? Is there any more, save a word?" And departed from by him into another front, and spake of the same manner, and the people answered him again, as before. And they that heard the words which David spake, rehearsed them before Saul, which caused him to be fetched. And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail him because of him. Thy servant will go and fight with his Philistine." And Saul said to David again, "Thou art not able to go unto this Philistine, to fight with him. For thou art but a lad, and he hath been a man of war even from his youth." Then said David unto Saul, "As thy servant kept his father's sheep, there came a Lion and likewise a Bear, and took a sheep out of the flock. And I went out after him and smote him, and took it out of his mouth. And when he arose against me, I caught him by the beard and smote him and slew him. For both a Lion and also a Bear hath thy servant slain. And this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, for his railing on the host of the living God." And David spake moreover, "The LORD that delivered me out of the hands of the Lion and out of the hands of the Bear, he shall deliver me also out of the hands of the Philistine." Then said Saul to David, "Go, and the LORD be with thee." And Saul put his raiment upon David, and put a helmet of brass upon his head, and put a coat of mail upon him, and gird David with his own sword upon his raiment. And he assayed to go, for he never proved it. Then said David unto Saul, "I cannot go in these, for I have not been used thereto." And put them off him, and took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of a brook and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, and in a poke; and took a sling in his hand, and went to the Philistine. And the Philistine came and drew near to David, with the man that bare a shield before him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a lad, ruddy and goodly to look upon. And the Philistine said unto David, "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff?" And he cursed David in the name of his gods. And he said to David, "Come to me and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field." Then said David to the Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a sword, a spear, and a shield: But I come to thee in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the host of Israel whom thou hast railed upon. This day shall the LORD deliver thee into my hand, and I shall smite thee and take thine head from thee, and will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the earth - and all the world shall know that there is a God in Israel. And all this congregation shall know that the LORD saveth not with the sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he shall give you into our hands." And when the Philistine arose and came and drew nigh unto David, David hasted and ran in array even against the Philistine. And David put his hand in his poke and took out a stone and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead that the stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell groveling to the earth. And so David overcame the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and smote the Philistine and slew him. And because David had no sword in his hand, he ran and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of his sheath and slew him and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted and followed after the Philistines, until they came to the valley and unto the gates of Ekron. And the Philistines fell down dead by the way, even unto Gath and Ekron. And then the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines and robbed their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem: But he put his armour in his tent. When Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner the captain of his host, "Abner, whose son is this lad?" And Abner answered, "As truly as thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell." Then said the king, "Enquire thou, whose son the youngling is." And so when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, "Whose son art thou, thou lad?" And David answered, "The son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." And when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David; insomuch that Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would let him go no more home to his father's house. And Jonathan and David bound themselves the one to the other, for Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan put off his own coat that was upon him, and gave it David, and thereto his mantle, his sword, his bow and his girdle. And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely. And when Saul had set him over his men of war, he pleased all the people, and Saul's servants thereto. And it happened as they went, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that women came out of all cities of Israel singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with fiddles. And the women that played sang thereto, and said, "Saul hath slain his thousand, and David his ten thousand." Then was Saul exceeding wroth and that saying displeased him, and he said, "They have ascribed unto David ten thousand, and to me but a thousand. And what more can he have, save the kingdom?" Wherefore Saul looked sourly upon David from that day forward. And it happened on the morrow, that the evil spirit sent of God came upon Saul, so that he prophesied in the midst of the house. And David played on the instrument with his hand as he was daily wont. And Saul had a spear in his hand, and hurled it; intending to have nailed David to the wall. But David avoided out of his presence two times. For Saul was afraid of David: because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. And then Saul put David from him and made him a captain over a thousand, and he went out and in before the people. And David was wise in all that he took in hand, and the LORD was with him. Wherefore, when Saul saw that he was so exceeding wise, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and in before them. Then said Saul to David, "Behold, my eldest daughter Merab: her I will give thee to wife; only play the man and fight the LORD's battles." For Saul thought, "Mine hand shall not be upon him, but the hand of the Philistines." And David answered Saul, "What am I? And what is my life or the kindred of my father in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?" Howbeit, when the time was come that Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David she was given unto Adriel, a Meholathite, to wife. Nevertheless, Michal Saul's daughter loved David. And when it was showed Saul, the thing pleased him well. And he said, "I will give him her that she may be a snare to him, to bring the hand of the Philistines upon him." And Saul said to David, "Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law again." And Saul commanded his servants to commune with David secretly and say, "Behold, the king hath a favour to thee, and all his servants love thee - be therefore the king's son-in-law." And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. But David answered, "Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, when I am a poor man and of small reputation?" And Saul's servants told him again, saying, "Of this manner answered David." Then said Saul, "This wise say to David: 'The king careth for no other dowry but for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies." For Saul thought to make David fall into the hands of the Philistines. Then his servants told David these words, and it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. And shortly after that, David arose with his men, and went, and slew of the Philistines, two hundred men; and brought their foreskins, and satisfied the king thereof to be his son-in-law. And so Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. And when Saul saw and understood, how that the LORD was with David, and that Michal his daughter loved him, he was the more afraid of David, and became David's enemy forever. And when the Philistines went out to war, David behaved himself wiselier than all the servants of Saul: so that his name was much set by. Then Saul communed with Jonathan his son, and with all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan Saul's son had a great favour to David, and told David saying, "Saul my father goeth about to slay thee. Now therefore take heed to thyself betimes and abide in some secret place and hide thyself. And I will go out and stand by my father in the field where thou art, and will commune with my father of thee, and if I can perceive ought I will tell thee." And Jonathan spake the best of David unto Saul his father and said unto him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David, for he hath not sinned against thee, and his works are to thee ward very good. For he did put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine, and the LORD gave a great victory to all Israel. And thou sawest it, and thou rejoicedest. Wherefore then shouldest thou sin against innocent blood, and slay David for nought?" And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan and sware, "As truly as the LORD liveth, he shall not die." Then Jonathan called David and showed him all those words, and brought him to Saul. And he was in his presence as in times past. And the war began again, and David went out and fought with the Philistines and slew a great slaughter, and put them to flight. And the evil spirit of the LORD was upon Saul as he sat in his house having a javelin in his hand, and David played with his hand. And Saul intended to nail David to the wall with the Javelin: But David rid himself out of Saul's presence and he smote the spear into the wall. But David fled and saved himself that same night. Then Saul sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him and to slay him in the morning. But Michal his wife told it him saying, "If thou save not thyself this night, tomorrow thou art a dead man." And so Michal let David down through a window, and he went and fled and saved himself. And then she took an image and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow stuffed with goat's hair under the head of it, and covered it with a cloth. And when Saul sent messengers to fetch David, she said that he was sick. Then Saul sent the messengers to see David saying, "Bring him to me, bed and all, that he may be slain." And when the messengers were come in, "Behold there lay an image in the bed, with a pillow of goat's hair under the head of it. Then said Saul to Michal, "Why hast thou mocked me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said unto me, 'Let me go, or else I will kill thee.'" And so David fled and escaped and went to Samuel to Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told Saul, saying, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah." Then Saul sent messengers to fetch David. And when they saw a company of prophets prophesying and Samuel standing fast by them, the spirit of God fell upon the messengers of Saul, and they prophesied too. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers yet again the third time which prophesied also. Then went he himself to Ramah, and when he came to a great well that is in Secu, he asked and said, "Where are Samuel and David?" And they said, "See, they be at Naioth in Ramah." And as he went thither to Naioth in Ramah the spirit of God came upon him also and he went prophesying, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and fell naked all that day and all that night, wherefore it is a common saying, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" And David fled from Naioth in Ramah and went and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? Wherein am I faulty? What is the sin that I have committed before thy father that he seeketh my life?" And Jonathan answered him, "God forbid, thou shalt not die. For see, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it me. For why should my father hide this thing from me? There shall be no such thing." And David sware again and said, "Thy father knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes and therefore he thinketh, 'Jonathan shall not know it, lest he be sorry.' For in very deed even as truly as the LORD liveth, and as truly as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death." Then said Jonathan unto David, "Whatsoever thy soul desireth, that I will do unto thee." And David said unto Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the first day of the month, and I should sit with the king at meat. But let me go that I may hide myself in the fields unto this day three days at evening. If thy father miss me, then say, 'David asked leave of me, that he might go to Bethlehem to his own city, for there is holden a yearly feast for all his kin.' And if thy father say thus, 'It is well done,' then thy servant shall have peace. But and if he be angry, then be sure that wickedness is utterly concluded of him. And then thou shalt show mercy unto thy servant, for thou hast made with me thy servant a bond in the LORD. Notwithstanding, if there be in me any trespass, then slay me thyself, for what needeth thee to bring me to thy father?" And Jonathan answered, "God keep that from thee: that I should know that wickedness were concluded of my father to come upon thee, and should not tell it thee." Then said David, "Who shall tell me, if thy father answer cruelly?" Then said Jonathan to David, "Come, and let us go out into the fields." And they went out both of them into the fields. And Jonathan said unto David, "O LORD God of Israel, when I have groped my father's mind, one time or other within this three days, that it stand well with David: and I then send not unto thee and show it thee, the LORD do so and so unto Jonathan. And in like manner, if evil to thee ward please my father, I will show thee and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace. And the LORD be with thee as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt perform unto me the mercy of the LORD, not only while I live; but even when I am dead pluck not thy mercy away from my house forever. No, not when the LORD hath destroyed the enemies of David, every one, from the face of the earth." And so Jonathan made a bond with the house of David, desiring that the LORD should seek, out of the hands of David's enemies, their wickedness. And with other words Jonathan adjured David, because he loved him. For as his own soul he loved him. Then said Jonathan to David, "Tomorrow shall be the first day of the moon. And thou shalt be missed, because the place shall appear empty. But this day three days, come in any wise unto the place where thou shalt hide thyself, when it is workday: even by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot three arrows by the one side thereof, as though I shot at a mark, and will send after a lad, and bid him go seek the arrows. If I say unto the lad, 'See the arrows are on this side of thee, bring them' - then come thou: for it is peace and nothing to do, as sure as the LORD liveth. But and if I say thus unto the young fellow, 'Behold, the arrows are beyond thee' - then go: for the LORD hath sent thee away. And of this which thou and I have spoke, behold the LORD is witness between thee and me forever." And so David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon was come, the king sat him down at meat, for to eat. And the king sat him down after the old manner, in his seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. Nevertheless, yet Saul said nothing at all that day. For he thought, 'Something has chanced him that he is not clean.' But on the morrow which was the second day of the moon, when David's place appeared empty, Saul said unto Jonathan his son, "Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor today?" And Jonathan answered unto Saul, "David asked license of me to go to Bethlehem, saying, 'Let me go I pray thee, for our kindred hold an offering in the city, and my brother hath sent for me. Now therefore if I have found favour in thine eyes let me go and see my brother.' And therefore he cometh not unto the table of the king." Then was Saul angry with Jonathan and said unto him, "O froward and rebellious, thinkest thou I know not how thou hast chosen the son of Jesse unto thine own rebuke, and unto the rebuke and shame of thy mother? For as long as the son of Jesse lieth upon the earth, thou shalt not be established, nor yet thy kingdom; wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he is the child of death." But Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him, "Wherefore should he die? What hath he done?" Then Saul cast a spear at him to hit him, whereby Jonathan wist well, that it was utterly determined of his father to slay David. And so Jonathan arose from the table in a great anger and did eat no meat the second day of the month, for he was sorry for David, because his father had done him shame. On the next morning, Jonathan went out unto the field, at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto the boy, "Run and find out mine arrows which I shoot." And as the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come to the place whither Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan cried after him and said, "The arrow is beyond thee." And he cried after the lad, "Haste! Make speed and stand not still." And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrow and came to his master. But the lad knew nothing of the matter: only Jonathan and David wist it. Then Jonathan gave his weapons unto the lad and said unto him, "Go and carry them to the town." And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place that was toward the south and fell on his face to the ground and bowed himself three times. And they kissed one another and wept together - but David more abundantly. And Jonathan said unto David, "Go thy way in peace. Whatsoever we both have sworn and spoken together in the name of the LORD, the LORD be witness between me and thee, and between my seed and thine forever." And Jonathan gat him up, and came into the city. Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was astonished at his coming, and said unto him, "Why cometh thou thyself alone, and no man with thee?" And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king hath commanded me to do a certain thing and said unto me, 'Let no man know whereabouts I send and what I have commanded thee to do.' And therefore I have appointed my servants to such and such places. And now what hast thou under thine hand? Give me five loaves of bread or what cometh to hand." And the priest answered David and said, "There is no common bread under mine hand - but there is hallowed bread, if the young men have abstained only from women." And David answered the priest and said unto him, "Of a truth, women hath been locked up from us about a three days, when I came out: and the vessels of the young men were holy. Howbeit, this way is impure: but it shall be hallowed in the vessel." And so the priest gave him hallowed bread, for there was none other bread there save showbreads that were taken from before the LORD; to put fresh bread there the day that it was taken away. And there was there, the same day, a certain man of the servants of Saul abiding before the LORD named Doeg; an Edomite, the chiefest of Saul's herdsmen. And David said unto Ahimelech, "Is not here under thine hand other spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor mine harness with me, because the king's business required haste." Then the priest answered, "The sword of Goliath, the Philistine whom thou slewest in Oakdale; that is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here." And David said, "There is none to that, give it me." And David arose and fled the same day from the presence of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said of him, "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing unto this fellow in dances saying, 'Saul hath slain his thousand, and David his ten thousand'?" And David put those words into his heart and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his countenance before them, and raved in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servant, "Lo, ye saw that this man was beside himself; wherefore then have ye brought him to me? Lack I madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? He shall not come into my house." And David departed thence and escaped, and came unto the cave of Adullam. When his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went thither to him. And there gathered unto him all men that were in cumbrance and in debt and troubled in their hearts, and he became a captain over them. And there were with him upon a four hundred men. And David went thence to Mizpeh in the land of Moab, and said unto the king of Moab, "Let my father and mother, I pray thee, have their abiding with you, till I know what God will do with me." And he left them with the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the while that David kept himself in holds. And the prophet Gad said unto David, "Abide not in castles, but depart and go to the land of Judah." Then David departed and came into the forest of Hereth. And Saul heard of it: for David was known, and also the men that were with him. And as Saul sat in Gibeah under a grove upon a high bank with his spear in his hand and all his men about him, he said unto his servants that stood about him, "Hear I pray you, you sons of Benjamin: will the son of Jesse also give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains over thousands and over hundreds, that ye have all conspired against me? So that there is none of you that openeth mine ear? Insomuch that my son hath made a bond with the son of Jesse, neither is there any of you that mourneth for me or showeth it in mine ear: because my son hath set up my servant to lie await against me, as it appeareth this day." Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which had the oversight of the servants of Saul, and said, "I saw the son of Jesse, when he came to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, which asked counsel of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and the sword of Goliath the Philistine also." Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house: that is to say, the priests that were in Nob. And they came all to the king. And Saul said, "Hear, thou son of Ahitub." And he said, "Here I am, my lord." Then said Saul to him, "Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, insomuch that thou hast given him victuals and a sword, and hast asked counsel of God for him that he should arise against me and lie await as it is come to pass this day?" And Ahimelech answered the king, and said, "Who is so faithful among all thy servants as David and thereto the king's son-in-law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is had in honour in thine house? Have I this day begun first to ask counsel of God for him? God forbid that from me: let not the king put such a thing unto his servant and on all the house of my father. For thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, either less or more." But for all that, the king said, "Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech; both thou and all thy father's house." Then said the king unto his footmen that stood about him, "Turn and slay the priests of the LORD, both because their hand is with David and because they knew when David fled and showed it not to me." But the servants of the king would not move their hands, to run upon the priests of the LORD. Then said the king to Doeg, "Turn thou and smite the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned and ran upon the priests, and slew that same day four score and five persons that did wear each man a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the sword: both man and woman, child and suckling, with ox, ass and sheep. But yet one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David, and showed David how that Saul had slain the LORD's priests. And David said unto Abiathar, "I wist it the same day, that Doeg the Edomite which was there would tell it Saul. And I am cause of the death of all the souls of thy father's house. Abide with me and fear not: he that seeketh thy soul shall seek mine, and with me thou shalt be in safeguard." Then men told David, saying, "Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and spoil the barns." Then David asked the LORD's advice, saying, "Shall I go and smite the Philistines?" And the LORD said unto David, "Go, and smite the Philistines and save Keilah." Then said David's men unto him, "See, we be afraid here in Judah. What shall we then be, when we come to Keilah, to the host of the Philistines?" Then David asked the LORD again. And the LORD answered him and said, "Up, and go to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hands." And so David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, and drave away their cattle and slew a great slaughter of them. And so David saved the inhabiters of Keilah. And it chanced when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah that he brought an ephod in his hand. And it was told Saul, that David was come to Keilah. Then said Saul, "God hath delivered him into mine hand. For he is shut in, that he is come into a town with gates and bars." And Saul called all the people to war, for to go to Keilah to besiege David and his men. But David had knowledge that Saul imagined mischief against him, and said therefore to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." Then said David, "O LORD God of Israel, thy servant heareth that Saul is about to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Or will Saul come as thy servant heareth say? LORD God of Israel, tell thy servant." And the LORD said, "He will come." Then said David, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will deliver you." Then David and his men, which were upon a six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah and went whither chance drave them. And when it was told Saul, that David was fled from Keilah, he let the journey alone. And David abode in the wilderness in strongholds, and in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him all his life, but God delivered him not into his hand. And David saw that Saul was come out, to seek his life, while David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a thicket. And Jonathan Saul's son arose and went to David to the thicket, and strengthened him in God, and said unto him, "Fear not, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee, and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I must be next unto thee: And Saul my father thereto knoweth that it shall be so." And they made a bond both of them together before the LORD. And David tarried still in the thicket, and Jonathan went to his house. Then came the Ziphites to Saul, to Gibeah, saying, "David hideth himself fast by us in strongholds that are in a thicket in the hill of Hachilah on the rightside of the wilderness. Now therefore, sir king, come down with all the lust that thy soul hath to come. And our part shall be to deliver him into the hands of the king." Then said Saul, "Blessed are ye in the LORD: for ye have compassion on me. Go, I pray you, and mark more diligently; and know and see his haunt, where his foot hath been, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he is very subtle. See therefore and know all the lurking places where he lurketh, and come again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you. And then if he be in the land, I will hunt him out with all the thousands of Judah. And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the wild field, on the righthand of the wilderness. For when Saul was gone with his men to seek, it was told David. And therefore he went unto a rock and dwelt in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he followed after David into the wilderness of Maon. And Saul and his men went on the one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other. And David, as a man amazed, made haste to get from Saul. For Saul and his men had compassed David and his men round about, to take them. But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, "Haste thee and come, for the Philistines are come in and rove the land." Wherefore Saul returned from persecuting David, and went against the Philistines. And therefore the place is called Selahammahelekoth. And then David went thence and dwelt in holds at Engedi. Then Saul was come again from the Philistines, it was told him, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." Then Saul took three thousand men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in the rocks, where nothing haunted but wild goats. And he came to the flocks of the sheep by a wayside where was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men sat along by the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, "See, the day is come of which the LORD said unto thee, 'Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, and thou shalt do with him what it pleaseth thee.'" Then David arose and cut off the tip of Saul's coat privily. And immediately David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the tip of Saul's coat. And he said unto his men, "The LORD keep me from doing that thing unto my master that is the LORD's anointed, to lay mine hand upon him: seeing he is the LORD's anointed." And so David kept off his servants with words, and suffered them not to go upon Saul. And when Saul was up out of the cave and gone away, David arose and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, "My lord king!" And Saul looked behind him. And David stooped to the earth and bowed himself, and said to Saul, "Wherefore giveth thou an ear to men's words, that say, 'David seeketh thee evil?' Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee this day into mine hand, in the cave. When they bade kill thee, mine eye had compassion on thee: and I said, 'I will not lay my hands on my master, for he is the LORD's anointed.' And moreover my father, see yet the tip of thy coat in my hand. And inasmuch as I killed thee not too, when I cut off the tip of thy coat; understand and see that there is neither evil nor rebelliousness in me, and that I have not sinned against thee. And yet thou huntest after my soul to take it. The LORD be judge between thee and me, and the LORD avenge me of thee. But mine hand be not upon thee. According to the old proverb, wickedness shall proceed out of the wicked: But mine hand be not upon thee. After whom art thou come out, thou king of Israel? After whom chasest thou? Even after a dead dog, and after a flea! The LORD be judge, and judge between thee and me, and see and plead my cause, and judge me free out of thine hand." When David had made an end of speaking all these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this thy voice, my son David?" And he lifted up his voice and wept, and said to David, "Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me with good, and I have rewarded thee with evil. And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt lovingly with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had locked me in thine hands, thou slewest me not. For who shall find his enemy, and let him depart a good way? Wherefore the LORD reward thee with good, for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now I know well that thou shalt be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou shalt not destroy my seed after me, and that thou shalt not destroy my name out of my father's house." And David sware unto Saul, and Saul went home. But David and his men gat up unto a hold. And then Samuel died, and all Israel gathered together and lamented him, and buried him in his own house at Ramah. And David arose and gat him to the wilderness of Paran. And there was a man in Maon whose cattle was in Carmel, and the man was exceeding mighty, and had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife was Abigail: and she was a woman of good wisdom and beautiful. But the man was churlish and of shrewd conditions and was a Calebite. And when David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal shore his sheep, he sent out ten of his young men, and said unto them, "Get you up to Carmel and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. And thus wise say unto my friend, "Peace be to thee, peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. I have heard say that thou hast shearers. Now the shepherds were with us, and we did them no spite, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel: ask thy lads, and they will show thee. Wherefore let these young men find favour in thine eyes - for we come in a good season - and give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants and to thine son David." And David's young men came and told Nabal all those words in the name of David and then stopped. And Nabal answered David's servants and said, "What is David? And what is the son of Jesse? There is plenty of servants nowadays, that break away every man from his master. Should I take my bread, my water and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men which I know not whence they be?" And David's servants turned their way and went again, and came and told him according to all those sayings. Then David said unto his men, "Gird every man his sword about him." And they girded every man his sword on, and David thereto girded on his sword. And there followed David upon a four hundred men, and two hundred abode by the stuff. But one of the lads told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "See, David sent messengers unto our master out of the wilderness to salute him, and he railed on them. And yet the men were very good unto us and did us no displeasure, neither missed we anything, as long as were conversant with them, when we were in the fields. But they were a wall of defense unto us both by night and also by day, all the while we were with them keeping sheep. Now take heed and see what thou hast to do, for it is concluded to do mischief unto our master and to all his household. And he is ungracious to speak to." Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two bottles of wine and five sheep ready dressed and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred bundles of raisins and two hundred frails of figs, and laded them on asses, and said unto her young men, "Go before me, and see I come after you," and told her husband Nabal nothing thereof. And as she rode on her ass and was coming down in a slade of the hill, David and his men came down against her, and she met them. And David said, "In vain have I kept all that this fellow had in the wilderness: so that nought was missed that pertained unto him, for he hath quite me with evil for good. God do this and yet more unto the enemies of David, if until tomorrow in the morning I leave this man, of all that he hath, so much as one that pisseth against the wall." When Abigail saw David, she hasted and lighted off her ass and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and fell at his feet and said, "Let this unhappy deed be counted mine, my lord, and let thine handmaid speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thy handmaid. Let not my lord regard this unthrifty man Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him. But I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord which thou sendest. And now my lord as sure as the LORD liveth and as thy soul liveth, the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood and from avenging thyself with thine own hand. Furthermore, I pray God that thine enemies and they that intend to do my lord evil, may be as Nabal. And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought, let it be given unto the young men that follow my lord. Forgive the trespass of thine handmaid that the LORD may make my lord a sure house, because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and there could none evil be found in thee in all thy life. And if any man rise to persecute thee and to seek thy soul, the soul of my lord be bound in a bundle of life with the LORD thy God. And the souls of thy enemies be slung in the middle of a sling. And moreover when the LORD shall have done to my lord all the good that he hath promised thee, and shall have made thee ruler over Israel: then shall it be no grudge of conscience unto thee or discourage of heart unto my lord, that thou sheddest blood causeless and didst avenge thyself. And moreover when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then think on thine handmaid." Then said David to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me. And blessed be thy behaviour, and blessed be thou which hath kept me this day from coming to shed blood and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed - as sure as the LORD God of Israel liveth which hath kept me back from hurting thee - except thou hadst hasted and met me, there had not been left Nabal, by the dawning of the day, a pisser against the wall." And so David received of her hand that she brought him, and said to her, "Go in peace to thine house. And see, I have obeyed thy voice and have received thee to grace." And when Abigail came to Nabal, behold, he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, and he was drunk a good. Wherefore she told him nought, neither little nor more, until the morrow day. But in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone, and upon a ten days after, the LORD smote Nabal that he died. And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD that hath judged the cause of my rebuke of the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil, and hath turned the wickedness of Nabal again upon his own head." And David sent to commune with Abigail, to the intent to take her to his wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her saying, "David sent us unto thee, to take thee to his wife." And she arose and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, "Behold thy handmaid, to be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." And Abigail hasted and arose and gat her up upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went at her feet, and went after the messengers of David and was his wife. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they were both his wives. But Saul gave Michal his daughter David's wife to Palti the son of Laish of Gallim. After that came the Ziphites unto Saul to Gibeah saying, "David hideth himself in the hill of Hachilah even before the wilderness." Then Saul arose and went to the wilderness of Ziph, and three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, for to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah which lieth before the wilderness, by the wayside. But David dwelt in the wilderness. And when he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, he sent out spies and understood that Saul was come of surety. Wherefore David arose and went to the place where Saul had pitched, and beheld the place where Saul lay with Abner the son of Ner his chief captain. For Saul lay within a round bank and the people pitched round about him. Then answered David, and spake to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah and brother to Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul, to the host?" Abishai said, "I will go down with thee." And so David and Abishai came to the people by night. And behold, Saul lay sleeping within a round bank and his spear pitched in the ground at his head, Abner and the people lying round about him. The said Abishai to David, "God hath closed in thine enemy unto thine hand this day. Now therefore let me smite him a fellowship with my spear to the earth, even one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time." But David said to Abishai, "Destroy him not - for who can lay his hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?" And David said furthermore, "As sure as the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and there perish: but the LORD keep me from laying mine hand upon the LORD's anointed. Now then take a fellowship the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go." And David took the spear and the cruse of water that were at Saul's head, and they gat them away, and no man saw or wist it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because the LORD had sent a slumber upon them. Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of a hill afar off - a great space being between them - and cried to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Answerest thou not Abner?" And Abner answered, and said, "What art thou that criest to the king?" And David said to Abner, "Art not thou a man? And who is like thee in Israel? But wherefore hast thou not kept thy lord the king? For there came one of the folk to destroy the king thy lord. It is not good that thou hast done. As truly as the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have no better kept the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is and the cruse of water that were at his head." Then Saul knew David's voice and said, "Is this thy voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord king." And he said thereto, "Wherefore doth my lord persecute his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in mine hand? Now hear therefore, my lord king, the words of thy servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, he shall smell the savour of sacrifice. But and if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD. For they have cast me out from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Hence and go serve other gods.' And yet I hope my blood shall not fall to the earth before the face of the LORD, though the king of Israel be come out to hunt a flea, as men hunt the partridges in the mountains." Then said Saul, "I have sinned. Come again, my son David, for I will do thee no more harm; because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have erred exceeding much." And David answered and said, "Behold the king's spear: let one of the young men come over and fetch it. The LORD reward every man's righteousness and faith: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand this day, but I would not lay my hand upon the LORD's anointed. And as thy life was much set by this time in mine eyes: so be my life set by in the eyes of the LORD, that he deliver me out of all tribulation." And Saul said to David, "Blessed art thou, my son David: for thou shalt be a doer and prevail." And so David went his way, and Saul turned to his place again. Then thought David in his heart, "I may perish, one day or other, by the hands of Saul. There is no better for me, than to flee into the land of the Philistines; that Saul, of very despair to find me, may cease to seek me anymore in all the coasts of Israel: for so I may escape his hand." And David arose, and he and the six hundred men that were with him went unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, both he and his men, every man with his household; and David with his two wives: Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, Nabal's wife of Carmel. And when it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath, he sought no more for him. And David said unto Achish, "If I have found grace in thine eyes, let me have a place in some town in the fields, that I may dwell there. For what should thy servant dwell in the head city of the kingdom with thee?" Then Achish gave him Ziklag the same day; for which cause Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was a year and four months. And David and his men went and ran upon the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites: which nations were from the beginning the inhabiters of the land, as men go to Shur, and so forth to Egypt. And David smote the land and left neither man nor woman alive, and took the sheep, the oxen, the asses, camels, and clothes, and removed and came to Achish. And Achish said, "Have ye not been a roving this day?" And David answered, "Yes, in the south of Judah, and in the south of the Jezreelites, and in the south of the Kenites." But David let neither man nor woman come living unto Gath, and thought, "They might peradventure speak, and report against us, 'Thus did David.'" And this was his manner as long as he dwelt in the land of the Philistines. And Achish believed David, saying, "He hath made himself to stink unto his people Israel, and thereto he shall be my servant forever." And it chanced in those days, that the Philistines gathered their host together to war, intending to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, "Be sure: thou shalt go out with me in the host, and thy men also." And David said again to Achish, "Then thou shalt know what thy servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Then I will make thee keeper of my head forever." Samuel was then dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah his own city. And Saul had put the soothsayers and expounders of tokens out of the land. And the Philistines gathered together and came and pitched in Shunem. And Saul and all Israel gathered together and pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart was sore astonished. And Saul asked counsel of the LORD, but the LORD answered him not: neither by dream, nor by the light, nor yet by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, "Seek me a woman that is mistress of a spirit of prophecy; that I may go to her and ask of her." And his servants said to him, "See, there is a woman that hath a spirit of Prophecy in her possession at Endor." And Saul changed his clothes and put on other raiment; and then went he, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Prophesy unto me by the spirit, and bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee." And the woman said unto him, "Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath destroyed the women that had prophesying spirits, and the sorcerers, out of the land. Wherefore then layest thou a net for my soul to kill me?" And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, "As surely as the LORD liveth, there shall no harm chance thee for this thing." Then said the woman, "Whom shall I fetch up unto thee?" And he said, "Bring me up Samuel." When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice and spake to Saul, saying, "Why hast thou mocked me? For thou art Saul." And the king said unto her, "Be not afraid. But what seest thou?" And the woman said unto Saul, "I see a god ascending up out of the earth." And he said, "What fashion is he of?" And the woman said, "There cometh up an old man with a mantle upon him." And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and stooped with his face to the ground and bowed himself. And Samuel said to Saul, "Why hast thou unquieted me, to make me be brought up?" And Saul answered, "I am sore encumbered. For the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me and answered me no more, neither by prophets, neither by dreams. And therefore have I called thee, to tell me what I shall do." Then said Samuel, "Wherefore dost thou ask of me? While the LORD is gone from thee and is thine enemy, the LORD will do to thee as he said by my hand. For the LORD will rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and give it thy neighbour David, because thou obeyedest not the voice of the LORD, nor executedest his fierce wrath upon the Amalekites. Therefore hath the LORD done this unto thee this day. And moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines. And tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me, and the LORD shall give the host of Israel into the hands of the Philistines." Then Saul fell straightway flat on the earth as long as he was, and was sore a dread of the words of Samuel. And thereto there was no strength in him: for he had not eaten all the day and the night before. And the woman came unto Saul and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, "See, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice and have put my soul in thy hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou saidst unto me. Now therefore hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee, and eat, and get the strength to go thy journey." But he refused it and said, "I will not eat." But his servants and the woman together compelled him, that he heard their voice. And so he arose from the earth and sat him on a bed. The woman had a fat calf in the house, and that she hasted and killed it, and took flour and kneaded it and did bake him sweet cakes, and brought them before Saul and before his servants. And when they had eaten, they stood up, and went away the same night. The Philistines gathered all their hosts together unto Aphek: And Israel pitched by a fountain in Jezreel. And the lords of the Philistines went forth by hundreds and by thousands. But David and his men came behind with Achish. Then said the lords of the Philistines, "What are yonder Hebrews?" And Achish said unto the lords of the Philistines, "Is not this David the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me days or years? And I have found no fault in him since he fled unto me unto this day." Nevertheless the lords of the Philistines were wroth with him and said unto him, "Make this fellow return, and let him go again to his place which thou hast appointed him. For he shall not go with us to do battle, lest he be an adversary to us in the battle. For wherewith could he better obtain the favour of his master, than upon the heads of our men? Is not this David to whom they sang in dances, 'Saul slew his thousand, but David his ten thousand?'" Then Achish called David and said unto him, "As sure as the LORD liveth thou art honest, and it pleaseth me well that thou shouldest accompany me in the host, for I have found none evil with thee since thou camest to me unto this day. Nevertheless, the lords of the Philistines favour thee not: wherefore return and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines." And David said again to Achish, "Why, what have I done? And what hast thou found in thy servant as long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" Achish answered and said to David, "I know well thou pleasest me, as it were an angel of God. Notwithstanding, the lords of the Philistines have said that thou shalt not go with them to battle. Wherefore rise up early in the morning, with thy master's servants that are come with thee. And when ye be up early as soon as ye have light, depart." And so David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, and to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. But yer David and his men were come to Ziklag the third day, the Amalekites had run in a running upon the south and upon Ziklag, and had smitten Ziklag and burnt it with fire, and had taken the women that were therein prisoners, both small and great: but slew not a man, save carried them with them and went their ways. When David and his men came to the city: behold, it was burnt with fire, and their wives, their sons and their daughters were taken prisoners. Then David and the people that was with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they could weep no more. And David's two wives were taken prisoners also: Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was in a shrewd strait: for the people intended to stone him because the hearts of the people were vexed for their sons and their daughters. But David took a good courage to him in the LORD his God and said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Bring me the ephod." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David asked the LORD, saying, "Shall I follow after this company? And shall I overtake them?" And he said to him, "Follow, for thou shalt overtake them and recover the prey." And he went, and the six hundred men that were with him, and they came to the river Besor, where a part of them abode. But David and four hundred men followed: But two hundred abode, behind being too weary to go over the river Besor. Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David and gave him bread to eat and water to drink, and gave him a few figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten his spirits came again to him: for he had eaten no bread nor drunk no water in three days and three nights. Then David said unto him, "To whom belongest thou and whence art thou?" And the lad answered, "I am an Egyptian and servant to an Amalekite: and my master left me behind, because it is three days a gone that I fell sick. We came a roving upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon them of Judah and on the south of Caleb. And we burnt Ziklag with fire." And David said to him, "Canst thou bring me to this company?" And he said, "Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee unto them." And when he had brought him: see, they lay scattered abroad upon the earth, eating and drinking and triumphing over all the great prey that they had carried away out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. And David laid upon them from the twilight until the evening on the morrow: so that there escaped not a man, save four hundred young men which rode away upon camels and fled. And David recovered all the Amalekites had carried away, and his two wives: so that there was no person lacking, small or great, son or daughter, or of the spoil of all that they had taken away - David brought all again. And David took all the sheep, and the oxen. And they drave the cattle before, and said, "This is David's prey." And then David came to the two hundred men that were too weary for to follow David which they made to abide at the river Besor. And they came to meet David and the people that were with him. And when David came to the people, he saluted them. Then answered all the wicked and the unthrifty of the men that went with David, and said, "Because they went not with us, therefore shall none of the prey that we have recovered be given unto them, save to every man his wife and his children: which let them carry away and be walking." Then said David, "Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that the LORD hath given us, and hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us, into our hands. For who should hearken unto you in this matter? But as his part is that goeth and fighteth, so good shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part it alike." And so from that day forward was that made a law and a custom in Israel, and endureth to this day. When David came to Ziklag, he sent of his prey unto the elders of Judah and to his friends, saying, "See there a blessing for you, of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD." He sent to them of Bethel; to them of south Ramah; to them of Jattir; to them of Aroer; to them of Siphmoth; to them of Eshtemoa; to them of Racal; to them of the cities of the Jerahmeelites; to them of the cities of the Kenites; to them of Hormah; to them of Borashan; to them of Athach; to them of Hebron, and to all places where David and his men were wont to haunt. And as the Philistines fought against Israel, the men of Israel fled away from the Philistines, and fell down dead in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed after Saul and his sons, and slew Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua, Saul's sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, insomuch that shooters with bows had found him, and he was sore wounded of the shooters. Then said Saul unto his harness bearer, "Draw out thy sword and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come thrust me through and make a mockingstock of me." But his harness bearer would not, for he was sore afraid. Wherefore Saul took a sword and fell upon it. And when his harness bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword and died with him. And so Saul died and his three sons and his harness bearer, and thereto all his men, that same day together. When the men of Israel that were of the other side of the valley, and they of the other side Jordan, heard that the men of Israel were put to flight, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they left the cities, and ran away, and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. On the morrow when the Philistines were come to strip them that were slain, they found Saul and his sons lying in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head and stripped him out of his harness, and sent unto the land of the Philistines everywhere, to publish in the houses of their gods and to the people. And they hanged up his harness in the house of Ashtaroth, but they hanged up his carcass on the walls of Bet-Shean. When the inhabiters of Jabesh in Gilead heard thereof what the Philistines had done to Saul, they arose as many as were men of war and went all night and took the carcass of Saul and the carcasses of his sons from the walls of Bet-Shean and brought them to Jabesh and burnt them there, and took their bones and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

For Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah, when she saw her son was dead, arose and destroyed all the seed of the kingdom of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a sleeping chamber. And so Jehoshabeath the daughter of king Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest - because she was the sister of Ahaziah - hid him from Athaliah that she slew him not. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.

And Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah, when she saw that her son was dead, she arose and slew all the seed of the king. But Jehosheba the daughter of king Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and his nurse with him, out of a sleeping chamber, and hid him from Athaliah, that he was not slain. And he was with her, hid in the house of the LORD, six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. And he did that displeased the eyes of the LORD in all points as his father did. In his time came the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Jerusalem and the city was besieged. read more.
And Nebuchadnezzar came to the city as his servants were yet a besieging of it. And Jehoiachin the king of Judah came out to the king of Babylon, with his mother, his servants, his lords and his chamberlains. And the king of Babylon took him, in the eighth year of his reign. And he carried out thence all the treasure of the house of the LORD, and the treasure of the king's house, and brake all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made, in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said. And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the lords and all the men of might, to the number of ten thousand, into captivity - and all craftsmen and Joiners, none remaining save the poor people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his chamberlains, and the mighty of the land carried he away from Jerusalem to Babylon. And all the men of activity to the number of seven thousand, and craftsmen and joiners a thousand, all strong and apt for war, did the king of Babylon bring to Babylon to dwell.

Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and did that displeased the LORD. And when the year was out, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and fetched him to Babylon with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he was made king, and reigned fifty five years in Jerusalem. And he did wickedly in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. For he went to and built again the hill altars which Hezekiah his father had broken down. And he reared up altars unto Baals and made groves and bowed himself unto all the host of heaven and served them. read more.
And he built altars in the house of the LORD: of which the LORD hath said, "In Jerusalem shall my name be forever." And he made altars unto all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he burnt his children in fire in the valley of the sons of Hinnom. And he observed dismal days and occupied witchcraft and sorcery, and maintained workers with spirits and seers of fortunes: and wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to anger him withal. And he put the carved Image of an Idol which he had made, in the house of God - Of which house, God said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house here in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes, I will put my name forever, and no more bring the seat of Israel from the land which I have ordained for your fathers; if so be, they shall be diligent to do all I have commanded by Moses in all the law ordinances and manners." But Manasseh made Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem to err and to do worse than the heathen which the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel. And when the LORD spake to Manasseh and to his people, they attended not to him. Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the Captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh in a hold and bound him with chains and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in tribulation he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself exceedingly before the God of his fathers, and made intercession to him: and he was entreated of him and heard his prayer and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. And then Manasseh knew how that the LORD was very God. After that, he built a wall without the city of David on the west side of Gihon in the brook and so forth to the fish gate and round about Ophel, and brought it up of a very great height, and put captains of war in all the strong cities of Judah. And he took away the strange gods and the Idol out of the house of God, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of God and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. And he made an altar unto the LORD and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and charged Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people did offer still in the hill altars; howbeit unto the LORD their God only. The rest of the acts of Manasseh and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers of visions that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, are written among the deeds of the Kings of Israel. And his prayer and how he was heard, and all his sin and trespass, and the places where he made hill altars and set up groves and carved Images before he was meekened, are written among the deeds of the seers of visions. And when Manasseh was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his room.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: his mother's name was Hephzibah. And he did that displeased the LORD, even after the abominations of the Heathen, which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. And he went and built the hill altars again, which Hezekiah his father had destroyed. And he reared up altars to Baal and made groves, as did Ahab king of Israel. And he bowed himself unto all the host of heaven and served them. read more.
And he built altars in the very house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, "In Jerusalem I will put my name." And he built altars unto all the host of heaven, even in two courts of the house of the LORD. And he offered his son in fire, and observed dismal days; and used witchcraft and maintained workers with spirits, and tellers of fortunes - and wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD to anger him. And he put an image of a grove that he had made, even in the very temple of which the LORD had said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house and in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever. Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers: so that they will be diligent to do all I have commanded them, and all the law that my servant Moses commanded them." But they hearkened not: for Manasseh had led them out of the way, to do more wickedness than did the heathen people which the LORD destroyed from before the children of Israel. And the LORD spake by his servants the Prophets, saying, "Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done such abominations - and hath wrought wickedly above all that the Amorites which were before him did; and hath made Judah sin also with his Idols - Therefore thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: Behold, I will bring such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that the ears of all that hear it shall tingle at it. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the squaring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab. And I will wipe out Jerusalem, as a man would wipe a dish, and when he hath wiped it, turneth it upside down. And though I leave a remnant of mine inheritance, yet I will deliver them into the hands of them that hate them, and they shall be robbed and spoiled of all their enemies: even because they have done wickedly and have angered me, since the time their fathers came out of Egypt unto this day." And thereto Manasseh shed innocent blood exceeding abundantly, in so much that he replenished Jerusalem in all corners, beside his sin wherewith he made Judah sin and to do evil in the sight of the LORD. The rest of the acts of Manasseh and all he did and his sin that he sinned, are written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And Manasseh laid him to sleep with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, even in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

And Jehoahaz was twenty three years old when he began to reign and reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did that displeased the LORD, in all things as his fathers had done. And Pharaoh Neco put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath in the time of his reign in Jerusalem, and put the land to a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king for his father in Jerusalem. And Jehoahaz was twenty three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. For the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem and merced 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 upon Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name unto Jehoiakim; but Jehoahaz his brother, Neco took and carried him to Egypt.

And see here, Amariah the priest which is head over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, a ruler in the house of Judah, he is over all causes concerning the king, with officers of the Levites before you. Take courage to you and go upon it, and the LORD shall be with the good."

And Zichri a mighty man in mount Ephraim slew Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the lord steward of household, and Elkanah that was next to the king.

{A Psalm of David} The LORD said unto my LORD, "Sit thou on my righthand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

And thereupon Bathsheba went unto king Solomon to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up against her and bowed himself unto her, and sat him down on his seat. And there was a seat set for the king's mother, and she sat on his right side.

Kings' daughters go in thy goodly array, and upon thy righthand standeth the queen in a vesture of the most fine gold.

And Zadok the priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew a trumpet, and they all said, "God save king Solomon!" And all the people came up after him piping with pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the earth rang with the sound of them. And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him, heard it even as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "How happeneth it there is such a noise in the city?" read more.
And as he yet spake, see, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, "Come, for thou art a lusty blood and bringest good tidings." And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, "Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. And the king sent with him, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have set him upon the king's mule. And Zadok the priest and Nathan the Prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. And as they came up again they rejoiced that the city did sound again. And that is the noise that ye have heard. And thereto Solomon sitteth on the seat of the kingdom. And moreover, the king's servants went in to bless our lord king David saying, 'Thy God make the name of Solomon more favoured than thine, and his seat more glorious than thine.' And the king bowed himself upon the bed. And last of all thus said the king, 'Blessed be the LORD God of Israel which hath made one to sit on my seat this day, even mine eyes seeing it.'" And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid and rose up and went every man his way. And Adonijah, fearing Solomon, arose and went and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, how that Adonijah for fear of king Solomon hath caught handfast by the horns of the altar, saying, "Let king Solomon swear unto me this day, that he will not slay his servant with the sword." And Solomon said, "If he will be a child of virtue, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth. But and if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die for it." And thereupon king Solomon sent and fetched him down from the altar. And he came and did obeisance unto king Solomon. And Solomon said to him, "Get thee to thine house." When the days of David were drawn nigh, and he should die; he charged Solomon his son, saying, "I must walk by the way of the world. Neverthelater, be thou strong and quite thyself manfully. And see that thou keep the appointment of the LORD thy God, that thou walk in his ways and keep his commandments, ordinances, laws and testimonies, even as it is written in the law of Moses: that thou mayest understand all that thou oughtest to do, and all that thou shouldest meddle with. That the LORD may make good his promise which he hath promised me, saying, 'If thy children shall take heed to their ways, that they walk before me in truth, with all their hearts and with all their souls; then thou shalt never be without one sitting on the seat of Israel.' Moreover thou knowest how Joab the son of Zeruiah hath served me, and what he hath done to the two captains of the hosts of Israel - unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether - how he slew them and shed the blood of war in time of peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins and in his shoes that were on his feet. Deal with him therefore according to thy wisdom and see that thou bring not his hoar head down to the grave in peace. And show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among them that eat at thine own table, because they so clave to me when I fled from Absalom thy brother. And see, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, the son of Benjamin of Bahurim, which cursed me with a bitter curse what time I went to Mahanaim. But he came against me to Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, "I will not slay thee with the sword." But pardon thou him not. Thou art a man of wisdom and shalt know what to do to him, see therefore that thou bring his hoar head to the grave with blood." And so David rested with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. And the days which David reigned upon Israel were forty years: seven years in Hebron, and thirty and three years in Jerusalem. And Solomon sat upon the seat of David his father and his kingdom was established mightily. After that, Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, "Betokeneth thy coming peace?" And he said, "It betokeneth peace." Then said he, "I have a matter to show thee." And she said, "Say on." And he said, "Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel put their eyes on me, that I should reign. Howbeit, the kingdom was turned away and given to my brother, for it was appointed him of the LORD: and now I ask a petition of thee, whereof deny me not." And she said unto him, "Tell what it is." Then he said, "Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king - for he will not say thee nay - that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife." And Bathsheba said, "Well, I will speak for thee unto the king." And thereupon Bathsheba went unto king Solomon to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up against her and bowed himself unto her, and sat him down on his seat. And there was a seat set for the king's mother, and she sat on his right side. Then she said, "I must desire a little petition of thee: say me not nay." And the king said unto her, "Ask on my mother: for I will not say thee nay." And she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife." And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, "Why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? But rather ask for him the kingdom, seeing he is mine elder brother! Even for him ask it; and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah." Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, "God do so to me and so thereto if Adonijah have not spoken this word against himself. Now therefore as surely as the LORD liveth which hath established me and set me on the seat of David my father, and which hath made me a house as he promised me, Adonijah shall die this day." And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and smote him that he died. And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, "Get thee to Anathoth unto thine own fields, for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time kill thee, because thou hast borne the Ark of the Lord Jehovah before David my father, and because thou sufferest with my father in all his afflictions." And so Solomon put away Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD: to fulfill the words of the LORD which he spake over the house of Eli in Shiloh. Then tidings came to Joab - for Joab had turned after Adonijah, but not after Absalom - whereupon he fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD and caught handfast on the horns of the altar. And it was told king Solomon how that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD and stood by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada saying, "Go and smite him." And when Benaiah was come to the tabernacle of the LORD he said unto him, "Thus sayeth the king: 'Come out.'" And he said, "Nay: But I will die even here." And Benaiah brought the king word, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me." And the king said, "Do even as he hath said: smite him and bury him, and take away the blood which Joab shed, causeless, from me and from the house of my father. And the LORD bring his blood upon his own head, for he smote two men righteouser and better than he, and slew them with the sword; my father unwitting: even Abner the son of Ner captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether captain of the host of Judah. And their blood return upon the head of Joab and on the head of his seed forever. And prosperity be unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his seat, of the LORD forever." And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and smote him and slew him and buried him in his own house in the wilderness. And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host, and put Zadok the priest in the room of Abiathar. Then the king sent and called Shimei, and said to him, "Build thee a house in Jerusalem and dwell there and see that thou go not once thence any whither. For be thou sure of it: the day thou goest out and passest over the river of Kidron, thou shalt die for it, and thy blood shall be on thine own head." And Shimei said unto the king, "It is well said: as my lord the king hath said, so will his servant do." And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many a day. And it chanced, at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And one told Shimei, saying, "See, thy servants be in Gath." And Shimei stood up and saddled his ass and gat him to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants, and came and brought them again from Gath. But it was told Solomon how that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and was come again. And the king sent and called Shimei and said unto him, "Did I not adjure thee by the LORD, and testified unto thee saying, 'Be sure whensoever thou goest out and walkest abroad any whither, thou shalt die for it?' And thou answeredst me, 'It is good tidings that I have heard.' Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I commanded thee?" And then the king said to Shimei, "Thou rememberest all the wickedness which thine heart knoweth that thou didst to David my father. The LORD therefore render again thy wickedness upon thine own head: and king Solomon be blessed, and the fear of the LORD be established before the LORD forever." And the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada: which went out and smote him that he died. And so was the kingdom settled in the hand of Solomon. Then Solomon drew affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had made an end of building his own house and the house of the LORD and the walls of Jerusalem round about. Only the people sacrificed in altars made on hills, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD until those days. And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the ordinances of David his father, save only that he sacrificed and offered cense upon altars in hills. And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar. And in Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, "Ask what I shall give thee." And Solomon said, "Thou hast showed unto thy servant David, my father, great mercy; according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and plainness of heart with thee. And thou hast kept for him this great mercy, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his seat: as it is come to pass this day. And now LORD, my God, it is thou that hast made thy servant king instead of David my father. And I am a young lad and know not how to order myself. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a people that are so many that they can not be told nor numbered for multitude. Give therefore unto thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, and to discern between good, and bad. For who is able to judge this, thy so weighty a people?" And it pleased the LORD well, that Solomon had desired this thing. Wherefore God said unto him, "Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked long life, neither hast asked riches, nor the lives of thine enemies, but hast asked the discretion to understand equity: see, I have done according to thy petition. And behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And thereto I have given thee that thou askedst not, both riches and honour: so that there shall be no king like thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep mine ordinances and commandments as David thy father did walk, I will lengthen thy days also." When Solomon awoke, this was his dream. And he came to Jerusalem and presented himself before the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. Then came there two women that were harlots unto the king and stood before him. And the one of them said, "Oh my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. And I was delivered of a child with her in the said house. And the third day after that I was delivered, she was delivered also: we two being together and no stranger with us in the house save we two alone. And this woman's child died in a night, for she had overlaid it. And then she arose at midnight and took my son from my side, while thine handmaid slept and laid it in her bosom, and put her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose up in the morning to give my child suck: see, it was dead. But when I had looked more diligently upon it in the morning: Behold, it was not my son which I did bear." And the other woman said, "It is not so: But the living is my son, and the dead thine." And she said again, "Thou sayest untrue, for the dead is thy son, and the living mine." And thus they pleaded before the king. Then said the king, "The one sayeth, 'This that is alive is my son, and the dead is thine.' And the other sayeth, 'Nay: But thy son is the dead and the live child is mine.'" Then said the king, "Bring me a sword." And they brought a sword before the king. And then the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give the one half to the one, and the other to the other." Then spake the woman whose son lived, unto the king - for her motherly heart was kindled with pity over her son - and said, "I beseech thee, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it." And the other said, "It shall be neither mine nor thine, but divide it." Then the king answered and said, "Give her the living child and slay it not, for she is the mother thereof." And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged and feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice. And so king Solomon was king over all Israel. And these were his lords: Azariah the son of Zadok the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host; And Zadok and Abiathar were the priests; And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the general receivers; And Zabud the son of Nathan was a waiter and the king's companion; And Ahishar, the steward of household; And Adoniram the son of Abda over the tribute. And Solomon had twelve general receivers over all Israel which sustained the king and his household: each man his month in a year. Whose names are these: The son of Hur in mount Ephraim; the son of Dekar in Makaz, in Salem, in Bethshemesh, in Elon and in Bethhanan; the son of Hesed in Arubboth, and to him pertained Socoh and all the land of Hepher; the son of Abinadab, which had all the regions of Dor, and Taphath the daughter of Solomon was his wife; Baanah the son of Ahilud had Taanach, Megiddo, and all Bet-Shean which is by Zarethan beneath Jezreel, and from Bet-Shean to Abelmeholah and unto beyond Jokmeam; The son of Geber had Ramoth Gilead, and his were the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh which lie in Gilead, and his were the coasts of Argob in Bashan, three score great cities with wall and bars of brass; Abinadab the son of Ado had Mahanaim; Ahimaaz had Naphtali, and he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon to wife; Baanah the son of Hushai had Asher and Aloth; Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah had Issachar; Shimei the son of Ela had Benjamin; Geber the son of Uri had the country of Gilead and the land of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan, and was alone receiver in the land. And Judah and Israel were many, even as the sand of the sea in number, eating, drinking, and making merry. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river throughout all the land of the Philistines unto the borders of Egypt, and they brought presents and served Solomon all days of his life. And Solomon's food was in one day thirty quarters of manchet flour and three score quarters of meal; ten stalled oxen, and twenty out of the pastures and a hundred sheep and goats, besides harts, bucks and buballs and fat poultry. For he ruled in all the regions on the other side Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza and also over all the kings on the other side the said Euphrates. And he had peace with all his servants on every side. And Judah and Israel dwelt without fear, every man under his vine and under his fig tree from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. And the foresaid general receivers made purveyance for king Solomon and for all that came to king Solomon's table, every man his month, so that there lacked nothing. And as for barley and straw for the horses and beasts they brought unto the places where the officers were, every man in his office. And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much and a large heart, even as the sand along by the sea bank: so that Solomon's wisdom exceeded the wisdom of all them of the East country and all the wisdom of the Egyptians. And he excelled all men in wisdom, both Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol and Darda the sons of Mahol. And his name spread abroad among all nations on every side. And Solomon wrote three thousand proverbs. And his songs were a thousand and five. And he disputed of trees, even from the Cedar tree that groweth in Lebanon unto the Hyssop that springeth out of the wall. And he disputed of beasts, fowls, worms, and fishes. And there came of all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all kings of the earth which had heard of his wisdom. And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father. And thereto Hiram was ever a lover of David's. And Solomon sent again to Hiram, saying, "Thou knowest of David my father, how he could not build a house unto the name of the LORD his God for war which he had on every side, until the LORD had put them under his foot. But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor any evil plague. And therefore I am disposed to build a house unto the name of the LORD my God, as he promised David my father, saying, 'Thy son which I will put upon thy seat for thee, he shall build a house unto my name.' Now then, command that they hew me Cedar trees in Lebanon. And let my servants be with thine, and I will give the hire of thy servants in all such things as thou shalt appoint, for thou knowest that there are not among us that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians." When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day which hath set David a wise son over this mighty people." And Hiram sent again to Solomon, saying, "I have accepted the request which thou sentest to me for, and will satisfy all thy lust, concerning timber of Cedar trees and fir. My servants shall bring them from Lebanon to the sea. And I will convey them by ship unto the place that thou shalt send me word, and will cause them to be discharged there, that thou mayest receive them. And thou shalt do me this pleasure again, to minister food for mine house." And so Hiram gave Solomon Cedar trees and fir trees, as much as he desired. And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand quarters of wheat to feed his household withal, and twenty butts of pure oil. And so much gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon and they were confedered together. And king Solomon raised a tribute throughout all Israel. And the tribute was thirty thousand men, which he sent to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by course, so that they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was over the tribute. And Solomon had three score and ten thousand that bare burdens, and three score and ten thousand that hewed in the mountains besides the lords he had to oversee the work, in number three thousand and three hundred, which ruled the people that wrought in the work. And at the commandment of the king, they brought great stones, and that free stones, and hewed thereto, to lay in the foundation of the house. And Solomon's masons and the masons of Hiram did hew them, with them of the borders. And so they prepared both in timber and stone to build the house. And it came to pass, the four hundred and fourscore year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, and the fourth year of the reign of Solomon upon Israel, and the second month called Ziv, that he began to build the temple unto the LORD. And the house which Solomon built for the LORD was three score cubits long and twenty broad and thirty cubits high. And the porch that was before the body of the temple was twenty cubits long after the measure of the breadth of the house, and ten broad, even at the very end of the house. And he made unto the house, windows to open and shut. And under the walls of the house he made galleries round about, both round about the temple and also the quyre. And so made sides round about. And the nethermost gallery was five cubits broad and the middle gallery six. And the third, seven cubits broad. For he made the walls without, whereon the beams lay, ever thinner and thinner, so that they were not fastened in the walls of the house. And the house was built of stone made perfect already before it was brought thither, so that there was neither hammer or axe either any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. And the door of the middle gallery was in the end of the house on the right side. And men went up with winding stairs into the middle gallery, and out of the middle into the third. And so he built the house and finished it, and roofed it with beams of Cedar timber made hollow and joined together. And then he built chambers over all the temple of five cubits height, and coupled the house together with beams of Cedar. And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, "Concerning the house which thou art in building: if thou wilt walk in mine ordinances and execute my laws and keep all my commandments, to walk in them; then will I make good unto thee my promises which I promised David thy father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel." And so therefore Solomon built the house and finished it, and sealed the walls of the house within, with ribs of Cedar tree: even from the pavement unto the roof did he seal it within, and boarded the floor of the house with planks of fir. And he sealed twenty cubits in the end of the temple, both floor and walls, with Cedar, and dressed it within to be the quyre and place most holy. And the first house, that is to say, the body of the temple, was forty cubits long. And the Cedar of the house within was carved with knops and graven with flowers, and all was Cedar timber, so that no stone was seen. And the quyre that was within the temple, he prepared to set there the Ark of the covenant of the LORD. And the quyre was twenty cubits long, and twenty in breadth and twenty in height. And he sealed it with pure gold, and boarded the altar with Cedar. And Solomon sealed the house within also with pure gold. And he made golden bars run along the quyre, which he had covered with gold. And the whole house he overlaid with gold until he had ended it. And the altar that was in the quyre he overlaid with gold also. And within the quyre he made two Cherubims of olive tree, ten cubits high apiece, and every wing five cubits long: so that from the uttermost part of one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. And the other Cherub was ten cubits high also: so that both the Cherubs were of one measure and one size. The height of the one Cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other. And he put the Cherubs in the middle of the inner house. And the Cherubs stretched their wings, so that the one wing of the one touched the one wall, and the one wing of the other touched the other wall. And the other two wings of them touched one another in the midst of the house. And he overlaid the Cherubs with gold. And all the walls of the house round about, he garnished with work of Cherubs and palm trees and graven flowers, both within in the quyre and without in the temple. And the floor of the house he covered with gold both within in the quyre and also without in the temple. And in the entering of the quyre he made two doors of olive tree, with the upper and two side posts five square. And the two doors of olive tree he graved with graving of Cherubs and Palm trees and graved flowers, and covered them with gold, and laid gold over the Cherubs and also the Palm trees. And in like manner, unto the door of the temple, he made posts of olive tree four square, and two doors of fir tree, and either door with two folding leaves and graved thereon Cherubs, Palm trees and flowers, and covered them with gold made plain by a ruler. And then he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone and one row of Cedar wood. In the fourth year of his reign was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, even in the month Ziv, and in the eleventh year in the month Bul which is the eighth month, it was full finished in all that pertained thereto, and fashioned as it should be in all points. And so was he seven years in building of it. And Solomon built his own house in thirteen years space and full finished it. And he built the house of the wood of Lebanon, a hundred cubits long and fifty broad, and thirty high, four square with rows of Cedar pillars and Cedar beams along upon the pillars. And the roof was Cedar above on high upon the beams that lay a high on the pillars, which pillars were forty and five in number, fifteen on a row, and the spaces between the pillars were one against another three fold. And all the doors with the side posts were four square one against another three fold. And he made a porch of pillars fifty cubits long and thirty cubits broad: and yet a porch before that with pillars, and a thick pillar before that. Then he made a porch to sit and judge in, sealed with Cedar throughout all the pavements. And his own house where he kept residence, in another court without that porch, was of the same work. And then Solomon made a house for Pharaoh's daughter which he had taken to wife, like unto that porch. And all these things were of rich stones hewed after a measure and sawed with saws within and without, even from the foundation unto that whereon the beams were laid, and on the outside thereto, toward the great court. And the foundation was of rich stones and the mighty great stones of ten cubits and of eight. And above were rich stones hewed according to the same size, and also with Cedar. And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stone and one row of Cedar planks. And likewise was it in the inner court of the house of the LORD and of the porch of the temple. And king Solomon sent and fetched one Hiram out of Tyre, a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, his father being of Tyre. Which Hiram was a craftsman in brass, and full of wisdom, understanding and cunning to work all manner of work in brass. And he came to king Solomon and wrought all his work. He cast two pillars of brass of eighteen cubits apiece high, and a string of twelve cubits might compass either of them about. And he made two head pieces of molten brass to set on the tops of the pillars, of five cubits long apiece, with garlands of braided work and hoops of chain work for the head pieces that were on the pillars, seven for the one and seven for the other. And he made the pillars, and for either of the head pieces a garland with two rows of pomegranates to cover them withal. And the head pieces that were on the tops of the pillars were wrought with lilies in the porch the space of four cubits of them. And the pomegranates above and beneath on the wreathen chains that compassed the middle of the head pieces were in number two hundred on either head piece. And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple, and when he had set up the right pillar, he called the name thereon Jachin, and when he had set up the left pillar, he called the name thereof Boaz. And the tops of the pillars were thus wrought with lilies, and so was their workmanship finished. Then he cast a sea of brass, ten cubits wide from brim to brim and round in compass, and five cubits high. And a string of thirty cubits might compass it about, and under the brim of it as it were apples compassed and embraced the sea of ten cubits wide in two rows cast with it when it was cast. And it stood on twelve oxen: of which three looked North, three West, three South, and three East, and the sea on high upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. And it was a hand breadth thick, and the brim wrought like the brim of a cup with flowers of lilies. And it contained two thousand baths. And he made ten bottoms of brass, four cubits long and four cubits broad apiece, and three high. And the works of the bottoms was on this manner that the sides were as it were flat boards between the ledges. And on the flat boards between the ledges were lions, oxen and Cherubs. And upon the ledges that were above and beneath the lions and oxen, was joined pendant work. And every bottom had four brazen wheels, whose axletrees were also of brass. And in the four corners were undersetters under the laver cast, each over against his fellow. And the stalk of the laver was in the middle of the bottom one cubit high, and a cubit and a half round, and it had knops thereon in the bare places which were foursquare not round. And under the sides were four wheels and their axletrees joined fast to the bottom. And the height of every wheel was a cubit and a half. And the workmanship of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel. And the axletrees, the navels, spokes and shafts were all molten. And the four undersetters in the four corners were of the very bottoms. And under the stalk of the laver in the midst of the bottom was there a round foot of half a cubit high. And thereon, plain places and ledges of the self. And he graved in the plain and also on the ledges, Cherubs, lions and palm trees, everywhere round about. And on this manner he made the ten bottoms cast work: all of one measure and one size. Then he made ten lavers of brass containing forty baths apiece, and they were of four cubits apiece, for every one of the bottoms a laver. And he put five of those bottoms on the right corner of the temple, and other five on the left: And put the sea on the right corner of the temple Eastward and toward the South. And Hiram made pots, shovels and basins, and so furnished all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: that is to say, two pillars and two scalps of the heads that were on the tops of the two pillars, and four hundred pomegranates upon two wreaths, two rows on either wreath, to cover the two scalps of the heads that were on the tops of the two pillars. And the ten bottoms of brass with ten lavers upon them; and a sea with twelve oxen under it; and pots, shovels and basins. And all these vessels which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD were of bright brass. And in the plain of Jordan did the king cast them: even in the clay of the earth between Succoth and Zarethan. And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, for the exceeding abundance of brass that was in them. And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the Altar of gold, and the table of gold whereon the shewbread was put. And five candlesticks, for the right side, and as many for the left, before the quyre, of pure gold: with flowers, lamps, and snuffers of gold; and bowls, Psalteries, basins, spoons and fire pans of pure gold; and hinges of gold both for the doors of the quyre, the place most holy, and for the doors of the temple also. And so was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And then Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated in silver, gold and other vessels, and put them to the treasure of the house of the LORD. Then Solomon gathered the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and ancient lords of the children of Israel, unto him to Jerusalem, to bring up the Ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled unto king Solomon to the feast that falleth in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. And when all the elders of Israel were come, the priests took up the Ark of the LORD, and brought it and also the tabernacle of witness and all the holy vessels that were therein. And the priests and the Levites brought them up. And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled, and were with him before the Ark, did offer sheep and oxen that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. And so the priests brought the Ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place: even into the quyre of the temple and place most holy, under the wings of the Cherubs. For the Cherubs stretched out their wings over the Ark, and covered both it and also the staves thereof on high upon it. Howbeit the staves were so long that the ends of them appeared out of the holy place before the quyre, but were not seen without. And there they be unto this day. And there was nothing in the Ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel after they were come out of Egypt. And when the priests were come out of the Holy place, then a cloud filled the house of the LORD, that the priests could not endure to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. Then spake Solomon, "The LORD said that he would dwell in darkness. I have built thee a house to dwell in, and a habitation for thee to abide in forever." And the king turned his face and blessed all the congregation of Israel, all the congregation standing. And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath fulfilled with his hand, that he spake with his mouth unto David my father, saying, 'From the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city among any of the tribes of Israel, to build a house, that my name might be there: But I have chosen David to be ruler over my people Israel.' And it was in the heart of David my father, to build a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. But the LORD God said unto David my father, 'In that it was in thine heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well, that thou wast so minded. Nevertheless, thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come out of thy loins, he shall build a house for my name.' And the LORD hath made good his word that he spake. For I stood up in the room of David my father, and sat on the seat of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. And I have prepared therein a place for the Ark wherein the covenant of the LORD is, which he made with our fathers, after he had brought them out of the land of Egypt." And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the sight of all the congregation of Israel and stretched out his hands to heaven, and said, "LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above or in the earth beneath, that keepest appointment and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their hearts: which also hast kept with thy servants David my father, that thou promisedest him. Thou spakest with thy mouth and hast fulfilled with thine hand, as it is come to pass this day. And now LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father, that thou promisedest him, saying, 'Thou shalt not be without one or other before me, sitting on the seat of Israel: Howbeit, if thy children shall take heed to their ways that they walk before me, as thou hast walked before me.' Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be stable which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. But indeed can God dwell on the earth? Behold: neither heaven, nor heaven above all heavens are able to contain thee - how much less then this house that I have built? But look to the prayer of thy servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, to give an ear unto the voice and prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee this day, that thine eyes may be open upon this house night and day; and upon the place, of which thou hast said, my name shall be there: that thou hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall pray in this place. And hearken unto the supplication of thy servant and of thy people Israel which they shall pray in this place. And hear thou, up unto heaven thy dwelling place, and when thou hearest have mercy. And if any man trespass against his neighbour, and his neighbour take an adjuration to adjure him withal, and the adjuration come before thine altar at this house, then hearken thou up to heaven, and work and judge thy servants, that thou condemn the wicked to bring his way upon his head, and justify the righteous to give him according to his righteousness. When thy people Israel be put to the worse before their enemies, because they have sinned against thee, and afterward turn again to thee and praise thy name, and pray and make supplication unto thee in this house: Then hear thou up to heaven and be merciful unto the sin of thy people Israel, and bring thee again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. If heaven be shut up, that there be no rain, because they have sinned against thee: yet if they pray in this place and praise thy name and turn from their sins, through thy scourging of them: then hear thou up to heaven, and be merciful unto the sin of thy servants and of thy people Israel, that thou show them a good way to walk in, and give rain upon thy land that thou hast given unto thy people to inherit. If there chance dearth in the land, pestilence, blasting or withering of corn, or that the fruits be devoured of grasshoppers or caterpillars, or if their enemies besiege them in the land and in their own cities, or whatsoever plague or sickness chance: then hear thou up to heaven thy dwelling place, all the prayers and supplications that shall be made of all men throughout all thy people Israel, which shall knowledge every man the plague of his own heart, and stretch forth his hands unto this house. And be merciful, and work, and give every man according to his ways - even as thou only knowest every man's heart, for thou knowest the hearts of all the children of Adam - that they may fear thee as long as they live upon the earth which thou gavest unto their fathers. And likewise, if a stranger that is not of thy people Israel come out of a far country for thy name's sake - for they shall hear of thy great name and of thy mighty hand and stretched-out arm - and therefore if he come and pray at this place, hear thou up to heaven thy dwelling place and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all nations of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee as do thy people Israel, and that it may be known that this house which I have built is called after thy name. And when they go out to battle against their enemies whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen and toward the house that I have built for thy name: hear thou their prayers and supplications, up to heaven, and judge their cause. And finally, when they shall have sinned against thee - for there is no man that sinneth not - and thou art angry with them and hast delivered them to their enemies, that they be carried away prisoners unto the land of their enemies, whether far or near; yet if they turn again unto their hearts in the land where they be in captivity, and return and pray unto thee in the land of them that hold them captive, saying, 'We have sinned and have done wickedly and have trespassed,' and so turn again unto thee with all their hearts and all their souls in the land of their enemies which hold them captive, and pray unto thee, toward the land which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: then hear thou their prayer and supplication up to heaven thy dwelling place, and judge their causes, and be merciful unto thy people that have sinned against thee, and unto all their trespass that they have trespassed against thee, and get them favour in the sight of them that hold them captive that they may have compassion on them. For they be thy people and thine inheritance which thou broughtest out of Egypt, from the furnace of iron. And let thine eyes be open unto the prayer of thy servant and unto the prayer of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them, in all that they call unto thee for. For thou didst separate them to be thine inheritance, above all the nations of the earth, as thou saidest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord Jehovah." And when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD and from kneeling on his knees and stretching of his hands up to heaven, and stood and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, "Blessed be the LORD that hath given rest unto his people Israel according to all that he promised: so that there is not one word escaped of all the good promises which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. And the LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers, and forsake us not, neither leave us, but that he bow our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, ordinances and customs which he commanded our fathers. And these my words which I have prayed before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he defend the cause of his servant and of his people Israel evermore, that all nations of the earth may know that the LORD, he is God and there is none other. And I pray God that your hearts may be sound with the LORD our God, to walk in his ordinances and to keep his laws as we do this day." And the king, and all Israel with him, offered offerings before the LORD. And the peace offerings that Solomon offered unto the LORD, were twenty two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep: And so the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. And the same day the king hallowed the middle of the court that is before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings and meat offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brazen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt offerings and meat offerings and the fat of the peace offerings. And Solomon held that same time a high feast and all Israel with him, a mighty congregation, even from the coasts of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and yet seven days, that is, fourteen days. And the eighth day he sent the people away. And they blessed the king and went unto their tents joyous and glad in heart for all the goodness that the LORD had showed unto David his servant and to Israel his people. And when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD and of the king's palace, and of all that his desire and lust was to make: the LORD appeared unto him again, as he appeared to him at Gibeon. And the LORD said unto him, "I have heard thy prayer and intercession that thou madest before me, and have hallowed this house which thou hast built, to put my name there forever and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in pureness of heart and plainness, to do all that I have commanded thee, and shalt keep mine ordinances and customs: then I will establish the seat of thy kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, 'Thou shalt not be without one or other upon the seat of Israel.' But and if ye and your children shall turn away from after me, and shall not keep mine ordinances which I have set before you, but shall go and serve other gods and bow yourselves unto them: then I will weed Israel out of the land which I have given them. And this house which I have hallowed for my name, I will put out of my sight. And Israel shall be a proverb and a fable unto all nations. And this house which is so high, all that pass by it shall be astonished and shall hiss and say, 'Why hath the LORD dealt on this manner with this land and with this house?' And it shall be answered then, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God which brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods and have stooped unto him and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.'" Then at the end of twenty years in which Solomon had built the two houses, that is to wete, the house of the LORD and the king's palace - because Hiram the king of Tyre had supported him with Cedar, fir and gold, as much as he desired - therefore Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. And when Hiram was come from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, they pleased him not. Wherefore he said, "What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother?" And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day. This Hiram had sent the king six score hundredweight of gold. And this is the sum of the tribute, which king Solomon raised to build the house of the LORD and his own house, and Mello and the walls of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer. For Pharaoh, king of Egypt, went up and took Gezer and burnt it with fire, and slew the Cananites that dwelt in the city, and gave it for a present unto his daughter that was Solomon's wife. And Solomon built Gezer and Bethhoron the nether; and Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness that is in the land; and all the store cities that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen and all that his lust was to build in Jerusalem and Lebanon and in all the land of his kingdom. And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, the children of the said nations that were left in the land, because the children of Israel were not able to destroy them, did Solomon make tributaries unto this day. And of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen. But they were men of war and his servants and his lords and Captains and rulers of his chariots and of his Horsemen. And these many lords that oversaw the work, had Solomon five hundred and fifty, which ruled the people that wrought in the work. And Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David unto the house which Solomon had built for her. And after that he built Mello. And thrice a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he had built unto the LORD, to burn the fat thereon: which altar is before the LORD. And when king Solomon had made the house perfect, he made ships in Eziongeber which is beside Eloth, on the brink of the reed sea, in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent by ship also of his servants, that were shipmen and expert in the sea, with the servants of Solomon. And they went to Ophir and fetched from thence gold, to the sum of four hundred and twenty two talents, and brought it to Solomon. And the queen of Sheba heard of the wisdom of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, and came to prove him with riddles. And she came to Jerusalem with a mighty great multitude of Camels that bare sweet odours and gold exceeding much, and precious stones. And when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon expounded her all her questions, that there was not one thing hid from the king which he expounded her not. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the standing of his servitors and their apparel, and his butlers and his sacrifice that he offered in the house of the LORD, she was astonished. Then she said to the king, "The word I heard in mine own land of thy deeds and wisdom, is true. Howbeit, I believed it not till I came and saw it with mine eyes. And see, the one half was not told me: for thy wisdom and goodness exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men: and happy are these thy servants, which stand ever before thee and hear thy wisdom. And blessed be the LORD thy God which had a lust to thee, to set thee on the seat of Israel, because the LORD loved Israel for ever, and therefore made thee king, to do equity and righteousness." And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of sweet odours exceeding much, and precious stones. There came never after such abundance of sweet odors as the Queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. And thereto the ships of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir great plenty of almug trees and precious stones. And king Solomon made of the almug trees pillars in the house of the LORD in the king's palace, and made harps and psalteries for singers. There came no more almug trees so, nor was any more seen unto this day. And king Solomon gave unto the Queen of Sheba all her desire that she asked of him: besides that he gave her with his own hand. And so she returned unto her own country with her servants. The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred three score and six talents of gold, besides that he had of chapmen and merchants of apothecaries and of all the kings of Arabia and of the lords of the country. And king Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold, six hundred sicles of gold went to a buckler. And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold, three pounds of gold going to a piece, and put them in the house of the wood of Lebanon. And the king made a great seat of Ivory and covered it with precious gold. And the seat had six steps. And the top of the seat was round behind his back with pommels on either side on the place where he sat, and two Lions standing beside the pommels. And there stood twelve lions on the steps, six on a side. There was none like seen in any kingdom. And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the wood of Lebanon were of pure gold. And as for silver, it was nothing worth in the days of Solomon. For the sea ships which the king had in the sea, with the ships of Hiram, came every third year laden with gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks. And so king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the world resorted to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And brought him every man his present, vessels of silver and of gold, and of raiment, harness, sweet odours, horses and mules, year by year. And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: so that he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he bestowed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. And the king made silver in Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and Cedar as plenteous as mulberry trees that grow in the valleys. And Solomon's horses came out of Egypt from Kue: the merchants fetched them from Kue at a price. A chariot came out of Egypt for six hundred sicles of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. And even so, by the hands of the said merchants, horses were brought out for all the kings of the Hittites and for the kings of Syria. But king Solomon loved many outlandish women: the daughter of Pharaoh, and of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites, even of nations of which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, "See ye come not at them, nor let them come to you: for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless to such Solomon clave and fell in love with them. And he had seven hundred very Queens and three hundred concubines which turned always his heart. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart after other gods: so that his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. And Solomon followed Ashtaroth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD and continued not after the LORD as did David his father. After that, Solomon built an altar for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites in the hill that standeth before Jerusalem, and unto Moloch the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his outlandish wives, which burnt cense and offered unto their gods. Then was the LORD angry with Solomon because his heart turned from the LORD God of Israel which appeared unto him twice, and gave him a charge of this thing that he should not follow other gods. But he kept not that which the LORD commanded him: whereupon the LORD said to Solomon, "Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept mine covenant and mine ordinances which I have commanded thee, therefore I will rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding, in thy days I will not do it, because of David thy father: but I will take it from thy son. Howbeit I will not take away all: but will give one tribe to thy son, because of David my servant and because of Jerusalem which I have chosen." And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, one Hadad, an Edomite and of the king's lineage of Edom. For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury them that were slain, he smote all the males in Edom - for Joab remained six months, and all Israel, till he had rooted out all the males that were in Edom. And this Hadad fled, and certain other Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go to Egypt; Hadad being yet a little lad. And they arose out of Midian and went to Paran, and took men with them out of Paran and came to Egypt unto Pharaoh king thereof, which gave him a house, and appointed him victuals and gave him lands. And Hadad gat great favour in the sight 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 him Genubath his son. And Tahpenes weaned him in Pharaoh's house. And he was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh. And when Hadad heard say in Egypt that David was laid to sleep with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead also, he said to Pharaoh, "Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country." Then said Pharaoh unto him, "What lackest thou here with me, that thou wouldest go to thine own country?" And he said, "Nothing: howbeit, let me go." And God stirred up another adversary, one Rezon the son of Eliada, which fled from Hadadezer king of Zobah his master. Which Rezon gathered men unto him and became captain over the company, when David slew them. And they went to Damascus and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, with the evil that Hadad did, which abhorred Israel and reigned in Syria. And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zeredah - whose mother was called Zeruah and was a widow and Solomon's servant - lifted up his hand against the king. And hereof came it, that he lifted up his hand against the king. Solomon built Mello and mended broken places in the city of David his father. And this fellow Jeroboam was an active man. And when Solomon saw the young man, that he wrought so lustily in the work, he made him ruler over all the charges of the house of Joseph. And it chanced, at that season, as Jeroboam was gone out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him by the way, having a new mantle on him, and they two alone in the field. And Ahijah caught the new mantle that was on him and rent it in twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam, "Take thee ten pieces. For this sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'Behold, I will rent the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon and will give ten tribes to thee, and he shall have one, for my servant David's sake and for Jerusalem the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel: because they have forsaken me, and have bowed themselves unto Ashtaroth the God of the Sidonians, and to Chemosh the God of the Moabites and to Milcom the God of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that pleaseth me, and mine ordinances and customs, as David his father. Howbeit, I will take none of the kingdom out of his hand: but will make him chief all his life long, for David my servant's sake, which I chose: because he kept my commandments and ordinances. But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and will give unto thee ten tribes of it: and will give his son one, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me, to put my name there. And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign upon all that thy soul desireth and shalt be king over Israel. And if thou shalt hearken unto all that I command thee, and shalt walk in my ways and do that is right in my sight, that thou keep mine ordinances and commandments as David my servant did: then will I be with thee and build thee a house that shall continue, as I built for my servant David, and will give Israel unto thee. And therewith will I vex the seed of David, but not forever.'" And Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam: wherefore Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt unto Shishak king of Egypt and continued there until the death of Solomon. And the rest of the acts of Solomon and all that he did, and his wisdom, are written in the book of the Acts of Solomon. And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem upon all Israel, was forty years. And then he laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

The twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah, and ruled in Jerusalem forty one years. And his mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. And Asa did that seemed right in the eyes of the LORD, like David his father. read more.
And he made the stews of males depart the land, and put away all the idols that his fathers had made. And thereto he put down Maacah his mother from bearing rule, because she had made an idol in a grove. And Asa destroyed her idol and burnt it by the brook Kidron. But he put not down the hill altars. Nevertheless, Asa's heart was whole with the LORD all his days. And he brought in that which his father had dedicated, and the things dedicated unto the house of the LORD; silver, gold, and jewels. And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, because that he would let none of Asa's people, king of Judah, go in or out. Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasure of the house of the LORD, and all the treasure of the king's house and delivered it unto his servants, and sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion king of Syria that dwelt at Damascus, saying, "There is a bond between thee and me as was between thy father and mine. Therefore, I send thee both gold and silver for a gift, that thou go and break the covenant between thee and Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me." And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, Dan, Abel called Bethmaacah and all Chinnereth with all the land of Naphtali. And when Baasha heard that, he left building of Ramah and dwelt in Tirzah. Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah, that none should be excused. And they took the stones of Ramah and the timber wherewith Baasha had built, and king Asa built therewith Geba in Benjamin and Mizphah. And the remnant of all the deeds of Asa and of all his might and of all that he did, and the cities which he built, are written in the chronicles of the acts done in the days of the kings of Judah. Neverthelater, in his old age he was diseased in his feet. And Asa laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his room.

Then Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man. Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'I anointed thee king over Israel and rid thee out of the hands of Saul. And I gave thee thy master's house and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah - and would, if that had been too little, have given thee twice so much more. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do wickedness in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. read more.
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house, because thou hast despised me and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite, to be thy wife.' Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Behold, I will stir up evil against thee even of thine own house and will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, which shall sleep with them in the sight of the sun. And thou didst it secretly, yet will I do this thing before all Israel and in the open sunlight.'"

"Up, and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth: for he is gone down thither, to take possession of it. And say unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: thou hast killed and thereto gotten possession.' And say moreover unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: in the place where dogs lapped the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lap even thy blood also.'" And Ahab said to Elijah, "Hast thou found me thine enemy at any time?" And he said, "Yea, because thou art utterly given to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD. read more.
Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will make clean riddance of thee, and will destroy unto Ahab all that pisseth against the wall, and if ought be prisoned or forsaken in Israel: and will make thine house, like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the angering wherewith thou hast angered and made Israel sin." And thereto against Jezebel came the word of the LORD, saying, "Dogs shall eat Jezebel, under the walls of Jezreel. And he that dieth of Ahab in the town, him shall dogs eat: and he that dieth in the fields, him shall the fowls of the air eat."

And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, they sent and called him unto the congregation and made him king over Israel: and no man followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein. And went from thence and built Penuel. And Jeroboam thought in his heart, "Now might the kingdom return to the house of David again. For if this people shall go up and do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall their hearts turn again unto their lord Rehoboam king of Judah. And so shall they kill me and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah." read more.
Whereupon the king took counsel and made two calves of gold and said unto the people, "Ye shall not need to go any more to Jerusalem. Behold your gods, Israel, which brought you out of the land of Egypt!" And he put the one in Bethel and the other in Dan. And that doing was a cause of sin. And the people went before the one as far as Dan. And he made houses of hill altars, and made, of the lowest of the people, priests which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam made a feast the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like unto the feast that was in Judah, and offered on the altar. And so did he in Bethel, to offer unto the calves that he had made. And he put in Bethel the priests of the hill altars, which he had made. And he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel, the fifteenth day of the eighth month, which he had imagined of his own heart: and made a solemn feast unto the children of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn sacrifice. And behold, there came a man of God out of Judah with the word of God, to Bethel, as Jeroboam stood by the altar to offer, and cried against the altar at the commandment of the LORD and said, "Altar, altar, thus sayeth the LORD: 'Behold, a child shall be born of the house of David, Josiah by name, which upon thee shall offer the priests of the hill altars that sacrifice upon thee, and shall burn men's bones upon thee.'" And he gave them the same time a sign, saying, "This is the sign, of that the LORD hath promised: Behold, the altar shall rent and the ashes that are in it shall fall out." And when the king heard the saying of the man of God which he cried against the altar in Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar saying, "Hold him." And his hand, which he put forth toward him, dried up that he could not pull it in again to him; and the altar clave and the ashes ran out of the altar according to the token which the man of God had given at the commandment of the LORD. And the king answered and said unto the man of God, "Oh pray unto the LORD thy God and make intercession for me, that my hand may be restored me again." And the man of God besought the LORD, and his hand came to him again as well as before. Then said the king unto the man of God, "Come home with me and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward." But the man of God answered the king, "If thou wouldest give me half thine house, I would not go with thee - neither would I eat meat or drink water in this place. For so was it charged me, through the word of God and said to me, 'Eat no bread nor drink water nor turn again by the same way thou wentest." And so he went another way and returned not by the way he came to Bethel. And there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel, and the words which he spake unto the king they told their father also. And their father said unto them, "What way went he?" For his sons had seen what way the man of God went which came from Judah. Then said he to his sons, "Saddle mine ass." And they saddled him an ass. And he gat him up thereon and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an Oak and said unto him, "Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah?" And he said, "Yea." Then he said to him, "Come home with me and eat bread." And the other said again, "I may not return with thee, to go with thee, neither may I eat bread or drink water with thee in this place. For it was said to me by the commandment of the LORD, 'Eat no bread nor drink water in this place, nor turn again by the way thou wentest.'" And the old prophet said unto him, "I am a prophet as well as thou, and an Angel spake unto me with the word of the LORD saying, 'Bring him again with thee to thine house, and let him eat bread and drink water.' Bvt he lied unto him. And so the other went again with him and ate bread in his house and drank water. And as they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him again. And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, "Thus sayeth the LORD: 'Because thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, but camest back again and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place in which he bade that thou shouldest eat no bread nor drink water: therefore thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.'" And when he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled an ass for the prophet which he had brought again. And as he journeyed, a lion met him by the way and slew him, and his carcass lay along in the way and the ass stood thereby, and the lion stood by the corpse also. And men that passed by, saw the carcass cast along in the way and the lion standing thereby, and went and told it in the town where the old prophet dwelt. And when the prophet that brought him back again from the way, heard thereof, he said, "It is the man of God which disobeyed the mouth of the LORD. And therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion which hath rent him and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he said to him." And he said to his sons, "Saddle me an ass." So they did. And he went and found the body cast along in the way, and the ass and the lion standing thereby. And the lion had not eaten the carcass nor hurt the ass. And he took up the body of the man of God and put it upon the ass and brought it again, and came to the city of the old prophet to lament him, and to bury him. And he laid his body in his own grave and lamented over him, "Oh my brother." And when he had buried him, he spake to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, see that ye bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried, and lay my bones by his. For the saying which he cried at the bidding of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of hill altars which are in the cities of Samaria, shall come to pass." Howbeit, for all that, Jeroboam turned not from his wicked way: but turned away and made of the lowest of the people priests of the hill altars. Whosoever would, he filled their hands, and they became priests of the hill altars. And this doing was sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to destroy it and to put it away from off the face of the earth. At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said unto his wife, "Up, a fellowship, and change thine apparel that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam, and get thee to Shiloh. For there is Ahijah the prophet which told me that I should be king over this people. And take with thee ten loaves and cracknels and a cruse of honey, and go to him: for he will tell thee what shall come of the lad." And Jeroboam's wife did so: she arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were waxen dim for age. And the LORD said unto Ahijah, "Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh, to question with thee about her son which is sick. This wise and this wise answer her." And when she came, she feigned herself to be another woman. But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came to the door, he said, "Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam: why feignest thou thyself to be another? I am sent to thee a cruel messenger. Go and tell Jeroboam, thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: 'Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the common people and made thee prince over my people Israel, and did rent the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it thee - and thou hast not been as was my servant David, which kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, to do that only which seemeth right in mine eyes - but hast done evil above all that were before thee, and hast gone and made the other gods and images of metal, to provoke me, and hast cast me behind thy back. Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam and will strike from Jeroboam all that pisseth against the wall, and whatsoever is in prison or forsaken in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as men take away a dung hill, till it be consumed. And whosoever of Jeroboam's house die in the town, him shall the dogs eat, and him that dieth in the field, shall the fowls of the air eat': for the LORD hath said it. Up, and get thee to thine house, and as soon as thy foot enterest the city, the lad shall die. Howbeit, all Israel shall mourn him and bury him, for this only of all Jeroboam shall come to the sepulchre, because in him there is found goodness toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. Moreover, the LORD shall stir him up a king over Israel which shall destroy the house of Jeroboam in that day. And what is that, that is now in hand? And the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed that groweth in the water is shaken, and will weed Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond Euphrates, because they have made them groves to anger the LORD. And he will give Israel up, because of the sin of Jeroboam wherewith he did sin and made Israel sin thereto." And Jeroboam's wife arose and departed and went to Tirzah, and by that she was come to the threshold of the door, the lad was dead. And all Israel buried him and lamented him, according to the word of the LORD which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the Prophet. And the rest of the deeds of Jeroboam - how he warred and how he reigned - are written in the book of the stories of the kings of Israel. And the days which Jeroboam reigned were twenty two years. And then he rested with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.

And he brought out the son of the king and put the crown upon him, and delivered him the witness, and made him king and anointed him. And they clapped their hands and said, "God save the king."

And they brought out the king's son and put upon him the crown and the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, "God save the king."

And then Samuel took a box of oil and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, "The LORD hath anointed thee to be a captain over his inheritance.

And all the lords and men of power, and thereto all the sons of king David submitted themselves under king Solomon.

In the thirty seventh year of Jehoash king of Judah, began Joash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and continued sixteen years: and did unhappily in the sight of the LORD and departed in nothing from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat that made Israel sin, but walked therein. The remnant of the acts of Joash and all he did, and his power, how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the Chronicle Book of the Kings of Israel. read more.
And when Joash was laid to rest with his fathers, Jeroboam sat upon his seat. And Joash was buried in Samaria among the kings of Israel. When Elisha was fallen sick of the sickness whereof he died, Joash king of Israel came to him and wept to him, and said, "O father, father! The chariot of Israel and the horsemen of the same!" And Elisha said unto him, "Bring bow and arrows." And he brought to him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, "Put thine hand upon the bow, and when he had put his hand upon the bow, Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands." Then he said, "Open a window eastward," and he opened. And Elisha said, "shoot," and he shot. And he said, "The arrow of salvation of the LORD; and the arrow of salvation against the Syrians: For thou shalt beat the Syrians in Aphek till thou have consumed them." Then he said, "Take arrows," and he took. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Smite the ground," and he smote thrice and ceased. And the man of God was angry with him and said, "Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times, and then thou hadst smitten the Syrians till thou hadst consumed them: where now thou shalt beat them but thrice." When Elisha was dead and buried the soldiers of the Moabites came into the land, the year following. And it chanced, as they were burying a man, that they spied the Soldiers, and therefore cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha. And as soon as the man came and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood up on his feet. And Hazael oppressed Israel, all the days of Jehoahaz. But the LORD had mercy on them and pitied them and turned to them because of his covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and would not destroy them, either cast them from him as yet. And when Hazael king of Syria was dead, Benhadad his son reigned in his stead. And then Joash the son of Jehoahaz went again - and took out of the hand of Benhadad, son of Hazael, the cities which he had taken away out of the hands of Jehoahaz his father, with war. And three times did Joash beat him and brought the cities of Israel again.

After that, Amaziah sent messengers to Joash the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us see each other." But Joash king of Israel sent again to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "A thistle in Lebanon sent to a cypress tree in Lebanon, saying, 'Give thy daughter to my son to wife.' But the wild beasts in Lebanon went and trod down the thistle. Because thou hast beaten the Edomites, therefore thine heart riseth. Be glorious: but tarry at home. For what needest thou to provoke to mischief - that thou shouldest be overthrown and Judah with thee?" read more.
But Amaziah would not hear. And so Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah saw either other at Bethshemesh in Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh. And then he went to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasure of the king's house, and hostages thereto: and then returned to Samaria again. The rest of the acts of Joash which he did, and his power, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And Joash laid him to rest with his fathers and was buried at Samaria among the kings of Israel: and Jeroboam his son reigned in his room.

The second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign. Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. And he did that was right in the sight of the LORD: even in all things as did his father Uzziah, did he. read more.
But they put not away the hill altars: for the people offered and burnt cense still in the hill altars. He built the highest door in the house of the LORD. The rest of the deeds of Jotham and all he did, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. In those days the LORD began to send against Judah: Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah. And Jotham rested 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 oxen that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. And over the oxen in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.

And there was there, the same day, a certain man of the servants of Saul abiding before the LORD named Doeg; an Edomite, the chiefest of Saul's herdsmen.

And Hilkiah the high priest and Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went unto Huldah the Prophetess, wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah the son of Harahas keeper of the robes - which Prophetess dwelt in Jerusalem in the second ward - and communed with her.

And Hilkiah, with them that pertained to the king, went to Huldah, a prophetess, wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe - which prophetess dwelt in Jerusalem in the second ward - and they communed so with her.

The fifth year of Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being yet king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. Thirty two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab for the daughter of Ahab was his wife, and he did that displeased the LORD. read more.
Neverthelater, the LORD would not destroy Judah because of David his servant, as he promised him to give him a light in his children always. And in his days Edom fell away from under the hand of Judah, and made them a king of their own. And Jehoram went to Seir, and all his chariots with him. And he rose by night and laid on the Edomites, which compassed him in, and the captains of his chariot and the people fled into their tents. And so the Edomites slipped away from under the hand of Judah unto this day. And then Libnah slipped away too, even that same time. The rest of the deeds of Jehoram and all he did, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And Jehoram rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

The second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, reigned Amaziah the son of Jehoash king of Judah: he was twenty five years old when he began, and reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin, and was of Jerusalem. And he did that pleased the LORD, yet not like David his father: but did in all things as Joash his father did. read more.
Neither took they away the hill altars. But the people slew and offered still in the hill altars. And as soon as the kingdom was settled in his hand, he slew his servants that killed the king his father. But the children of those murderers he slew not, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, where the LORD commanded saying, "The fathers shall not die for the children's cause, nor the children for the deeds of their fathers: But every man shall be slain for his own sin." And he slew of the Edomites in the salt valley, ten thousand, and took the town Sela with strength of battle, and called the name of it Joktheel ever after. After that, Amaziah sent messengers to Joash the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us see each other." But Joash king of Israel sent again to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "A thistle in Lebanon sent to a cypress tree in Lebanon, saying, 'Give thy daughter to my son to wife.' But the wild beasts in Lebanon went and trod down the thistle. Because thou hast beaten the Edomites, therefore thine heart riseth. Be glorious: but tarry at home. For what needest thou to provoke to mischief - that thou shouldest be overthrown and Judah with thee?" But Amaziah would not hear. And so Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah saw either other at Bethshemesh in Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh. And then he went to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasure of the king's house, and hostages thereto: and then returned to Samaria again. The rest of the acts of Joash which he did, and his power, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And Joash laid him to rest with his fathers and was buried at Samaria among the kings of Israel: and Jeroboam his son reigned in his room. Amaziah the son of Jehoash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, fifteen years. And the remnant of the deeds of Amaziah, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And they conspired great treason against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. And they went after him to Lachish and slew him there. And they brought him on a horse and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou laid to rest with thy fathers, then I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy body, and will establish his kingdom. And he shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the seat of his kingdom forever: I will be his father and he shall be my son; insomuch that if he sin, I will but rebuke him with such a rod as men be rebuked with and with such plagues as the children of men be plagued with. read more.
But my mercy will I not take away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put down before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall endure without end after thee, and thy seat shall be established forever.'"

I have sworn once by my holiness, that I will not fail David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne is like as the sun before me. He shall stand fast for evermore as the moon, and as the faithful witness in heaven." Selah.

"Thou shalt not rail upon the judges, neither curse the ruler of thy people.

Wish the king no evil in thy thought, and speak no hurt of the rich in thy privy chamber; for a bird of the air shall betray thy voice, and with her feathers shall she betray thy words.

And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign upon Israel, the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned upon Israel two years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin wherewith he made Israel sin. But Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against him, and slew him at Gibbethon a city of the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel lay at siege before Gibbethon.

The rest of the deeds of Nadab, and all he did, are written in the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

The eighteenth year of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, king Abijam reigned over Judah, and ruled three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins of his father which he did before him, and his heart was not whole with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. read more.
Nevertheless, for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a light in Jerusalem; that he set up his son after him to continue Jerusalem, because that David did which pleased the LORD and turned from nothing 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 as long as he lived. And the rest of the deeds of Abijam and all that he did, are written in the book of the deeds that were done in the days of the kings of Judah. And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. And Abijam rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his stead.

And Ahithophel was of the king's counsel. And Hushai the Archite was the king's companion.

And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the general receivers; And Zabud the son of Nathan was a waiter and the king's companion; And Ahishar, the steward of household;

The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers came together against the LORD, and against his Christ.

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure,

Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to fight. And they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

And the fifty second year of Uzziah king of Judah, began Pekah the son of Remaliah to reign over Israel in Samaria and continued twenty years, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, and turned not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat that made Israel sin. In the days of Pekah king of Israel, came Tiglathpileser, king of Assyria, and took Ijon, Abelbethmaacah, Janoah, Kadesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali, and carried them away to Assyria. read more.
And Hoshea the son of Elah conspired treason against Pekah the son of Remaliah and smote him and slew him and reigned in his stead, the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. The rest of the acts of Pekah, and all he did, are written in the Stories of the Kings of Israel.

Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign upon Israel in Samaria, the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and was king over Israel two years, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin. And he served Baal and bowed himself to him and angered the LORD God of Israel, in all things, as did his father.

The rest of the deeds of Ahaziah which he did, are written in the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

And Adoniram the son of Abda over the tribute.

And Zichri a mighty man in mount Ephraim slew Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the lord steward of household, and Elkanah that was next to the king.

and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the standing of his servitors and their apparel, and his butlers and his sacrifice that he offered in the house of the LORD, she was astonished.

And then she said to the king, "The saying which I heard in mine own land, of thine acts and of thy wisdom, is truth.

With patience may a prince be pacified, and with a soft tongue may rigorousness be broken.

The king's displeasure is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.

Nevertheless, the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, but did say, "Nay, not so: But there shall be a king over us, and we will be like all other nations. And our king shall judge us, and go out before us and fight our battles."

and said unto him, "Behold, thou art old and thy sons follow not thy ways. Now, therefore, make us a king to judge us, as all other nations have."

The seat of the king that faithfully judgeth the poor, shall continue sure for ever more.

It is a great abomination when kings are wicked; for a king's seat should be holden up with righteousness.

And the king made of the Algum wood stairs for the house of the LORD and in the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers. And there was no such wood seen before in the land of Judah.

With joy and gladness shall they be brought, and shall enter into the king's palace.

And Joab was over all the host of Israel. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

The king's disfavor is like the roaring of a Lion, but his friendship is like the dew upon the grass.

The king ought to be feared as the roaring of a lion; whoso provoketh him unto anger, offendeth against his own soul.

Then Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man. Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'I anointed thee king over Israel and rid thee out of the hands of Saul.

And he sent and brought him in. And he was brown with goodly eyes, and well favoured in sight. And then the LORD said, "Up and anoint him: for this is he."

And when Jeroboam and all the people were come to Rehoboam the third day - as the king appointed them, saying, "Come to me again this day three days" -

And when all Israel saw that the king regarded them not, the people answered the king again saying, "We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents therefore Israel, and now see to thine own house David." And so Israel departed unto their tents.

But David said to Abishai, "Destroy him not - for who can lay his hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?"

And David said unto him, "How is it that thou wast not afraid to lay thine hand on the LORD's anointed, to destroy him?"

And the LORD said unto Samuel, "Hear the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee. For they have not cast thee away, but me: that I should not reign over them.

And ye have this day cast away your God that helped you out of all your adversities and tribulations. And ye have said unto him: make a king over us. Now therefore stand before the LORD by your tribes and your thousands.'"

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father's brother, king in his stead, and changed his name and called him Zedekiah.

And Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away - which, when he came to Egypt, died there.

They said unto him, "Caesar's." Then said he unto them, "Give therefore to Caesar, that which is Caesar's: and give unto God, that which is God's."

And even for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God's ministers, serving for the same purpose. Give to every man therefore his duty: Tribute to whom tribute belongeth: Custom to whom custom is due: fear to whom fear belongeth: Honour to whom honour pertaineth.

And out of the city he took a certain chamberlain that had the oversight of the men of war, and five men that were ever in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and Sophar the captain of the host that taught the people of the land to make war, and three score men of the people of the land that were found in the city also.

Happy are thy men: and happy are these thy servants, which stand ever before thee and hear thy wisdom.

And yet for all that, I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his royalty, was not arrayed like unto one of these.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Change thee and get thee to war: but put on thine own apparel." And the king of Israel changed himself, and went to battle also.

He changeth the times and ages; he putteth down kings, he setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and understanding to those that understand;

Now therefore behold the king, whom ye have chosen and whom ye have desired. See, the LORD hath given you a king!

And Adoniram the son of Abda over the tribute.

Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, the receiver of the tribute. And all Israel stoned him to death with stones. But king Rehoboam made speed and gat him up to his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.

And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests, and Seraiah was the scribe.

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

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

And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host; And Zadok and Abiathar were the priests;

And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder.

He changeth the times and ages; he putteth down kings, he setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and understanding to those that understand;

whereupon the LORD said to Solomon, "Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept mine covenant and mine ordinances which I have commanded thee, therefore I will rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

See that ye honour all men. Love brotherly fellowship, fear God, and honour the King.

Give to every man therefore his duty: Tribute to whom tribute belongeth: Custom to whom custom is due: fear to whom fear belongeth: Honour to whom honour pertaineth.

The Lord said unto him, "Go thy ways: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel:

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know well thou believest." Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."

"Thus sayeth Cyrus the king of Persia: 'The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the land and hath commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Whosoever now among you is of his people, the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel. He is the God that is at Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth yet in any manner of place, where he is a stranger, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with good and cattle, beside that which they willingly offer, for the house of God at Jerusalem.'"

Then commanded king Darius, that search should be made in the library of the king's treasure house which lay at Babylon. So at Ecbatana, in a castle that lieth in the land of the Medes, there was found a book, and in it was there an act written after this manner: "In the first year of king Cyrus, commanded the same king Cyrus to build the house of God at Jerusalem, in the place where the sacrifice is made, and to lay the foundation to bear threescore cubits height, threescore cubits breadth, read more.
and three walls of all maner of stones, and one wall of timber, and the expenses shall be given of the king's house. And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God - which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon - shall be restored again, that they may be brought unto the temple at Jerusalem to their place into the house of God." "Get you far from them therefore, thou Tattenai, captain beyond the water, and Shetharbozenai, and your counselors, which are beyond the water, get ye away from them. Let them work in the house of God, that the captain of the Jews and their Elders may build the house of God in his place. I have commanded also, what shall be done to the Elders of Judah for the building of the house of God, that there shall diligently be taken of the king's goods, even of the rents beyond the water, and given unto the men, and that they be not hindered. And if they have need of calves, lambs, or goats, for the burnt offering unto the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine and oil, after the custom of the priests at Jerusalem, there shall be given them daily as is according: and see that this be done without fault, that they may offer sweet savours unto the God of heaven; and pray for the king's life, and for his children. This commandment have I given. And what man soever he be that altereth these words, there shall a beam be taken from his house, and set up, and he shall be hanged thereon, and his house shall be made a dunghill for the deed. But the God that dwelleth in heaven, destroy all kings and people that put to their hand to alter and to break down the house of God at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have commanded, that this be diligently done."

namely, them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise the rulers. Presumptuous are they, and stubborn, and fear not to speak evil of them that are in authority;

For he is even the same, that knoweth the rebellious kings, and sayeth to princes,

namely, them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise the rulers. Presumptuous are they, and stubborn, and fear not to speak evil of them that are in authority;

Likewise these dreamers defile the flesh, despise rulers, and speak evil of them that are in authority.

And when he is sitten upon the seat of his kingdom, he shall write him out this second law in a book; taking a copy of the priests' the Levites'. And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all days of his life that he may learn to fear the LORD his God for to keep all the words of this law and these ordinances for to do them: that his heart arise not above his brethren and that he turn not from the commandment: either to the righthand or to the left: that both he and his children may prolong their days in his kingdom in Israel.

The thirty eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and reigned in Samaria twenty two years. And he displeased the LORD above all that were before him. For it seemed him a light thing to walk in the sin of Jeroboam - But took Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians to wife, and went and served Baal and bowed unto him. read more.
And he reared an altar to Baal in the house of Baal which he had made in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove, and proceeded further in angering the LORD God of Israel, than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. And it cost him Abiram his eldest son when he laid the foundation, and his youngest son when he set up the gates, agreeing unto the word of the LORD which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun. And Elijah the Tishbite, which was of the inhabiters of Gilead, said unto Ahab, "As truly as the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, save as I appoint it." And the word of God came to him, saying, "Get thee hence and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself in the brook Cherith that lieth before Jordan. Drink of the river for I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." And he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that lieth before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh every morning and every evening, and he drank of the brook. And it chanced after a while that the brook dried up, because there fell no rain upon the earth. Then came the word of the LORD unto him, saying, "Up, and get thee to Zarephath a city of Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee." And he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, there was a widow there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a dish that I may drink." And as she went to fetch it, he cried to her and said, "Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand." And she answered, "As surely as the LORD thy God liveth, I have no bread, but even a handful of meal in a pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse. And see, I have gathered a few sticks for to go and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it and then die." And Elijah said unto her, "Fear not, but go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first of all, and bring it out to me, and afterward make for thee and thy son. For thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'The pitcher of meal shall not be wasted, neither shall thy oil cruse be without oil, until the LORD have sent rain upon the earth.'" And she went and did as Elijah bade. And she and he and her house did eat a good space, and the pitcher of meal wasted not neither was the oil cruse without oil according to the word of the LORD which he spake through Elijah. And after these things, it happened that the son of the wife of the house fell sick. And his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. Then said she unto Elijah, "What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? Art thou come unto me, that my sin should be thought on and my son slain?" And Elijah said unto her, "Give me thy son." And he took him out of her lap and carried him up into a loft where he lay, and laid him upon his own bed, and called unto the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, hast thou been so evil unto the widow with whom I sojourn, that thou hast slain her son?" And he stretched himself upon the lad three times, and called unto the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, let the lad's soul come into him again." And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the lad came into him again and he revived. And Elijah took the boy and brought him down out of the chamber into the house and delivered him unto his mother and said, "See, thy son liveth." Then the wife said to Elijah, "Now I know that thou art God's man, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth." And at the last, the word of the LORD came to Elijah the third year, saying, "Go show thyself unto Ahab, that I may send rain upon the earth." And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab, for there was a great famishment in Samaria. Wherefore Ahab called Obadiah the governor of his house - which Obadiah feared God greatly, insomuch that when Jezebel destroyed the Prophets of the LORD, he took a hundred of the Prophets and hid them, fifty in one cave and fifty in another, and provided bread and water for them. And Ahab said unto Obadiah, "Walk through the land, unto all fountains of water and unto all brooks, to see whether any grass may be found that we may save the horses and the mules, that we destroy not the beasts." And they divided the land between them to walk through it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another by himself. And it chanced, as Obadiah went in the way, that Elijah met him. And Obadiah knew him and fell on his face and said, "Art not thou my lord Elijah?" And he said unto him, "I am he. Go and tell Ahab that Elijah is here." And the other answered, "What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver me unto the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As surely as the LORD thy God liveth there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent, to seek thee. And when they said thou wast not there, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, because he found thee not. And now thou sayest, 'Go and tell thy Lord Elijah is here.' And as soon as I am gone from thee, the spirit of the LORD shall carry thee away, whither I shall not know: and then when I have gone and told Ahab, and then he can not find thee, he shall slay me. And yet I thy servant have feared the LORD from my young age. Was it not told my lord what I did, when Jezebel slew the Prophets of the LORD? How I hid a hundred of the LORD's Prophets, fifty in one cave and as many in another, and provided them of bread and water? And yet now thou sayest, "Go show thy lord that Elijah is here, that he should slay me." Then Elijah said, "As truly as the LORD of Hosts liveth, before whom I stand: I will show myself unto him this day." And thereupon Obadiah went to Ahab and told him. And Ahab went against Elijah. And when Ahab saw Elijah, he said unto him, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And he said, "It is not I that trouble Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and hast followed Baal. But now send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel; and the Prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty; and the Prophets of the groves; four hundred, which eat of Jezebel's table. And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Then Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain." And when Ahab went up to eat and to drink, Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "Here is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'" And within a little while, heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab, till they came to Jezreel. And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and altogether how he had slain the Prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, "So do God to me, and so thereto, except I make thy soul like one of theirs by tomorrow this time." When he saw that, he arose and went for his life, and came to Beersheba in Judah, and left his lad there. And he went a day's journey into the wilderness, and when he was come sat down under a Juniper tree, and desired for his soul, that he might die, and said, "It is now enough, O LORD, take my soul; for I am not better than my fathers." And as he lay and slept under the Juniper tree, behold, there came an Angel and touched him, and said unto him, "Up and eat." And he looked about him: and see, there was a loaf of broiled bread and a cruse of water at his head. And he ate and drank and laid him down again to sleep. And the Angel of the LORD came again the second time and touched him, and said, "Up and eat, for thou hast a long Journey to go." And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights, unto Horeb the mount of God, and entered there into a cave and lodged there all night. And then the word of the LORD came to him, and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" And he answered, "I have been thorough angry for the LORD God of Hosts' sake. For the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, and have broken down thine altars and slain the Prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my soul to have it too." And he said, "Come out and stand before the LORD." And behold, the LORD went by: and a mighty strong wind that rent the mountains and brake the rocks, before him. But the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, came fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, came a small still voice. And when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, and went out and stood in the mouth of the cave. And see, there came a voice unto him and said, "What doest thou here Elijah?" And he answered, "I was jealous for the LORD God of Hosts' sake: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant and have cast down thine altars and slain thy prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my soul to have it." Then the LORD said unto him, "Go and turn thy way to the wilderness of Damascus, and go and anoint Hazael to be king of Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi, anoint to be king over Israel; And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah anoint to be Prophet in thy room. And whoso escapeth the sword of Hazael, him shall Jehu slay: and if any man escape the sword of Jehu, him shall Elisha slay. And thereto I have left me seven thousand in Israel, of which never man bowed his knees unto Baal nor kissed him with his mouth." And he departed thence and found Elisha the son of Shaphat plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelve. And Elijah went to him and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow thee." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to thee?" And he went back again from after him, and took a yoke of oxen and slew them, and dressed the flesh with the instruments of the oxen and gave it the people, and they did eat. And then he arose and went after Elijah and ministered unto him. And Benhadad, king of Syria, gathered all his host together - and thirty two kings with him, with horse and chariot - and went up and besieged Samaria and warred against it. And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, "Thus sayeth Benhadad, 'Thy silver and thy gold is mine, and the best of thy wives, and the best of thy children be mine.'" And the king of Israel answered, and said, "My lord king, according to thy saying, I am thine with all I have." And the messengers came again to Ahab and said, "Thus sayeth Benhadad, 'I have therefore sent unto thee, saying: deliver me then thy silver and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children. Or else I will send my servants unto thee by tomorrow this time: and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants, which shall take all that is glorious in thine eyes, and bring it away with them.'" Then the king of Israel sent for the elders of the land and said, "Take heed I pray you and see, how this fellow goeth about mischief. For he sent unto me, for my wives and my children, and my silver and my gold: and I denied him nothing of it." And all the elders of Israel and all the people said, "Hearken not to him nor consent." Whereupon he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, "Tell my lord the king, all that he sent for the first time, that I will do: but this request I may not do." And the messengers departed and brought him word. Then Benhadad sent unto him and said, "Thus do the gods to me and so thereto, if the dust of Samaria be enough for all the people that follow me, that every man may have a handful." And the king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, 'Let not him that putteth on his harness boast himself, as he putteth it off.'" And when Benhadad heard that tidings, as he and the kings were drinking in the pavilions, he said unto his servants, "Put ye in array." And they put themselves in array against the city. And behold there came a Prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Seest thou all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into thine hand this day, that thou mayest know that I am the LORD.'" And Ahab said, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Even by the men of the governors of the shires.'" And Ahab said, "Who shall join battle?" And he said, "Thou." Then he numbered the men of the governors of the shires: and they were two hundred and thirty two. And after them he numbered all the people, and all the children of Israel were seven thousand. And they went out at noon when Benhadad was a drinking strong drink in the pavilions with the thirty two kings that holp him. And the men of the sheriffs of the shires went out first. And Benhadad sent out, and they showed him, saying, "There came men out of Samaria." And he said, "If they come out for peace, take them alive. And also if they come for war, take them yet alive." And when those men of the sheriffs of the shires were come out of the city and the Host after them, they slew every one of them his man. And the Syrians fled, and Israel followed after them. And Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with his horsemen. And the king of Israel went out and smote horse and chariot, and slew a great slaughter of the Syrians. Then there came a Prophet to the king of Israel, and said to him, "Go forth and play the man: be wise and take heed what thou doest. For when the year is about, the king of Syria will come against thee again." Then said the servants of the kings of Syria to him, "The gods of the hills are their gods, and therefore they had the better of us. But let us fight with them in the plain, and for what ye will, we shall have the better of them. And this do: take the kings away every man out of his place, and put dukes in their rooms. And do thou number thee a host, like the host that thou hast lost, and horse for horse and chariot for chariot, and let us fight with them in the plain; and for a wager, we get the better of them." And the king hearkened unto their voice and did even so. And as soon as the year was about, Benhadad numbered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to war with Israel. And the children of Israel were numbered and provided of victuals, and went against them, and pitched before them like two little flocks of kids: but the Syrians filled the country. Then there came a man of God and said unto the king of Israel, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Because the Syrians say that the LORD is but a God of the hills, and not God of the valleys too: therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand that ye may know that I am the LORD.'" And they pitched one over against the other seven days, and the seventh day joined battle. And the children of Israel slew of the Syrians, a hundred thousand footmen in one day. And the rest fled to Aphek into the city. And there fell a wall upon twenty seven thousand of them that were left. And Benhadad fled and went into the city, from chamber to chamber. Then said his servants unto him, "Behold, we have heard say that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sack cloth about our Loins and ropes about our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: haply he will save thy life." And they girded sack cloth about their loins and put ropes about their heads, and went out to the king of Israel and said, "Thy servant Benhadad sayeth, 'I pray thee let me live.'" And he said, "Is he yet alive? He is my brother." And they took the word for good luck and hastily caught it out of his mouth, and said, "Yea, thy brother Benhadad." Then he said, "Go and bring him." And Benhadad came out to him, and the other took him up into the chariot. And Benhadad said, "The cities which my father took from thy father, I will restore again. And thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria. And I will make a covenant with thee and send thee away." And so he made a covenant with him and sent him away. Then a certain man of the children of the Prophets said unto his fellow, with the word of the LORD, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man would not smite him. And he said, "Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD: behold, as soon as thou art departed from me a lion shall slay thee." And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him and slew him. Then he found another man and said to him, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man gave him a good stripe and wounded him. And the Prophet went forth and waited for the king by the way and altered his face with ashes. And when the king came by, he cried unto him and said, "Thy servant went out in the midst of the battle. And see, there was one began to flee. And there came a man to me and said, 'Keep this man. And if he be missed thy life shall go for his, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.' And as thy servant had here and there to do, he was gone." And the king of Israel said unto him, "Even so shall thy judgment be, as thou hast defined it thyself." And he hasted and took the ashes away from his eyes: and the king of Israel knew him, that he was of the Prophets. And he said unto the king, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Because thou hast let go a man that ought to have died, thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his." And the king of Israel went to his house wayward and heavy, and entered into Samaria. After these things were done, it chanced that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel hard by the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, "Let me have thy vineyard, to make me a garden of herbs thereof, because it lieth so nigh my house: and I will give thee a better vineyard for it: or if it please thee I will give thee, the worth of it in silver." But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that from me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee." Then went Ahab unto his house wayward and evil apaid, because of the words which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken unto him, saying, "I will not give to thee the inheritance of my fathers." And he laid him down upon his bed and turned away his face, and would eat no meat. And then Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, "Why art thou so froward, that thou eatest no meat?" And he said unto her, "I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, 'Give me thy vineyard for silver, or else if thou wilt, I will give thee another vineyard for it.' And he said, 'I will not give thee my vineyard.'" Then said Jezebel his wife unto him, "What a goodly kingdom were thou able to make in Israel? Up, and eat meat and set thine heart at rest, for I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." And she wrote a letter in Ahab's name and sealed it with his seal, and sent it unto the elders and chief men of his city that dwelt where Naboth dwelt. And she wrote in the letter, saying, "Proclaim fasting and set Naboth on high among the people, and set two unthrifties before him, and let them testify against him, saying, 'Thou didst curse both God and the king.' And upon that carry him out and stone him to death." And the elders and nobles of his city, which dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letter which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed fasting, and set Naboth on high among the people, and there came in two unthrifty persons and sat before him. And the two unthrifty persons witnessed against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth did curse God and the king." And upon that they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones to death. And then they sent to Jezebel saying, "Naboth is stoned to death." And when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned to death, she said to Ahab, "Up, and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, which he denied to give thee for silver, for Naboth is not alive, but dead." And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead. He stood up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. And the word of the LORD came unto Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "Up, and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth: for he is gone down thither, to take possession of it. And say unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: thou hast killed and thereto gotten possession.' And say moreover unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: in the place where dogs lapped the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lap even thy blood also.'" And Ahab said to Elijah, "Hast thou found me thine enemy at any time?" And he said, "Yea, because thou art utterly given to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will make clean riddance of thee, and will destroy unto Ahab all that pisseth against the wall, and if ought be prisoned or forsaken in Israel: and will make thine house, like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the angering wherewith thou hast angered and made Israel sin." And thereto against Jezebel came the word of the LORD, saying, "Dogs shall eat Jezebel, under the walls of Jezreel. And he that dieth of Ahab in the town, him shall dogs eat: and he that dieth in the fields, him shall the fowls of the air eat." For there was none at all like Ahab, that was so utterly given to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, and that because Jezebel his wife pricked him forward. And therefore he did exceeding abominably, in following Idols, in all things like as did the Amorites which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. When Ahab heard those words, he rent his clothes and put sackcloth about his flesh and fasted, and lay in sack and went comfortless. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Because he so submitteth himself before me, I will not bring that evil in his days: but in his son's days, I will bring evil upon his house." And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. And the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah came to the king of Israel. Then said the king of Israel unto his servants, "Know ye not that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we sit still and take it not out of the hands of the king of Syria?" And he said unto Jehoshaphat, "Wilt thou go with me to battle, to Ramoth in Gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "I will be as thou art, and my people shall be as thine, and my horses as thine." And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "Ask counsel, I pray thee, of the LORD today." And then the king of Israel gathered of the Prophets together, upon a four hundred men, and said unto them, "Shall I go to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or be still?" And they said, "Go: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the king." And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there never a Prophet of the LORD's here, more, that we might enquire of him?" And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one, by whom we may ask counsel of the LORD: one Micaiah the son of Imlah. But I hate him: for he never prophesieth good unto me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so." Then the king of Israel called unto one of his chamberlains and said, "Fetch Micaiah the son of Imlah hither at once." And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat either in his seat and their apparel on them, in a void place beside the entering of the gate of Samaria, and all the Prophets prophesying before them. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron and said, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'With these horns thou shalt winnow the Syrians until thou have made an end of them." And all the Prophets prophesied even so, saying, "Go to Ramoth in Gilead and prosper, for the LORD shall deliver it into the hands of the king." And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah, said unto him, "See, the words of the Prophets speak good unto the king with one voice: let thy words, I pray thee, be like the words of one of them, and speak that is good." And Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD liveth, what the LORD putteth in my mouth, that will I speak." And when he was come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall we be still?" And he said unto him, "Go and prosper, the LORD deliver it unto the hands of the king." And the king said unto him, "How often shall I adjure thee, that thou tell me nothing but truth, in the name of the LORD?" Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have no shepherds. And the LORD said, 'Those have no master; let them return, every man to his house in peace.'" Then said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee, that he would prophesy no good unto me, but evil?" And Micaiah said, "Hear therefore the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sit on his seat and all his company of heaven standing about him, on his righthand and on his left. And the LORD said, 'Who shall deceive Ahab that he may go and be slain at Ramoth in Gilead?' And one said on this manner and another on that. Then came forth a spirit and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will deceive him.' And the LORD said, 'Wherewith?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a false spirit in the mouths of all Prophets.' And the LORD said, 'Thou shalt deceive him and also prevail, go forth and do even so.' Now therefore behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy Prophets: when in very deed the LORD hath spoken evil toward thee." Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "How is the spirit of the LORD gone from me, to speak in thee?" And Micaiah said, "Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thee." And the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and carry him back again into Amon the governor of the city, and unto Joab the king's son, and say, 'Thus sayeth the king. Put ye this fellow in the prison house and feed him with bread and water straightly, until I return in peace.'" Then Micaiah said, "If thou come safe again, the LORD hath not spoken in me." And he said moreover, "Hearken to the people every one of you." And so the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth in Gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Change thee and get thee to war: but put on thine own apparel." And the king of Israel changed himself, and went to battle also. But the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, of which he had thirty two, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, save with the king of Israel only." And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he had been the king of Israel, and therefore turned to him to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out. And when the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from him. And a certain man drew a bow ignorantly and smote the king of Israel between the ribs of his harness. Wherefore the king said unto the driver of his chariot, "Turn thy hand and carry me out of the host, for I am hurt." And the battle increased that day, and the king continued in his chariot before the Syrians, and died at evening. And the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. And there went a proclamation throughout the host after the sun was down, saying, "Every man to his city and to his own country." And when the king of Israel was dead, they came to Samaria and buried him there. And while they washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood, and harlots washed him according to the word of the LORD which he spake. The rest of the deeds of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and the cities that he built, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. And when Ahab was laid to rest with his fathers, Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

And he walked also in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor for to do evil. Wherefore he did that displeased the LORD like to the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.

And he built towers in the wilderness and digged many wells. For he had much cattle, both in the valley and also in the plain; and plowmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved husbandry.

And he made him towns because he had cattle of sheep and oxen great abundance. For God had given him substance exceeding much.

And it was the third year of Asa king of Judah, when Baasha slew him, and reigned in his stead. And as soon as he was king, he slew all the house of Jeroboam and left him nought that breathed, until he had put him clean out, agreeing unto the saying of the LORD which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite, for the sin of Jeroboam wherewith he sinned and made Israel sin, and for his angering wherewith he angered the LORD God of Israel. read more.
The rest of the deeds of Nadab, and all he did, are written in the chronicles of the kings of Israel. And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. And the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, and continued twenty four years. And he did that which displeased the LORD, for he walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin wherewith he made Israel sin. Then came the word of the LORD to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, "Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of dust and made thee captain over my people Israel, and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam and hast made my people Israel sin, to anger me with their sin: therefore I will make clean riddance of Baasha and of all his house, and will make his house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. And he that dieth of Baasha in the city, him shall dogs eat: and him that dieth in the fields, shall the fowls of the air eat." The rest of the deeds of Baasha, and what he did and his power, are written in the book of the histories of the kings of Israel. And Baasha fell on sleep with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son reigned in his stead. And thereto through the Prophet Jehu the son of Hanani, the word of the LORD came against Baasha and against his house, because of all the wickedness that he did in the sight of the LORD, in angering him with the works of his hands, that he should be like the house of Jeroboam, because he had killed Nabad.

And over the olive trees and mulberry trees that were in the valleys was Baalhanan the Gederite. And over the treasure of oil was Joash.

And the oversight of the vineyards had Shemaiah the Ramathite. Over the wine cellars and treasure of wine was Zabdi the Shipmite.

And over the camels Obil the Ishmaelite. And over the asses was Jehdiah the Meronothite.

And over the sheep was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the rulers of the substance of king David.

And over the workmen in the fields that tilled the ground, was Ezri the son of Chelub.

And Ahithophel was of the king's counsel. And Hushai the Archite was the king's companion.

Over the king's treasure was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. And over the treasure of the fields, in the cities, villages and castles, was Jonathan, the son of Uzziah.

Over the king's treasure was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. And over the treasure of the fields, in the cities, villages and castles, was Jonathan, the son of Uzziah.

He suffered no man to do them wrong: But rebuked kings for their sakes.

And take the box of oil and pour it on his head and say, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: I have anointed thee to be king over Israel.' And then open the door and flee, and tarry not." And the servant of the prophet got him to Ramoth in Gilead, and when he came, the captains of the Host were sitting together. And he said, "I have an errand to thee, Sir captain." And Jehu said, "Unto which of all of us?" And he said, "To thee O captain." read more.
And he arose and went into the house. And the other poured the oil on his head and said to him, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'I have anointed thee to be king over Israel the people of the LORD, that thou slay the household of Ahab thy master. For I,' sayeth the LORD, 'will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, of the hand of Jezebel - for the whole house of Ahab shall be destroyed; and I will destroy unto Ahab what pisseth against the wall, and so much as the prisoned or that which is forsaken in Israel, and will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. And as for Jezebel, the dogs shall eat her in the field of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.'" And he opened the door and fled. And when Jehu was come out to the servants of his lord, they said to him, "Is all peace? Wherefore came this mad fellow unto thee?" And he said to them, "Ye know the person and his communication." And they said, "It is not so. But tell us a fellowship." And he said, "Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: I have anointed thee to be king over Israel.'" And they hasted and took every man his mantle and put under him, on a high bench at the top of the steps, and blew a trumpet and said, "Jehu is king." And so Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Jehoram. And Jehoram had been waiting at Ramoth Gilead, and all Israel with him for fear of Hazael king of Syria; and was returned to be healed in Jezreel, of the wounds which the Syrians had given him as he fought with Hazael king of Syria. Then said Jehu, "If it be your minds, then let no man escape out of the city, to go and tell in Jezreel." And Jehu rode and went to Jezreel: for Jehoram lay there, and Ahaziah king of Judah was come to Jehoram. And the watchmen that stood on the tower in Jezreel spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company." And Jehoram said, "Take a horseman and send against them, and let him ask whether it be peace." And there went one on horseback against him and said, "Thus sayeth the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What hast thou to do with peace? Turn, and come after me." And the watchman told, saying, "The messenger came to them but he cometh not again." Then he sent out another on horseback, which came to them and said, "Thus sayeth the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What hast thou to do with peace? Turn, and come after me." And the watchman told, saying, "He came to them, but he cometh not again, and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he driveth as he were mad." Then said Jehoram, "Make ready." And they made ready his chariot. And Jehoram king of Israel, and Ahaziah king of Judah, went out either in his chariot against Jehu, and met him in the furlong of Naboth the Jezreelite. And when Jehoram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace Jehu?" And he said, "What peace should there be, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so great?" And Jehoram turned his hand and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "There is treason, Ahaziah!" And Jehu took a bow in his hand and smote Jehoram between the shoulders, that the arrow came out at his breast. And he fell down three fold in his chariot. Then he said to Bidkar, a lord of his, "Take and cast him in the plot of ground of Naboth the Jezreelite. For I remember as I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, how the LORD spake these words against him: 'I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and of his sons,' said the LORD, 'and I will quite him in this ground,' sayeth the LORD. Now therefore take him and cast him in the plot of ground according to the word of the LORD." And when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw that, he fled the way to the garden house. And Jehu followed after him and said, "Smite him also." And they smote him in his chariot at the going up to Gur by Ibleam; and he fled to Megiddo, and there died. And his servants carried him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David. Ahaziah reigned over Judah in the eleventh year of Jehoram son of Ahab. And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and starched her eyes and attired her head and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered at the gate she said, "Had Zimri peace which slew his master?" And he lifted up his eyes to the window and said, "Who is of my side? Who?" And there looked out to him two or three lords that were chamberlains. And he said, "Throw her down." And they threw her down. And he sprinkled of her blood upon the walls and on the horses, and trod her under foot. And then when he was come in and had eaten and drunk, he said, "Go and visit, I pray you, yonder cursed creature; and bury her, for she is a king's daughter." And when they came to bury her, they found no more of her, than the skull and the two feet and the two hands. And they came again and told him. And he said, "It is the word of the LORD which he spake by the hand of his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'In the field of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel, and the carcass of Jezebel shall be dung upon the earth, in the field of Jezreel, that men shall not say, this is Jezebel.'" Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria - unto the elders that were lords of Jezreel, and to them that nursed up Ahab's children - saying, "Now at the coming of these letters to you, ye have with you your master's sons, and ye have with you chariots and horses, and a strong city and harness. Therefore choose the best, and him that most pleaseth you of your master's sons, and put him on his father's seat, and fight for your lord's house." And they were accordingly afraid, and said, "See, two kings were not able to stand before him: how shall we then stand?" And the governor of the king's house and of the city and of the elders and the nurses sent to Jehu, saying, "We are thy servants and will do all that thou shalt bid us. We will make no man king: but do thou what seemeth good in thine eyes." Then he wrote another letter to them saying, "If ye be mine and will obey my voice, then take the heads of your master's sons and come to me to Jezreel, by tomorrow this time." And the king's sons were seventy persons with the great men of the city which nourished them. And when the letter came to them, they took the king's children and slew them in number, seventy persons, and put their heads in coffins and sent them to him to Jezreel. And there came a messenger and told him, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." And he said, "Let them put them on two heaps in the entering of the gate, till it be day." And in the morning he went out and stood and said to all the folk, "Ye be righteous: for see, I conspired against my master and slew him: But who slew these? Consider now how there is nothing of the LORD's word fallen to the earth, which he spake against the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that he spake to his servant Elijah." And so Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab, in Jezreel, and all that were great with him, and his companions and his priests, until he had left him nought remaining. And he arose and departed and went to Samaria. And as Jehu was come even to the house where the shepherds bind their sheep by the highway side, he met with the brethren of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and said "What are ye?" And they said, "The brethren of Ahaziah are we, and go to salute the children of the king and of the queen." And he said, "Take them alive." And they took them alive, and slew them at the well beside the house where the shepherds bind their sheep, in number forty two persons; that he left none of them. And when he was departed thence he met with Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming against him. And Jehu saluted him and said to him, "Is thine heart right, as mine heart is with thine?" And Jehonadab said, "Yea, that it is." "If it be, then give me thine hand." And he gave his hand, and the other took him up to him into the chariot, and said, "Go with me and see the zeal I have to the LORD," and made him ride with him in his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped him out, according to the saying of the LORD which he spake to Elijah. After that, Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little: but Jehu shall serve him a good. Now, therefore, call unto me all the Prophets of Baal and all his servants and all his priests that none be lacking. For I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal: and if any be missed, he shall not live." But Jehu did it for a subtlety, to destroy the servants of Baal. Wherefore Jehu said, "Appoint a solemn feast for Baal." And they proclaimed it. Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel. And all the servants of Baal came, that there was not a man left behind that came not. And when they were come into the temple of Baal, the temple was full from one end to another. Then he said to the keeper of the vestry, bring forth garments for the servants of Baal. And he brought them out garments. And Jehu went with Jehonadab son of Rechab into the house of Baal: and said to the servants of Baal, "Search and look that there be none here with you of the servants of the LORD, but the servants of Baal only." And they went in, to offer sacrifice and burnt offerings. But Jehu appointed him four score men without, and said, "If any of the men that I shall bring unto your hands escape, he that letteth him go shall die for him." And as soon as he had made an end of offering of burnt sacrifice, he said to them of the guard and to the lords, "Go in and slay them, let none come out." And they smote them with the edge of the sword. And the guard and the lords cast them out, and went unto the city of the house of Baal, and fetched out the image out of the house of Baal and burnt it. And they brake the image of Baal, and brake the house of Baal, and made a privy house thereof, unto this day. And so Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. But from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin with the golden calves in Bethel and Dan, Jehu departed not. Then the LORD said to Jehu, "Because thou hast lustily done that pleaseth me, and hast done to the house of Ahab all that was in mine heart, therefore shall thy children in the fourth generation sit on the seat of Israel." But Jehu cared not to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam which made Israel sin. In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short, for Hazael slew them in all the coasts of Israel, from Jordan Eastward: even all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites and the Manassites, from Aroer upon the river of Arnon, with Gilead and Bashan. The rest of the acts of Jehu, and all he did, and all his power, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And when Jehu was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him in Samaria, and Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead. And the time that Jehu reigned upon Israel in Samaria, was twenty eight years.

Also he shall not have too many wives, lest his heart turn away, neither shall he gather him silver and gold too much.

Also he shall not have too many wives, lest his heart turn away, neither shall he gather him silver and gold too much.

But in any wise let him not hold too many horses, that he bring not the people again to Egypt through the multitude of horses, forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, 'Ye shall henceforth go no more again that way.'

And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all days of his life that he may learn to fear the LORD his God for to keep all the words of this law and these ordinances for to do them:

And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all days of his life that he may learn to fear the LORD his God for to keep all the words of this law and these ordinances for to do them:

Then thou shalt make him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose. One of thy brethren must thou make king over thee, and mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not of thy brethren.

Is it not now wheat harvest? And yet for all that, I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain. Wherefore, perceive and understand how that your wickedness is great which ye have done in the sight of the LORD in asking you a king." And when Samuel called unto the LORD, the LORD sent thunder and rain the same day. And all the people feared the LORD and Samuel exceedingly. Then said all the people unto Samuel, "Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have sinned in asking us a king, beside all the sins that ever we did." read more.
Then said Samuel unto the people, "Fear not. And though ye have done all this wickedness, yet depart not from the LORD in any case. But serve him with all your hearts.

The fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Jehoash king of Judah, was Jeroboam son of Joash made king over Israel in Samaria and reigned forty one years, and wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD: for he turned in nothing from the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin. He restored the coasts of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea, in the wild fields, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel which he spake through his servant Jonah the son of Amittai the prophet, which was of Gathhepher. read more.
For the LORD had seen how that the affliction of Israel was exceeding bitter, in so much that the prisoned and the forsaken were at an end. And there was no helper unto Israel. And the LORD had not yet said that men should put out the name of Israel from under heaven. And therefore he helped them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. The rest of the deeds of Jeroboam, and all he did, and his power how he fought, and how he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel are written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And Jeroboam laid him to rest with his fathers and with the kings of Israel, and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

The fiftieth year of Uzziah king of Judah, began Pekahiah the son of Menahem to reign over Israel in Samaria, and continued two years, and wrought wickedly in the sight of the LORD and left not off from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat which made Israel sin. And Pekah, the son of Remaliah, a lord of his, conspired against him and slew him in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh and fifty men with him that were Gileadites: and when he had killed him, reigned in his room. read more.
The rest of the acts of Pekahiah and all he did are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign the thirty ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned a month in Samaria. For Menahem the son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and went to Samaria and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. The rest of the deeds of Shallum, and the treason which he conspired, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

The same time, Menahem destroyed Tappuah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah - because they opened not to him - he smote, and rent all the women with child. The thirty ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign upon Israel, and continued ten years in Samaria. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and turned not all his days from the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin. read more.
And Pul, king of Assyria, came upon the land. And Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, to help him to establish his kingdom. And Menahem raised the money in Israel, upon all men of substance, for to give the king of Assyria fifty sicles of silver apiece. And the king of Assyria turned back again and tarried not there in the land. The rest of the deeds of Menahem and all he did, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And when Menahem was laid to rest with his fathers, Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

The thirty first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel twelve years and he ruled six years in Tirzah. And he bought the hill of Samaria of one Shemer for two hundred talents of silver, and built in the hill, and called the name of the city which he had built Samaria after the name of Shemer, the lord of the hill. And this Omri wrought wickedness in the eyes of the LORD worse than all that were before him, read more.
and walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel sin, to anger the LORD God of Israel with their vanities. The rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his power that he used, are written in the chronicles of the kings of Israel. And Omri laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.

Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign upon Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and continued twelve years. And he wrought that was evil in the sight of the LORD: but not like his father or his mother, for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless, he continued in the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin, and shrank not therefrom. read more.
And Mesha king of Moab - which was rich of sheep, and was wont to render unto the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and as many rams, with the wool - rebelled against the king of Israel after the death of Ahab. And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same season, and numbered all Israel; and then went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab hath rebelled against me, wilt thou go with me against the Moabites to battle?" And he said, "I will go, and will be as thou, and my people shall be as thine, and my horses as thine." And he said, "What way shall we go?" And the other answered, "The way through the wilderness of Edom." And the king of Israel took his journey with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had compassed the way seven days, there was no water for the host nor for the cattle that they had with them. Then said the king of Israel, "Alas, the LORD hath called together these three kings to deliver them into the hands of the Moabites." But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there here no prophet of the LORD's, that we may enquire of the LORD by him?" And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, "Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat which poured water on the hands of Elijah." And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." And so the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to him. And Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with thee? Get thee to the prophets of thy father and of thy mother." And the king of Israel said unto him, "Oh nay, but hath the LORD called these three kings to deliver them into the hands of the Moabites?" And Elisha said, "As sure as the LORD of Hosts liveth - in whose sight I stand - and it were not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor yet see ye." But now bring me a minstrel. And as the minstrel played, the hand of the LORD was upon him. And he said, "Thus biddeth the LORD, 'Make this brook full of ditches.' For thus sayeth the LORD, 'Ye shall see neither wind nor rain, and yet this brook shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, and your beasts and your cattle also.' And this is yet but a small thing in the sight of the LORD: But he will give the Moabites into your hands also. And ye shall destroy all strong towns and all goodly cities, and shall fall all pleasant trees and stop all the wells of water, and mar all good plots of ground with stones." And in the morning, about offering time, there came such a water that way from Edom that the country was filled with water. And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come to fight against them, they gathered together, from the youngest that was able to put on harness and so upward, and waited in the borders. And they being up early in the morning, the sun arose and shone upon the water. And when the Moabites saw the water afar off, as red as blood, they said, "It is blood, the kings have fought together and one slain another. Now therefore ye Moabites get you to the spoil." And when they came to the Host of Israel, the Israelites stood up and laid on the Moabites, that they fled before them: And so they entered the land and destroyed the Moabites. And they overthrew the cities, and on every good parcel of land, cast every man his stone and over-covered it, and stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees. And as long as the stones thereof did remain in the walls of brick the slingers went upon it and beat it. And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was so strong for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew the sword, to have broken up unto the king of Edom. But they could not. And then he took his eldest son, that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the walls. And there came so great wrath upon Israel, that they departed from him and returned to their own land. And there cried a certain woman of the wives of the children of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, "Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD. And the creditor is come to fetch my two sons, to be his bondmen." And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in thine house?" And she said, thy handmaid hath nothing at all in her house, save a pitcher with oil. And he said, "Go and borrow thee in other places, of all thy neighbours, empty vessels - and that not a few. And then go and shut the door to thee and to thy sons, and pour out into all those vessels, and put the full always aside." And she went from him, and shut the door to her and her sons. And they brought to her, and she poured out. And when the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring yet a vessel." And he said, "There is no more." And then the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go and sell the oil and pay thy creditor. And live, thou and thy children, off the rest." And it fell on a day, that Elisha came to Shunem, where was a rich woman that took him in for to eat bread. And as oft as he came that way, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, "See, I perceive that the man of God is perfect, and cometh always by us. Let us make him a chamber with a little wall, and let us set him there a bed, a table, a stool and a candlestick, that he may turn in thither, when he cometh to us." And it fortuned on a time that he came thither and turned into the chamber and lay there. Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." And he called her, and she came before him. And Elisha said to him, "Say to her I pray thee, 'See, thou hast made all this provision for us, what shall we do for thee? Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the Host?" And she said, "I dwell among mine own people." Then he said, "What is to be done for her?" And Gehazi said, "Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old." And he said, "Call her." And he called her. And she came and stood at the door. Then he said, "By such a time, as soon as the fruit can live, thou shalt embrace a son." And she said, "Oh nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto the handmaid." And the wife conceived and bare a son the same season that Elisha had said unto her, "As soon as the fruit could have life." And when the lad was grown, it fell on a day that he went out to his father, to the harvest time. And there he complained unto his father, "My head, my head." And his father said to a lad, "Carry him to his mother." And he took him and brought him to his mother. And he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And she carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door to him, and went out, and came to her husband and said, "Send me one of the young men and an ass that I may run to the man of God." And he said, "Wherefore wilt thou go to him today, while it is neither new moon nor Sabbath day?" And she said, "Be content." Then she saddled an ass and said to the lad, "Lead away, and make me not cease riding, until I bid thee." And so she went and came unto the man of God, to mount Carmel. And when the man of God saw her a far, he said to Gehazi his servant, "See, where our servant cometh. Now run against her, and ask her, whether it be all well with her, and with her husband and with the lad." And she said, "All is well." Then she went to the man of God up to the hill and caught him by the feet. And Gehazi went to her, to thrust her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone, for her soul is vexed, and the LORD hath hid it from me and hath not told it me." Then she said, "Did I desire a son of my lord? Did I not say, that thou shouldest not bring me in a Fool's Paradise?" Then he said to Gehazi, "Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand and away. If any man meet thee, salute him not. And if any salute thee, answer him not again. And put my staff upon the boy." Notwithstanding, the mother of the child said, "As sure as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." And then he arose and followed her. Gehazi went before them and put the staff upon the lad. But there was neither voice nor attending. And then he went again against his master and told him saying, "It hath not awaked the lad." And when Elisha was come to the house: Behold, the lad was dead and laid upon his bed. And he went in and shut the door to the lad and him, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up and lay upon the lad, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and the palm of his hands on the palm of his hands, and spread himself upon the lad that the flesh of the child waxed warm. And went again and walked once up and down in the house, and then went up and spread himself upon him. And the lad sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi and said, "Call for this Shunammite." And he called her. And when she was come to him, he said, "Take thy son." Then she went and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son and went out. When Elisha was come to Gilgal again, there was a dearth in the land, and the children of the prophets dwelt with him. Then he said to his servant, "Put on a great pot, and make pottage for the children of the prophets." And one went out into the field, to gather herbs, and found as it were a wild vine, and gathered thereof coloquintidaes, his lapful, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage - they unwitting. And they poured out for the men to eat. And when they had tasted of the pottage, they cried out and said, "There is death in the pot, thou man of God!" And could not eat thereof. Then he said, "Bring meal." And he cast it into the pot and said, "Fill for the people that they may eat." And there was no harm in the pot. There came a man from Baalshalishah and brought the man of God bread of first fruits, even twenty loaves of barley, and new corn in a cloth he had. And Elisha bade put it before the people that they might eat. Then his minister said, "What should I set this before a hundred men?" And he said, "Set it before the people and let them eat. For thus sayeth the LORD, 'They shall eat and leave.'" And he set it before them, and they ate and left, according to the word of the LORD. Naaman, captain of the Host to the king of Syria, was great with his master and well taken: for through him the LORD saved Syria. And he was an active man, and yet a leper. And there had gone a company of soldiers out of Syria a running, and had brought out of the country of Israel a little maid, which was with Naaman's wife. And the Damsel said unto her lady, "I would my master were with a prophet that is in Samaria: he would deliver him of his leprosy." And she went and told her husband, saying, "Thus and thus sayeth the maid that is out of the land of Israel." And the king of Syria said, "Go thy way, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel." And he went and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiments. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel containing this tenor, "Now when this letter is come up to thee: Behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou shouldest rid him of his leprosy." And when the king of Israel had read the letter, he rent his clothes and said, "Am I God, to slay and to make alive, that he should send to me, for to deliver a man from his leprosy? But consider, I pray you, and see how he picketh quarrels with me!" And when Elisha the man of God, heard how that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? Let him come to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel." And Naaman came with his horses and his chariot, and stood at the door of Elisha. Then Elisha sent a messenger, saying, "Go and wash thee in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee as before, and thou shalt be clean." And Naaman was wroth and went away, and said, "Behold, I thought in myself, he would have come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and put his hand on the place of the disease, and so take away the leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Might I not rather wash in them and be clean?" And so he turned and departed in an anger. Then came his servants and communed with him, and said, "Father if the prophet had bid thee done some great thing, oughtest thou not to have done it? How much rather then shouldest thou do it, while he sayeth to thee only, 'Wash and be clean?'" Then he went down and washed seven times in Jordan, as the man of God bade, and his flesh changed, like unto the flesh of a little boy, and he was clean. Then he turned again to the man of God and all his company with him, and came and stood before him and said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the world, but in Israel. And now, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant." But he said, "As surely as the LORD liveth before whom I stand, I will receive none." And the other would have constrained him to receive: but he would not do it. And Naaman said, "If thou wilt not: yet I pray thee, may there not be given to thy servant the burden of two mules of earth? For thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt sacrifice nor offering unto any other God, than to the LORD. But herein the LORD be merciful to thy servant, for when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, he leaneth on mine hand, and I must worship in the house of Rimmon: Let the LORD, I pray thee, be merciful unto thy servant in this case." And he said to him, "Go in peace." And when he was departed from him a furlong of ground, Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my master hath spared Naaman, this Syrian, so that he hath not taken from him that which he brought! As surely as the LORD liveth, I will run after him and take somewhat." And so Gehazi went after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him coming after him, he came down off the chariot against him, and said, "Is all well?" And he said, "Yea. But my master hath sent me, saying, 'See, there be two young men come to me out of Ephraim of the children of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, one talent of silver and a couple of good garments." And Naaman said, "Adventure and take two talents of silver in two bags, with two goodly garments." - and delivered them unto two of his servants, to bear it before him. And he went in the dark and took it of their hands and bestowed it in the house, and let the men go, and they departed. Then he went and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, "Whence cometh Gehazi?" And he said, "Thy servant went no whither." And he said, "Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned and came of his chariot against thee? Is it a time to receive silver and to receive garments, olive trees, vineyards, oxen, sheep, menservants and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever." And he went out from him a leper as white as snow. Then said the children of the prophets unto Elisha, "See, the place where we dwell with thee, is too little for us. Let us there take every man a beam and build us a place there, to dwell in." And he said, "Go ye." And one said, "Begin I pray thee, and go with thy servants." And he said, "I will," and so went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. And as one was heaving of a beam, the axe head fell into the water. And he cried out and said, "Alas, master, for it was lent me." And the man of God said, "Where fell it?" And he showed him the place. And he cut a stick and cast it in thither, and made the axe head swim. And he said, "Take it up to thee." And the other stretched his hand and caught it. And the king of Syria fought against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, "In such a place and in such a place will I pitch." And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, "Beware thou go not by such a place, for there are the Syrians gone down." And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there more than once or twice. And the heart of the king of Syria was troubled therewith, that he sent for his servants and said to them, "Will ye not show me which of us telleth the king of Israel?" And one of his servants said, "Nay, my lord king: Elisha the prophet that is in Israel, he telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy sleeping chamber." Then he said, "Go and spy where he is that I may send and fetch him." And one told the king, saying, "See, he is in Dothan." And he sent thither horse and chariots and a great Host. And they came thither by night and compassed the town about. And when the servant of the men of God rose up early, and was gone out: Behold, there was an Host round about the town with horses and chariots. Then said his lad to him, "Alas master, what shall we do?" And he said, "Fear not, there are more with us than with them." And Elisha prayed and said, "LORD open the eyes of the young man," and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when the soldiers came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD and said, "Smite this people with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the desire of Elisha." Then Elisha said unto them, "This is not the way, nor this is not the town: But follow me and I will bring you to the man ye seek." And he led them to Samaria. When they were come to Samaria, Elisha said, "LORD, open their eyes and let them see." And the LORD opened their eyes that they saw. And behold they were in the midst of Samaria. And then said the king of Israel unto Elisha when he saw them, "Shall I smite them? Shall I smite them, father?" And he said, "Smite them not. But smite them thou takest with thine own sword and with thine own bow. But set bread and water before them, and let them eat and drink, and go to their master." And he made great ordinance before them. And when they had eaten and drunk, sent them away, and they went to their master. And so the soldiers of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. After this, Benhadad king of Syria gathered all the Host, and went and besieged Samaria. And there arose great dearth in Samaria: for they had besieged it, until an ass's head was worth four score sicles of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of doves' dung worth five sicles. And as the king of Israel walked upon the walls, there cried a woman to him, saying, "Help, my lord king." And he said, "Nay, the LORD help thee. But wherewith should I help thee, with corn or wine?" Then said the king to her, "What aileth thee?" And she answered, "This woman here said to me, 'Bring thy son and let us eat him today, and we will eat mine tomorrow.' And so we dressed my son and did eat him. And I said to her another day, 'Bring thy son that we may eat him.' But she hath hid her son." When the king heard the words of the woman, he rent his clothes even as he was walking on the walls. And when the people looked upon him: see, he was clothed in sack under. Then he said, "God do so and so to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat tarry on him this day!" And as Elisha sat in his house and the elders with him, the king sent one from him. But yer the messenger came at him, he said to the elders, "See you not how the son of this murderer hath sent, to take off mine head? Be circumspect therefore when the messenger cometh, and shut the door, and thrust him back therewith: for the sound of his master's feet followeth him." And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger was come unto him. And he said, "Behold, this evil is of the LORD! What more shall we look for of the LORD?" Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD, for thus sayeth the LORD, 'Tomorrow this time a bushel of fine flour shall be sold for a sicle and two bushels of Barley for another in the gates of Samaria.'" Then a great lord on whose hand the king leaned, answered the man of God and said, "Though the LORD would make windows in heaven, yet would not this be." And he said again, "Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes and shalt not eat thereof." And there were four lepers set without the gate of Samaria. And they said each to his companion, "What sit we here until we die? Though we thought that we might come into the city, yet is the dearth so great in the city, that we shall there die. And if we tarry here, we are but dead also. Now therefore come, and let us flee to the Host of the Syrians. If they save our lives, we shall live; and if they kill us, then are we dead." And so they arose in the dark to go to the Host of the Syrians. And when they were come to the side of the Host of Syria: see, there was no man there. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians hear a noise of chariots and a noise of horses, and the noise of a great Host. Insomuch that they said one to another, "See, the king of Israel hath hired against us, the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt, to come upon us." And upon that they arose and fled in the dark, and left their tents, their horses, their asses and the field they had pitched even as it was, and fled for their lives. And when these lepers came to the edge of the Host, they went into a tent and did eat and drink and carried thence silver, gold and raiment, and went and hid it: and came again and entered into another, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. Then they said one to another, "It is not well that we do, for this day is a day to bring tidings. And if we hold our peace, and tarry till it be daylight, we shall find a mischief. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king's household." And so they went and called to the porter of the city and told them saying, "We came to the pavilions of the Syrians: and see, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses and asses tied, and the tents even as they were." Then the porters called and told the kings house within. And the king arose in the night and said to his servants, "I will show you, how the Syrians have served us. They know that we are oppressed with hunger, and therefore are gone out of their pavilions to hide themselves in the field, saying, 'They will come out of the city, and then we shall catch them alive and get into the city.' And one of his servants answered and said, 'Let men take five of the horses that remain and are left in the city. Behold, they are as good as all the multitude that are left in the city: and as good as all the multitude of the city that are consumed, and let us send and see." And they took two chariots of horses, and the king sent after the Host of the Syrians, saying, "Go and see." And they followed after them even unto Jordan: and see, all the way was full of clothes and vessels which the Syrians had cast from them for haste. And the messengers returned and told the king. And then the people went out and robbed the tents of the Syrians. And so a bushel of flour was sold for a sicle, and two bushels of barley for a sicle, according to the word of the LORD. And the king set the lord on whose hand he leaned, to keep the gate. And the people trod him in the gate, that he died, according to the saying of the man of God which he said, when the king came down to him. And it came to pass, according to the word of the man of God to the king, saying, "Two bushels of barley for a sicle and a bushel of flour for another shall be tomorrow this time in the gates of Samaria." And the lord answered the man of God and said, "Though the LORD made windows in heaven, yet would not this be." And the other said, "Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, and shalt not eat thereof." And so it chanced: for the people trod him under feet in the gate, that he died. Then spake Elisha unto the woman whose son he had restored to life again, saying, "Up, and go both thou and thine house, and sojourn where thou thinkest best, for the LORD will call a dearth which shall come on the land seven years." And the woman arose and did after the saying of the man of God, and went both she and her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. And at the seven years' end, when the woman was come again out of the land of the Philistines she went out to speak to the king for her house and for her land. And the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant to the man of God, saying, "Tell me I pray thee, all the great deeds which Elisha did." And it chanced, as he was telling the king how he restored a dead body to life again, that the woman whose son he revived, cried to the king for her house and her land. Then said Gehazi, "My lord king, this is the woman and this is her son which Elisha brought to life again." And the king asked the woman, and she told him. And so the king sent with her one of his chamberlains saying, "Restore all that pertaineth to her, with all the fruits of the field, since the day she left the land, unto this time." After that, Elisha went to Damascus; Benhadad the king of Syria being sick. And one told the king, saying, "The man of God is come hither." Then said the king to Hazael, "Take a present with thee and go against the man of God and ask the LORD by him whether I shall recover of this my disease or no." And Hazael went to meet him and took presents with him, even of all the good things of Damascus - as much as forty camels could bear - and came and presented himself before him and said, "Thy son Benhadad, king of Syria, hath sent me to thee, saying, 'Shall I recover of this my disease?'" And Elisha said to him, "Go and say to him, 'Thou shalt recover.' Howbeit, the LORD hath showed me that he shall surely die." And the man of God began to look earnestly, insomuch that he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, "Why weepeth my lord?" And he answered, "For I know that thou shalt do evil unto the children of Israel: their strong cities thou shalt set on fire, and their young men thou shalt slay with the sword, and shalt dash out the brains of their sucking children: and all to tear their women with child." And Hazael said, "What is thy servant, which am but a dog, that I should do this great thing?" And Elisha said, "For the LORD hath showed me, that thou shalt be king of Syria." And so he departed from Elisha and came to his master, which said to him, "What said Elisha to thee?" And he said, "He told me that thou shouldest recover." And on the morrow he took a rough cloth and dipped it in the water and spread it on his face, and he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead. The fifth year of Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being yet king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. Thirty two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab for the daughter of Ahab was his wife, and he did that displeased the LORD. Neverthelater, the LORD would not destroy Judah because of David his servant, as he promised him to give him a light in his children always. And in his days Edom fell away from under the hand of Judah, and made them a king of their own. And Jehoram went to Seir, and all his chariots with him. And he rose by night and laid on the Edomites, which compassed him in, and the captains of his chariot and the people fled into their tents. And so the Edomites slipped away from under the hand of Judah unto this day. And then Libnah slipped away too, even that same time. The rest of the deeds of Jehoram and all he did, are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And Jehoram rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead. The twelfth year of Jehoram son of Ahab, king of Israel, did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and reigned one year in Jerusalem; 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 that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: for he was a son-in-law to the house of Ahab. And Jehoram the son of Ahab went to war with Hazael king of Syria, at Ramoth in Gilead, and the Syrians wounded him. Wherefore king Jehoram went back again, to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramoth, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram of son of Ahab in Jezreel because he was sick. And Elisha the prophet called unto one of the children of the prophets, and said to him, "Gird up thy loins and take this box of oil in thine hand and get thee to Ramoth in Gilead. And when thou comest thither, thou shalt there see Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi and go to him, and make him arise up from among his brethren and carry him to a secret chamber. And take the box of oil and pour it on his head and say, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: I have anointed thee to be king over Israel.' And then open the door and flee, and tarry not." And the servant of the prophet got him to Ramoth in Gilead, and when he came, the captains of the Host were sitting together. And he said, "I have an errand to thee, Sir captain." And Jehu said, "Unto which of all of us?" And he said, "To thee O captain." And he arose and went into the house. And the other poured the oil on his head and said to him, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'I have anointed thee to be king over Israel the people of the LORD, that thou slay the household of Ahab thy master. For I,' sayeth the LORD, 'will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, of the hand of Jezebel - for the whole house of Ahab shall be destroyed; and I will destroy unto Ahab what pisseth against the wall, and so much as the prisoned or that which is forsaken in Israel, and will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. And as for Jezebel, the dogs shall eat her in the field of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.'" And he opened the door and fled. And when Jehu was come out to the servants of his lord, they said to him, "Is all peace? Wherefore came this mad fellow unto thee?" And he said to them, "Ye know the person and his communication." And they said, "It is not so. But tell us a fellowship." And he said, "Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: I have anointed thee to be king over Israel.'" And they hasted and took every man his mantle and put under him, on a high bench at the top of the steps, and blew a trumpet and said, "Jehu is king." And so Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Jehoram. And Jehoram had been waiting at Ramoth Gilead, and all Israel with him for fear of Hazael king of Syria; and was returned to be healed in Jezreel, of the wounds which the Syrians had given him as he fought with Hazael king of Syria. Then said Jehu, "If it be your minds, then let no man escape out of the city, to go and tell in Jezreel." And Jehu rode and went to Jezreel: for Jehoram lay there, and Ahaziah king of Judah was come to Jehoram. And the watchmen that stood on the tower in Jezreel spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company." And Jehoram said, "Take a horseman and send against them, and let him ask whether it be peace." And there went one on horseback against him and said, "Thus sayeth the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What hast thou to do with peace? Turn, and come after me." And the watchman told, saying, "The messenger came to them but he cometh not again." Then he sent out another on horseback, which came to them and said, "Thus sayeth the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What hast thou to do with peace? Turn, and come after me." And the watchman told, saying, "He came to them, but he cometh not again, and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he driveth as he were mad." Then said Jehoram, "Make ready." And they made ready his chariot. And Jehoram king of Israel, and Ahaziah king of Judah, went out either in his chariot against Jehu, and met him in the furlong of Naboth the Jezreelite. And when Jehoram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace Jehu?" And he said, "What peace should there be, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so great?" And Jehoram turned his hand and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "There is treason, Ahaziah!" And Jehu took a bow in his hand and smote Jehoram between the shoulders, that the arrow came out at his breast. And he fell down three fold in his chariot. Then he said to Bidkar, a lord of his, "Take and cast him in the plot of ground of Naboth the Jezreelite. For I remember as I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, how the LORD spake these words against him: 'I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and of his sons,' said the LORD, 'and I will quite him in this ground,' sayeth the LORD. Now therefore take him and cast him in the plot of ground according to the word of the LORD."

Like as when a king giveth a charge, his commandment is mighty: Even so whom may say unto him, "What doest thou?"

The whole land also with the fields and all that is therein, is in subjection and bondage unto the king.

These shall fight with the lamb, and the lamb shall overcome them: For he is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings: and they that are on his side, are called, and chosen, and faithful."

O Lemuel, give kings no wine, give kings and princes no strong drink; Lest they being drunken forget the law, and regard not the cause of the poor, and of all such as be in adversity.

In the thirty eighth year of Uzziah king of Judah, was Zechariah the son of Jeroboam made king upon Israel in Samaria, and reigned six months; and did that displeased the LORD, as did his fathers, and turned not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin. And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his stead. read more.
The rest of the deeds of Zechariah are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. This is the saying that the LORD spake unto Jehu, saying, "Thy sons shall sit on the seat of Israel in the fourth generation." And it came to pass.

The twenty sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and continued two years. And his servant Zimri captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah drinking of strong drink, in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. And Zimri came and smote him and killed him the twenty seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. read more.
And as soon as he was king and sat his seat, he slew all the house of Baasha and left not a pisser against a wall. And thereto he slew all his kin and friends, and so Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD which he spake to Baasha through Jehu the Prophet; for all the sins of Baasha and sins of Elah his son, wherewith they sinned and made Israel sin, to anger the LORD of Israel with their vanities. The rest of the deeds of Elah and all he did, are written in the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

And his servant Zimri captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah drinking of strong drink, in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. And Zimri came and smote him and killed him the twenty seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.

I exhort therefore that above all things, prayers, supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be had for all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority that we may live a quiet and a peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.

Be thou an advocate and stand in judgment thyself, to speak for all such as be dumb and sucourless. With thy mouth defend the thing that is lawful and right, and the cause of the poor and helpless.

And behold Saul came following his oxen out of the field, and asked what ailed the people to weep. And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. Then came the spirit of God upon Saul, when he heard those tidings, and he was exceeding angry. And took a yoke of oxen and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, "Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall his oxen be served." Then the fear of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as it had been but one man.

Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet, testify unto them and show them the duty of the king that shall reign over them." And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked a king of him, and he said, "This shall be the duty of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons and put them to his chariots and make his horsemen of them and they must run before his chariot, read more.
and will make him captains of them over thousands and over fifties, and set them to ear his ground, and to gather in his harvest, and to make instruments of war and apparel for his chariots. And he will take your daughters and make them the dressers of his ointments, and his cooks and bakers. And he shall take the best of your fields, and of your vineyards and of your olive trees, and give them to his servants. And he shall take the tenth of your seed and of your vines, and give it to his lords, and to his servants. And he shall take the best of your menservants and maidservants and young men, and of your asses, and do his work with them. And he shall take the tenth of your sheep, and ye shall be his servants. And when ye cry out at that time upon your king which ye shall have chosen you, the LORD will not hear you at that day."

And the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king there, before the LORD in Gilgal. And there they offered peace offerings before the LORD. And there Saul and all the people rejoiced exceedingly.

And Solomon had twelve general receivers over all Israel which sustained the king and his household: each man his month in a year. Whose names are these: The son of Hur in mount Ephraim; the son of Dekar in Makaz, in Salem, in Bethshemesh, in Elon and in Bethhanan; read more.
the son of Hesed in Arubboth, and to him pertained Socoh and all the land of Hepher; the son of Abinadab, which had all the regions of Dor, and Taphath the daughter of Solomon was his wife; Baanah the son of Ahilud had Taanach, Megiddo, and all Bet-Shean which is by Zarethan beneath Jezreel, and from Bet-Shean to Abelmeholah and unto beyond Jokmeam; The son of Geber had Ramoth Gilead, and his were the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh which lie in Gilead, and his were the coasts of Argob in Bashan, three score great cities with wall and bars of brass; Abinadab the son of Ado had Mahanaim; Ahimaaz had Naphtali, and he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon to wife; Baanah the son of Hushai had Asher and Aloth; Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah had Issachar; Shimei the son of Ela had Benjamin; Geber the son of Uri had the country of Gilead and the land of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan, and was alone receiver in the land.

If a prince delight in lies, all his servants are ungodly.

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah began to reign in Samaria upon Israel, and continued nine years, and did that displeased the LORD: but not so evil as did the kings of Israel that were before him. And Shalmaneser king of Assyria came upon him, and Hoshea became his servant and gave him presents. read more.
And the king of Assyria found treason in Hoshea, because he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and sent no presents unto the king of Assyria, as he was yearly wont to do. Therefore the king of Assyria besieged him and put him in prison. And then the king of Assyria came throughout all the land, and came to Samaria and besieged it three years. And in the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away unto Assyria and put them in Halah, in Habor on the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

Tn the twenty third year of Jehoash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu was made king over Israel in Samaria, and continued seventeen years. And he wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD: for he followed the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel sin, and departed not therefrom. Wherefore, the LORD was angry with Israel, and delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael all their days. read more.
But Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD heard him. For he had seen the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. And therefore the LORD gave Israel a deliverer and they went out from under the hands of the Syrians. And the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before time. Nevertheless they departed not from the sin of the house of Jeroboam which made Israel sin, but walked therein. And there remained a grove also in Samaria still: But there were left of the people, to Jehoahaz, but fifty horsemen and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen - for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like threshed chaff. The rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all he did and his power are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as ye hear the voice of the trumpet blow, say, 'Absalom reigneth king in Hebron.'"

And Solomon had twelve general receivers over all Israel which sustained the king and his household: each man his month in a year. Whose names are these: The son of Hur in mount Ephraim; the son of Dekar in Makaz, in Salem, in Bethshemesh, in Elon and in Bethhanan; read more.
the son of Hesed in Arubboth, and to him pertained Socoh and all the land of Hepher; the son of Abinadab, which had all the regions of Dor, and Taphath the daughter of Solomon was his wife; Baanah the son of Ahilud had Taanach, Megiddo, and all Bet-Shean which is by Zarethan beneath Jezreel, and from Bet-Shean to Abelmeholah and unto beyond Jokmeam; The son of Geber had Ramoth Gilead, and his were the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh which lie in Gilead, and his were the coasts of Argob in Bashan, three score great cities with wall and bars of brass; Abinadab the son of Ado had Mahanaim; Ahimaaz had Naphtali, and he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon to wife; Baanah the son of Hushai had Asher and Aloth; Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah had Issachar; Shimei the son of Ela had Benjamin; Geber the son of Uri had the country of Gilead and the land of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan, and was alone receiver in the land.

And David went to Saul and came before him, and he loved him very well; so that he was made his harness bearer.

Righteous lips are pleasant unto kings; and they love him that speaketh the truth.

Seest thou not, that they which be diligent in their business stand before kings, and not among the simple people?

When the prophecy is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not go wrong in judgment.

A wise king destroyeth the ungodly, and bringeth the wheel over them.

The mouth of a harlot is a deep pit; wherein he falleth that the LORD is angry withal.

It is a great abomination when kings are wicked; for a king's seat should be holden up with righteousness.

A discreet servant is a pleasure unto the king; but one that is not honest provoketh him unto wrath.

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king, and keep no company with them that slide back from his fear:

Then Samuel told the people the duty of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD, and so sent all the people away; every man to his house.

Where the prince is without understanding, there is great oppression and wrong; but if he be such one as hateth covetousness, he shall long reign.

Where the prince is without understanding, there is great oppression and wrong; but if he be such one as hateth covetousness, he shall long reign.

The increase and prosperity of the commons is the king's honour; but the decay of the people is the confusion of the prince.

and from Jesus Christ which is a faithful witness, and first begotten of the dead: and Lord over the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

besides that he had of chapmen and merchants of apothecaries and of all the kings of Arabia and of the lords of the country.

give not over thy substance and mind unto women, which are the destruction even of kings.

An eloquent speech becometh not a fool; much less a lying mouth, then, becometh a prince.

And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his stead.

But Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." And he gat him a chariot and horsemen and fifty men to run before him. And his father rebuked him not at any time, nor said so much to him as "Why dost thou so?" And he was thereto a goodly man and his mother bare him next, after Absalom. And he communed with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they helped Adonijah.

For Menahem the son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and went to Samaria and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign upon Israel, the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned upon Israel two years.

But Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against him, and slew him at Gibbethon a city of the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel lay at siege before Gibbethon.

And Omri departed from Gibbethon and all Israel with him, and besieged Tirzah.

And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father and bowed not therefrom. But did that was right in the eyes of the LORD. Only he did not put the hill altars out of the way: for the people offered and burnt their sacrifices yet in the hill altars.

And he did that was right in the sight of the LORD: even in all things as did his father Uzziah, did he.

And David reigned over all Israel and executed right and justice unto all his people.

And Asa did that seemed right in the eyes of the LORD, like David his father.

A king that sitteth in judgment, and looketh well about him, driveth away all evil.

It is the honour of God to keep a thing secret; but the king's honour is to search out a thing.

Lest they being drunken forget the law, and regard not the cause of the poor, and of all such as be in adversity.

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings; be warned, ye that are judges of the earth. Serve the LORD in fear, and rejoice unto him in reverence. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way. For his wrath shall be kindled shortly: blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

The God of Israel spake unto me, and the strength of Israel said, 'He that beareth rule over men, he that ruleth justly in the fear of God,

Through me, kings reign: through me, princes make just laws.

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and prease not into the place of great men.

And so all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron. And king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.

And so Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Jehoram. And Jehoram had been waiting at Ramoth Gilead, and all Israel with him for fear of Hazael king of Syria;

and he did that pleased the LORD in all things, like to David his father.

And he did that seemed right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of David his father, and bowed neither to the righthand nor to the left.

For kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and Queens shall be thy nursing mothers. They shall fall before thee with their faces flat upon the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet: that thou mayest know, how that I am the LORD. And who so putteth his trust in me, shall not be confounded.

and said unto him, "Behold, thou art old and thy sons follow not thy ways. Now, therefore, make us a king to judge us, as all other nations have."

And see that thou keep the appointment of the LORD thy God, that thou walk in his ways and keep his commandments, ordinances, laws and testimonies, even as it is written in the law of Moses: that thou mayest understand all that thou oughtest to do, and all that thou shouldest meddle with.

Whosoever therefore resisteth power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation.

Whosoever therefore resisteth power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation.

Well, I gave thee a king in my wrath, and in my displeasure will I take him from thee again.

There is no king that can be saved by the multitude of a host; neither is any mighty man delivered by much strength.

Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power, but of God. The powers that be, are ordained of God.

Gird thee with thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou Most Mighty, according to thy worship and renown.

The king's power loveth judgment. Thou hast prepared equity; thou hast executed judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

If a principal spirit be given thee to bear rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for so shall great wickedness be put down, as it were with a medicine.

Then Nebuchadnezzar in a cruel wrath and displeasure, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego should be brought unto him. So these men were brought before the king.

The king's disfavor is like the roaring of a Lion, but his friendship is like the dew upon the grass.

The king ought to be feared as the roaring of a lion; whoso provoketh him unto anger, offendeth against his own soul.

For the which cause the king was wroth with great indignation, and commanded to destroy all the wise men at Babylon:

If there be any faithful servant and wise, whom his master hath made ruler over his household, for to give them meat in season convenient;

The king's disfavor is like the roaring of a Lion, but his friendship is like the dew upon the grass.

The cheerful countenance of the king is life; and his loving favor is as the evening dew.

Many there be that seek the prince's favour, but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

for kings, and for all that are in authority that we may live a quiet and a peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.

And it chanced, in those days, that there went out a commandment from Augustus the Emperor, that all the world should be taxed.

And the posts that rode upon the Mules made haste with all speed, according to the king's word: and the commandment was devised in the castle of Susa.

Now when the king's commandment and commission was published, and many damsels were brought together unto the castle of Susa under the hand of Hegei, Esther was taken also unto the king's house under the hand of Hegei the keeper of the women.

My commandment is, in all my dominion and kingdom, that men fear and stand in awe of Daniel's God. For he is the living God, which abideth ever: his kingdom shall not fail and his power is everlasting.

Therefore I will and command, that all people, kindreds and tongues, which speak any blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall die and their houses shall be prised: Because, there is no God that may save, as this."

And he brought out the son of the king and put the crown upon him, and delivered him the witness, and made him king and anointed him. And they clapped their hands and said, "God save the king."

And so all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron. And king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.

And they brought out the king's son and put upon him the crown and the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, "God save the king."

And the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king there, before the LORD in Gilgal. And there they offered peace offerings before the LORD. And there Saul and all the people rejoiced exceedingly.

And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, they sent and called him unto the congregation and made him king over Israel: and no man followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

And the tidings came unto the king of Nineveh, which arose out of his seat, and did his apparel off and put on sackcloth, and sat him down in ashes.

And upon a day appointed, Herod arrayed him in royal apparel, and set him in his seat, and made an oration unto them.

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat either in his seat and their apparel on them, in a void place beside the entering of the gate of Samaria, and all the Prophets prophesying before them.

And the king made a great seat of Ivory and covered it with precious gold.

and took the rulers over hundreds and the captains and the guard and all the people of the land. And they brought the king from the house of the LORD and went the way of the gate of the guard of the king's house. And he sat him down on the seat of the kings.

If a principal spirit be given thee to bear rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for so shall great wickedness be put down, as it were with a medicine.

Then Nebuchadnezzar in a cruel wrath and displeasure, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego should be brought unto him. So these men were brought before the king.

The king's disfavor is like the roaring of a Lion, but his friendship is like the dew upon the grass.

The king ought to be feared as the roaring of a lion; whoso provoketh him unto anger, offendeth against his own soul.

For the which cause the king was wroth with great indignation, and commanded to destroy all the wise men at Babylon:

But unto the son he saith, "God, thy seat shall be forever, and ever. The sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

I see him but not now, I behold him but not nigh. There shall come a star of Jacob and rise a scepter of Israel, which shall smite the coasts of Moab and undermine all the children of Seth.

"All the king's servants, and the people in the lands of the king know that whosoever cometh within the court unto the king, whether it be man or woman, which is not called, the commandment is that the same shall die immediately, except the king hold out the golden scepter unto him, that he may live. As for me, I have not been called to come in to the king now this thirty days."

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a ruler from between his legs, until Shiloh come, unto whom the people shall hearken.

Doubtless the LORD hath broken the staff of the ungodly, and the scepter of the lordly.

If there be any faithful servant and wise, whom his master hath made ruler over his household, for to give them meat in season convenient;

The king's disfavor is like the roaring of a Lion, but his friendship is like the dew upon the grass.

The cheerful countenance of the king is life; and his loving favor is as the evening dew.

Many there be that seek the prince's favour, but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

And the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat at board also. Then the king said unto the maiden, "Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee."

the king said unto Esther, when he had drunken wine, "Esther what is thy petition? And it shall be given thee. And what requirest thou? Even the half of the empire, it shall be done."

the king said unto Esther on the second day, when he had drunken wine, "What is thy petition queen Esther, that it may be given thee? And what requirest thou? Yea, ask even half of the empire, and it shall be done."

even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying 'Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my seat for me,' so will I do this day."

And the king said unto queen Esther, "The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men at the castle of Susa, and the ten sons of Haman: What shall they do in the other lands of the king? What is thy petition, that it may be given thee? And what requirest thou more to be done?"

And Baalath and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities and the cities of Horsemen, and all that Solomon had lust to build in Jerusalem and Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

And he set taskmasters over them, to keep them under with burdens. And they built unto Pharaoh treasure cities: Pithom and Rameses.

and all the store cities that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen and all that his lust was to build in Jerusalem and Lebanon and in all the land of his kingdom.

And he built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the store cities which he built in Hamath.

If a principal spirit be given thee to bear rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for so shall great wickedness be put down, as it were with a medicine.

Then Nebuchadnezzar in a cruel wrath and displeasure, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego should be brought unto him. So these men were brought before the king.

The king's disfavor is like the roaring of a Lion, but his friendship is like the dew upon the grass.

The king ought to be feared as the roaring of a lion; whoso provoketh him unto anger, offendeth against his own soul.

For the which cause the king was wroth with great indignation, and commanded to destroy all the wise men at Babylon: